{"id":1926,"date":"2021-06-03T12:12:16","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T16:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/church-replanting\/?post_type=resource&p=1926"},"modified":"2021-06-03T12:12:16","modified_gmt":"2021-06-03T16:12:16","slug":"maryland-church-revitalizes-grows-more-than-1200-in-three-months","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/church-replanting\/resource\/maryland-church-revitalizes-grows-more-than-1200-in-three-months\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland church revitalizes, grows more than 1,200% in three months"},"content":{"rendered":"

For years, the dormant sanctuary of Clinton Baptist Church (CBC) in Clinton, Maryland, sat cold in the winter months because of a broken heater. The A-frame wood and brick church seats about 1,000 people and is situated on 12 acres of land and includes three buildings, two fellowship halls, a commercial kitchen and 50 classrooms.<\/p>\n

After the passing of the senior pastor, an interim pastor stepped in for five years. But the church dwindled to nine members.<\/p>\n

A NEW PASTOR, A NEW START<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pastor Colin Pugh, the now-senior pastor of CBC, first heard about the vacant position when he was still working as the youth pastor at Kettering Baptist Church in Prince George\u2019s County, Maryland.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d been feeling for a year or two that God was pushing me to leave for something else but didn\u2019t know what that was,\u201d said Pugh.<\/p>\n

From more than 100 applicants, he made it to the top seven, then top five and then the top two. It became clear to the leaders of CBC and to Pugh that God was calling him to help revitalize this church.<\/p>\n

And even before he got the position, God centered Pugh\u2019s mind on a clear vision and theme \u2014 \u201cWe Grow. We Serve. We Love.\u201d \u2014 and drew his heart to scripture passages that formed the basis for 12 specific sermons.<\/p>\n

At his final interview, Pugh shared what God had placed on his heart, and was soon voted in as senior pastor of CBC.<\/p>\n

ROADBLOCKS AND GOD\u2019S PROVISION<\/strong><\/p>\n

But before Pugh had accepted their offer, he learned there was a rather significant pay decrease, and the church had some debt.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pay decrease would be a big hit to my family, but I knew God was calling me there. But when I looked at their financial statements, they didn\u2019t have any money to pay me,\u201d explained Pugh.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Masks with CBC’s theme for 2019.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pugh and his wife prayed continuously for the Lord to show them their next steps.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter much prayer, I went back to my pastor at Kettering, Pastor Sterling, and I said, \u2018I know God is calling me here, and I need your help,\u2019\u201d Pugh explained.<\/p>\n

Pastor Sterling and the Kettering Baptist Church family agreed to partner with him in helping to revitalize CBC.<\/p>\n

Pugh\u2019s first official day as CBC\u2019s senior pastor was October 6, 2019. And for the first time in five winters, for Pugh\u2019s ordination, the church had warm bodies in its seats and warm air emanating from its vents.<\/p>\n

Pugh felt God had already given him a vision for the church, so from October to December, he preached on that theme: \u201cWe Grow. We Serve. We Love.\u201d<\/p>\n

CHURCH REVITALIZATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn three months, we went from nine members to 60. And not only that, we went from nine regular attendees to 125 regular attendees every Sunday,\u201d said Pugh.<\/p>\n

Pugh and CBC rejoiced that some 30% of their new members were also new believers in Jesus.<\/p>\n

\"\"
CBC’s ice-skating rink event in their church parking lot.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Along with his leadership team, Pugh began slowly making much-needed changes like updating the church\u2019s technology, making wise budgeting cuts, meeting their neighbors and having everyone park in the front of the church so people knew the church was alive.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur theme for 2020 was \u2018Growing in Our Prayer Life,\u2019 and we had no idea how much we would need that theme. We were thriving and growing, and then the pandemic hit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Determined not to let the pandemic hinder God\u2019s mission in the church and community from moving forward, CBC leaders brainstormed creative ideas to continue to engage the community.<\/p>\n

They offered professionally led Zoom classes on topics like children\u2019s mental health and finances and partnered with local educators to help parents navigate distance learning challenges with their children.<\/p>\n

Like many churches, CBC opened a pantry and began giving out food. Last Thanksgiving, they gave away 405 Thanksgiving baskets. And next week, they\u2019re giving out over 800 meals to seniors in their community.<\/p>\n

REACHING THE LOST<\/strong><\/p>\n

CBC\u2019s theme for 2021 is \u201cGrowing People to reach the Lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had 28 members attending our \u2018Sharing Jesus without Fear\u2019 class. We wanted to serve the community and give them the opportunity to share Christ, so we found a company that could set up two ice skating rinks on our property\u2014with rental skates.\u00a0 We had a DJ and catered food. Members from our church had an opportunity to share the love of Christ with guests.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
CBC’s Valentine’s Day balloons for the nearby nursing home<\/strong><\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Valentine\u2019s Day, CBC purchased 200 heart-shaped balloons \u2014 with Bible verses about the love of Christ printed on them \u2014 from a small, black-owned business in the area and bagged cookies as weights tied to the balloons, then delivered them to two nearby nursing homes.<\/p>\n

The church\u2019s outreach and love to the community was even recognized by Prince George\u2019s county officials with a local award.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see and be part of what God is doing in our church and community,\u201d said Pugh.<\/p>\n

CBC \u2014 a once dying church \u2014 is now thriving. Their story proves God is in the business of continuing to bring life and restoration to His Church.<\/p>\n

\n

Do you feel called to revitalize or replant a church? We can help. <\/strong>Click here<\/strong><\/a> to learn more.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For years, the dormant sanctuary of Clinton Baptist Church (CBC) in Clinton, Maryland, sat cold in …<\/p>\n

Maryland church revitalizes, grows more than 1,200% in three months<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1927,"template":"","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"tags":[],"channels":[],"topics":[53],"languages":[],"class_list":["post-1926","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource_type-article","topics-replanting"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMaryland church revitalizes, grows more than 1,200% in three months - 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