From ‘Fixing’ to ‘Discerning’

With gratitude to Church Anew for reposting Rev. Jason Gant’s post in Share Church, I offer these two [maybe/possibly?] Great Ideas with significant reluctance. They feel rather ‘business as usual’, as though the church is somehow removed from the deep trauma’s of reality unraveling around us.

They also belie a ministry approach rooted in the oft-repeated mantra, ‘If only we could get more young families to come to our church…’ – then all of our ‘problems’ would be solved.

So, if your goal is getting more young families into your pews, these are, indeed Great Ideas.

Find Gant’s suggestions in Reaching Families in Your Community this Easter!

Gant’s Kid-Friendly Ash Wednesday Worship Experience suggests interactive opportunities for families with young kids to engage in the Lenten Journey together. Indoors or out, these include:

  • explain the meaning of Ash Wednesday and the imposition of ashes
  • create interactive stations
    • post-it-note prayer station
    • sandbox confession and forgiveness station
    • remembering-your-baptism water station
    • imposition of ashes station – as a final station

Neighborhood outreach ideas include:

  • an egg hunt at a popular park on Palm Sunday weekend, including
  • Pre-Easter Yard Parties inviting folx to worship with you

Read the full post here.

However, Faith+Lead, who also has some unfortunate theological footing, shared a recent podcast with Dr. Harvey Kwiyani, an African theologian working at the intersection of mission, culture, and church renewal.

The conversation begins with Dr. Kwiyani’s personal story – rooted in the history of missionary David Livingstone arriving in his home village in Malawi – and covers:

  • How African Christians are reimagining evangelism for a post-colonial world;
  • What happens when sharing faith comes from the margins, not the center of power;
  • Why spiritual practices like prayer and fasting matter more than programs;
  • How to move from ‘fixing’ declining churches to discerning where God is already at work;
  • What authentic multicultural ministry really requires of us.

Listen to the full podcast here.

I strongly affirm the centrality of spiritual practices (so if the age-friendly Ash Wednesday suggestions mentioned above can be grounded in that intention, yea!) and genuine relationships. Likewise, ‘discerning where God is already at work’.

We facilitate Innovation Lab’s Community Discovery Package – a process that helps congregations employ deep listening to strengthen existing relationships and create new community relationships.

Find wisdom and inspiration for developing congregational Spiritual Practices in our lib guide.