A recap of the EM Adult morning session focused on the evolution of church models, the importance of intentional discipleship, and fostering meaningful community connections.

The Evolution of Church Models

• Christianity membership in the US has dropped from 70% to approximately 47%.
• There is a shift away from the mega-church model toward smaller, home-based church structures.
• The 'multiplying church' model focuses on increasing the number of churches while decreasing individual church size.
• Smaller models are often more effective at fostering true connections with God than large, feature-heavy churches.

Understanding the Wall

• The 'wall' refers to a point in life where expectations of church life do not meet reality.
• Many people learn rituals as children but hit this wall when their sense of duty is challenged.
• Individuals may encounter this wall multiple times throughout their spiritual journey.
• Recognizing this phenomenon helps leaders support those who feel disillusioned or stuck in their faith.

Round 1: Experiencing Love in the Church

• Participants were asked to identify specific scenarios where they felt genuinely loved by their church.
• A key theme was the importance of church members showing up during significant life events.
• Meaningful support during tragedies, such as the death of a loved one, is essential.
• Consistent, daily community life is equally important to building a foundation of love.

Round 2: Redefining Church Goals

• The discussion challenged the practice of measuring church success primarily by baptism numbers.
• A better goal is focusing on how people are being formed to love and disciple others.
• Churches should celebrate the journey of discipleship rather than just membership statistics.
• Intentionality in discipleship requires moving beyond basic programs to foster personal growth.

Round 2: Supporting Discipleship Journeys

• Churches must adapt their support structures to meet people at different stages of life.
• Small churches often rely heavily on volunteers, while larger churches have more formal support structures.
• Intentional outreach, both individually and as a group, is vital for supporting members.
• Leaders should identify where individuals are in their journey to help them take the next step.

Insights from Small Group Moderators

• Moderators emphasized that discipleship is not a solo act but a community-based process.
• Celebrating 'lingering' after services can reveal the strength of relationships within a congregation.
• Intentional prayer, including physically laying hands on one another, was highlighted as a powerful practice.
• Churches should create environments where members feel safe enough to share both successes and failures.

Pastor Feedback and Needs

• Surveys of 14 pastors indicated that congregations most need mentorship and support for discipleship.
• Approximately 65% of pastors feel their congregation understands the heavy burden of pastoral leadership.
• Pastors encouraged members to 'be church' rather than just 'do church' through endless tasks.
• There is a broad recognition that pastors cannot carry the weight of the ministry alone.

Practical Steps for Personal Growth

• Participants were encouraged to write an email to themselves to solidify their reflections.
• Sabbath morning prayer can include asking God who to connect with and share a journey with.
• The wckcm.org/livestream page provides AI-generated summaries and transcripts for ongoing study.
• Engaging in intentional, one-on-one conversations helps bridge gaps between different generations and demographics.

Lines Worth Remembering

• “Please try to be church. Don't do church.”
• “You cannot just have people show up for the big thing, the tragedy, and not spend any time together on a regular basis.”

One-Sentence Takeaway

True discipleship requires moving beyond programmatic church activities to foster intentional, community-based relationships that support individuals through every stage of their spiritual journey.

If You Only Have 2 Minutes

• Shift focus from mega-church luxuries to the 'multiplying church' model for deeper connection.
• Recognize that hitting a 'wall' is a normal part of the spiritual journey.
• Measure success by how well people are discipled to love others, not just by baptism counts.
• Balance daily community interaction with presence during major life-changing events.
• Encourage intentional, one-on-one spiritual conversations on Sabbath mornings.
• Create safe spaces where members can share failures as well as successes.
• Understand that pastors need the congregation's active participation to sustain the church.
• Use digital resources to revisit teachings and maintain momentum between meetings.

References & Rabbit Holes

• Francis Chan — Author and speaker referenced regarding his work in building home churches.
• wckcm.org/livestream — The official resource website for session transcripts and AI-driven summaries.