Yesterday, I gave a presentation to the pastors of the District on ways to use technology to move the church’s ministry beyond its walls and even to the uttermost parts of the earth. The program went well and the discussion that followed was very encouraging. We even decided to offer three more follow-up seminars to help with the implementation of some of the methods we discussed.
One part of my presentation (and the preparation for it) that really captured my thoughts was the concern for the language we speak. All too often, we fall into the belief that we should be able to speak our language and expect others to understand it and grasp what we are saying. When they ignore or reject what we are saying, we can easily place all of the responsibility on our audience while never asking ourselves if we communicated in the right way.
I have a passion for ministry in Brazil and enjoyed the privilege of leading groups there to do missions work. Never did we arrive in Rio expecting that the people we would minister with would speak fluent English. Instead, we took time to learn some Portuguese and we arranged to have an interpreter ready when necessary. We made every effort to speak the language of the people we were with.
The same thing applies in the areas we all live and serve in. The church, reaching out to the community and the world, must be willing to learn the language of the people we are speaking to. We cannot simply expect that our words have the same meaning and that our methods of communication are the same. They are not. Even though the learning curve is significant and seems to continue to change, we must not step back.
When I was young, the church found its greatest growth through its members having children. People remained committed to their church and people who moved into the area typically looked for a church of the same denomination they previously attended. There was tremendous denominational loyalty. By the time I began in ministry, people were shopping for churches based upon the programs they offered. They would often change congregations based upon their needs and the seasons of their lives.
Today, people are seeking something real and a place where they can be engaged and connected. They want to be known and to know others, and they want to be a part of something that is bigger than they are, something that enables them to make a difference. The church can meet these needs and become stronger in the process, but we will need to speak the language of a new day.
Change can be intimidating, but what wonderful opportunities it presents. Thank God the message of divine love and saving grace remains unchanging. Thank God the Holy Spirit enables and empowers us to face a changing world and speak a relevant word. Thank God we have the privilege of living is such exciting times, and when it all seems overwhelming, take heart in John Wesley’s final words, “The best is, God is with us.”
