Five Benefits to Joining
the Missionary Church

Note: Bishop Paul Hirschy sends a monthly newsletter to all United Brethren ministers. It is called B-Mail. Here is his July edition.

Paul Hirschy, bishop

July 2004

"Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches" (2 Corinthians 11:28).

The Apostle Paul uses this verse in relation to a variety of issues involved in his efforts to build the church and the Kingdom. I want to use it in relation to the possibility of the United Brethren church becoming part of the Missionary Church--especially the phrase "my concern for all of the churches."

Some have accused me of not being concerned about our local churches, since I agree with the initiative--started by the Executive Leadership Team and then continued through action of the National Board--to unite our denomination with the Missionary Church. I truly believe that this would be good for all of our churches. I am especially concerned about the churches that have stated that they will not be a part of this joining if it takes place. I hope this resistance results more from not understanding how this will benefit us as a group of churches, rather than from an unwillingness to even consider some of the valuable reasons for being part of the Missionary Church.

Why am I so in favor of this? No single reason is compelling by itself. But there are a wide range of areas and issues, at all levels of our structure, where union with the Missionary Church makes great sense in Kingdom terms, and will secure for us a positive, energizing future. I have shared some of these reasons in a variety of settings. However, it might be worthwhile for me to do so in this newsletter, even if I risk repeating something you've already heard.

1. Positive Growth Pattern

The Missionary Church in the United States has doubled in the last 25 years. The United Brethren Church, on the other hand, has stayed basically the same, with a very slight increase in the same time period. I think that all of us, as pastors and lay leaders in the church, recognize the value of being part of a church that shows growth and progress in fulfilling the Great Commission. Since in most areas there are so few differences between the United Brethren in Christ and the Missionary Church, it seems most of us would certainly benefit from being part of a group that has been experiencing some positive success in their efforts.

Simply joining with the Missionary Church won't produce growth or health in our individual local churches. There is still much work to be done. But we'll be attached to--in fact, a vital part of--something that is alive and growing in significant ways. And we will bring to the table a number of strengths and healthy situations which will enhance the overall Missionary Church.

2. Missions

For the average UB church, the world of missions will grow tremendously. The Missionary Church has over 100 fulltime missionaries; we have about six, plus a couple dozen "endorsed" missionaries who actually serve with other agencies. They have about 15 national conferences, we have 7. For churches interested in missions, there will be many more missionaries and a number of additional countries to learn about. There will be more opportunities for mission trips, more missionaries on furlough, more specific projects to become engaged with. It'll be a fresh and very rich infusion of missions into our midst. Our world will expand.

3. Church Planting

The Missionary Church is regarded as one of the country's premier denominations when it comes to starting new churches. Their Church Multiplication Training Center, with its church planters boot camp, is used by about 110 other denominations in training church planters. For several decades, church planting has been an area in which the United Brethren church has struggled greatly. We have seen many failures, and it has been frustrating.

The Missionary Church, on the other hand, is very aggressive in planting new churches, and they keep increasing their success rate. And since the best way to reach new Christians is through new churches, it's no wonder they are growing. They have envisioned starting thousands of new churches during the next ten years, and they don't care if a good number of them end up being part of other denominations. I was told recently that one of their churches in California has planted 20 churches over the years, but only four of them are part of the Missionary Church. Such Kingdom-consciousness is thrilling.

4. Healthy Church Initiative

The Missionary Church has a fulltime person, Dan Riemenschneider, working in what they call the Healthy Church Initiative. Dan's work is focused on bringing renewal to established churches. They are aggressive in starting new churches, but they want to bring life to every church, no matter how long it has existed.

In the United Brethren Church, we have been emphasizing Sonlife's Healthy Church materials and the Natural Church Development survey. We have also established Healthy Church cluster groups which are designed to be an informal encouragement and coaching situation for pastors whose churches are incorporating the Healthy Church principles. The advantage in the Missionary Church is that they have a fulltime person spearheading these efforts, whereas for us, budget cutbacks have eliminated any staff who might have been able to devote themselves to helping churches in this way.

Dan is training coaches to be available to help local churches, and they require a great deal of commitment and accountability from those churches. They will only work with churches that are serious about becoming revitalized and healthy. I can think of many weak, stagnant, or dying UB churches that would benefit from the Healthy Church Initiative.

5. Critical Mass

We have used this term a lot. And it's necessary, because critical mass is a factor in many areas and at many levels. This simply means that we aren't big enough to do the things we want to do to be effective. It can apply to our small leadership pool. To the fact that Global Ministries doesn't have the resources or personnel it really deserves. To the inability of some conferences to fill leadership positions. To the small base of support some of our camps have. To our inability to organize large youth events. To the difficulty we sometimes have in finding pastors for churches. To the ever-declining staff at the denominational headquarters. And much more.

It makes great sense for our 250 churches to combine with the Missionary Church's 400 churches, producing a denomination with the critical mass to do some powerful things for the Kingdom. By joining forces, we will be able to provide greater ministry services to all 650 churches, as well as to the scores of new churches we will start together. Why wouldn't God be in favor of this?