Why a Blog and Who Are We

In a world of YouTube, Instagram Stories, Facebook Reels, Tik Tok and Podcasts, why would we start a blog? Why the written word in a time when people are digesting information visually and auditorily? These are great questions. Both Lauren and I (Bill) still believe in the power of the written word and want to share our love for this with you and give you the opportunity to reflect and respond.

God tells Habakkuk to write the vision and make it plain on tablets so that a runner may read it (Habakkuk 2:2). Our desire is for this blog to become a resource for you that you can reference at any time so you can execute God’s vision for your ministry or church.

So who are we and why should you care? 

Rev. Dr. Bill Brown

Bill is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church and has served rural, city, and suburban churches in his 31 years of ministry. He is currently the Director of Innovative Evangelism for the Baltimore Washington Conference and is responsible for equipping our Conference to start new churches and work with congregations in need of renewal and revitalization. His passion includes helping local churches discern and implement their next faithful step. He has a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological, a Doctor of Ministry focused in Organizational Leadership from Drew University and is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation. Bill is married to Michelle, who grounds and humbles him; they have a daughter, Torie, who amazes and impresses him every day. When not working, you may find Bill enjoying the 3 R’s – reading, the Ravens, and running.

Rev. Lauren Harris

Lauren is an award-winning writer and itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.). She served at Reid Temple A.M.E. Church in Glenn Dale, MD for over 10 years under the esteemed leadership of Rev. Dr. Lee P. Washington. She also served in Columbia, SC from 2015 to 2017 with the Rev. Carey A. Grady at Reid Chapel A.M.E. Church. Presently, Lauren serves at Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church in Columbia, MD where the Rev. C. Michelle Langston is senior pastor. She has a Master of Divinity from Howard University and a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maryland. She’s also been published in Parents magazine, Sojourners, Washington Family, Modern Loss, Gospel Today, and several others. In honor of her deceased husband, Gabriel Jones, she volunteered for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for five years and was a finalist in their search for a national president in 2018. Professionally, Lauren works for the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church on Congregational Development. She is married and a proud mother of two children.

What can you expect from this blog? Let’s start with our understanding of our current reality. It is no secret that the mainline Protestant Christian church is in decline. Participation and engagement in the church, as well as other civic organizations has been in decline for several decades and only accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the midst of this decline we struggle with our ability to adapt to the context in which we find ourselves. We want to look back to the heyday of our organization, where all we had to do was put out a flashy new sign or talk about how great our pastor or a particular program was and people would show up. But this is not the case any more.

The former Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple, once said: “The Church is the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit of those who are not its members.” In other words, God’s purpose for your church focuses on those who are not yet a part of your church. So how do we become a church for those who don’t yet know Christ? How do we become a church that moves beyond the walls of the building? Through this blog we will explore how to do this, introduce you to strategies and resources which we hope will equip you for this work and share our insights and experiences as we undertake this journey together. Our goal is to empower you and your congregation to follow Jesus beyond the walls of your building.