Rob Prince's Blog

The last penny came off the press yesterday. Pennies started being made in 1793. Back then a penny bought a biscuit, a candle, or some candy. Today, it costs about four cents to make a penny. I wasn’t a math major but it seems that if it costs four times the amount to make a penny than what it is worth, it quite literally is not a money making venture. The penny had to die. It didn’t make financial sense to make cents. 

I wonder if there are things that have lost their value in the church? Do we do things that no longer make sense, but cost cents (sometimes a lot more than cents)? Every church that I have been a part of has had a few sacred cows hanging around that probably could have been let out to pasture years ago. Sometimes we do things that don’t necessarily cost cents, but still have no value and should be buried.

The opposite is also true, there might be things that have immense value that we have let go by the wayside because the bottom line. For example, I wonder if spiritual renewal weeks (revival services) fall into this category. A yearly (even semi-annually) revival meetings were common place fifty years ago. Today, most churches no longer have them. The unsaved have other things to do. School activities take out many students and parents from evening services. Other busyness invades our time. The seasoned saints felt they no longer needed such gatherings. Attendance dropped. It grew costly. There are better ways to spend money. I’ve heard all the arguments. Churches don’t see the value in the special services. It’s like the penny. They cost more than they are worth.

But is that true? Revival/spiritual renewal services still can have immense value. In fact, it makes no spiritual sense to call them off. No matter the cost. 

Our spiritual renewal services are preceded by a 24/7 prayer week. We are convinced spiritual renewal should be bathed in prayer. There are three people in the building (two hosts and one pray-er) for every hour from Sunday to Sunday. Next, from Sunday to Wednesday, we have special services. We provide a free meal before the weekday meetings. We start early (5:30 meal; 6:30 service) so young families can still attend. We provide children’s services (it’s not babysitting. It’s age appropriate children’s worship). We do our best to allow our “regular” worship leaders and pastors to have the services off—so that they can receive the blessing of spiritual renewal (maybe those leading need spiritual renewal the most. We don’t want our leaders to have the well run dry). We bring in excellent speakers. It’s an important rhythm of our church. We ask folks to prioritize the gatherings. We remind them that we all need it. Pastors included. Hitting pause on our busy schedules and settling to hear what the Lord has for us has immense value. It’s not like the penny.

What’s the value in one person saved? One marriage renewed? One teenager called in to the ministry? One person healed? One discouraged saint reinvigorated? The penny might not be worth the time and effort to make them anymore. The same cannot be said for times of spiritual renewal.

Several years ago, the Church of the Nazarene made a decadal emphasis on reaching the next generation. A powerful video was made announcing the effort (see it here).  “You’re losing us” multiple minors warned. The video closed with various children telling their ages in ten years. Several years later, I’m curious where those kids are now?  Did we, in fact, lose them? My guess is, in many cases, we did.

In the decade that followed the video, budget cuts eliminated positions in the global children’s ministry leadership team. If memory serves, we announced the children and youth emphasis, then did nothing about it. No real follow up was offered. So now, a several later, most Nazarene churches have fewer children than they did ten years ago. Our decadal emphasis did nothing. Many churches have less than five children who regularly attend. Some have zero kids and no prospects of reaching any. Those churches are dead. They just don’t know it.

A quote attributed to C.S. Lewis is true (no matter who said it first): “Children are not a distraction for a more important work, they are the most important work.” It’s time to move Manual paragraph 922 regarding the Value of Children and Youth out of the appendix and onto the front page. Every church (Every. Single. Church.) should prioritize reaching boys and girls for Jesus. Turn the worship services into a training centers. Turn potlucks into prayer sessions. Understandably, not every church can afford a “children’s pastor,” but no church can afford to forget about the children in their communities. Every pastor must become a “children’s pastor” no matter his/her role in the church.

We don’t need another Bible study for people who already know the Bible. We need mentors and tutors in elementary schools. Allow the boy or girl scouts or children advocacy groups to meet in the building. Host trunk or treat events. Offer free babysitting to single moms or invite support meetings for foster parents. Make an all-out, anything goes, no holds bar effort to reach boys and girls for Jesus. We need a true emphasis on reaching boys and girls, not just a well-produced video. 

The future of the denomination hangs in the balance. Reach children or die. 

Note: Thankfully some positive signs are afoot. The addition of Global children’s discipleship advocates, Trey and Candice Brooks, is a great start. They are terrific. I just hope it’s not too little too late.

Did you see the social media post recently listing Bible sales and music downloads as an indicator of a religious revival in America? In response, church researcher, Ryan Burge, stated that for even a 3% church attendance increase (over the general population in USA), it would mean (on average) every church in America (about 300,000 houses of worship) would increase attendance by 35 people in the last 90 days. The average church in America has 75 people. Has every church grown to 110? “On the ground reporting doesn’t match that reality,” he said. According to Burge, while there are examples of a church here or there showing remarkable growth, increased attendance is not happening. Most churches are in decline. But are Bible sales, music downloads or even church attendance indicators of revival? I’m not so sure.

When revival comes to America, we will know it. Everyone will know it—Christian and non-Christian alike will know it. It won’t be a church here or a church there experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit. It will be a fresh wind sweeping across our land. It will result in changed hearts and changed churches, but also changed workplaces and schools. Justice will roll like a mighty stream. Relationships will be restored. Wrongs will be righted. Forgiveness offered and received. God’s kingdom coming to earth as it is in heaven, in other words.

When revival comes to America, there probably will be more Bibles sold, more Christian songs downloaded and more “butts in the pews,” but it will be much more than that. The hungry will be fed. Prisoners will be visited. Strangers welcomed. Sinners and non-sinners alike would be blessed by a mighty revival. The name of Jesus will be lifted high across the land. 

When revival to comes to America, there will be a burning, ever-present longing for Jesus. I want that. I really do. I am praying for that end. it will mean commitment. I’m not talking about the sacrifice from strangers in the great unknown corners of the country, I’m talking about me. I’m praying revival starts in me. It will mean letting go of my desires and seeking Jesus with all I have. I’m praying for the courage to be willing to do everything needed to see revival happen in the church, in our land and in me.

When revival comes to America, I will be changed.

Money led churches worry.
Spirit led churches trust.

Money led churches don’t want to offend big donors.
Spirit led churches don’t want to offend the Holy Spirit.

Money led churches think of their pastors as employees.
Spirit led churches think of their pastors as men and women called by God.

Money led churches look at the bottom line.
Spirit led churches keep an eye on the finish line.

Money led churches play it safe.
Spirit led churches take risks.

Money led churches love their neighbor… if they can afford it.
Spirit led churches love their neighbor… period. 

Money led church view success in terms of profit.
Spirit led churches view success in following the Old Testament prophets.

Money led churches continually ask for more money.
Spirit led churches continually seek more of the Spirit.

Money led churches think of what they can get out of people.
Spirit led churches think of what they can give to people.

Money led churches say “no” when it doesn’t make financial sense.
Spirit led churches say ‘Yes” in spite of dollar and cents.

Money led churches count the cost of every program.
Spirit led churches count the cost of every person.

Money led churches are greedy.
Spirit led churches are generous.

Money led churches in the end have no money.
Spirit led churches in the end have the Spirit of God.

Money led churches close.
Spirit led churches thrive.

Let’s be a Spirit led church!

Did the Macedonian church have the “secret sauce” to keep churches open and pulpits filled that is missing today? Last week, Axios stated that 15,000 churches could close this year (Read it here). I wrote the need to fill pulpits  (read it here ). Paul wrote: In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. 1 Corinthians 8:2-3

What you just read is impossible. Absolutely impossible. The Macedonians in “severe trial” still were experiencing “overflowing joy” and “rich generosity.” That’s not the impossible part (Jesus brings joy in the most difficult circumstances), what Paul wrote next is impossible: they gave “even beyond their ability.” How can one do that? You can only give what you can give. How can you give “beyond your ability”? That level of giving only happens as one is obedient to the enabling and providing whisper of the Holy Spirit. If we are going to fill all of the soon-to-be-empty pulpits and stop church closings, we need churches full of “beyond-their-ability” givers. 

The church closing and empty pulpit crisis is as much an economic issue as it is a spiritual one. There is not enough money in the offering plates. Pastors can’t feed their families on what the church can afford to pay. Maybe there are a faithful few who’ve been giving “beyond their ability” but not enough parishioners are doing so (Edited to read: some churches have closed even as the faithful have given “beyond their ability.” Church closures are not always economic, in other words). 

Historically, many churches had people giving beyond their ability. In more than one of the churches I’ve pastored there are stories of faithful people mortgaging their homes because the church experienced a financial crisis. One church would pass the plates; the ushers would count the money; and, if there wasn’t enough, they’d pass them again. Such sacrifice is unheard of these days. What pastor would have the gall (courage?) to make such an appeal?

The greatest transfer of wealth is happening in the next 10-15 years. Not coincidently, the greatest need for pastors is happening in the next 10-15 years. What would happen if faithful followers tithed in their wills? I’m not suggesting writing family out of their will or trust, but simply tithing as they are “promoted to glory.” Folks have been faithful in life, could they be faithful in death too. This bequest could be to a local church or (dream with me for a minute) a special endowment* set up by a denomination to supplement the pastor’s salary in churches with an annual income below a certain amount. 

A compelling case could be made to wealthy donors that in order to save churches, we need a several million dollar endowment to invest in the lives of pastors. This is pastor appreciation month, what better way to appreciate pastors than to make it so these servants of the Lord are not living below the poverty line (like I did when pastoring in Bad Axe, Michigan years ago). Lifting the financial burden is one way to fill pulpits and stop the closing of churches. 

Maybe the church’s longevity could be extended as people (rich and no-so-rich) give beyond their ability in life and death. I pray that like the Macedonian churches, in the midst of severe trial, there will well up in us “overwhelming joy” and “rich generosity.” Such faithful giving just might save the church for years to come!

*The math for a pastoral salary supplement endowment is daunting. To truly work on a large nationwide scale, several million dollars (estimated: in excess of $250 million) would need to be invested to payout enough to actually help pastors. Depending on how many pastors would be eligible, the numbers could make establishing such an endowment difficult but not impossible. Not if there is “overwhelming joy and rich generosity.” 

Why is pastoring an existing church in rural America or in an inner city so undesirable that few are willing to go? Is it that hard? That unaffordable? That unfruitful? Seemingly, many think so. Has the Spirit quit calling people?  I hardly think so. Unfortunately, many churches will close if would-be-ministers don’t heed or don’t hear the Spirit’s call.  

Pastoring anywhere these days is hard. Make no mistake, it’s tougher today than when I started pastoring at the Bad Axe Church of the Nazarene in beautiful Bad Axe, Michigan (yes, that’s a real town). Pastors face loneliness, political angst, anxiety, little compensation, complaints, social media monsters, complaints, distractions, addictions, complaints, stuck-in-the-past parishioners, carnal members (“carnal” isn’t a modern word, but it’s still a modern ailment) and far more difficulties than past generations. The hardships are different from the ones that Paul faced, but life’s challenges are still ever present. 

According to Acts 20:22-24, the Spirit “compelled” Paul to go to Jerusalem. He didn’t know what was awaiting him. He had a pretty good idea it wasn’t going to be easy. In every other city, he had faced prison and hardships. Jerusalem would probably be no different. In response to the Spirit, Paul proclaimed that his life meant nothing compared to the task of testifying to the grace of God which he was called to complete. 

We need similar Pauline willingness and courage. The fields are still “white unto harvest” to use Jesus’ analogy. In the next 10-15 years as the current pastors retire or are “promoted to glory,” unless people obey the Spirit’s compelling call, many churches will close. There are just not enough willing-to-go pastors to fill all of the soon-to-be empty pulpits. Who will go to the small rural places? Who will go into tough inner cities? Who will pastor the handful of faithful followers of Jesus in difficult places with little money and less recognition? Take note: It’s hard. It’s sacrificial. There is little glory.  But so needed!

Shh… listen… is the Spirit is calling you? Is the Spirit calling me? 

Young people, men, women, teenagers, second career individuals, and recently retired are you listening? Is there anyone with a fire in your belly for the lost? The Spirit is still calling. There are plenty of places in need of faithful pastors (not just rural and inner cities). Will anyone heed His compelling invitation? Such individuals are out there! Courageous ministers, like Paul, are still out there. Churches in rural areas, small towns, in our cities and everywhere in between need these Kingdom builders! Keep listening. Keep obeying. Willing  workers, the Kingdom needs us!  The Spirit is calling. He/she who has ears let them hear.

When Paul wrote how believers are to “mourn with those that mourn”(Romans 12:15), he didn’t include in that directive to  check passports or voting records or social media posts first. He meant as you put yourself in the shoes of others, mourn as if it were your child, your spouse or your parent.  

This week’s 24th anniversary of 9-11 and the violence in our country (murders of the Ukrainian woman, a political activist in Utah, and the school shooting in Colorado –the 47th of 2025) shook the nation. There were those who chose to respond to these occurrences with outright glee or turning the blind eye of indifference. Clearly neither are acceptable responses for the American tragedies. Nor should the same extremes be evident in the deaths in Gaza or Ukraine or anywhere else in the world where evil and murder seem to reign. Death (in any form) is the enemy on display at Golgotha. It’s the bitter foe defeated in Christ’s empty tomb. 

Put yourself in the other’s shoes. Lace up the tennis shoes of the children who will be in school knowing  their classmates are dead or marred for life. Step into the sandals of a mother in Gaza who’s child was killed because of a bomb. Put on the heels of Erika Kirk as she navigates life with two children and no husband. Slip into the loafers of Iryna Zarutska’s mother who is dealing with the horror that her daughter survived a war but not a bus ride in America. For that matter, put on the boots of the father, who turned in his son for the assignation of Charlie Kirk. It’s not about politics. It is about Christian concern and empathy. 

It is just as troubling to have people happily lashing out about Kirk’s death and those who ignore school shootings or deaths in war. Jesus called us to love our neighbors and love our enemies. To love is to come alongside in grief. To offer hope amongst a hopeless situation. To point people to Jesus when they are walking the most difficult road of their lives. 

Followers of Jesus respond to death, crime, and war as Jesus would. Not ignoring. Not rejoicing. John 11:35: Jesus wept.

According to the research of Ryan Burge, Professor of Practice at the Danforth Center for Religion and Politics at Washington University, there is only one denomination (of all the denominations in the USA) that is significantly larger than it was 30 years ago: The Assemblies of God (see the graph). Of course, the big question is: why them and not us?

The Assemblies of God is a global Pentecostal church which began in 1914 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Church of the Nazarene began in 1908 in Pilot Point Texas. In fact, the original name of the Church of the Nazarene was the “Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene.” (The word “Pentecostal” was dropped in 1919 so as to not be confused with churches like the Assemblies of God that emphasized speaking in tongues and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit). While we differ on “the tongues issue,” we certainly would consider the Assemblies of God church a “sister” church. So why are they doing so well, when the until this year, the Church of the Nazarene in USA/Canada has been in a massive decadal decline?

One might pick an obvious answer and say, it is because of their emphasis on speaking in tongues. But is that it or is there something else going on? I’m sure there are several factors that have contributed to the denominational growth. I will suggest one. 

By virtue of their emphasis on the workings of the Holy Spirit, the Assemblies of God preach a gospel that is near. By that I mean experiential. They are in tune to the fact that Jesus is with us when we gather (with “two or more,” remember His words). In a world that is increasingly disconnected from one another, they preach a gospel of connectedness. This isn’t a tongues issue. It’s what our society is seeking. In an ever increasing lonely world, it’s a message that says, “God wants to connect with you.” 

It can be our message too. Again, I don’t think it is about unknown tongues. It is about meeting with Jesus. Seeking Jesus. Expecting Jesus to show up at our gatherings. It’s the presence of Jesus that makes for a compelling worship service. Not music, lights or preaching. It’s Jesus. 

The Assemblies of God figured that out long ago, and people are drawn to their story. That can be us. Jesus wants to meet with us. Do we plan, pray and prepare our hearts for an up close and personal encounter with Jesus. Maybe if we saw that happening more and more in our churches (starting with our pastors and church leaders), our growth trajectory would look more like the Assemblies of God rather than the stock graph line of Radio Shack (It’s not that bad my fellow Nazarenes). 

Our world needs Jesus. The Assemblies of God doesn’t have a corner on the market of Jesus. It’s a message we can and do preach. The more our people get in touch with Jesus, the greater our impact on culture and society will be. Our task is simple: Connect people to Jesus. 

With the National Nazarene Softball Tournament approaching (sponsored by the Springdale Church in Cincinnati, Ohio on Labor Day weekend. Central church is sending a team), I started thinking about the jerseys worn. Maybe you’ve seen in a sports themed movie when a coach tells an overly selfish player, “The (team) name on the front of the jersey is more important than the (player’s) name on the back of the jersey.” It’s a lesson on the importance of the team.

The team I’ve chosen to be a part of is the “Church of the Nazarene.” Its name is on the front of my jersey.

