GO TO BALL GAMES

 

These days, churches are more sidelined than ever in terms of being at the center of community life. Our children’s Sunday school rooms from the 1970s are mostly empty.  Post-2020, the few families with children who regularly attend on Sundays became fewer still. Even some of our died-in-the-wool folks have given up regular engagement. It is a very different world than that in which I graduated seminary 36 years ago.

So what’s a pastor to do?

First and foremost, BE a pastor. People’s lives, priorities and weekend schedules have changed.  They often do not readily seek formal or intensive engagement in a church. But that isn’t to say that they don’t want a pastor.

So, pastors: live what you call yourself on your business card. They aren’t going to show up to what you’re doing until you first show up to what they are doing.

1. Go to ball games. When anyone of any age who is in your inactive roll plays a sport in public, that is a great opportunity to show up. Show interest in peoples lives.  You brand yourself as a person who cares.  If you demonstrate interest in others then you become more interestING to others. Pretty simple.

2. It’s not just ball games, of course. If they are artists, go see their studio. If they sell appliances, let them show you their store. If they wait tables at Denny's, go eat breakfast!  If they’re cops, see if you can ride in a police car sometime for a few hours. Why?  Because you appreciate them, and you want to understand their challenges. In short, you care.

3. Beyond showing up for church members, show up to any group that organizes around community service. These days, many people with no meaningful church connection volunteer through non-religious organizations. Show up!  Meet them, cheer for them!  Probably 1/4 of the folks you’ll meet are also candidates for exploring spirituality.  And as they come to trust you, you may be delighted at what transpires!

4. Show up in solidarity with people who are activists for good change. They won’t forget the minister who always comes around to help.

5. Our pastor decided to take a historic home tour in the community when she was new in town. She met another woman new in town. The latter had not been a part of a church in a long while. Not only did she decide to visit worship, she joined and became the church office administrator- and a very good one! 

Not everyone you meet will want to attend worship. They may show up in other ways: possibly as volunteers to help with community service projects!  I found a non-member at our church quietly pruning rose bushes on the church property last week.  We had a lovely conversation.  He’s also deeply involved in helping us build affordable housing.  This man worships God with his actions, and we are stronger because of him.

Bottom line: Folks aren’t going to show up for you and whatever it is the church is up to until you (or the church) show up for them.

So show up!  And in a lot of sports-centered communities, that starts by attending the games!