Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
~ John 14:5-6a
I remember listening to the music of Kenny Rogers when I was young. As I was reflecting on the State of the Congregation meeting on Sunday, March 27, the words of his song “The Gambler” came to mind. We shared our concerns about worship attendance, Sunday School attendance, finances, and, perhaps most importantly, how we will do ministry now and lay the foundation for the Bethel of one hundred years from now. Here are some of the lyrics from “The Gambler.”
You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you’re sittin’ at the table
There’ll be time enough for countin’
When the dealin’s done
Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin’
Is knowin’ what to throw away
And known’ what to keep
‘Cause every hand’s a winner
And every hand’s a loser
Think about these lyrics in light of the church and ministry.
Bethel is almost 122 years old. I can’t think of any organization that has survived that long without changing and making adjustments along the way. You may know of companies like America Online (AOL) – where are they now? They used to be the primary way to access the Internet. How about IBM? They didn’t adjust to the home computer market. Apple – they were not doing so well until they developed the iPod. For them – it was a risk, but it ended up being a game-changer. Now, Apple has a strong following and is not to be ignored. But Apple and any other organization that has stood the test of time cannot sit back and enjoy the fruits of some good decisions and prosperity. They must continue to look forward, be creative, and listen.
I know … the church is not a “business”; at least not like other businesses. However, many mainline churches in the United States are declining (see The Lutheran April 2011). The question before us is “How will we play our hand?” What ministries will we cast aside? Are there ministries that were once strong, but have now languished? Which will we hold on to and bet on? What are we willing to risk?
For the past several years, Bethel has had to dip into our reserves to cover our expenses. Council and the Finance Team have cut away at the budget. Yet, for many years, the congregation has reiterated the importance of developing a strong youth ministry. Council has had to weigh expenses such as hiring a Director of Youth & Family Ministries or investing in a new sound system or paying for other necessary improvements to the building.
The State of the Congregation meeting affirmed what Council believed to be true – that we should move forward with the hiring of a Director of Youth & Family Ministries – that this would be a good card to hold onto. Of course, we all know that we can’t just make this decision and sit back self-satisfied once we have a person onboard. It will take time and all of our support and involvement for this ministry to be successful. It will most likely not look like the youth ministry we grew up with. God willing, this ministry will take on a flavor of its own. It will become what youth in our community need that will both involve them and help them grow in faith.
The truth is – none of us can see the future. But we are called to listen, to follow, to risk, and, at times, even to be sacrificial. We are called to trust the One who leads us joyfully into the future.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff
Epicurious Lutheran 