The Hole in Our Congregations

February 2012

“Making a Difference" is the title of a regular segment of NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. The narratives are generally worth observing and pondering. I used to think that “making a difference" was a worthy mantra for congregations engaged in gospel work in cities. No longer! Because the human needs in cities are so overlooked, and because every city congregation has assets and real public value, I would suggest that city congregations are called to “Make a Transformation".

Instead, too many of our congregations have a “hole". They tend to have “silo” mentality, remaining within their own walls. Threats cause them to close their doors to “the Light" in their city. They rarely consider doing ministry in partnerships with other congregations or nonprofits.  And so, the “hole" in those congregations grows larger. What is necessary for contemporary congregations to become risk-takers rather than risk-managers (as they say in the insurance markets)?