I had the privilege recently to share what we’re learning with CKN at Moraine Valley Church.
Well…it was the first day for worship in their brand new atrium (complete with a cafe and “Third Place” amenities) and completely remodeled 1200 seat worship space. So…. it was a “present the keys to the church leadership” event as well. In addition to presenting the keys they asked me to share with the congregation recent insights regarding culture, ministry and facilities.
And……. a refocused and refreshed ministry
This addition and remodel effort at Moraine wasn’t simply about refreshing and refocusing a building. More importantly, it is about refreshing and refocusing a ministry. We had helped them rethink where culture is going….what that means to their ministry……to their leadership….and to realigning their facilities. These are subjects we have extensively researched through our Cornerstone Knowledge Network and share at our Cornerstone Conferences. So the first Sunday in they asked me to help cast the new vision….this refreshed and refocused ministry they were part of ….. for the congregation. It was important they understand how it all fit together and why they have the new facilities they do. Great facilities without passionately engaged and aligned (paid and volunteer) staff are of little impact of course.
Please……. don’t make us “walk alone”!
Moraine is a typical, predominantly white congregation, in the South suburbs of Chicago. You know what I mean….quiet and respectful through a presentation. So I was caught off guard when a young adult man up in the left balcony spontaneously shouted out something like“That’s Right” to a point I just made. I had just finished pondering the impact of the “Digital Age” (see the Digital Age post below) and the aching need of younger people for:
- Participation
- Networks/Connections
- Authentic Insight
- Pragmatic Answers
As typically happens after sharing these Digital Age needs with young people around the country……several were crowded around my wife and I asking questions and sharing thoughts. When I asked what provoked the unusual….. passionate “That’s Right” comment….. one early twenties fella shared:
- We just want to know you older guys,
- We want to be known too,
- We want insight, and
- We don’t want to walk this life alone.
Oh so interesting. As they lingered…..the longing was evident in their (some tearful) eyes.
Missional ministry………here?…now?
Strategically aligned facilities can be powerful for ministry. We’ve seen 25-30% growth for a year or two after completion. But without us older experienced friends serving in them (with overflowing Romans 12 hearts) we may miss this next generation. And the facilities potential to help us connect may never be realized.
Is this one of those situations Christ was referring to…..“the harvest is so big…but us older friends with time to invest so few?”
What are the barriers we must overcome?
Ed, I really think you’re hitting on something here, and it may have to do with the very nature of preaching/communicating. In the digital world (blogs/twitter/etc.) you referenced before, there is a huge level of interactivity, but most of our teaching is linear — we stand on stages and speak at our audiences and give them answers. What if authenticity, letting them KNOW you and KNOWING them and walking together is asking for a new level of interactivity? Maybe we’re going to have to bring more questions to our preaching, share more narrative, and find ways to engage our audience. Maybe soon our audiences will be texting questions to us as we share… What are the barriers? Willingness to cede control of the experience people have in our buildings. Technology that is even more integrated so people can not only get on our wireless network, but actually message us during the message! You could probably solve the facility/tech problems faster than figuring out how to adapt as preachers and engage authentically — it has to be way more than cool; it has to be real.
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