As promised, I’m going to follow up on an editorial two months ago that evaluated statistics in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America in the past 20 years. The statistics were very encouraging. But there was one that concerned me, and I know it concerns other pastors and elders in the church.

The number of professions of faith in the RPCNA has not increased in the past 20 years. There are about 100 reported professions each year, just as there were in the late 1980s. Synod members expressed concern about that low number 20 years ago, so it’s clear we still have much work to do in this area.

We can’t make anyone trust in Christ. But we can equip ourselves and others to share the gospel, to make disciple-makers. Is our priority on this high enough? Is your priority on this high enough?

Perhaps in this focus we do well to consider the U.S. and Canada to be mission fields. Sacrifice is not required only of Christians sent to foreign countries; it is required of those who stay at home. Typically, sacrifice involves more than minor adjustments to one’s way of living. It involves changing priorities and all of the upheaval that can follow such changes.

Sometimes as we open ourselves to new priorities we are convicted by a need. I’ve been moved by some Synod delegates who have spoken in favor of trying to plant churches strategically in major cities, rather than necessarily where our resources are strongest. The apostles sometimes thought this way, and so must we.

In that same way, I’ve at times felt burdened by a desire to see more races represented in the RPCNA. The number of non-Caucasian pastors and elders is very small, and, in my observation, has not increased in the past 20 years, despite the change in the racial makeup of the U.S. and Canada.

Would we benefit from strategic planning and prioritizing in this area as well? I’m thinking of planning at the congregational, presbytery, and Synod levels. While friendship evangelism is great—or whatever evangelism tools we’ve been using—one has to wonder if they have fallen short. I could be very wrong, but I don’t believe it’s just a matter of our not being blessed with fruit. I believe our hearts are mostly in the right place, but our priorities and level of sacrifice are wanting.

It is interesting that when we have targeted needs in the RPCNA and have made them top priorities, placing prayer and resources behind them, we have seen changes. God could have said no, but He chose to bless our convictions. I think of the emphasis on more healthy, growing congregations, or the emphasis on youth discipleship and leadership, or the need to remove barriers to the physically disabled.

What would happen if we were to put such an emphasis on seeing conversions in our midst? Or seeing a more representative racial makeup in our congregations?

This would be a good topic in which to hear your input and insight. And if you agree with me, then pray along with me.