Many churches today have been reduced to Buildings, Bodies, and Budgets. What do these represent? Several CME church buildings are aging, in disrepair, and require costly maintenance. Either the city threatens to condemn them, or they have become burdensome structures that drain the church’s limited financial resources. Several resources are available to help churches that are struggling with building maintenance and repairs. Habitat for Humanity provides repair and renovation assistance, particularly for churches serving low-income communities. Local contractors, trade schools, and corporations may also volunteer or offer reduced rates to support faith-based initiatives. Additionally, federal grants and programs, as well as state and local historic preservation grants, can provide funding for churches in historical communities.
The bodies that makeup congregations are shrinking, particularly in our rural and inner-city churches. With less than 40 active members in some churches, the ability to sustain ministries and evangelism efforts diminishes. God can do so much with a few committed people. Churches can partner with local schools, businesses, and organizations to create outreach programs that address community needs, such as food pantries, after-school programs, prayer groups, Bible study, and discipleship classes. Developing small groups is one of the most effective ways to strengthen churches and increase membership. These groups allow opportunities to serve and support one another.
Connectional and local church budgets, operational expenses, and the cost of ministry programs can quickly become overwhelming, especially when there are not enough bodies in the church building. Unfortunately, fewer bodies (members) mean fewer financial contributions, which makes it challenging to sustain the budget. This cycle of buildings, bodies, and budgets can lead to spiritual stagnation and a decline in evangelism. Without evangelism, there are no new disciples. Without disciples, the church stops growing. As you know, when there is no church growth, the church becomes just a small social club or dies. Creative funding opportunities such as grants, community partnerships, and fundraising events should be considered to address budgetary constraints. These resources not only help meet the budget, but also engage both members and the community, allowing the church to refocus on its mission of spreading the Gospel and serving others.
The Consequences of Neglecting Evangelism
Churches that neglect evangelism will eventually struggle with low attendance, generational decline, and spiritual stagnation. Church membership will decline as older members pass away and younger generations find spiritual fulfillment in other churches. Soon, all that remains are old buildings, a few bodies, and large budgets, disconnected from its true mission. I have witnessed this firsthand in over 40 years of ministry. I have been assigned to lifeless or stagnant churches where evangelism had ceased. Many members could not recall the last time they invited someone to church, let alone shared their faith. One of the greatest misconceptions is that evangelism is only for pastors, missionaries, or evangelism and outreach teams.
Many congregants sit in church week after week, expecting leadership to handle outreach while they remain spectators. This mindset must change in our churches. Evangelism is not a spectator sport; it is the mission of every believer. I have even heard some church folk say they don’t feel comfortable inviting others to church for reasons such as the church not being presentable, the choir or music not being up to par, or the lack of programs for youth and young adults. Waiting for those reasons could take a lifetime. There is no such thing as a perfect church because all churches have imperfect people. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) was given to all disciples, not just church leaders. The early church in Acts did not grow because of fancy buildings, impressive youth and young adult programs, or the best choirs. It grew because ordinary people unapologetically shared their faith and Gospel wherever they went.
Reignite the Fire of Evangelism
Evangelism starts with you! You can reignite the fire of evangelism by starting with something as simple as sharing your personal testimony. What has God done for you lately? One of the most potent ways to witness is to tell others how Jesus changed your life. Teachers often say, “Reach one, teach one.” It means that if each person takes responsibility for helping just one other person, knowledge and growth will spread like wildfire, expanding further than we can ever imagine. This same principle applies to the churches. When we stop reaching, we stop growing. When we stop growing, we stop existing. Reigniting the fire of evangelism is what it takes to reach others.
How to Rekindle Evangelism in Your Church
The time is now for churches to rekindle their passion for evangelism and start making disciples again. Here are several ways to reignite evangelism in your church:
- Teach the WHY of Evangelism – Help members understand that evangelism is a biblical command, not an optional church program.
- Make Evangelism Practical—Train members to share their faith in everyday conversations—at work, the grocery store, the mall, their communities, and their families.
- Create a Culture of Invitation – Encourage members to regularly invite friends, coworkers, and family to church.
- Engage the Community—Organize outreach events, such as food drives, service projects, prayer gatherings and/or walks to build relationships and engage the community.
- Address Building Repairs—Utilize resources such as Habitat for Humanity and historic preservation grants to repair and maintain church buildings. Seek partnerships with local contractors and schools willing to offer reduced rates or volunteer labor.
- Seek Financial Assistance – Explore federal and state grants that fund church restoration projects. Many historic church buildings qualify for special preservation funds to help with financial resources.
- Lead by Example – Church leadership should actively participate in evangelism to set the tone for the congregation.
As evangelism becomes part of our church’s culture, it will become second nature for members to invite and disciple others. Remember, a church without evangelism is a church without disciples. No disciples, no church. But when we commit to evangelism, we transition from simply building, bodies, and budgets to mission-minded disciples. Any church, no matter how small, big, inner-city, rural, or suburban, can reignite its passion for evangelism and start impacting the community.
