October 18, 2015 / Celebration Service

Ephesians 4:16 NLT - He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

According to the National Congregations Study, a collaboration of Duke University, the University of Arizona, the University of Chicago, and the Hartford Seminary, found that the current state of church participation in America accentuates the challenges lying before us…

• The median size church in the United States has 75 regular participants.  
• 59% of all US churches are less than 100 in attendance. 
• And an astounding 94% have an attendance of less than 500.
• Additionally, a survey conducted by Thom Rainer in conjunction with Southern Seminary found that only 4% of my children’s generation believes in the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The great danger is that Christianity in the United States is rapidly approaching the same status that it has in Western Europe: an acknowledged part of history, but IRRELEVANT TO THE DAILY LIVES OF THE AVERAGE PERSON: a museum honoring the past, but not a light illuminating the future.  For example: in the United Kingdom, the vast majority of the citizens are “Christian” in so much that they are members of the Anglican Church; and what that means for the average person is a Christian Christening, a Christian Wedding, and a Christian Funeral…a ceremonially Christian life, but no impact upon their daily lifestyle.

For over seventy years in this city, God has given to the Patten Community several wonderful opportunities and unique challenges.  We are a church, but more than a local congregation.  We are an Academy, but more than a school.  We are developing a Higher Educational Leadership Institute, but more than just an Scholastic organization. 

So as it was when Dr. Patten would speak of the “threefold cord (Ecclesiastes 4:12),” so it is now.  We are still a “threefold cord,” with “each part doing its own special work (Ephesians 4:16).”  The ministries of the Church, the Campus, and reaching our Community are more needed today than at any time in our existence. Today, we are committed to celebrating all that God has and is doing, but with great anticipation that the relevance and beauty of the Gospel will be declared in our city through all of the ministries of the Patten Community of Faith.