Four Sad Faces

Today I read an article in the paper about a small church in our community closing its doors after 108 years of ministry. It was a very sad article. The photograph attached told the story, four sad faces huddled together in a large empty room. My heart could not help but ache for those people. I thought of the hard work and love they must have poured into that building over the years. I envisioned happier times in their lives when the church was brimming with young, vibrant families starting their journeys together down the path of life. I thought of weddings and baby dedications, baptisms and fellowship dinners. I heard distant voices of laughter and crying babies in the nursery. Then my eyes brought me back to the current reality these folks were facing: four sad faces huddled together in a large empty room.

I thought to myself how those folks must long for the days when children were spilling drinks on the carpet and congregants were having "discussments" concerning what songs should be played during the worship service. Oh, what they would give to have a little discomfort in that building again. . . a little challenge.

Instead, they faced a declining membership. 14 to be exact. They told a story of having enough money in the bank to finance the church for another 10 years, but seeing no point in "spending more money every month than they were taking in." They found a worthy, charitable organization, turned over their assets and met one last time together as a church family.

Sad to say, this is the state of many churches in America today. I can't help but ask myself why? Why are so many churches closing their doors when the need is so great? I think the picture tells the tale. Four sad faces huddled together in a large empty room. 108 years of tradition brought to an end.

I asked myself a question as I looked at that picture. What year is it in this picture? I could not tell. The picture was timeless. Nothing in that empty room indicated time. It was as if time had stood still. I saw no indication of time, no indication of movement and no indication of change. It was the most perfect presentation of preservation I had ever seen. Four sad faces in a large empty room. Timeless.

Selah (Think about it),

Pastor Keith