They came out with the list of the 100 largest and 100 fastest growing churches in America this week. For the 4th year, out of the last 5, Parkview was one of the fastest growing churches in the country. We were the 75th fastest; it’s the highest we’ve been on the list. Truthfully, the one year in the past five we weren’t on there was the year we were so jammed into that gym that we just didn’t have room.
It’s quite an amazing journey we’ve been on. I don’t know how many churches have been on the list that much. Many churches go through a growth spurt, but we’ve been on a growth geyser for the last ten years.
Is that good? Absolutely. The first church that Jesus and the Apostles established in Jerusalem would have topped the “top 100“ list. It should be a natural outcome of Christianity that it spreads like crazy.
One passage says, “the Lord added to their number daily, those who were being saved.”At our staff meeting on Monday, Lonnie said it’s the 265th day of the year and we’ve had 267 baptisms.
Seems biblical to me.
Is the goal a larger church? No. The goal is more people in Heaven. It doesn’t matter how. More campuses, more churches, bigger facility, all of the above – whatever. Just get more people to Heaven.
This was in my reading in Proverbs this week:
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done (Prov 24:11)
And Jesus said
“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full” (Luke 14:23)
So – WAY TO GO PARKVIEW! You will be repaid. God is looking down and loving what’s happening.
We had a very graphic reminder when someone died and was brought back to life in the first service at Lockport. Having a church there, on that day, literally saved his physical life. (see my last blog)
But it was just a metaphor for what’s happening around us every week as Parkview helps to save people from eternal death.
Whatever you are doing as a part of this thing – keep it up. If you aren’t involved, we need you. If the economy is scaring you, great! Remember who is in control. And remember that he LIKES A FULL HOUSE!
Congratulations!
Tim
If you didn't get a chance to check out the video from the Lockport Campus Grand Opening...here it is!!
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