Downtown Baptist Church has been a landmark of hope sitting at the corner of Main Street in the middle of a quiet, country town as she has for over 100 years. Downtown has enjoyed a long history of being a church that attracted the locals for worship through many generations, but it may be facing its last generation. Stop by on a Sunday and you’ll find a faithful few, mostly older adults gathering for the last two remaining Sunday school classes before scattering to their regular seats spread out across the almost empty sanctuary. They used to have a full-time pastor, but the funds aren’t available for that any more, so now a retired preacher tries to encourage the weary remnant to hold on to hope of a better day. But, will there be a better day for Downtown Baptist? Will they ever see a return of the church they remember and have served for so long?

The story of Downtown Baptist may sound all too familiar as many of our Baptist churches in South Carolina are facing similar futures. This may be the last generation to ever gather for worship before they will be forced to close their doors forever. But, what if there are other options that could restore life and continue the vision of making disciples in the community for future generations? There is hope for the future for God is still act work. The question for members of Downtown Baptist and any other church like her is, will you take steps of faith toward a hopeful future?

Churches are finding hope through the faithfulness of God and guidance of those called to serve our at-risk churches. They are asking the right questions, praying and trusting God for their future and surrendering their will to whatever God leads them to do so that Jesus is proclaimed in future generations in their community. Churches are being revitalized. Churches are reSTARTing. And some are choosing to reinvest their resources so that the mission of God can continue.

“The question for members of Downtown Baptist and any other church like her is, will you take steps of faith toward a hopeful future?

Is your church a lot like Downtown Baptist? Does it need a hopeful future through a prayerful conversation with someone trained to serve local churches? Start a conversation today and begin to take steps of faithful so that God can be glorified and Christ can be proclaimed to future generations in your community. There is hope for churches.