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The statistics in the reports Bannister United Methodist Church in Michigan submitted in 2013 were grim: zero professions of faith, zero baptisms and an average worship attendance of 25. The church was in serious decline as was the small rural village where it was located – the school and community grocery store had closed, and many families were struggling to survive.

However, this isn’t a story about declining and closing. It’s a story of the transformation that earned Bannister the One Matters Discipleship Award in the West Michigan Conference.

Bannister Church’s decline started reversing in 2014 when the pastor and members began participating in the West Michigan Vital Church Initiative and intentionally reaching out to their community. 

That year, says the Rev. Mona Dye, pastor, “The church experienced a 43 percent increase in attendance with 12 new members joining, nine professions of faith, 10 baptisms and new faces showing up in worship on a regular basis.”

During this time, church members also opened the “This and That Free Store” to provide personal hygiene and paper products, cleaning and laundry supplies, and new and gently used clothing to those in need in the community. “The store is open twice a month,” says Dye, “and no one is turned away.” People greet one another as friends and form relationships over coffee and cookies. The church adds the names and addresses of guests to the newsletter mailing list.

A red-letter day came when a couple who were shopping at the free store asked what they should wear if they were to come to worship. “We told them what they had on would be fine,” Dye recalls. “Slowly people started to come and some of them stayed, told their friends about us, and brought family members.” 

Dye adds, “Seven of Bannister’s recent profession of faith members were initially clients of the free store. They still participate in it by both receiving goods and being store hosts.”

Other efforts included a major spruce up to the church — inside and out, free community soup and sandwich dinners, community picnics, Easter egg hunts, story time and school supply giveaways. “At all of these events,” Dye says, “we offer door prizes that attendees can register to win. By doing this, we capture information to make future contacts.”

When it completed the vital congregations program this year, Bannister’s membership had grown to 45. In the first half of 2015 alone, six people joined the church — four by profession of faith. Dye baptized eight; five youth and children attended United Methodist camps.

“We now have children in worship and a thriving children’s ministry, including a newly formed kids’ bell choir,” says Dye. “Looking out at the congregation on a Sunday morning is now like seeing a living portrait of the kingdom of God: rich and poor, young and old, healthy and frail, loving God as they love one another.”

The One Matters Award includes a $1,000 gift for the church. How will the congregation use it?

When first asked, Dye responded, “I’ll tell you what we’re not going to do with it — we’re not going to pay the electric bill with that money!”

Now, as the church considers emerging ministries, she says, “We are asking ourselves ‘what if’ questions: What if we started a group for widows and widowers? What if we could sponsor a children’s library or a Lego club for the children in the village? What if we offered a parenting group to help young families? What if we could double the number of kids we send to camp?”

Cindy Solomon is a marketing consultant and freelance writer living in Franklin, Tennessee.