In Depth:  Michael Bentley

Michael Bentley, retired pastor of Great Hollands Free Church, Bracknell, writes:

Since I have retired from the pastorate and now preach in many different churches, I have noticed some things that puzzle me about evangelical churches

Why, oh why, oh why (as TV's Anne Robinson would say), do so many keen, active evangelical Christians climb into their cars every Sunday morning and drive 10, 20 or even 30 miles to what they call their home church? In the process, they usually pass by (on the other side of the road?) the meeting places of quite a number of small, struggling churches where a few valiant souls are possibly crying out for help.

I once asked a young man how many people went to the church he attended. With pride, he said: 'Over 600.' When I remarked that this was a very large number, considering the size of his town, he quickly corrected me. 'Oh, they don't all live there, many come from places around us.' I then asked him why so many travelled such a long way and he told me: 'There's nowhere else around us where the gospel is faithfully preached.' To this, I replied: 'Then why don't the elders of your church try to plant churches in these neighbouring areas, using as a basis your own members who live near those places?' After a long pause, his answer came: 'Our pastor likes a large congregation.'