Where Are the People?

      Today, you can travel around rural America searching for a church and find many empty or with only a handful of people sitting in the pews.  The few left say they are praying for growth.  With the empty seats, I wonder if their prayers are sincere.  I wonder if their narrow view of who they want in the church is keeping the seats empty.  I wonder how do they welcome visitors.

     When my husband and I moved far from home to a small town, we searched for a church.  Most small towns have a reputation of not being friendly to outsiders, and this small town fit into that category.  This fact made looking for a church a challenge.  People at work had told my husband that the Baptist church in town was a good church, so this was our first choice.  In the large congregation, not a single person spoke to us.  Many stared and whispered.  Next, we tried the Methodist church, a smaller Baptist church, and a few others.  At each, not a person welcomed us.  I could feel the stares and felt uncomfortable at each.  On our fifth Sunday, we went out of town to a country church.  A few of my husband's co-workers went there, but not a one had invited him to church.  

     On this fifth Sunday of searching for a church, we walked in to a nearly full church.  We sat on the right side about midway to front of church.  A few people smiled and greeted us.  This was a little better.  The service starts.  As we sing the first hymn, everyone sang with joy and purpose.  We liked the music.  Kevin loved to sing and he sang loudly from the heart.  As usual, people turn around to see who has that beautiful voice.  A choir member leaves the choir loft, walks to us, and takes Kevin's hand to lead him to the choir loft.  He went and sang with them.  The pastor preached the gospel and preached unfiltered.  We loved his style of preaching.  God was there.  We could feel the Holy Spirit's presence. After the service, we were greeted and asked to come back.  Kevin and I felt at home.  However, we did not expect what came next.

     On Monday night, we had visitors.  The pastor and associate pastor came to visit.  We invited them into our home, and I offered them a glass of tea.  The first question they asked was if we were Christians.  The next question shocked me.  The pastor asked, "What is your testimony?"  

     Before I could say a word, Kevin shared his testimony which I had never heard.  We had been so busy after my father died with my mother and our children that we never slowed down to listen to each other.  How I needed this!  How we needed this church that had God at the center of everything in their church and individual lives.  We joined this church because we needed to be with people who cared about us.  Their actions on that first Sunday and afterwards was the start of a journey of spiritual growth and learning about the importance of discipleship.  

    Lack of discipleship and having a church centered on God's love ends with empty pews on Sunday.  This is the why, but where are the people?  Why don't they come?  Do they not return because they only received stares instead of warm welcomes?  Do they not come because the church is not prepared for their children's needs or their own spiritual needs?  Has anyone been sincerely invited and welcomed?  Are the members too set in their ways to welcome new people?  Do the few members care about the many lost in their neighborhoods?  Just what needs to be done?

    First, the congregation must be willing to grow closer to God in spirit and not through doctrine and not yielding to their church traditions.  Through discipleship and learning how to support each other spiritually and physically, the church will grow closer together.  Next, they need to be prepared.  Assign teachers for all age groups for Sunday School.  Most important they must have people willing to keep the babies while young parents attend worship service.  A family with children will not come if the church is not prepared to teach their children the gospel.  Then, organize a group to help support the pastor as he visits potential new members.  Pray with each member seeking training in evangelism and discipleship.  Pray together as you all grow in the spirit and seek to grow God's Kingdom.

    Finally, where are the people?  They are in your neighborhoods.  They are the people in your church's neighborhood.  The people are in the line at the grocery store or hardware store.  The people are all around.  The church just needs to show that they care.  The church needs to reach out with open arms and love.  Note that the people aren't going to just come and stay; each member of the church has a responsibility to seek, welcome, and love to fill the pews remembering that all people need the Lord.

Reading Lamentations 1

Verse 1:  How does the city sit empty, that was full of people!

Verse 8:  Jerusalem has grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yes, she sighs, and turns backwards.