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FORT WORTH?When a church faces a membership decline, solutions are often elusive. For Meadowridge Community Baptist Church in Fort Worth, the situation was desperate enough for a radical approach.
After various attempts at revitalization through the years failed, the pastorless and struggling congregation felt a need for drastic change. “We had a faithful remnant,” said Leo Garrett, a Meadowridge member and distinguished professor of theology emeritus at Southwestern Seminary. But, he said, “We needed a fresh start ? a fresh supply of dedicated, mature Christians.”
Meanwhile, nearby Wedgwood Baptist Church had spent several months on its “Touching Eternity” giving campaign, a fund designed largely to begin “new works”?mission churches that would allow Wedgwood’s reach to extend beyond its landlocked location. As Wedgwood members prayed about their first “assignment” and Meadowridge sought direction on how to continue its church at all, God merged their paths.
In December 2003, a Meadowridge transition team met with Al Meredith, Wedgwood’s senior pastor, and another staff member, Randal Lyle, over lunch. After hearing their concerns and request for help, Meredith was hesitant to send only a dozen or so people into an unknown?and possibly defective?situation.
Instead, he offered an unusual answer: If Meadowridge was willing, Meredith said, Wedgwood would send a “critical mass” of 100 to 150 members to join the church. The church could call Randal Lyle, Wedgwood’s college minister, as its next pastor, and Meredith would give him permission “to raid the congregation,” he explained, taking as many members as felt led to go.
It was a life-changing day for Lyle.
“Wedgwood was already committed to starting a church or some kind of new work, and we just didn’t know it would come in this form,” Lyle said. Meredith’s suggestion at the lunch meeting surprised Lyle too. “This was the first I had heard of this, and I am sure the shock showed on my face.”
While the idea was unusual, the Meadowridge congregation of about 40 members, an affiliate of the SBTC, was willing to consider it because of its great need, Meredith explained. “It was a risky thing for them,” he said, “but their options were limited.”
Lyle likewise recalled initial hesitance in the minds of some at the church. “It was a huge step for people from Meadowridge. Overnight there would be enough people from Wedgwood that they could be outvoted on issues if the new folks decided to do so.We wanted to make sure that our purposes and values were in line with each other.” But in the end God overcame this initial concern, Lyle said, and the church voted unanimously to go forward with the plan.
After months of preparation, the vision was officially presented to the Wedgwood congregation in May 2004. After that service, Meredith recalled, “People tearfully came down the aisle. They said they loved Wedgwood but just felt called to do this.” In the end, the group?approximately 110?moving from Wedgwood to Meadowridge was entirely active members and also included several church leaders and even the entire Saturday night service worship team.
Why would a church send 100-plus tithing members to another church? “Only because the Lord says so,” Meredith said. “We’ve tightened our belts financially, but we’re rejoicing in what God’s doing at Meadowridge.” Not only did the church send an influx of members, it has also pledged to help support Meadowridge’s new associate pastor, Jeremy Powell, who had formerly served as Wedgwood’s singles minister.
Since this chapter of Meadowridge’s story began on August 1, new and old members alike have experienced real blessing at the church, Lyle said. In two months, the church has already grown enough to need two Sunday services. “The most exciting part of it all is that we are reaching many people from this immediate community who have not been involved in church anywhere,” Lyle said. “We have reached some people here at Meadowridge that would have never found Wedgwood, even though it is only about four miles away.”
The revitalization has already resulted in several baptisms.
Lyle said the church is also beginning to reflect its community in ethnic and age diversity, including a fast-growing senior adult population.
Garrett agreed the change has brought great benefits to his church. “It’s a great encouragement” to original Meadowridge members, he said. “We have been tremendously blessed.” Plus, Garrett has watched former Wedgwood members benefit, as well, noting that many had not known each other previously because they had attended different worship services at their former church.
Before revitalization occurred, Garrett said, “There were times we wondered if we had invested in the wrong cause.” Garrett said the church now can minister in unprecedented ways. “The two groups are coalescing into one church more rapidly than we expected,” he said. “We have the resources and the momentum to develop a congregation in far South Fort Worth [of great s
