Like so many I am feeling the crunch of my fuel bills. It is even beginning to take a toll on various ministry outreaches. Things are reminding me of the mid 1970’s, only without the bell bottoms, big collars and giant bib-like polyester ties…a time which I would rather not repeat.
I’m doing everything I can to cut back on fuel bills…maybe I need a bicycle.
While the prospect of paying $4 a gallon for gas is making my wallet scream, there is a definite upside to it.
Recently I was told of a family who left our church to attend a larger church 20 miles away. They have come to the conclusion that the community church where they were converted is really where they want to be, not because the worship experience is more dynamic, not because the children’s programs are better staffed, and not because the pastor is more eloquent…they are coming back to their roots because it is more cost efficient.
Now if this were an isolated event I probably wouldn’t even mention it. This is the third incident of this nature in the past month.
At the same time I am grappling with the expenses that some of our non-local members are incurring. When gas hit $2.50 we lost folks who traveled 40 miles one way. They are all now in local churches closer to them, which I am thankful for.
Still if (when) gas hits $5 a gallon then what will the makeup of the local church look like? Will the 1.8 person per parking space rule still apply? Will people seek out a church they can walk to? Will bus ministries be revived? OR, will community churches be forced to become more organic, focusing more on small groups off site?
No matter what, community churches need to not give up on the community around them. They must engage them on every level possible and be available to them as the economy tries to correct itself. At the same time, community churches need to take advantage of this season to re-task and re-tool to become not only the church to turn to in crisis, but to be the church to stay with after the crisis is abated.
This may very well be God’s way of bringing new life into our community churches. So hopefully we will be able to truly say “Thank you OPEC” for being an unwitting agent in helping bring renewal to many of our churches, and “Thank you God” for making all things work for good.
Desperately looking for a good bicycle,
Darrell
As a parishioner I understand the need to save $$’s on travel to my church. On the other hand what is most important to me and my family is that we are close enough to our home church to participate in all of their activities without undue time or gas wasted. We chose a spirit-filled church about 1/2 mile from our house and always feel at home when we are there.
Our favorite pastor though is in a town 50 miles away and we try to get there a couple times a month. Fortunately both pastors offer their sermons on podcast and we never miss any of their words from the pulpit.
Shalom
By: haldog on April 16, 2008
at 10:09 pm
Thanks for sharing Haldog. I’m glad to hear you found a good church so close to home AND kept your association with the more distant church.
Podcasting is definitely going to get bigger as more and more people cut back on distance traveled.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to hear from you again!
DBjr
By: darrellbjr on April 17, 2008
at 10:35 am