Pastor’s eNote: Weekly Update

When I attended seminary in the 1990’s some of the professors who championed the church growth movement were nearing the end of their active teaching careers. I was fortunate to sit under the leadership of both Charles E. Van Engen and C. Peter Wagner before they retired. While the church growth movement they helped start had its weaknesses, there were some profound truths I learned from their teaching.

1. The growth of the church in any context is always linked to a revival of prayer. Prayer, both communal and individual, was the foundation of the Spirit’s movement in a congregation. A church which hungers for the Holy is a church that prays.
2. Growing churches experience a moment of repentance leading to new commitment to the Lord. Tithing (giving 10% of one’s income) along with other sacrificial practices on the part of the church reflected a deeper repentance reflected in new robust spiritual practices.
3. Congregations shifted their vision and mission to match that of God’s mission in their community. I remember being warned about movements of growth focused around celebrity and sensationalism. Enduring growth comes from a heart dedicated to God and God’s mission through the Holy Spirit.

As you can see these three truths are not too separate from one another. They are intertwined by powerful love focused on Jesus as Lord. It is not a recipe to follow to produce growth. It is matter of the heart, a choice of devotion.

I see new signs of all these at FFMC. God is stirring us in a new way during this season of our life. I pray for our church daily to see more evidence of each of these as I challenge myself to keep my gaze on Christ alone. The world around us is loud. The status quo is powerful. Complacency is alluring. In these opening days of 2026, let us pray that these blessed signs increase in our midst, beginning in our own hearts.

Grace to You All,

Pastor Craig Brown

(January 6th, 2026)