Finding Hope

I go to a dying church. We have about 50% of our members come to church each Sunday and only 10% struggle to Bible Study (the bread and butter of Lutheranism) each week. Those of us who do come feel somewhat depressed when in church. We struggle to remain upbeat and hopeful when faced with the symptoms of our dying congregation.

To help put some life back in our church, our pastor invited a mentor from our national church body to come work with us last week. The man came and talked with pastor, church leaders, and various members. They visited growing churches and community organizations in our area. They canvases our neighborhood and interviewed community members - all so we can know and understand the community and culture in which we serve. As an outsider, he came to give us a more objective view of our congregation - what we are doing and what we could be doing to reach not only unchurched people in our community but our own members. How can we better tell people of God's love for them?

At the end of the week, the mentor talked to the congregation (at least, those who stayed after church).

As I listened, light flickered inside of me - hope, maybe even joy. Yes, he was a dynamic speaker. But more than that, he spoke of actions we can take to tell more people more effectively of what Jesus did for us. He gave us suggestions based on current research and experience, not blind ignorance or desperate haste. He reminded us that instead of pointing fingers like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, or blaming the downturn in our economy for all our woes, we need to turn back to our awesome God. Take hold of His hand and step forward into a new day.