Urban Nations Update: Counting

Some years ago, while still part of the Christian Reformed Church, we publicly implored our fellow officer-bearers not to adopt a “Church growth” course for denominational missions. Such a path was fraught with considerable dangers, affording little aid in our service to the truth and much temptation to compromise.

We objected most strenuously to number-setting, i.e., establishing a membership number the church would seek to reach. This reeked of a naked marketing mentality which we believed portended a twisting of the message entrusted to us in order to reach the stated goals. In the best businesses, the customer's always right. The business of the church is something else entirely. It involves letting people know how entirely wrong they are, in their thinking and believing and acting apart from Christ. It's not a popular message. It is to be proclaimed, not hawked.

We argued that once you set number goals—especially in an environment where everyone on the field and in the back office is talking numbers and counting—you will find yourself strongly tempted, If not all too eager, to do everything you can to achieve them. You may distill the Word of God, leave hell out of your sermons, poo-poo church discipline, you may not insist that your “converts” abide by God's Law; you certainly will relax the standards of historic, continental Reformed church membership, you will not insist on Christian education of covenant young. In short, you will not maintain the Antithesis. The Antithesis can only he maintained in a growing church or mission when the growth is from God, not man.

“But,” number-advocates insisted, “there are many numbers in the New Testament. We know how many men were present at both incidents with the loaves and the fish. And we know there were three thousand saved on the Day of Pentecost. Further, Acts 4:4 reports that the 'number of men grew to about five thousand.'“

“Pardon me,” said I, “but all the numbers you quote are numbers of reporting, not projecting.” Ecclesiocrats rarely yield to a Biblical argument; they just pour on the gush: “But we are asking God Himself for a particular number.”

“Oh?,” I queried, “that's novel. Where do you find the Apostle saying, 'Luke and I are asking God for 754 converts at Troas'? And if you're going to ask, why be paltry? Why not ask for a million or two? After all, you're Reformed!”

Well, they got their church growth program adopted. Surprise, surprise. Their slogan: 400,000 by 2,000. That would represent a 30% increase in denominational membership over a decade. They may have asked God, but the last I heard, His answer was “No.” About 40,000 members have since left the C R C.1

Be that as it may, in the course of mission work—or any work—there are times when you need to estimate expected numbers (at a fellowship dinner, for example). Our argument was (and is) simply that you may not estimate expected conversions if conversion is, in fact, a special, unilateral and unique work of God.

What you can do is attempt to reach a certain number with the means of grace. That you can do. You can attempt to reach everyone in your city of 70,000 with the message of salvation, for example, or you can determine to leave 200 tracts at restaurants this year. Yet, even though such pre-counting involves no sinful presumptuousness—as if conversion were a matter in a redeemed sinner's own hands—nevertheless, in the last analysis, even to reach a certain number with the message is a matter determined by God. We needed to learn that lesson again at Urban Nations.

We had become rather spoiled, one might say. It seemed whenever we'd advertise in a local foreign-language newspaper, we'd get new students whom we could then instruct in English and the gospel simultaneously. Like a twist on the Field of Dreams, we'd advertise and “they would come.”

So, when we decided to attempt to draw more students from the Spanish-speaking community, we expected similar results. This particular effort started when a very talented and accomplished member of Messiah's, who speaks beautiful Spanish (more on her in a future issue of the Chalcedon Report, D.V.), asked if she could volunteer to teach a women's E S L class. “Absolutely!,” we exclaimed.

We set up the schedule. We got a favorable advertising rate from a huge-circulation Spanish daily newspaper here in New York City. When the ad hit, we got more responses than anyone could remember—the phone was “ringing off the hook.” We had arranged for Spanish-speaking members of the church to provide instructions to inquirers. Everything was set. We expected to have to turn many away to a waiting list. David Schildkraut adjusted his schedule to help with the anticipated crush at registration. Forms ready. Books ready. Smiles ready. Servants ready.

God sent snow on April 9. Not one inquirer showed up. Not a soul.

Even pagan Homer said, “Zeus does not bring all men's plans to fulfillment.” How often we experience the propriety of Burns's ditty, “The best laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft a-gley.” St. James explained the importance of “If God wills” in all our planning (4:15)

This disappointment was a reminder from God. We cannot count on numbers. We cannot even reckon all the factors in any given situation. The only thing we can do is strive to be faithful. The only thing we can count on is Him.

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” The Christian likes that fact.

1. That number is rough; if you're interested in the latest, accurate figures, call Christian Renewal's West Michigan office at 626- 674-8446.