Can The Church Ever Be The Church Again (Part 3)

No matter how much we try to hide it there is still a huge difference in the traditional pentecostal and neo-pentecostal movements today. In fact, I believe this is why so many young people and young families are turning from our traditional pentecostal churches to the neos or to non-pentecostal churches.

Traditional pentecostal churches are the hardest to turn toward reaching the Gen-Xers and Millennials. Most have a great heritage and history, but they are leaning more on reputation than they are ministry. It is harder to bring in new methods and new techniques to those churches because it takes an effort to make changes. Many still believe it is their accomplishments of the past that will take them into the future, but in reality it is causing them to die rather than to live.

Many traditional Pentecostals still talk about the glory of God in the old days, yet this generation doesn't see the move of the Spirit as the Boomers saw it growing up. As with anything the Xer's and Mill's want to see what we're talking about, not just hear about it. They are tired of excuses and the reasons why God doesn't move like their parents and grandparents talk about. They not only want to see it, but they want to experience something real and genuine.

Yet even still today many under a certain age are put off or turned away from the church because they don't look like the traditionalists want them to look or they like a different style music than they do. How many of us have forgotten that we looked rather different when we were younger to the generation that proceeded us? How many of our musical tastes had a different twist on it than that of our parents? Could this be the reason why the majority of folks attending the traditional pentecostal churches in America are over the age of 55?

I have determined in my heart that even at age 58 I still can be relevant with the times I live in. My sole purpose in my ministry from this point forward is to somehow reach the Xer's and the Mill's with a gospel that is life-changing and fulfilling. I also believe that we in the traditional pentecostal churches can change our methods and not our message and reach those that need to be reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is still the answer and He is still able to build the church.