The reality of ministry in Miami

On the way home from dinner with Rick, Sammy, and some Miami church leaders who came to visit our church tonight – I thought about ministry in Miami. I thanked God for the opportunity to be here. Miami is a phenomenal place to do ministry. Why?

-- Miami is the second most unchurched city in the U.S. The opportunity is great.

-- Miami is the only city in the U.S. where more than half of the residents were born outside of the U.S. Which means if you impact Miami, you impact the world.

So how is ministry going in Miami?

-- The reality is that the vast majority of churches are struggling. Some are closing their doors, or considering that possibility.

-- Very few (a handful of) churches are growing. If a church is not growing, it is dying in this culture. Some churches can no longer afford insurance on their buildings. Many of the church buildings are falling apart. Costs have escalated while giving has remained the same or declined. Some are dying because younger generations were never reached. The cultural context has changed, but many churches never adjusted. What saddens me most is that these churches are on the mission field, but they waste time fighting amongst themselves over stupid things.

Yet God is doing some phenomenal things. God is using some churches in this city to really make an impact.

I am grateful for churches like Miami Vineyard who serve people in our culture. I am pumped about the difference Calvary Chapel Kendall is having in our community. I am grateful for churches like Lifepointe in Homestead who are creatively aggressive at bringing people into the Kingdom. I am excited to see that University Baptist Church will finally be building on Sunset, after a decade long battle over zoning. The fact that they have been able to pull off ministry to almost 2,000 people on 2.2 acres every week is unreal. I am always challenged by Jere Weaver and KingsWay, our daughter church, as they take the gospel to hurting people. Most of their congregation are recovering or former addicts.

And I am honored that God is using Christ Fellowship. I know that any good thing comes from Him. I am just grateful we get to watch Him at work. We saw several people come to Christ tonight, and that never gets old.

I write this to ask for prayer for the churches in Miami. Would you spend a few moments this week praying for the churches and pastors in Miami?