RECENTLY in The Sentinel, Martin Tideswell submitted an article which highlighted the archaic appearance, presentation and activity of church.

In many church circles it caused great offence.

I'm afraid to say, as a senior pastor at Bethel City Church (BCC), I think he is right.

With the national trend of church attendance in massive decline, BCC is bucking this trend as it has grown from 60 to 500 plus in two years. BCC also has 80 per cent of its population under the age of 35.

I agree with Martin Tideswell because, if churches in this city don't embrace change, I regret that the phenomenal work and input that churches invest into the city will be lost.

I believe that BCC is bucking the trend for five reasons, which I invite all churches to consider.

The challenges BCC faced and conquered:

1. Please don't protect the past but build for the future.

Monument or momentum? Memory or movement? The message of Jesus is the most amazing, life-changing message the planet has ever had. It's just we don't get to hear it through all the stuff we surround it with. Please, let's strip all our stuff from the simple message of Jesus so that our city can hear him. He says that He loves, we as church add conditions. He says there are no conditions – come as you are.

2. Please see change as a good thing.

The way we, as church, did stuff 200 years ago was great but kinda stinks now. It has no relevance to today's city living, , busy, social networking, BlackBerry carrying, average Joe. We're freaking about global climate, where the next wage is coming from. Is there a point to marriage? Why are my parents so messed up? Where am I going with this thing called life and where can I fit in? Change so we can provide the answers to the questions average Joe is asking.

3. Please listen and empower what the next generation is crying out for.

We are tired of 19th century church wrapped in 21st century cellophane. Get with the programme of where life today is at. Get on Twitter. Get a decent webpage. Get some K-Swiss trainers. Get using terms we understand. We love you, we just don't get what you're talking about. Please help us understand.

4. Please do not water down the message or become politically correct.

Look at this generation. We don't have a desire to follow a watered down message or a politically correct stance. Please say what you believe. Don't say what you think people want to hear.

Look at the state of politics and recognise that we want people to lead us who have the guts to say what they mean. Jesus is a revolutionist – He changed the world… This is what we want. Jesus the revolutionist, the radical, the real.

5. Please be biblical and not preferential.

The Bible is the world's best-selling book. It's full of radical ideas and stories of great heroics that affect thousands and millions of people. It's full of challenges. Please don't leave it out because it's too challenging.

Challenge rocks our world. If God says it then let's do it. Right?

These five musings were what saw BCC birthed.

Yes it was at a cost. Yes misunderstanding and confrontation occurred.

And yes it was worth it as, for the last 60 consecutive weeks, we have seen people choose to follow Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Let's face the challenge together and be the church that Jesus is building.

Martin, to you and your family, I'm sorry. We're sorting it. We're getting back to what Jesus originally intended. Please come again… we'll be expecting you.

James Galloway is pastor at Bethel City Church, Abbey Hulton