ost pastors begin their ministry on fire to proclaim the Word and build God's church. Somewhere along the way, however, many of these dedicated individuals encounter obstacles to the kind of work they had envisioned, and become disillusioned. They fall into the pattern of believing that their next position or appointment is where their ministry can become truly effective and meaningful-particularly if that position is in a church within a rapidly growing community.

The reality, however, is that most pastors don't serve in communities where that kind of growth is taking place. Most churches are located in neighborhoods where the population is stable. The common pattern for church life in such neighborhoods is stability or decline in membership and commitment.

In 1994 Richard Dunagin became pastor of Lake Highlands United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Since that time church attendance has increased by 60 percent, and membership continues to grow at a steady and robust rate. The remarkable thing about that fact is that Lake Highlands is in a fully built-out neighborhood. Like most congregations, it is not located in a suburban area with hordes of young families moving in and eager to sign up.

How then did Lake Highlands defeat the cycle of stagnant membership? By reaching beyond the walls with bold and innovative programs and min-istries that reinvigorated the spiritual life of the congregation and drew in others from around the community. Dunagin's message is simple: Numerical and spiritual stagnation is not inevitable. God's Spirit can and does blow through churches in long-established, stable communities. The task of church leaders is to discern the Spirit's leadership and follow it, even into places they might never have thought of going before.