WESLEY THE FROG AND CHURCH GROWTH

It is not uncommon for pastors to have someone waiting to visit with them after a church function (in fact, some truly moving pastoral interactions occur in these kind of situations.) This is especially true when it is known that we will be having a meal.

Last night, as Kathy and I were headed back to our offices after a fantastic Wednesday Night (seriously, one of the best yet - this sojourn through the Psalms we started last night looks like it could be truly transformational in the lives of some people as well as the life of our congregation) we saw a silhouette waiting in the shadows on our steps. While in 99.99% of cases we NEVER divulge who it is that wants to visit with us, and would NEVER take their picture without tacit approval, I felt that you, the people of North Cross, might find it interesting to see who was waiting for your pastors...

This frog (I think I'll name him Wesley The Frog) has been on my mind ever since our chance encounter. In fact, the more that I think about Wesley T. the more I cannot help but look at the ministries of North Cross, especially considering we are in the midst of a worship series centered around the question of "Why ARE We Here?" as well as preparing to commit to embracing opportunity for us to continue and further the ministries of our church in 2014.

For example, Wesley T. showed up in the shadows. It took me a moment to even see he was there, because I wasn't looking for him - I was focused on getting up the office stairs. Who is it that we, the people of North Cross, are missing simply because we are not looking for them?

Additionally, I had to work to see Wesley T. for who he is, because the lighting wasn't just right. In fact, I had to go out of my way to see Wesley T. by getting out my phone, using it's flashlight, and getting down on my knees to check him out. Kathy started laughing at me when I hopped off the stairs and into the mulch of the flowerbed to get a batter angle. Who is it that we, the people of North Cross, are not going out of our way to see in the best possible light because it would inconvenience us?

Admittedly, my motives for getting down to Wesley T.'s level weren't entirely altruistic. Erin loves frogs, and I knew she'd want to see the picture and hear the story. Frogs are special to me as well, for the most cherished thing on our refrigerator is a frog magnet that hung on my grandmother's refrigerator for years. Who is it that we, the people of North Cross, are willing to go the extra mile to get on their level not for our own sakes but theirs?

You may think it a little insane to spend this much time processing the presence of a frog on the porch of our offices, but that, my friends, is the last thing I want to ask: Who is it that visits us that we, the people of North Cross, continue to think about and reflect upon far beyond our first encounter?

As you come to worship this week, I want to encourage you all to think of ol' Wesley T. The most salient thing to me about Wesley T.'s visit and it's lessons for us was found in the very first sentence I wrote about Wesley T. Notice that I said that Wesley T. showed up on our porch. Dear friends, church growth doesn't happen sitting around waiting for people to show up on the front porch. To think otherwise is foolish and naive. 

Who is it that we, the people of North Cross, need to intentionally share God's grace with, and as a part of that intentional sharing invite them not to our building, but to be a part of this community of hope?

Wesley T....I have no idea what happened to him since my one encounter with this visitor, but...tell ya what - let's us all make a deal here and now -

Let's make sure we do our dead level best that Wesley T. is the LAST visitor we have that stops in and out one time and we have no idea whatever happened to them...THEN we might, just might, start capturing the essence of why we are here. 

Grace and Peace, Lamar

P.S. This doesn't mean, 'Let's make sure everyone signs in so the folks in the office can send a card, make a phone call, and add them to the email list.' This means taking time to introduce ourselves, visit long enough to actually get to know them, and following up with them on our own (with no prodding from the pastors or staff) to incorporate them in the life of the community.  Could this work? Yes. How do I know? Erin and I spent two hours over supper Tuesday night with some regular visitors who said they felt at home here the first they visited because a couple took time to get to know them and visit with them at length after worship.

NO MORE WESLEY T.'S
(Disclaimer: ALL frogs are welcome)