Doing Church?
January 29th, 2007 | by Scott |I began work at my current congregation a little over 2 years ago. When I came the church was in a transitional period having undergone a split about 6 months previous. Three reasons spurred my decision to accept what many would believe to be an unattractive position:
1. It was closer to family and where Tracy received her undergrad.
2. I love a challenge
3. The church owned property in a more upscale, faster growing area with the dream of building on that land sometime in the near future.
Two years later that dream of moving to a new location seems further away than ever. We are a rapidly aging congregation with limited resources and few young couples..
We could not finance a new build no matter how much we wanted to.
And no longer do I think we should.
Our building is an older structure, sitting along I-35 in a very economically depressed, primarily Hispanic area of north Waco. Many of our neighbors either don’t speak English or struggle with communicating competently. The houses that surround our facility are run-down, ramshackle rental homes. Our neighbors clamor for our aid in clothing, food and other assistance.
Why would we want to move? There are too many churches that have fled to the suburbs. Not enough have elected to stay among the least of these. I hope that we will choose to.
Granted, we haven’t been a very good neighbor through the years. I think our long-standing members would agree to that.
But we are seeking to rectify that:
–This past Saturday about 25 of us showed up to go and knock doors in our immediate neighborhood. Our purpose was to invite them to our annual Friend Day this coming Sunday. After our worship time we will provide them with a catered barbecue dinner. (Note: we had 2 families show up yesterday, simply because we asked.)
–Each week we give away a lot of groceries in addition to operating a Clothes Closet for people who need adequate clothing. We are currently inviting all those who seek us out over the next 2 weeks to come to a free Valentine Dinner for them and their spouses/significant-other. The people in our neighborhood would never be able to take their loved one to a romantic dinner. We want to provide them the opportunity to do just that.
–I am currently searching for someone in the area to come and teach us Spanish. What better way to show that we love and care for our neighbors than to illustrate that by being willing to learn their language rather than simply expecting them to learn ours?
I know that if these and other efforts that I hope we undertake bear fruit that I will have to change my approach to things. My preaching will need to become more simplistic. I will need to network more among urban ministers.
But that is what I am willing and excited to do if we will commit to being more missional.
Here is my question for you: what suggestions for events/ministry offerings would you suggest we try? How can we better be a light where we are? How do we share Jesus here?
For this I know: we are in this neighborhood for a reason. To love the people God has surrounded us with. How can we love them better?
18 Responses to “Doing Church?”
By Jon on Jan 29, 2007 | Reply
just from your post the ‘we’ sounds more like ‘you’. I would say to get the congregation as a whole fired up about the vast opportunities that surround the church.
By Scott on Jan 29, 2007 | Reply
We did have a tremendous showing for the door-knocking and we have even greater participation with the Valentine dinner. My sermons this month have been solely geared toward the congregation being more active and involved in the community.
I think it is taking root among a few. We shall see.
By KS on Jan 29, 2007 | Reply
Keep working at it. Do you offer lessons in English? You may get quite a few that will come to a church if they get to learn a skill. I know you would need to find a teacher for the class, but it may be a way to reach out to the neighborhood. The other things you have done seems to be a good start.
By KS on Jan 29, 2007 | Reply
I meant learning the english language.
By Doug Freeman on Jan 29, 2007 | Reply
Scott, sure glad to see some of your members out door knocking. It takes a lot of effort and patience to see this effort through to the end. If only one person is reached, those efforts have not been in vain. This is the very method we use in our Campaigns Northeast in helping to revive congregations. Maybe I can get Owen Olbricht to bring a team to Waco.
Incidently, one of your members visited with us yesterday at Sylvan Hills. I checked up on you and got his input. Keep doing what you all have started.
By greg on Jan 29, 2007 | Reply
<off topic>
How is The Faith Club so far? Looks interesting.
I just started Kuo’s book, and am frustrated because I can’t find time to sit and read for very long since I started it. It’s been very good so far, though, and I hate to put it down every time I must.
<resume topic>
By Scott on Jan 29, 2007 | Reply
KS, I want us to learn Spanish first.
Dad, thanks. We will probably do it again.
Greg, so far it’s pretty good. They are already starting to get ticked off at each other. I’ll let you know more as I go along.
By Jonathan on Jan 29, 2007 | Reply
At Laurel c of C in Knoxville, they have an “international class” on Wednesday night aimed at international students from the university. Each individual is paired with a church member, and each week they spend the Wed night hour in conversation. The international student learns and practices English. Close relationships develop, and everyone is blessed.
This is like Kenny’s english class suggestion, but one-on-one and conversational.
By jasonk on Jan 29, 2007 | Reply
Beautiful, Scott. It is wonderful to see that you and your church are living out the New Testament, rather than talking about it as you pack a moving van to head to the subs. You are truly exemplifying what a Christian is all about. May God bless you in your efforts.
Several years ago some relatives, who were considerably older, began asking me what they could do to reach people. They were in a church like yours, and the community around them had changed. I probed a little, and found that what they really wanted to know was how they could get more young, white, middle class people to drive to their church. I decided to be brutally frank. My suggestion was to do precisely what you are doing. Reach out to them where they are, meeting the needs they have right now. Feed them. Clothe them. Educate them. Help them assimilate. Live the gospel.
But then I made a suggestion that turned them off permanently. Be prepared to GIVE them your church. I mean, seriously, its God’s church anyway. It will never again be an Anglo neighborhood. So I told them that their next staff member should be Hispanic, with a view to ultimately turn the church into a Hispanic congregation, with this staff member as pastor.
