Where are Independent Baptist churches growing?

We got a smattering of Reformed Baptists in New Orleans/Baton Rouge. One recently closed (the pastor... his kids are the worst behaved of any pastor I ever met)and is going to re-open supposedly this summer.
There is one in Baton Rouge that is new and growing.. many folks who are Reformed-thinking are leaving their churches and going there. Right now, my guess is about 100 people. Its about 2 years old.

 

Your insult is duly noted Dr. B.

Too bad you and your son chose not to attend. He would have matured had he done so.

There are many of the Pharisee types who can't see past their own prejudices to even see past their own noses. Their churches are bound to implode. Especially considering their "we four and no more" theology. Independent, Reformed or other wise.

In HIS service;
Jim

 

They said it couldn't be done but IFB churches are growing in Nashua NH.

 

I usually, as a former SBC preacher, do not go into an area that has an SBC deaf church already unless (1) there is a deaf school in the area, guaranteeing the need for ministry, and/or (2) the deaf community is very large.
The reason is I dont want to feel like I am stealing and swapping fish from another aquarium.
I am definitely not SBC, but I truly feel that the gospel is being laid out for those in the area and so I am glad if things work out for them. Charismatic,, well it depends. Some of them are simply of the belief in tongues and so forth and they do soul winning. When it gets to the extreme and the laughter and animal noises thats when I know I would want the deaf in the area to have a different alternative.
My question, and I think its a good one.. do you think (and Dr. Bob is going to jump on this one) there is a certain psychological consistency that draws a specific person the fundamentalist and charismatic church,, as well as the SBC church??????

tim

 

In this area, IFB churches as well as SBC churches are springing up right and left. With the continued growth of Middle Tennessee, I believe we will continue to see this trend.

 

If you dont care then dont past. Simple. We just following along with the topic and nobody said a faithful church must be a growing church or vice versa.

 

Ok, sorry man, I guess i mistook your attitude.
My apologies.
I, for one, do not always equate numbers with growth. Our churches (I work with two) are very small, none have over 30 people in attendance, most Deaf churches are small.
There are some that are booming and those that are in Texas, Florida, and so forth, are increasing in size. We are in South Louisiana where the Catholic church runs everything just about and the people are mostly Catholic (I am from that background myself).
I guess I am of the "small-church mentality" because our community does not like our stand against the sins of the city. Mardi Gras has become a masquerade of nudity and immorality. Each year, the Deaf gays and lesbians flock to New Orleans for their festival and they hate our church, even many who are not gay and lesbian hate our church because we have told our people dont go there unless you are witnessing.
Historic Baptists generally do not do well where I am, if you are counting heads.
The contemporary type churches are growing, as well as the Full Gospel Baptists and charismatic churches.. again, if its numbers you are talking about. Still, I admit I am proud of our few people who show up. They know their Bible, they are zealous in bringing lost souls to Christ, etc. I am not the most successful, but I believe a faithful preacher is one who is not affected by numbers but moved only when God tells him to move. I wont quit, have no desire to.

Out of curiousity, I have gone to some of these booming churches. I have had interpreters and I did not miss anything except for the sound of music. For the life of me, I couldnt understand why the churches drew so many people. The messages were nothing special and hate to say it, I thought the charismatic pastors were really without direction in their messages and extremely shallow, pointing to the Spirit rather than to Christ.
There is one contemporary SBC church that does well and I attended there. Nice place, friendly people, but the preaching just does not seem to be the key here. Maybe its the music or the programs they offer, the opportunities to serve.
Still puzzles me.

tim

 

A church cannot get large with selfish people.

 

"A church cannot get large with selfish people."

...or unfriendly people. Church down the road from me gave out shirts saying "Your search for a friendly church ends here." Well I went to that church. When the church was over, like robots, the people headed for the exits.

 

I've wondered about it too...that is, Dr. Tim, why some big churches are so big when the preaching is rather unsensational, or downright shallow and almost nonexistent Bible teaching. The only thing I can guess is that some members have gone out of their way to make visitors feel at home so that they want to come back and be surrounded by friendly people.

Why would you keep going back to a church where you aren't getting fed spiritually? which reminds me...I've been listening to HAC sermons which I've downloaded off their website. It's been enlightening... Wow. I told my husband that it is like listening to "sermonslite" (We have Coke Light here in Europe). (I've listened to lots off of sermonaudio.com which don't tend to be sermonslite.)

It's been a long time since I've heard this kind of preaching and am doing it now instead of listening to Old Time Radio for a while just to see if some of the exaggerations and such are true...straight from the preacher's mouth, so to speak.

It's been such a shock to my system after so long without hearing this kind of sermon to hear people shouting/talking for 30 minutes with little reference to the Bible and actually explaining the Scriptures. I've been sadly enlightened so far. I need to take some notes, but usually I'm washing dishes or doing something in the kitchen.