When Failure is Success

If success means filled seats, last Sunday was a failure.  Our total worship attendance was less than normal.

If sucess means full contribution plates, last Sunday was a failure.  Our giving trended downward.

If success means a full schedule of events at the church building, last Sunday was a failure.  The crowds only filled the building for 45 minutes and quickly left.

But if success means engaging the community in the Spirit of Christ, last Sunday was a raging success.  Instead of our usual two worship services, we held only one combined service.  Instead of our normal schedule of an hour of Sunday School and more than an hour of worship, we met for only 45 minutes of communion and singing.  Instead of lingering and fellowshipping, we rapidly left the building in deployments of more than twenty groups to do specific acts of service in our community.  Homeless men were fed, children and families from Saint Jude and LeBonheur were blessed with gifts and grace, shut-ins received welcome guests, missionaries were sent cards of encouragement, and countless other acts of kindness were demonstrated.

In terms of filled seats, full contribution trays, and an overflowing schedule in the building, it was a bust.  But in terms of being Jesus to one of the poorest cities in the country, it couldn’t have been better.  I’m grateful for the chance to serve with a church full of people willing to re-imagine what it means to be a church.

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