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Background:
Michael Wheatley grew up on the move, the consequence of having a father in the military. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. For more than two decades, Michael has been the pastor of the West Chester Presbyterian Church. He is married to Sandy and has two grown children.
Our Pastor's vision for the church:
That we be a life-giving congregation :
- where everyone would enjoy a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ
- where people would be engaged in the journey of experiencing God's best
- where people would find healing, hope, wholeness, and encouragement
- where imperfect people would give themselves away in serving other imperfect people
A Word From The Pastor:
Dear Friends,
It's been said that you can make numbers say anything. Perhaps there is a little truth in that. On the other hand, we cannot make the mistake of ignoring numbers altogether.
So, here are some numbers. Your giving to the WCPC in 2011 was up over the previous year. Not many churches can say that. This is a positive which cannot be ignored. It says a lot about your attitude toward that which God has given you, where your heart is and your attitude toward the WCPC and its ministries. People give only to those things worth giving to.
Another number is that the WCPC has fewer members today than it did a couple of years ago. This should be a concern. A congregation needs a certain critical mass to support the programs which define it. It's obvious that the number of visitors to our church has dropped. With more and more neighborhood churches, potential visitors will likely stay with the convenience of a neighborhood church, and we are not a neighborhood church. When people visit they generally like what they see and some stay. But if no one visits there is no one to stay.
How do we attract visitors? How do we get them in the front door? Isn't that the question? We advertise in the paper. We have our web page. What else can we do? That question will be considered by the Session.
However, I will make a suggestion. It's not original with me. It's a variation on a theme I picked up from somebody else. I would suggest that every member of the church select five people/families in your immediate neighborhood whom you will pray for every day for five minutes. Not only will you pray for them, but you will ask God how you can serve them in the name of Jesus Christ. And, you will look for opportunities to do just that. It's about making yourself available. And, depending on their needs and the relationship you have with them, you invite them to some program in the church, some special event or to worship on Sunday morning. It all takes time. If no one comes as a result, we have still done the right thing. We have served. We have imitated Christ.
Sometimes, all people need is an invitation. Sometimes, all it takes is for someone to ask. Five people/families. Five minutes a day. What might God do? This could be interesting, to see what God might do in spite of all our excuses for why it won't work for our situation. We have something to offer here at the WCPC. If people won't come to us, maybe we need to take the church to them, so they can see what we are all about.
In Christ,
Rev. Michael Wheatley
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