Yearly Archives: 2015

We often call the place we worship, “our church”.

Shared experiences have made it so.  The life of a church is embodied in life within the church.  We call this history.

Yesterday, as we examined rural churches, there was quite a discussion about how history affects effectiveness in a church.  Knowing the past can help us connect with those who have poured their lives into a church.  Knowing the past can help us sidestep hornet’s nests that have been stirred once too often.  History can even give us clues as to new ways of ministry.

I have a unique history with the church I currently attend.  I was “born into” this church.  I was carried to services shortly after my birth.  Although our family moved away at a young age, I returned in my early twenties for four years.  Twenty five years later, I returned once again.  My current stint here has been for 10 years.

I am both a recent citizen, while also being born here – with roots going back to my grandfather, who homesteaded here.

I have history and yet I am new.  A peculiar situation which lets me speak to different generations of inhabitants of this church.

What an awesome privilege.  And responsibility.

A reemphasized and reenergized movement is happening.

Those in rural churches are seeking to have their approach to pastoring heard. 

At first you may think that all churches are alike.  They should all have people, they should all get along, and they should all want to talk about Jesus wherever they are. 

But each context has a different perspective.  For many rural church pastors, the advice we have received comes from larger churches or from urban churches. 

We do not have a large population draw – we have to work with a community that is right on our doorstep.  We do not have a lot of other pastors who can coffee with us at the drop of a hat – we have to set plans in motion to see someone.

We do have longevity of members and a community that remembers.  When a rural church obtains a favourable reputation, that abides for a while. 

There are many things a vital rural church has going for it. 

Today, I’ll meet with some other rural church pastors and we will compare notes – I expect I’ll add a few more notes!!

I should know by now.

Life is never a stand still and wait type of situation.  We can adopt that stance, and find that the stream of life (that carries nurture and nutrition) passes us by.

We have bought a house.  We could just leave it stand as is.  But both of us are inclined to push past the current state into a “together” state. 

Together we are building a new home for ourselves.  Together we are working on new approaches to problem solving.  Together we are finding a path that we can travel over these next few years.

Past comfortable!  Not a bad path to take.

It’s one of those activities that are unexpected – and not much activity to it!

I sat on the front steps of my brother-in-law’s place yesterday.  We both talked of life in the family.  And of the death of our wives.  Sunday had been three years since my first wife passed away.  His wife passed away last year.

We make an interesting pair.  We have been friends for around 20 years.  We have been in-laws for two years.  The cross-over has been smooth.  We just have a greater arena of discussion. 

The sun was shining.  The grass was growing.  Our discussion ranged from selling and upgrading houses to the new normals of life. 

Would I trade this friendship?  No. 

We have gone through family stressors, church transitions and philosophical debates.  All of them have made us both better men.  And we are both seeing the wisdom of passing on any wisdom we have gathered to other men.

Now, that is friendship.