Arthur Flake was a church leader in the 20th century who came to be know as the father of modern Sunday School. He developed a method of reaching out through the Sunday School organization to reach people and bring them into relationship with the living Christ. The five components of the formula are; 1. Know the possibilities, 2.expand the organization, 3. provide the space, 4. train the leaders, 5. go after the people.
Church growth experts have touted Flake's formula in all kinds of forms, substituting Bible Study, Bible Fellowship and small groups for Sunday School. The largest churches in the 20th century were built using Flake's formula.
In the 21st century church, Flake's formula has fallen out of use. We have moved into providing multiple worship venues and styles as the new formula for growth or have moved towards family ministry or cowboy ministry or a dozen other labels.
There is a problem with Flake's formula, not that it is antiquated, but that it involves hard work. A church that reaches out to the unchurched will be full of people who are "not weary in doing good". It will be a church with a vibrant and relevant worship service with preaching that encourages the saved and moves the lost to come to Christ. Flake's formula still works. Its basis is as old as the Great Commission itself. Its all about "GO ye therefore".
Our jobs as worship leaders it to teach and encourage the people to reach out to their lost friends and family, their co-workers and acquaintances. It is also our job to lift up the name of Jesus in our worship services, so that out members will desire to share what God is doing in our churches and bring their friends. No one ever invited a friend over for just a piece of melba toast but they will invite them to an offering of the Bread of Life that is rich, inspiring and filling!
Flake's formula works...it's just hard.
