Consider Skipping the Next Christian Conference… Here’s Why.

Introduction:

Over the last few years, I’ve noticed a curious trend. While almost all local conservative churches in America have stagnate or shrinking memberships, the attendance at large national Christian conferences is increasing.

Where Do You Find Community?

I regularly hear people speaking fondly of their favorite Christian conferences and how they long to join the annual gathering so they can be with all their Christian friends. I’ve attended several national conferences and youth rallies in the past decade, and I understand the sentiment, but I do find the popularity of national events concerning in light of our diminishing local churches.

It should not be the case that our greatest experiences of unity and community come from a national gathering with people we only see 1 week-per-year. Our warmest experiences of unity should result from our time with Christians who live near us, worship with us, and bear our burdens as we bear theirs.

No doubt, many will respond, “I don’t have those kinds of friendships in my local church,”

But why?

Local vs. National Church Investment:

Perhaps we don’t have community in our local congregations because we are unprepared to make the same investments in the local church as we are in the national events.

Consider that people are willing to spend a week of vacation, $200 on gas, $400 on tickets, $800 dollars for lodging, and hundreds more on periphery expenses to attend a week-long out-of-state Christian conference. Additionally, event hosts are prepared to spend thousands to rent an event facility and thousands more to fly all the “big name” speakers to their events. Large Christian events can cost the church tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars.

Basic math reveals these types of events will be unsustainable in the future if local churches continue their membership decline.  

I’m certainly not here to make the case that large Christian events are bad, but I do want to offer something for consideration…

What if we brought the money home? What if people were willing to take a week of vacation and dedicate the days to working in the local church. What if we were prepared to invest thousands into the ideas of our local elders to reach our neighborhoods? What if we invested in the maturity of our local members so we didn’t need to go to an event to hear a good sermon. What if we committed to be the best of friends with believers in our hometowns?

Let’s be clear, without strong local congregations, there won’t be any Christian events to attend.

Local Work is Hard Work:

Let’s be clear about another thing, investing in your local congregation is hard work, servant’s work. It’s a lot more difficult than buying a ticket, sitting in a chair, spectating the message of a keynote speaker, and talking about how great it was with your Christian friend who flew in from another state. Investing in your local congregation isn’t a vacation at a conference center, it’s the challenge of mirroring Christ to the people who you do life with on a daily basis.

Maybe it’s worth considering skipping the next big event, seminar, conference, or youth rally and finding some ways to invest close to home. Our local churches need attention right now. Let’s get back to the basics and prioritize what is necessary.