My parents, as a newly married couple, agreed to join a church-planting team. They left their home church, which was just a mile up the road, to help plant the Brookswood MB church in Langley, BC. It was a 20 minute drive away. When I was six my parents, who do not change significant routines often, switched back to their sending church.
1. I remember making a fuss one Sunday morning during the service. Dad warned me that if I didn’t quit, he would discipline me. I remember thinking, “I don’t think Dad will make a scene here, with all these people around.” I was wrong. That was a good lesson. Occasionally I’ll stop a service to help a child settle down, especially in a new church situation, before we have trained ushers.
2. One Sunday, Dad must have been travelling. Mom was driving home with us kids in the blue car. There was a girl riding a horse alongside the narrow, paved road. Just as we were coming up behind them, the horse got spooked by something and jumped in front of the car. Mom was going slow, but she hit the horse and knocked it on its side, right there on the pavement. No one was seriously hurt. Many people have the best intentions for Sunday church, but just getting there and back can be a real challenge. In our pre-service prayer we pray that God will protect people from distractions and confusion that could keep them from coming. (And I drive slowly when I see animals alongside the road).
3. I remember Dad always gave us kids some change to put in the offering. He gave his tithing envelope. We gave our offerings. What a special privilege for Dads! But what about the kids whose Dads do not teach them about the honor of giving back to God? I always try to bring change, and hand it out to kids without dads. I can see their same feelings of responsibility as they put the money in the offering plate. What about those who keep some of the change? It is worth the risk for me, and it happens less than you might think.
4. When I was six my cousin came to live with us. She was 15. Her parents were missionaries in Borneo. I remember overhearing Dad and Mom talk. We moved back to their sending church, which was only a mile from our house, so our cousin could participate more with the Youth Group. I believe in neighbourhood churches. Here in our neighbourhood where people live very close together and don’t have many cars, we have a rule of thumb. After a 20 minute walk you are in a good place to plant another church.
5. Bonus Lesson: We went every Sunday that we were home. We got there early. This was a firm ritual in our weekly cycle. One winter I as a young adult I was living in the Mule Creek Camp in the Yukon Territories, 65 miles from the nearest town, which was in Haines Junction. The mountainous road was very curvy and dangerous when icy. One spring day it rained, and then froze. It was Sunday, my day off. Others on the crew would sand this road, but I had to leave early, if I wanted to get to the tiny (about 10 people, counting kids) church I was part of. AND, I had just bought my first computer, a Tandy 1000 (the kind with the green letters on the monitor). The road was dangerous, and the computer was enticing. Then I heard/felt a big voice say inside of me, “Do you want to be part of My program, or not?” I dropped everything, and got my keys. A few months later we had a guest speaker for a week-end. He was from a town in Southern Canada, 2,000 miles away. It’s a long story, but I ended up marrying his daughter, Deanna, about 5 years later.
In summary:
1. Pay attention in church, even when it is difficult.
2. Beware of distractions before and after church.
3. Help others learn the privilege of giving back to God.
4. Join a church where you can easily participate more than just Sunday mornings.
5. Go every Sunday that you are home.
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