Open to Reach

If I were to poll our church on our mission statement, I would ask which of the main points of emphasis were “easiest” for them. The statement above can be broken into three main parts like this:

•  Identity (who we are) – We are a diverse family of believers
•  Mission (what we are trying to do) – Seeking to glorify God, make disciples, build families, and reach our community
• Extent (how we go about that) – Ways that stretch beyond age, ethnicity, and status.

The focus of the poll would be on the mission and its fourfold aim: glorify God, make disciples, build families, and reach our community. So, of those 4, which would seem “easiest” to you?

If I were to guess, I would say that the glorify God part would be highest on the list for most of us. Making disciples and building families would be in the middle. That leaves the aspect of reaching the community. Honestly, that one is usually the lowest on the list.

Let’s talk about that for a bit. We push Sunday Bible Study and we push our student and children’s ministries. We push going to church. And numbers would back up the fact that these are emphasized and “easier”. Our worship services are our biggest draw, both in English and in Spanish. They should be. That is our collective time together for worshiping God. Also, it is the easiest time to be here. We sing, we pray, we read Scripture, we give, and we learn His Word. It requires no greater effort from us.

Sunday Bible Study is the next biggest draw. This is a disciple making arm of the church, when applied properly. We want to grow in our understanding of what it means to follow Christ. We want to continue preparing our hearts for corporate worship. Since it is a collective time when all groups can meet, it has a larger draw. Our Student and our Children’s Ministries are the next big draw as far as Sunday is concerned. We equip the next generation during this time. However, there is quite the fall off from Sunday morning to midweek, which is our next build the family and make disciples opportunity. Midweek requires more from us, so we do not see the same numbers involved in any of our disciple making ventures. We have our children and our youth covered, offering new opportunities to help them grow. Many are involved, but many are not. It is not as easy as Sunday morning.

Then, there is the reach our community leg of our mission. Reaching our community takes a different form of intentionality. It does not just happen. Well, let me backtrack just a minute to clarify. Let’s just do a little “on average” numbering for a moment. Sunday worship is typically around 215-220, Sunday Bible Study around 190, and all groups for midweek around 75 (16 in choir, 16 in adult Bible Study, 20 in Hispanic Ministry, 10 youth, and 13 in children’s ministries). A bit of a decline as it requires more. Let’s say that we were going to have a time that we went out into the community to invite people to church (which we have done). Would you expect that there be more or less than the midweek average? In the times that we have done this since I have been here, we have averaged about 25 people. There are different factors for why (families already had plans, sick, unable to walk neighborhoods, etc), and that is okay. I am just adding to the point that reaching our community is not the easiest because it requires something direct from us. But, I also believe that this requires a different form of intentionality.

What does that even mean? I think Paul describes it in 1 Thessalonians in this way: “Having so fond an affection for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how woring night and day so as not be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God” (1 Thess 2.8-9, NASB).

Reaching our community causes us to think deeply about the way we love our community. Paul’s willingness to take on extra, to fulfill his ministry in Thessalonica, and to reach people was borne out of his fond affection for them. This is the different form of intentionality that we must take as a church in Fairburn. Do we truly love Fairburn? I do not mean do we love what we have known as Fairburn nor am I asking if we love being in Fairburn. We are a storied town and we are a convenient town, small enough to feel quaint and hospitable, but close enough to the city to have everything we need within arms reach. I am asking if we love Fairburn as it is right now with all of the people shifts and changes that have come our way.

The intentional way that we seek to reach our community will be the birthchild of our love for Fairburn. If our love for Christ and the Gospel compels our love for Fairburn, then reaching becomes easier. It is no longer a tax on our time and abilities, it becomes an investment of who we are in Christ here. Can I ask you one last question? It is not just a yes or no, nor is it a simple answer and be done. I am asking this question of myself today as I ask it of you. I am asking you to pray over this question with me as we explore together.

Where is Fairburn in your heart? It is a question of love that will shape a life of mission here. Let’s reach together in love.