Church Challenges

“For local congregations, threats can come from town drunks or flocks of chickens”

What’s the biggest challenge facing churches today? Postmodernism? Government intrusion? Bad theology? For some local churches around the world, the threats aren’t that grandiose.

Church Trinity Episcopal Church by the Sea (open-air)Kihei, Maui St. Peter’s ChurchSouth Croydon, Surrey, U.K. Kialla West Uniting Church Rural Shepparton,Victoria, Australia New Life Church and othersDartmouth, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Challenge As many as 200 wild chickens Local drunks asking for quieter bells Thieves who stole church’s only outhouse A pro-marijuana rally concurrent with a gathering of churches at the same city park
Quote Pastor Morley Frech:“I don’t know if they have their own worship services at night or what it is, but they make quite a mess.” Verger Geoffrey Hall:“I said if they didn’t like the sound of bells, they could go somewhere else.” Pastor Ossie Kadel:“There could be a real stink over this . …One of the gifts of the Spirit is self-control—otherwise there’s a few trees out the back. Pastor George Campbell:“As long as the wind is blowing … away from us, it will be all right. [Our concession stand] could make a fortune once they get the munchies.”

Sources: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Sunday Mirror, Herald Sun, The Daily News

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

Articles referenced above include:

Congregating chickens are devout about Maui churchHonolulu Star (June 23, 2002)

We’ll have small bellsSunday Mirror

Pot smokers to share venue with ChristiansDaily News (June 23, 2002)

Also in this issue

The Third Coming of George Barna: Evangelicalism's most quoted pollster is more fed up with the church than ever—so what's next?

Our Latest

News

Pew: ‘Christian Nationalism’ Is Becoming a Household Term

Jack Panyard

Perceptions of religious influence in public life hit a 24-year high as Americans see blurring lines between church and state.

Navigating 1984

Evangelicals were optimistic about the global church, afraid of artificial intelligence, and had questions about megachurches.

Building a Platform for God—or Using God to Build Your Platform?

Drew Brown

Pastors can be tempted by the twin enticements of wealth and fame, but praise God for shepherds laboring in faithful obscurity.

Just War Debates Reveal Our Moral Poverty

This tradition still speaks the language of virtue, a tongue our society has largely lost.

Public Theology Project

What I Learned Teaching the Same Book Twice—20 Years Apart

When I first taught through Hebrews, I understood doctrine and discipline but not disappointment and disillusionment.

You Can’t Love the Church in the Abstract

Matthew D. Love

It’s easy to say you love the church universal, the whole bride of Christ. But Scripture unmistakably calls us to love the local congregation too.

Gen Z Isn’t Asking Why Bad Things Happen to Good People

Jared Dodson

Christians have long asked how a good God can let evil happen. My students want to know when the evil will get their due.

How God Helps Me Eat on $33 Per Week

It’s a very faith-stretching way to get by, compared to trusting in a salary and benefits.

addApple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseellipseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squarefolderGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintremoveRSSRSSSaveSavesaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube