Ministry by Members

This morning I "tuned in" to the service of an old student housemate. I was taken aback by how old he had become -- and surprised to see that he was Congregational -- which means Congregational in practice: ministry by members. In a harsh spiritual environment, he had a thriving Church, and in spite of his age, a crowd of young people in his Church. OBSERVATION: Many Churches thrive in congenial environments. I have seen again and again that Congregational Churches (again, in practice, and not necessarily by name) have the ability to survive harsh spiritual environments.