End of a Church

I am not going to put you through a sermon wondering for the next 40 minutes so I will begin by simply stating that after our services next week, we will be closing Harvest.

Harsh Reality

I have been concerned about reaching this point for quite a while. Finances are the first issue. Several times I felt that we were getting close to the breaking point financially something would happen and we would get a proverbial stay of execution. The added stress is that it is my name on the lease so I am responsible for the rent whether Harvest is a thing or not.

The other concern I have had is a lack of responsiveness. We have tried a lot of things to try an impact the community and to make opportunities to share the gospel of Christ but with all of the effort we got really, very little interest.

We made it to 2 years in October. I knew things were getting tight with the budget then and hoped and prayed that we would get something to come from Brown’s farm. We talked to a lot of people, we talked to a lot of people on Crosby Day when we did the balloon animals. We reached a lot of people caroling and door knocking and with the Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt and Facebook ads. — But almost nobody came.

At the end of the year as I was reaching out to the people who filled out connect cards at Browns farm I made a decision that we were going to carry on as normal at least until the end of the year, hoping beyond hope that the hard work we put in would yield fruit. — But it never did.

So I had to access. What impact is Harvest making for the cause of Christ? Or — Are we wasting God’s resources on something that isn’t working. — We all have financial resources and talents that can be used to honor God and hame become more and more concerned that having those resources tied up at Harvest, where we just aren’t seeing any progress — Is that being a bad steward of God’s resources.

There is a flip side to that. — I didn’t want to close Harvest because I was personally discouraged. To be honest, not seeing any growth has weighed heavy on me. When we have Sunday School and evening services — sometimes even our worship services, only my family is here. — And that weighs on me. — I do realize that we are such a small church that an absence from one family makes more of a dent and is much more noticeable than in a church of 100 or more. — I’m not saying it’s fair — but it does weight on me.

So, now my health is becoming an issue. My heart is going into Afib and my blood pressure is awful.

I have been praying for clarity — Harvest isn’t reaching the lost which was the whole point. — Financially, we are barely going to make it through the next month. Things are pretty clear, even If I tried to push Harvest forward by concentrated power of will — AKA Stubbornness — We have reached the end of the road.

Preparation

A few weeks back I began reading again in the book of Revelation — And reading about the churches in the opening chapters of the book. — It presented an opportunity to begin preparing our church members for the inevitability of seeking another church. — Jesus himself had a commentary on these churches and I think spending some time considering what he had to say is the best advice we can seek. A good church should be one that works, not one that sits idly by. A good church is one that stands by sound doctrine. A good church doesn’t tolerate false teachers. A good church doesn’t forget that the first and second greatest commandments are to Love God and then to love one another. Their first love.

What Now

So where do we go from here. I think we will have the month of March to get things in order before the landlord will want us completely out. We have a handful of assets, not much — there are a couple of things that our family is going to purchase from the church but we are going to try and donate the remaining items or sell and donate the money to a church in need. Hopefully someone will get the chairs, that is going to be the biggest asset to get removed from this space before the landlord needs us out.

Out of the Way

I wanted to get those details out of the way. So that our remaining time can be focused on the word of God.

Years ago a heard a preacher come in for a time of revival and he made a connection with the church in a way that I had never encountered before. He ended his time with us quoting 1 Samuel 12:23

1 Samuel 12:23 (KJV 1900)

23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: .....

I hope that you all know and understand that I love you all and will continue to pray for you. I am fortunate that you are all my family and friends and have been even before this great experiment we called Harvest and I am sure will continue to be long after this behind us. — My hope is that I have helped made Christ more known to you in our time expositing the scripture and that at least some good has come out of this that Harvest has provided a safe place for people to land and that all of you will be in a better position to serve God in whatever church he calls you to.

New Beginnings

In Isaiah 43:18 we read

Isaiah 43:18 KJV 1900

18 Remember ye not the former things, Neither consider the things of old.

It is an admonishment to put the past behind us. — Everyone here has church related baggage. It can make us untrusting and bitter if we let it. Moving on with a heart that is open is going to be a challenge. I feel a great deal of care and responsibility for you as your pastor and ultimately I hope to see you serving and being cared for by a good church that is worthy of your trust.

Closing

I have been moved in the last week, I don’t know if you have heard, about the revival that has been going on for days at the Asbury College in Kentucky. The college is Weslyan Holiness so there is plenty that I don’t agree with when it comes to their theology. But what I have seen in video these last several days are people that just came to lift their voices in worship. They weren’t concerned about theology, just praising God.

I don’t always follow it, but over the years I have learned not to belabor a point. So let’s just close in a hymn praising the goodness of Christ.