There are other teams (churches). Good teams. Still I’m a Nazarene. In my cranky critical moments, I think being on another team could be better. For example, non-denominational churches don’t have apportionments.They can give as much or as little to world missions, local missions, retired ministers and Christian colleges as they’d like. No World Evangelism Fund for them. Bad Pun Alert: There’s not a whiff of WEF. They can have as little or as many rules as they like too. Easily change anything they want with a quick vote of their leadership, congregation or on the whim of the pastor (if that’s how their bylaws guide them). Not us. In the Church of the Nazarene, we have a Manual. It can be changed only upon the vote of the General Assembly. Some sections (the Articles of Faith) take at least two General Assemblies before the wording can be changed, and then it has to be ratified by all the districts. 

Sometimes I think it would be easier to be in a non-denominational church with its name on the front of my jersey. Less restrictive. More freedom. Sounds good.

But is it?  Non-denoms also have less accountability. While I don’t want “Big Brother” constantly looking over my shoulder, I am comforted that there are guidelines and procedures for many (not all) circumstances that might come a church’s way. I’m glad that there is a collective wisdom in place. I’m thankful for the checks and balances within the Nazarene system. The Church of the Nazarene is not like a fly-by-night dog-and-pony show. It’s been around for 117 years and still going strong. Located in over 160 countries, it’s a stable, global, team. A non-denom team can’t say that. 

It’s easy to complain (Yes, I’m looking in the mirror as I write those words). But today I am thankful. I trust that Church of the Nazarene leadership is not corrupt. I believe our church leaders when they say they are praying for the churches and its members. In any organization there is a bad apple or two, but that does not negate the thousands and thousands of hard-working, Jesus-loving, faithful  Nazarenes throughout the world. Within any organization, decisions will be made and monies spent that I wish had not been made or spent, but I still trust that the conclusions made (even where I would have landed someplace else) have not been made without prayer and consideration. Moreover, I love my local team. I tell visitors all the time, “I’m biased, but ours is a great church.”  

Is the church perfect? No. Are some actions frustrating? Yes. Are there problematic people. Of course. Can someone point to an inaccurate application of justice. Probably. Still, I am glad the team name on the front of my jersey reads, “Church of the Nazarene.“ They are my people, and I am sticking with them.

Back when “testimonies” were a regular part of a Sunday night church services (do you remember those?*), one of the cliché’s frequently heard in Nazarene circles was the claim, “I’m save and sanctified.” Too often, the phrase sounded like an accomplishment achieved. “Saved and sanctified” seemed more a badge of pride instead of an acute awareness of how far one has yet to go in their journey toward Christ-likeness. 

There is no boasting in the truly “saved and sanctified.” There is a humility that is averse to using such “arrival-like terminology.” To be “saved and sanctified” is not like taking an airplane to Atlanta and stepping off the jetway saying, “I’m here. I made it.” Instead “saved and sanctified” is more like a long arduous hike. There are cracks and crevasses along the way. Plenty of places, where it would be easy to fall, and sometimes one does. It can be exhausting. It’s not always fun. The life traveler learns from the rough places. In times of distress, as they call upon the Lord, and God picks the journeyer up, dusts them off, and they more carefully traverse the road ahead. In self-reflective moments, the “saved and sanctified” look back at the trail they’ve travelled and think, “Wow, the Lord has brought me a long way.” Still they realize that there is plenty of trail ahead. They are not alone, but they aren’t done either. They haven’t arrived. They continue walking upward.

An unchurched neighbor might not use “saved and sanctified” terminology, especially if not versed in “Christian-ese.” Instead they might use words to describe their truly “saved and sanctified” friend as: Honest, kind, loving, joy-filled, patient, good, merciful, gracious, faithful, gentle, and display immense self-control (unknowingly, the unchurched just described the fruit of the spirit). To the point, being “saved and sanctified” is not a claim that one makes lightly about themselves, but it’s better merited as non-churched watchers unintentionally acknowledge the identifiers of holiness and humility displayed in the person’s life.

Pray that our non-church, pre-Christian neighbors and friends will see the attributes of holiness in us more and more, as we carry the kingdom of God with us into the world.

*Please note: in spite of the random goofiness of some Sunday night testimonies, I miss them. They were good for the unsaved and young believers to hear the victories of the saints. It was good for the seasoned believers, to hear the joy and excitement of newbie Christians. I miss other elements of the Sunday night service too. We lost a bit of community that once existed in the old-time Sunday night services.