Disciple-making trends

I wanted to make comments after reading Grace Thornton’s article on disciple-making trends from the Jan. 5 issue of The Alabama Baptist.

Grace wrote on “Wednesday homework” and “Sunday blue laws.”

How about some more factors?

To me it is amazing how small crowds are on Sunday nights, if Sunday night services are even held. Maybe the same can be said for Wednesday nights.

Sunday night attendance can be greatly affected by events such as NFL, MLB and NBA games plus college sports, something we didn’t used to have much concern over on Sundays.

Yes I know it could be worse: On the West Coast many televised games begin at 10 a.m. on Sundays. That does not do much for Sunday morning crowds.

Let’s switch to Wednesdays. One church some years ago decided to switch that service from 7:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. What happened to the crowds? It was a disaster. Maybe 46 persons in a room of more than 2,000 seats. That lasted for 12 years until a chapel was built.

Why did the church switch times? Because the choir said it didn’t want to come out “another night” for practice which would be a Thursday.

If I had spoken up during the debate, then it would have been to tell the choir, “OK, practice on Wednesdays. But you do it at 5:45 and then we can still have a great service at 7:15.” I can hear the response now, “5:45 is too early. We can’t get there that soon.” I would have said “Oh really? You care about nobody but yourselves.”

Now there is supper at 4:30. Ever heard of the workday and rush hour? Can’t win with a time like that. And who wants to eat at 4:30 when under the old plan meals didn’t begin until 5:15?

I imagine other churches have or will go through such changes. Churches have so much potential. I think Baptists should discuss the workday and rush hour when planning their events. A church cannot go up against those factors and win.

I would say night services need to start at 7 on Sundays and Wednesdays. Have a meal before each or at least a snack.

John D. Ferry

Huntsville, Ala.