Egos and Airwaves

One of the things that has been very important over the last few years has been my church. The church has been struggling, numbers dwindling, etc. Many people have worked hard, together, to begin a transformation to attract new members. Basically, the church followed what was believed to be God's path for us, our vision of what God wanted of us.

These "leaps of faith" were just that. Spending money to fund programs and events without knowing that the funds would be there, yet having faith that God would provide was a large struggle. It was even discovered that it is hard to have faith when you're facing something as drastic as closing the doors forever. The building for instance, sucks up so many resources, financially, that the future looks dreary much of the time.

However, faith has brought the church through, and into the present, for such a time as this. The children's group has grown, the youth group has grown, the young adult population has grown. But by the grace of God, we have had larger attendance in Sunday worship. We have a new website. A new parlor has been constructed that is equipped to hold a contemporary worship service. There is a gym, game area, and computer lab capable of hosting after school activities, computer literacy classes, and much more. We have begun a feeding program on Saturday's from 11:30-1:30 (we can always use help by the way ;-) ). There is a new refrigerator capable of containing food for all programs that use it, without letting it spoil. There are two people willing to help the youth group grow spiritually as well as socially.

There are so many things going on that glorify God, and show His love to others, it's amazing. It was pointed out to me that my last post may have seemed a bit egotistical. That was not the purpose. However, I really believe in my church, and the people in it. I think that God has put everyone there for there purpose at this time. That does not mean, however, that I have no concern for what will or will not happen when I leave. You may say, that's not your problem, and/or God has a way. I know that, and I believe it.

It is something that is deep in my heart though. The youth need someone that can relate, someone that can pass on God's word in such a way that they will hang on every word. They need a worship service that is tailored to them, that discusses and hits issues that they face in their life. There are many that can do this much better than I.

The church needs new, younger members, to pass on the old traditions and create new ones. One way of attraction is a website. Not too many people my age look in a phone book for that type of thing anymore. Many people are capable of maintaining and building website much better than I can as well.

The issue is not that I think that I'm the only one that can do these things. Thus far, I have been the only one that has done these things. I'm excited to see that more people are coming, and that more are getting involved. There are lots of people that want to learn how to do these things, they just don't know yet. I would like for them to be able to do it since they have such a heart for it, and a desire to help.

Therefore, I welcome the stress. Why not teach them how to begin with it? They can go on and do some amazing things. I'm not the only one that can do it, nor do I think that way. There is just a huge desire in my heart to keep the times progressing as they have been, and pass on what little knowledge that has been given to me. My dream, if it is God's will, is that I will come back to visit someday, and walk into a church that is thriving, in the inner-city....see all the programs that show God's love to others, and see God in a place where most don't....in the whole neighborhood of Park Ave and Harney.