It went over like a lead balloon.
When we begin to let go of the things we hold onto so tightly, the results are remarkable.
By Jeff on Jan 29, 2007 | Reply
I work for an organization that helps underprivileged, neglected, and abused youth. One of our services is that we have a resource center on site. This center provides high speed internet access, some basic books, etc geared at helping people better their lives. We have set up a community voice mail system so that those without telephone access can have a place to receive messages. We receive mail on behalf of people who may be homeless or unable to receive mail for various reasons at their homes. We occasionally invite various representatives from other community organizations to be present and available for people who may want to consult with them (i.e. college admissions representatives, welfare officials, housing representatives, etc.) Individuals volunteer to staff the center and help people accomplish achieve their goals (i.e. write resumes, fill out housing applications, apply for state/federal assistance, etc.)
I have often wondered why churches in positions like yours couldn’t create a similar center on site. It seems like the expense would be minimal, and you would be able to involve the members to staff and advertise the center.
By Tracy on Jan 30, 2007 | Reply
Jeff, that is awesome!! Do you guys have any kind of handbook or guide as to how this can be done/replicated?
By Scott on Jan 30, 2007 | Reply
Jeff, I’ve thought about trying to set up some kind of tutoring program in the afternoons. I’d love more information on what you do.
By Jon on Jan 30, 2007 | Reply
Scott,
We have started an after school tutoring program for kids in the inner city. It is held in the inner city church building. There is/has been good support from the community because the church has been active in providing food and clothes to it’s residents. You have to have the support and be known for helping the community before you can expect to be sucessful in any type of program.
Jeff, I too would love to find out more about what you do with the center you work for (ie. write resumes, fill out housing applications, apply for state/federal assistance, etc.)
By Sis on Jan 30, 2007 | Reply
Scott,
First, the Valentine Dinner is an amazing idea, one I would like to share with River City Ministry. Of course, River City has the luxury of pulling from several congregations, but one of its big services is at Christmas. After collecting donated toys, those toys are offered at a fraction of the cost (typically around 75% of the in store cost)to those in need. Parents are still “providing” Christmas for their children, just at a more affordable rate. CAC even participates. Instead of the gift exchange among classmates they used to do, students are now asked to bring a new toy to donate instead. One year, we just asked for a small $ amount from each child; then, the class picked out a couple of bigger items, each running about $25.
By Jeff on Jan 30, 2007 | Reply
For those of you who expressed interest, I’ll tell you some more about the Youth Resource Center.
We have seven laptop computers that can be checked out and used (on site only, of course). High speed internet is available, as well as print, fax, and copy equipment.
Community voicemail has been set up on our phone system so that those who need to have a number where they can be left messages each have an extension number. They can each record their own outgoing nessage.
We allow them to have mail sent to them at our address. We simply retrieve the mail, file it alphabetically by their last name, and give it to them when they come in and request it.
We have a bookshelf stocked with books on finding jobs, test prep, school catalogs, helth, spirituality, etc. Basically, we try to have literature on virtually every subject that they might need in an effort to better their lot in life.
We have volunteers staff the center. These volunteers are available to monitor the site, check out materials, get basic info on people that come in, etc. They also assist as much as possible in areas that they are able, such as writing resumes, filling out applications, developing budgets, etc. The staff try to be reasonably informed about agencies and organizations in the community that may be of further assistance so that referrals can be made.
We occasionally have a representatives from other community resources available to help in specific areas. For instance, an admissions counselor from Austin Community College, or someone from a subsidized housing program, etc. may be available for a two hour period of time for walk in consultations.
We try to keep some bus passes, emergency food supplies, etc. for those who need them. We also have some applications for assistance like housing, welfare, etc. on file so that they can get some help filling them out before going to turn them in. We have a job board with a list of current openings.
The resource center has only been open since July(?) and I would estimate we probably have 10-15 youth each day on average come in for something.
We use the center to host various group activities for the youth that we serve. For instance, there is a foster care alumni group that meets to discuss ways to improve and advocate for the foster care system. They are about to submit a bill to congress to improve the way drugs are administered to foster care youth.
Our center has some substantial funding behind it from the Casey Foundation, but I think that a similar ministry could be conducted with far less funding and reaching out to disadvantaged people of all ages.
Church members could be used to staff the center with minimal training. Christian social organizations could be primary partners for referral with secular organizations filling the gaps. Creating awareness of the ministry and making sure that the volunteer staffers are aware of available community resources would probably be the biggest difficulties.
If I can answer any other questions for you, feel free to email me at jaborch99@gmail.com.
To God be the glory.
By WacoGal on Jan 31, 2007 | Reply
Scott,
God bless your efforts in your surrounding community. I have previous ties to your congregation. I know a lot of folks will certainly feel like this is not what they “signed up for.” Some folks just want to go to church on Sunday morning. God softens hearts, and I pray he works among you in that way. “Reach Out” in that area doesn’t even require reaching out it is so needed. It will simply require open arms and hearts by those willing to do more than reserve a pew.
God Bless!
By SG on Feb 1, 2007 | Reply
Do you take clothing donations?
By Scott on Feb 1, 2007 | Reply
WacoGal, thanks. I’m not sure how this will all turn out but I’ll keep plugging on.
SG, yes we take clothing donations. We have a lot of people who show up on Wed. looking for suitable clothing. Just drop it off.