I know that's a depressing theme but it's also reality. If you worship in a congregation where fewer than 75 people show up for Sunday services, you can expect that your church's life will soon pass before your eyes. Yes, some congregations may survive longer than others. A group of 75 wealthy people can keep a church going longer than a group of poor folks. But, as a rule of thumb, when your church slides into that 75 mark, your historic institution is on its last legs.

Let's look at the hypothetical Sky-Blue neighborhood, a blue-collar area that has been home to eight churches for the past 25 years. One of those churches never grew and still has about 100 members who signed the charter more than two decades ago. Six of those congregations grew to between 250 and 400 members and have stayed in that category.

One congregation has been very evangelical, grew to about 2,000 members and then hit a plateau and stayed there for a decade. Ten years ago, a new pastor arrived and the evangelical spirit of the church was rejuvenated. The congregation has grown to about 4,000 members in the past 10 years and there appears no end to its growth.

The big church has also robbed many of the other seven congregations of members. All the churches in the neighborhood have seen an erosion of people and revenue. One congregation, the group that never grew, can no longer support a full-time pastor. They've sold their parsonage and share a preacher with a nearby congregation.

The other six congregations have watched the numbers dribble away and they know something dramatic must happen or they will eventually close their doors forever. What are the secrets to staying alive when you have ignored your mission for 25 years?

The reality is, seven of those congregations have never taken the mission of Christianity seriously - to teach and baptize every person on the face of the earth. If they had, their numbers would be different. Now, the question is, what can they do to improve their chances of staying alive forever. Here are some suggestions.

1. Shine up the facility. Kill the dandelions, paint the steps, wash the windows and scrub the pews. Get ready for a huge rush of visitors that may never come. Remember, there are always people who don't want to belong to a huge congregation and who seek, instead, a small congregation with many challenges.

2. Find a niche that your congregation can honestly handle. Your people may want to become the congregation that loves youth. Or because of talents in the church, this may be the place where traditional music is beautifully performed. Or the congregation may want to feed the hungry. You choose the mission but keep in mind, there must be a 100 percent commitment.

3. Vow as a congregation to change and renew the way you do everything. Each time a decision is made, the question should be asked, "Is this the way we have always done it?" If the answer is in the affirmative, then find another method. For instance, some congregations have used the same Christ-mas tree decorations for decades. This year, ask every family to bring two of their own precious ornaments to decorate the sanctuary. You'll be amazed how much brighter Christmas can be.

4. Help your pastor. Unless I miss my guess, your pastor is not a good preacher. He fumbles with the text, he mutters through the sermon; he doesn't like being a preacher. Get your pulpiteer some help. There are people who can coach a preacher into a better mood and an effective sermon. You should never tolerate anything but excellence from the pulpit of your church.

5. Pray for the renewal of your congregation's heart. This is the most crucial task before your people, to pray so fervently that a genuine renewal happens in your midst. First, the collective soul of your church must embrace the idea of prayer - that it is effective - that it intervenes in human history and brings change. Then ask people week after week to pray for an increase. Believe it will happen and it will.

Clark D. Morphew