"I do," she replied. "Well, get in and I will push you across."

She did, and he did. Shortly thereafter they were married.

Many of our established churches have had a brilliant history of faithful ministry, but now are stagnant. The question for each member and leader of such a church is "Do you have faith that your church can do it again?"

The answer to that question will determine for the most part what God will be able to accomplish through their local church.

Congregations which have faith in their future "climb in the wheelbarrow" and bet their existence that God is with them and calling them to faithful, active discipleship.

I visit established congregations from time to time that are in a quandary over how they are going to pay to replace an air conditioner or roof or renovate/refurbish a facility to meet safety codes. They have a debt-free facility, a membership and a pastor, yet they don’t know how to move ahead. Furthermore, members seldom tell neighbors and friends about their church or invite them to worship, thus their congregation is declining in membership.

I find their reticence and fear in stark contrast to new churches that have no facilities and a new membership that has a limited history of financial giving. They are full of faith about what God has in store for their church. They will commit themselves to a million dollar or more, 15-year mortgage in order to build their first unit.

Excited about their church, individual members tell others about their church and invite them to come with them. Pastors and lay leaders venture to make "the big asks" of people, believing that God will bless their feeblest efforts and maximize them for the greatest good.