Whatever happened to what’s their names?
Have you ever asked that question of someone who had begun attending your church? You met them after the church service – or during the “greeting time.” You introduced yourself and shook their hands. They seemed friendly at at home in your church. They said that they enjoyed the service. They came back the next week. But, now whatever happened to what’s their names?
Leith Anderson speaks of both the “velcro” church and the “teflon” church. Velcro churches are sticky, and hard to leave. One becomes “attached” to the church by relationships with members, and feels connected.
“Teflon” churches are those that may have a good program, but people do not connect with others. While they may attend on a Sunday AM, there is really nothing to keep them on the long haul.
As I have been reflecting on my generation of pastors and church leaders, I think that in our desire to serve others and to “meet people where they are,” we have perhaps made church a place where people go to have their needs met – and to be served. Over time, as “needs” change, one may seek out another church that will serve their current needs and interests.
While I understand this, I also believe that this approach has lacked both depth of relationship and depth of faith. In the end, needs will be met by Christ, not by a program. Gathering on a Sunday is so much more than being served – it brings opportunity to serve others, as an act of worship to our Lord.
Thom Rainer, in an interview with the “Unstuck Group,” distinguishes between being a “friendly church” and being a “welcoming church, and he offers some good counsel for churches of all sizes” Here is the link.
There is a difference between what draws one to attend a church and what causes one to remain in a local church! While programs may “draw people,” relationships will “keep” people.
Summer can be a time of some insecurity for pastors. How about you?
Are those people away on family vacation? Are they on vacation from our church? Have they…….left our church?
When we speak of the local church as the “Body of Christ,” we think of our organic connection with one another. Paul, in referring to the Body of Christ, uses the medical term for the human body. “Members” of the local body are likened to the limbs of the human body (Romans 12:4,5) – we are truly attached to one another!
Perhaps that is one reason it hurts a pastor so much when a member leaves a church. It is one thing for one to leave our church because they failed to connect. As hard as this can be, it is a much more hurtful and perhaps more personal thing when a long-time member leaves. Somehow, we always feel that we have failed, and we may feel that our church body has just lost an “arm,” or even a “toe.”
Thom Rainer, in his article, “Five Reasons it is Painful for a Pastor to Lose a Church Member, ” articulates some of these feelings. Here’s the link.
At the end of the day, may we be found faithful in our service to our Lord and to his people. While we will never please everyone and we will never meet everyone’s perceived needs, our Lord has called us to faithful service. We know what he wants and expects, and He even enables us to achieve this, by his grace.
Please pray for:
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“Pastoral Approaches: The Church & Same-Sex Attraction.” Saturday, October 20 at Richmond Chinese EFC, 9AM – 4PM. This is a follow up and further resourcing of our LPD Conference presentation. All pastors and lay-leaders are welcome! Cost: $10.00 per registrant. Please register online at our LPD Website: https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/
