From 1928, the Highland Church of Christ in Memphis, TN grew from a suburban church plant of 24 to a large urban congregation with four Sunday AM services, two Sunday Schools, five church plants, and all-time high records in 2001 in Sunday School (1419), Sunday AM worship (1855), and membership (1806). With the building capacity maxed out and the property landlocked, in 2001 leaders privately investigated an alternate property for the purpose of relocation. By 2003, the relocation discussion went public and the congregation voted to move. Nine years after the initial investigations, the Highland Church of Christ re-launched in a new facility on forty acres in a suburban location.
Almost everything that could go wrong during a church relocation did go wrong with ours. Yet, many things also went right. In the previous series of posts, I explored that which went wrong–the things we regret about our relocation journey. In this series, I’ll explore what went right–the things we rejoice in about our relocation journey.
#4 – Increased Ministry Involvement/Leadeship
During Highland’s highest periods of growth, I remember several conversations with potential new members that went something like this: “I love Highland. But I don’t think I’d be needed here. You already have so many talented people.” Gifted individuals perceived they weren’t needed and would have a place to serve. But during our relocation journey all of that changed. We suddenly became the church where every person was needed and every gift required. If you could breath and blink, we could put you to work.
When several long-time ministry leaders left, it created opportunities for new ministry leaders to step into the gap. When we moved to our temporary worship facilities in a school, we suddenly had dozens of new ministry opportunities to fill (setting up/taking down chairs every Sunday, setting out/putting up guest parking cones every Sunday, etc.). As the turmoil revealed weaknesses in our ministry structure, new opportunities opened up. For example a new men’s ministry called Act Like Men launched during this time because of the need to help more men at Highland use their gifts. Our small finance committe multiplied into a robust one of 12-15 as financial difficulties called for gmore ifted individuals to apply their wisdom and expertise. Finally, as we got closer to launching in our new neighborhood and facility, new men and women caught the vision and volunteered to lead new ministries: a neighborhood prayer ministry, adopting the nearby elementary school, beginning an outreach to homeschoolers, starting a new visitor class, etc. We have more men and women involved in ministry now than ever before.
#5 – We learned that when we humble ourselves, God raises us up.
The losses, conflict, and confusion deeply humbled us. We grew from self-sufficient to much more God-reliant. We were transformed from “We know what to do” to “Let’s pray about that.” And the more we humbled ourselves, the more we saw God at work. The fewer “Me” and “We” moments there were, the more “He” moments there were. God became more and more visible as we became more and more invisible.
#6 – We re-learned that God moves mountains and prayer moves God (to steal a line from Rick Achtley).
As a congregation, we never prayed more than we did during these nine years. As individuals, we never prayed more than we did during these nine years. The obstacles we faced were enormous, but time and time again, as we prayed, God overcame. If cyou ould take a snapshot of us at our lowest point, and then take a snapshot of us today, you were be amazed at the difference. One picture would show fatigue, discouragement, darkness, despair, and resignation. The other would show joy, anticipation, faith, laughter, and determination. It was all due to God. The more we asked, the more he answered. We’ve never been able to sing Ps. 121 and Ps. 124 like we can now.
#7 – We learned the importance of waiting.
Sometimes there was nothing to do but wait. Wait for a potential seller to process our proposal. Wait for a bank to respond to our request for a loan. Wait for the county to approve a sewer plan. Wait for a task force to find a temporary worship location. What we wanted to happen in two years took nine. There was a lot of waiting. And that was a good thing. It taught us patience. It taught us trust. It taught us to look for God’s timing instead of our own.
#8 – We learned to ask for help.
God forced us into situations where all our wisdom and experience was useless. Time and time again we just weren’t sure what to do. Those experiences caused us to be much more quick to ask for help and guidance than we were in the past. We learned to rely on and give weight to the wisdom and expertise of others rather than just assuming we knew best. During this time period we called on Myler (a church growth company), Lynn Anderson, Evertt Huffard, RSI (a capital stewardship company), and every church we could find who had also relocated. We became eager students again, willing to humbly listen to and learn from others.
#9 – We learned that a facility can be a great tool.
Having no building for two and a half years taught us that the church is not the building. But now that we have a building once again, we’ve rediscovered what a great ministry tool it can be. A mother is going to offer classes for parents of special needs in it. A young married is going to offer tennis lessons in it. We can re-start our Day School and provide assistance to families in the area. We’re offering classroom space to local businesses for meetings. We may host a Chinese Language School in the building. Suddenly we have more ways to serve and meet needs.
#10 – We saw that God provides.
God provided a buyer for our property at 443 S. Highland before the economy crumbled and selling would have become difficult. God provided a temporary office facility at Shelby Oaks for two and a half years that provided ample ministry space. God provided forty acres of land on Houston Levee road. God provided us the opportunity to solicit bids for the construction at Houston Levee at a time when construction costs were at historic lows. God provided 399 new members who brought new life and new energy and optimism. God provided dozens of new deacons and five new elders whose shoulders at the wheel have definitely been felt. God provided new ministry opportunities. We’ve never seen God provide like we have during the last nine years.
Larry McKenzie, who’s been on Highland’s staff for 31 years, recently said, “The past is the prologue.” All of Highland’s 80+ years are just the prologue to what God’s going to do next. Would I want to go through all of this again? Absolutely not. But do I believe God did things through it He might not have done any other way? Definitely. And I believe Highland’s first 80 years will pale in comparison to her next 80.
That was a very good read,I just now subscribed to your rss feed.
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