28 March, 2024

An Exception to the Rule?

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by | 5 June, 2012 | 4 comments

By Darrel Rowland

There are exceptions to the rule . . . there are rare exceptions . . . and then there is Ben Merold.

Ben Merold

Point to statistics showing that a long-term ministry generally doesn”t equal numerical success for a church, and those who disagree will more than likely point to Merold, in ministry for 63 years and counting.

After a 12-year stint at an Indiana church, he spent more than 22 years with Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton, California, where weekly attendance grew from 185 to 3,000.

Then, at age 65, he launched a 17-year stay as senior minister at Harvester Christian Church in Lake Charles, Missouri, where the numbers went from 200 to 3,300.

Now 85, Merold has been minister-at-large for the Missouri church for the past 3½ years.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Merold says, “I am not buying these statistics (about long-term ministries). Some churches plateau because of size””the size of the church or the size of the community, but they are still strong churches. There are too many variables to let this statistic become solid””things like industry leaving the community or great changes in the culture around the location of the church.”

And he adds, “I do believe that large, stable churches are always built by someone who stayed a long time.”

However, Merold also concedes that he left his two longest ministries because those churches weren”t growing the way they had earlier in his tenure.

“There is a time when long-term ministries should end,” he said. “I have always been afraid of staying too long and becoming guilty of letting the church go downhill. I left Eastside Christian when I felt that my ministry had peaked. The church, under my leadership, did not go down in attendance, but growth was very slow my last two years.

“At age 65, I started all over again and probably had the best ministry of my life for the next 17 years. However, when the growth slowed, I retired as senior minister.”

In his current position, Merold still works almost weekly with smaller churches and speaks across the country.

“I believe that many men who have been in long ministries would do well to start over again in a different place. In my mind, a long-term ministry is 15 or 20 years. It is not necessarily for life.”

4 Comments

  1. Josh Tandy

    Had the privilege of sitting under Ben’s teaching for several weeks as he helped us out when we were without a preacher. As a young dumb Rookie Pastor I didn’t have a clue as to his resume but upon learning I wasn’t surprised. Honored I was able to minister along side him.

  2. Shannon H.

    Ben was a wonderful minister and preacher. When we moved to another state and went to the local Christian church I told them what church I was a member of and before the entire name was out of my mouth they said BEN MEROLD. What a wonderful, well known and respected man.

    Harvester Christian Church is in SAINT Charles, MO, not Lake Charles.

  3. Jerry D. Robertson

    What can one say in regards to Ben Merold that has not already been said???? Not much in my opinion! My wife, Charlotte and I came to Eastside Christian in Fullerton on 08/04/1985. Ben and Pat had been there for several years at that point. Strong leadership, preaching, teaching — that is what characterized Ben’s impact on practically everyone who was a part of the Body. Wise, knowledgeable, passionate, understanding, visionary, discerning, faithful, joyously devoted — these are just some of the descriptions of Ben I can readily recall. Unafraid to try new ideas……..Eastside was and still is unafraid to step into the unknown by doing things that many would not dare to do. During the years I have served as a volunteer under the leadership of Ben these are some of the things that occurred. (I am not on staff nor an elder–just one of the folks)

    Is it simply tenure or younger and perhaps more dynamic, “newer” ways of doing ministry that is the key to success in ministry? Probably neither. More simply put: Is God the focus? Is His Spirit the one Who is leading? Are we listening to what the Word of God really tells us? Are we focused (as elders, teachers, staff, and congregation) on ourselves and ‘the way we have always done things around here’ or the gentle “nudge” of our Lord Jesus? Where is prayer in the life of our congregation? How do we approach ideas which most assuredly will bring ‘change’ into our lives together as a ministry? With reservation, enthusiasm, questioning, etc? Do we ask God to show us the path which He wants us to walk and the manner in which He wants us to do that? Are we patient and willing to wait a bit for things to jell? White hair used to be a ‘sign’ of maturity (not only in age) but in wisdom; how do we view this? When we reach 60 or 65, is it “automatically” time to find a pasture? Please ponder and pray about these issues. I believe they are absolutely and critically important for us to consider.

    Thank you, Jerry

  4. Bill Schulz

    I was fortunate to have been at Harvester for most of Ben’s 17 years there. He is an excellent man who puts God first in everything. I truly believe that is his secret to success. I miss hearing you speak every Sunday, Ben.

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