Grace Community Christian Church

 

Archived Things Above

Six Months Later (7/2/03)

It's been exactly six months now since this congregation underwent its most severe testing to date. Approximately half of our people, including all the elders & staff, literally walked out on a Sunday morning, leaving us to fend for ourselves, & likely, anticipating our soon demise. While their departure resulted in immediate relief from the angry tensions that had been brewing for far too long, it also resulted in grief, hurt feelings, more anger, confusion, uncertainty, and, for some, loss of confidence.

Calling that period a "dark time" doesn't come close to doing it justice. I wouldn't wish what happened here on anybody else. It was ugly, it was wrong, it was sinful. It was certainly Satan's shining moment. But, it was only that: a moment.

Many of you stuck it out. You believed God wasn't done with us yet, & that we still had something to offer Him & this community. You filled in gaps all over the place: Some of you have never worked in any sort of children's ministry before, but you jumped right in & overcame your discomforts & misapprehensions. Some of you took over getting out our weekly bulletins & monthly newsletters, without even being asked. Every area of essentiality was immediately taken care of, joyfully, willingly, enthusiastically. We even held an outreach event (Oasis Coffeehouse) within two months, making the clear declaration that church isn't just about those already on the "inside", but very much also about those who still need to hear the message of the Gospel.

We began to pray much more than we ever have before. Your financial giving has been phenomenal. We've seen new guests arrive among us almost every week. We even created a brand new volunteer position, Director of Fun! Bottomline, we're making plans for our future.

"Our future." What beautiful words! We do have a future as a church! True, we need to learn whatever lessons we can glean from what happened, but we can't live back there. We've got a job to do. For example, we still need to more firmly nail down & agree together on why we exist as a church; we need to raise up Biblical leadership; we need to cultivate deeper relationships with one another within the church; we need to minister more to each other, & work hard to have more in common with each other than just sharing space in rows of chairs.

But these things take time. And, we are making progress in several areas. Virtually every church is wrestling with these & similar issues. Which means to me, Wow, maybe we're not that broken, after all! Friends, we've got good reason to hope. We do have a future! God has begun something here, & He's not through with us yet!

As that fateful January 5 service concluded, I dejectedly & defeatedly admitted to myself & to you, that I had no idea what to do next. It was the lowest point of my life, bar none. Six months later, because of your encouragement, commitment, optimism, hard work, prayers & faithfulness, God is showing all of us what to do next. And I thank Him, & you, for it.

Let's continue to listen for His voice, love each other deeply, & together move ahead & make a difference for His Kingdom in this place. It's God's moment now!

Hidden with Christ,


Jim Dewar --