If you knew—for sure—that Jesus would come back to earth exactly 10 years from now, what would you do with that 10 years?
Would you buy more stuff? Binge watch another tv show? Build a bigger house, even though the world as we know it would end in 10 years? What would be the point?
Would you get serious about telling other people about Jesus? Maybe visit people in prison to give them hope that their sins can be forgiven? Or spend time with that next door neighbor you’ve been putting off talking to because he seems a little weird?
When Pastor and Author Jennie Allen asked this question at the global Exponential Conference in March, 2025, the audience sat in silence, thinking. Several thousand pastors, church staff members, and regular people like me, just sat in the conference, picturing what we would do.
Then, Allen suggested we go do that. Whatever God just brought to our minds—go do it.
Why?
Because Jesus will come back to earth one day and only what we did for the kingdom of God will really matter. Will actually last for all eternity.
Hmmm…do you feel challenged to rethink how you use time? I know I do.
I am thankful I had the opportunity—and took the time–to attend Exponential in Orlando this year with Macland Community Church’s Pastors, Lee and Judy Stevenson.
During the three-day conference, we worshiped and praised our great God together with thousands of other Christians from around the world. From numerous denominations. From different backgrounds. From multiple generations.
This is what Heaven will be like, I thought. People from every tribe, tongue, and nation gathered around the throne of God, worshiping Him and praising Him (see Revelation 7:9-10).
A pastor from Uganda spoke after one of the worship times. He told us about starting a church in his country, even though he didn’t feel like he knew what he was doing. When the congregation grew to 300 people, he helped plant another church. Then another. And another. Now, the number of churches has multiplied to several thousand.
A group of faithful Christians in Papua, New Guinea, prayed every day and fasted twice a week for eight years for people in their country to believe in Jesus as their Savior. Last year, during a two-week revival, 300,000 people in New Guinea chose to believe and get baptized, according to a pastor from New Guinea.
The Holy Spirit is moving around the world.
But, what about in the United States of America?
Pastor J.D. Greear talked about the rise of mega churches in the United States of America over the last 100 years, while the percentage of Americans attending church has been declining. The percentage of Americans who identify themselves as Christians has also been dropping.
So, should all American churches focus on building bigger churches? Greear said no.
“Sending capacity, not seating capacity is the most important metric,” Greear explained.
He said the greater work is multiplication. Are we helping the people in our churches grow in their faith so they are telling other people about Jesus? Then, those people tell other people? Are we multiplying?
I heard more about multiplication at every workshop I attended at Exponential.
We have the best sales pitch in the history of the world, I heard one workshop leader say:
- We are all sinners.
- God knew we would all be sinners, so He sent Jesus to live for us, to die for our sins, and to be resurrected for us. All we have to do is believe in Jesus and what He did for us. There’s nothing to buy. No mythic quest to go on. We don’t have to go to a certain place. We just have to tell God we believe and accept His free—to us—gift.
- Then, when we die, we go to Heaven to be with God for all eternity. In the meantime, here on earth, God is with us, giving hope, love, joy, and many more good gifts to us.
I think that workshop leader was right. That is the best sales pitch in the history of the world. And it’s simple.
Another workshop leader said that our job, as Christians, isn’t to just invite people to church. We are to invite people to the table. To God’s table, where all are welcome.
At Exponential, I learned some practical ways to equip the people in my home church—Macland Community Church—to grow and become disciples (Jesus followers) who make disciples. To become multipliers.
Lee, Judy, and I left Exponential feeling refreshed, inspired, encouraged, and excited to use the tips and resources we learned about at the conference. Lee has already been trying out his newfound AI skills. (Notice the recent MCC blog post Lee wrote using AI: https://maclandcommunity.church/3043-2/.)
“Exponential gives you many tools for the ministry tool boxes,” Lee said. “But the AI tools for church use have blown my mind.”
If you are already a member of Macland Community Church, look for some new, helpful ideas from Exponential to be implemented in the coming months.
If you are considering visiting MCC, come check us out at our 10:30 a.m. Sunday Worship Service. You are always welcome to sit at God’s table with us. And, be sure to ask Lee about the song he wrote using AI.
Melinda Mitchell – Spiritual Formation Team Lead
