Sunday evening’s presidential debate is universally considered a low point in the history of America’s political discourse. There is no shortage of strong comments and outright outrage over what took place and rightly so. As a result, I do not feel I need to add any more words to the candidates themselves. They are being sufficiently discussed.
However, Dana Perino of Fox News made an interesting point in her post-debate coverage. I thought her comments had tremendous applications to any pastor or church leader wanting their church to grow.
In fact, these 3 Mistakes From The Presidential Debate That Will Cause Your Church To Plateau Or Decline:
- Engage Millennials – If you looked at the town hall audience, none were millennials. None of the questions were from millennials. Frank Luntz’s focus group lacked millennials. The debate topics did not include or vaguely touched on millennial favorites like tuition costs, college debt, job creation, childcare or climate change. 50% of the American population is 21-years-of-age and younger. Youth gives your church creativity, energy and most important, sustainability. If your church does not engage millennials or speak to the issues they care about, your church will plateau or eventually decline. What made this even worse is our second point.
- Engage The Community Your Church Is Located In – What made the marginalization of millennials even worse, is the debate was hold on a COLLEGE CAMPUS. The debate was held at Washington University located in St. Louis. It is beyond the realm of my comprehension why a town hall meeting held on a college campus did not feature college students. Similarly, if your church does not engage the community in which it exists, your church will plateau or eventually decline.
- Preach On The Issues Those In Your Church Are Talking About – Do not answer questions no one is asking. As I previously mentioned, the debate was held in St. Louis, MO which is located less than a half-hour from Ferguson, MO – one of the epicenters of racial strife in America. Yet, racial reconciliation and the issues affecting urban America were barely touched upon. If your church does not engage the issues people are talking about, your church will plateau or eventually decline.
There were countless things in last evening’s debate which leaders should not emulate…countless. However, if you do not want your church to plateau or decline, you must engage millennials, engage your community, and preach on the issues those in your church are talking about.
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