Do You Know Your Neighbors?
by Phil Tom
Recently, someone gave me a book titled Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive by Thom S. Rainer. It was written in 2014. I opened the book to breeze through the chapters, and the title of chapter 4 caught my eye. The title of this chapter was “The Church Refused to Look Like the Community.” This chapter was nothing new. Integral to every congregational development strategy, regardless of denominational label and different uses of language and imagery, a vital and healthy congregation is welcoming to its neighbors and connected with its community.
Congregations struggling to survive tend to turn inward, focused on self-preservation rather than welcoming the Spirit to venture outside their four walls to meet their neighbors. The “new” mission field is not across the ocean but outside their front door. When I consult with a congregation, I will walk around its neighborhood and ask folks on the street if they know congregation X. You would not be surprised how many folks say they don’t know about the congregation. This invisibility is a pressing issue, as the congregation's visibility in the community is crucial for its survival and growth.
Consider the case of a hospital that rebuilt its main entrance to face the highway, away from its former entrance on a busy commercial street. This symbolic act communicated that its staff and patients could bypass the 'undesirable' neighborhood. Similarly, when congregations refrain from engaging with their neighbors due to racial or socioeconomic changes, they are sending a similar message. It's crucial for congregations to realize that they have a significant role in shaping their communities, and this responsibility should be a driving force for their actions.
If a congregation wants to experience spiritual renewal and growth, it must embrace its mission to enter the world, outside its church home! It must become a welcoming congregation, not simply in words but through its action. It is not enough to put out a “We are a friendly church” sign out front or to jazz up one’s webpage. It will require some changes within the existing congregational culture, but Spirit-led, the changes will produce significant outcomes in the life and mission of the congregation.
Most new members join a congregation or any organization because of a personal invitation from a family member, a neighbor, or a co-worker. This requires a relationship of knowing the “other.” That’s why congregations must go out to meet their neighbors, build relationships, discover what gifts their neighbors bring, and develop new mission opportunities with their neighborhood.
Do you know your neighbors? If you want to learn more about connecting with your community, Pinnacle Leadership Associates can assist you with this work.