What Makes a Lasting Church

The Gates of Hell will not Prevail

It has been really fun and quite encouraging to learn the history of EHBC over this year.

To read the minutes from meetings, see pictures from events, and hear the stories of those who were a part of our church many years ago has given me a deeper appreciation for this church and a gratefulness to be a part of this history.

But I have also been struck with a question that I believe there is a really powerful answer to in a passage I preached not long ago.

The question is “What makes a lasting church?”

Meaning, why has this church lasted for 50 years?

Though our history is full of stories of God working in and through His people, it also has some moments and season of difficulty and instability.

So how has this church lasted through these 50 years?

We have been studying the Gospel of Matthew this year, going chapter by chapter and verse by verse.

At the end of July, I preached on Matthew 16 and one of the most important passages in the bible about the church.

Jesus had asked His disciples who people were saying He was. Basically, what was the buzz in the community about Jesus.

After answering with all the opinions they had heard, Jesus turns the question to them, “Who do you say that I am?”

And Peter boldly and passionately answers “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” An answer rich with meaning.

But it is in Jesus’s response where I think we get our answer to our question about a lasting church.

Matthew 16:17–19 ESV

17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

This is one of 2 places the word “church” is mentioned in the Gospels.

Jesus is connecting Peter’s clear confession of His identity with the establishment and perseverance of the Church.

This is incredibly significant.

Not the Physical

What makes a lasting church according to Jesus:

Is not because of nice buildings.

Don’t get me wrong, our buildings serve us well, but EHBC has never been a church overly concerned with our buildings.

Is not because of the budgets.

Throughout the years God has faithfully provided for the needs of our church, but money has not been the reason our church has endured through these 50 years.

Is not because of the programs.

We have had a lot of really great programs and ministries over the years, and God has used them to reach lost people, help believers grow, and allowed us to impact our community in fruitful ways.

But programs come and go, while the church remains.

Is not because of the preacher.

Much in the same way, this church hasn’t lasted because of a preacher or any one individual.

No, Jesus says the gates of Hell have not prevailed against this Church for 3 reasons.

1) Because of our Bold Faith in Jesus.

Simon-Peter declares Jesus as God and Savior. He knew who Jesus was and was willing to boldly declare it.

The gospel has been preached from this pulpit for more than 50 years.

Every Sunday morning, on Wednesday nights, at VBS’s, outreach events, bible studies, and so many other places, the grace, goodness, and glory of Jesus has been the message on the lips of those who have served the Lord here for more than 50 years.

The influence of our ministry has reached all over the world, in places we will have no clue of until we get to heaven and meet someone who came to Christ because of the witness of EHBC.

2) Because of God’s Power and Favor

Jesus tells Simon-Peter that his answer didn’t come from his own wisdom or understanding.

Rather God is the one behind his confession.

In the same way, the reason EHBC has lasted, is not because of human power or wisdom.

It is because God’s powerful hand and His divine favor have been on this church.

I can remember Neal Corley during be online interview in 2017, “The Lord’s hand has been on this church for a long time and I believe it still is.”

We might be pretty talented, hard working, and resourceful, but God is the one that sustains His church.

He tells Peter at the end of the verse “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

This is His promise to bless His people, His church, and to provide for and sustain us to the end.

3) Because of the People

Jesus says He will “build His Church”, but He is not talking about a building.

The word ekklesia means “assembly” or “the assembled”

It is people chosen, saved, and redeemed by Jesus, coming together to praise His name and make Him known.

For more than 50 years, an assembly of people have gathered on this street corner to sing, preach, pray, and serve.

We have loved one another, beared each other’s burdens, weeped and rejoiced with one another, and served the needs of so many.

EHBC has always been a place for anyone and everyone. We love and serve and share Jesus with anyone and everyone.

One story that I think shows this powerfully is the story of Belinda Mason.

During the birth of her son, Clayton, Belinda had a stroke and suffered cardiac arrest. She nearly died, but the members of EHBC began to pray for her.

After some time, she began to recover from her stroke, but began having new, concerning symptoms.

After some testing, it was found that Belinda had contracted the HIV virus from a blood transfusion she has received in the hospital.

In the late 1980s, AIDS was a fairly new and unknown virus that came with a lot of stigma. Belinda was devastated, but she was also worried about how others would receive her.

"I knew they (church members) didn't have a lot of experience with what AIDS was, except for probably negative experience," said Mrs. Mason. She anticipated acceptance from pastor Bill Holladay, but worried that fear might cause members to stay away from church if she attended.

After meeting with Brother Holladay, Belinda came back to church.

When she and her family arrived at church the next Sunday, "they met me at the door and they were hugging me, like always."

A short time later, Mrs. Mason, reared a Presbyterian, and her husband, a member of the Disciples of Christ church, were baptized together into the fellowship of the congregation that had prayed for them and wept with them.

I read this story and thought “That is EHBC!”

A woman many people would have been afraid to be in the same room with in 1989 was welcomed with open arms and loved with the love of Jesus.

The reason a church lasts is because of the people and how those people love one another and those around them.

This is Just the Beginning

These are the things that have kept this church here for the last 50 years, and they are also thing factors that will continue to sustain this church for years to come.

Hebrews 12:1–2 CSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.