Written by Connie Coppings
Stanford, Kentucky
Well, after packing up 25 years of ministry, saying our goodbyes, and driving our belongings and our pets to the town where we’re living in retirement, we are learning a new way of life. Initially we’ve been busy getting our house in order and trying to find a church home. While in ministry we were assigned to a church, we now find ourselves having to discover a place where we can worship and serve as laypeople.
It’s interesting to discover how a congregation responds to someone new in their midst. We’ve been ignored by the greeters, the congregation, and even the pastor in some churches. After attending a Sunday school class in one church where no one bothered to introduce themselves or inquire about us, we knew that wasn’t the place for us. The Bible is full of places with references to warm fellowship among Christians, yet we’re finding a great lack of that as we visit area churches.
Throughout our ministry my husband and I have worked with congregations we served to encourage them to reach out to any new face coming through their doors. We’ve even served in churches where people had been there for years but didn’t know someone unless they sat in their part of the church. How can we minister to one another when we don’t even bother to find out someone’s name!
A new person entering a church has many concerns. Will they accept me if I share who I really am? Am I good enough to be here? I don’t understand many of the things that go on, will I be ridiculed if I ask questions? The church family has the important job to make sure no one leaves their church doors feeling no one cared enough to make them feel included.
I need to also say here we have found warm, loving congregations that do a great job in reaching out to visitors. We’ve received hugs, even a loaf of homemade bread, from caring people who wanted us to return. We know that in time God will show us just where we are to be in order to serve Him in this phase of our lives.
I challenge those in ministry, and their congregations, to take a close look at how they’re doing in respect to making visitors feel at home. All parts of our church services are important, but it is those first few minutes a visitor enters the front door that are crucial as to whether they will stay. It makes no difference how large or small the church, everyone needs to have a plan in place to welcome those God has directed there.
Heavenly Father, help us to put aside our excuses so that we may focus that energy on being Your hands and feet to those who enter our church doors. May they find a safe haven where there lives can be changed and they can learn to serve.
Darlene
ladyofpurple
