The Church Lasts
Why Invest in Multiplying Churches?
Throughout history, there have been repeated efforts to destroy the church of Jesus Christ. In its local expressions, it has been “hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Somehow, the church is able to withstand incredible pressures, even campaigns to eliminate it, to shut it down once for all, and come out on the other side … STRONGER!
How do we explain at least four wide-ranging attempts historically to eliminate the local churches of China only to see them rising repeatedly from the ashes to grow and multiply? Or the faith of North Korean secret believers (cf. John 19:38b) holding a silent baptism, one person at a time with a carefully chosen gathering of one or two other believers around a bathtub in a tiny apartment, with the one being baptized writing out her confession of faith in Jesus as Lord on paper rather than risking the expression of it verbally? Or pastors who had fled their villages in Burkina Faso, risking everything to return to gather their people for worship in the burnt remains of a local church gathering place pillaged in the name of Allah by extremists? Apart from divine involvement, these and thousands of other examples defy our best efforts to understand.
We invest in local worshiping communities, preparing them to multiply, because THE CHURCH LASTS. Wherever God’s people are, there will be an inner hunger to gather in community with other believers for worship, fellowship, teaching from the Scriptures, celebration of baptisms and the Lord’s supper, prayer, and mission. Most importantly, where even two or three gather in Christ’s name, he is with them (Matthew 18:20).
This is precisely why THE CHURCH LASTS. The triune, all-powerful God, expressing himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is with his people. He redeems and empowers them, assuring them he is with them always (Matthew 28:20). Christ’s followers are not to fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul (Matthew 10:28). With his presence and assurance that even the gates of Hades will not prevail against his church (Matthew 16:18), believers have every reason to stand strong.
They are a part of the bride of Christ, and he will forever cherish his bride. This is why THE CHURCH LASTS! And this is why we give ourselves to establishing local communities of faith, churches that will grow and multiply.
By Bob Fetherlin, Global President, One Mission Society