Building the church in 4D

by Jon

“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4 (NIV)

“You know, old churches need missionaries too.” A long-time Thai believer once said to us. I was reminded of her words when we spoke to a pastor’s wife in a worship hall of an empty church. The physical size of the church spoke of a bustling congregation every Sunday many years before. But years later, she says, they are much fewer in numbers, comprising mostly of the elderly with few young people.

While I do not believe that it is the sole responsibility of missionaries to revitalise a church, I have been troubled by the trend of aging churches, particularly in rural or sub-urban areas in Thailand.

This has led me to a thought that church planting has to be in 4D.

The first dimension is a point. A dot. A goal, purpose or decision that a church has to be planted at a particular location.

Then we proceed to two dimensions – a connection between two points. A line. It could be a timeline that indicates an actionable plan to ensure a church is planted. Many lines, criss-crossed, forms a plan. Perhaps a blue-print or map on paper of a geographical area that demarcates the dream of a church.

Then it is no longer flat, with an extension upwards. Plans become reality, with a church building containing a congregation that gathers each Sunday to worship God and hear His Word.

Many will assume, after this point, that a church is planted and rooted.

But what next?

Many researchers have proposed that there is a fourth dimension. Some have proposed that the fourth dimension is time, in which reality changes with the passing of time.

For me, building a church in 4D signifies a need for the faith of believers to be passed down generations. While everyone agrees with the need to disciple the young in church, it is often more difficult to do and requires an intentional effort.

For some churches, this would mean giving the young a voice in the church, even when it is contrary to those of the majority, rather than seeing the young just as a means to fulfill the need of the community.

For others, it means an investment of ministry resources to the young and a willingness to delve into the world that the youths inhabit to discern how God is working.

Whatever it is and whichsoever way, our hope is that this generation will be able to relate God’s faithfulness to the next, motivating them to build and lead the church as God leads them.