I read a lot of articles about reaching people and transforming lives through the power of Jesus Christ. I've attended new-church-start seminars and evangelism conferences and revival meetings and all sorts of events to reach our younger generation. Several of the articles I read talked about a new trend in the younger generation that can be summed up by saying, "We love God, but not the Church."
The trend seems to be an aversion to church buildings.
We have thousands of young people coming to know Christ in new ways. Churches are meeting in storefronts, gymnasiums, homes and cafeterias all over the country. A new wave of how we do church is cresting and many times, traditional churches are left wondering what happened.
The most important point is that people are encountering God in new ways and new places. After all, winning disciples for Jesus Christ is more important than keeping coffee stains off the sanctuary carpet.
For my brothers and sisters in Christ making strides in non-traditional venues, I say a job well done, good and faithful servants. Keep up the great work for God's kingdom.
Having said that, I'd like to tell you a story about an experience I had recently.
While working on a sermon in my church office under my church steeple, I had a young couple with two little boys come in. They were out of work and traveling from Colorado to Louisiana on the promise of a job. Work is scarce and they had gone from lower middle class to jobless and homeless in a scary-fast amount of time. They had been on the road for a week, stopping where they could, to rely on the charity of strangers for money, gas and food. All they owned was tied to the top of their car. But their most precious things were their two boys in the backseat of the car.
At church we quite often get people needing assistance through our doors. But this couple was different than most.
They stank. The kind of stink that comes from living out of your car for a week with no hope of having a normal life anytime soon.
Under the shadow of a steeple, God gave a ray of hope that day.
They received showers from a Red Cross approved disaster shelter. Underneath a steeple.
They received soap and shampoo from the collection box of a women's group. Underneath a steeple.
They received food collected from elementary school classrooms and weight-loss small groups and put in a food pantry. Underneath a steeple.
They received new socks and underwear collected from civic groups and placed into a back-to-school ministry. Underneath a steeple.
They received gas money from a benevolence fund, collected from people who received Communion. Underneath a steeple.
They received bottled water from a Boy Scout troop, a screwdriver and pair of pliers to fix their car from a janitor's toolbox, toothbrushes and toothpaste from a long forgotten box from a past ministry. Underneath a steeple.
They received a strand of rope to re-tie boxes to their car's roof and crayons and coloring books from a children's ministry..Underneath a steeple.
They ate their first hot meal in two days from the leftovers of a Wednesday night small group. And together, a family of four held hands and prayed for a better future at the altar of a church. Underneath a steeple.
I've often said that a church is not a building but the people inside.
But sometimes, when Sunday is over and the lights are all turned off... Sometimes when the worship is over and the small groups have broken up... Sometimes when no one is left and a family has no hope... Sometimes a building can serve as an instrument of God's miracle.
All because it's underneath a steeple that lifts high the cross of Jesus Christ.
The Blessings of Our Lord Jesus Christ Be With You!
PASTOR TROY CONRAD IS MINISTER OF FARMINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. EMAIL: [email protected].
Religion on 11/18/2015