The Louisville Courier-Journal, a Gannett newspaper that boasts the largest paid circulation of any Louisville news publication, published a picture from Sojourn’s baptism service yesterday on their front page (Sojourn Lead Pastor Daniel Montgomery baptizing Ben Mast).
The photo accompanies an article about declining membership and baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention, and also includes quotes from Sojourn pastor-elder Chad Lewis (also a singer-songwriter, featured on our Fading Grass CD) on ways that Sojourn cultivates a missional mindset:
Chad Lewis at Sojourn Community Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Germantown, said the church uses such things as art exhibits and neighborhood outreach to meet people because “we don’t expect everyone to come into a church service.”
“It’s not about being cool or hip or anything, it’s about being relevant and real,” he said.
In the Southern Baptist church he grew in, he said, everyone would dress up and “pretend like you’re perfect” — which he said was a turnoff to many.
“When I preach … I want people to know I struggle,” he said.
The article features quotes from leaders within the SBC, in light of this week’s annual meeting in Indianapolis. For more on the talk within the SBC over membership, baptisms and related issues, check out Timmy Brister’s blog, Provocations and Pantings and Ed Stetzer’s LifeWay Research blog, EdStetzer.com.
