"They Have a Pumpkin Patch"

I was recently visiting a young family I have known for a long time. They are a great young couple, mixed religious affiliation of some Episcopal and Lutheran background but the type of young adults who haven't been to church in years except for weddings of friends and siblings. Their life has recently changed with the purchase of a new home, a move to a suburban community near where they work and the birth of their first child.

This sweet one year old has become the center of their universe and is driving the train of priorities the parents are making. First, find a pre-school near their new home she can eventually attend. Second, find a church they might like to attend. However, the list of criteria for selection of a church is long and all relates to their daughter. Recently they stumbled across a Methodist church not too far from their home. Upon describing this church the young mom said to me, "They have a pumpkin patch and I went on line and saw pictures of children and parties children were enjoying. It seems like a good place to try." Not a word about spiritual life, community, building relationships or God. Just the things her child would enjoy.

It is harder than ever being Church in America. Our society is so saturated with activities that are planned to give us pleasure. The Church can not ignore the need to be attractive to generations who expect these things. However, it is such a fine line that can easily be crossed, losing our focus on our primary mission to reconcile all persons to Christ Jesus. It is about intentionality. We must evaluate all that we do, weighing our activities to be in alignment with our mission. This is possible, but it takes faithful leadership at the top that always asks the questions, "Why are we doing this and how does it align with our mission?" As we seek to reach out to the unchurched and never churched we need to realize that it is going to be hard work to attract and draw into community folks who are looking for activities that we may not value. But these means may be the opening to opportunities for transformation that people can not find in any other way. This is the challenge for the missionary leader. Seeking God's wisdom and discernment and working with other faithful leaders who know "why we are doing this and how it aligns with our mission" will help us do the work of evangelism in a culture that needs to be invited and welcomed into our communities of faith.