The Church's Funeral

The story goes about a young man (or woman!) with dreams of growing a small church nestled in rural Oklahoma. Despite his relentless efforts, the church continued to teeter on the edge of extinction as its finances and attendance dwindled. The determined pastor spared no effort in his attempts to galvanize the congregation, yet none of his efforts produced a noticeable change. After enduring several years of stagnation, he conceived a daring plan. 

He put an ad in the local newspaper that said the church had just…