I read a statistic from somewhere some time ago that said that 8 out of every 10 churches in America today are closing their doors. From churches that have been around for 50 or more years to new startup Churches – their average attendance when they held their last services were just 40 people.
Today Rocky River Community Church stands 7 years old. I want to take a minute and thank those who have served our church for those 7 years – some of which have been here almost since the beginning. It’s through your hard work, dedication and leadership that our church continues to serve the “Good News” to folks in our community.
Many of you already know this story but for those who don’t, I think its worth sharing. Back on a summer Saturday afternoon in June of 2005 my mom, Pastor Jimmy and I, were sitting in our church office. That is were my mom gave her life to Jesus. If not for those folks serving our church the years before that day – my mom might not be in Heaven today.
See there is more to doing church than just attending church. It takes a team of dedicated and loving people to make all this happen. Many of our folks are behind the scenes and are not noticed much by the general congregation. I am ok with that because, I myself don’t like to be the center of attention or out in the front and center. But we have caught the vision of the church Jesus had planned. We are not only serving each other and the folks who come through our doors but we are more importantly serving our Lord Jesus Christ.
We can’t ride the coat tails of our parents, or our spouses or our children. When we become Christians and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, It becomes personal.
You want to know the secret that makes our church stand out? It’s the single mom with 3 daughters who has to get her kids up early on Sunday mornings and get them here by 8:30 so she can setup her children’s area. It’s the single dad who comes in at 6:30 to setup chairs and then has to go back home and get his children out of bed and ready for church. It’s the talented mom who is making sure the coffee is hot and the hospitality area is just perfect and looks awesome. It’s their personal ministry and they are serious about it!
You are not just serving in the nursery, changing diapers, holding a crying baby – did it occur to you that you just may be holding the next Billy Graham?~ Or the next president of Brandon’s fan club?
You are not just greeting folks as they come in the doors and then showing them where the bathrooms are and where to check their children in at the K-5 area; you are not just helping teach in Sunday school – you are providing those children there a chance to learn about Jesus – You are giving their mom and dad a chance to sit worry free and listen to Pastor Jimmy preach – a Life Talk message that may be giving them that last chance to hear what God has to say about their struggling marriage or their money problems. It’s that opportunity for Jesus – to change them forever because they are leaving that morning – knowing Jesus. You are giving that single mom a chance to redo her life and know that there are church families who loves her regardless of her past. You are providing a support system for families who need support and encouragement that only Jesus and His church can provide. You are providing a place for people to feel of part of something so much bigger than themselves, to have a place to feel wanted and be connected in a Rock Group family and finally to have a place to serve and find their God given gifts and passions that they never knew they had.
Alone, we cannot accomplish much, but together – serving God as a family – we can accomplish so much more for His kingdom. A church is not measured by how many people attend the services but by how much the people love one another.
Imagine with me for a second, our building out there on the land. Imagine a place for our children to get married, a place where we can plant a tree for a lost loved one, a place where hurting people find refuge and acceptance from society’s rules. Imagine padded chairs! Imagine a place where people all across Harrisburg, Concord and Charlotte can come and experience the life changing grace of Jesus.
Colossians 3: 23-24
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Thank you all for taking ownership in our church, being great examples for others, and for stepping up and serving.
It’s an honor to serve along side of you all. For Carol, Kyle and myself – there is no other place we would rather be serving God and no other church family we would want to do this life with.
It’s all about Jesus, but Volunteers are the vehicle.
I look forward to serving along side of you in 2008.
Gods Best,
Lonnie
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