Is your church swimming or treading water?

Both swimming and treading water are important skills, and at times each is likely to become essential, but if the intention is to get from one place to another, trading water is not likely to be much help.  It occurred to me that for many churches in our villages, all the energy, time and money that is invested is enabling us to ‘tread water’ at best or to sink more slowly.

 

I undertook adult swimming lessons because, as a child, I had developed a fear of water.  It did not matter to me how many people were diving in or swimming and playing in the sea or our local swimming pool; I was terrified.  Having advanced from ducking under, floating, and picking up objects from the bottom, I found myself in a small group of intermediate learners.  Those more confident were quickly enjoying newfound confidence, while the worst group had the attention of the trainers.  We were left to our own devices.

 

Then, as the series of lessons was coming to an end, we were suddenly put under pressure.  One goal proved easier than the other.  So long as the instructor’s pole followed beside me, I managed the length of the pool using backstroke.  Completing the width of the pool using breaststroke was more difficult as, however good my intentions were, my body assumed an upright position halfway across the pool, and progress was halted.  Nevertheless, I was proclaimed to be ‘a swimmer’ by the course trainers.  My own opinion was that I had achieved to become a slow drowner!

 

This experience has helped me to become empathetic towards those for whom mission or evangelism seem very alien.  Often, the very language of mission can be disturbing, and we become determined not to jump in and discover the joys.  After all, we can leave it to others, and we can watch from the side lines.  Is this, I wonder, why so many churches are not making progress as far as growth and conversions are concerned?  We might actually ‘be in the pool’ but nervously gripping the side rail.  Or we might be trading water, expending lots of energy similar to swimming but not making any forward progress.

 

Rural Mission Solutions offers the choice of three alternative solutions, two of which will be happening in the next few weeks and the third is on offer free of charge to any church that is serious about a gentle discovery that mission can be fun.

 

The Rural Churches’ Forum is a periodic and free online event open to rural church leaders, both lay and ordained.  It is a conversation.  A very successful conversation was held earlier this year when we explored the changes that have taken place both in rural communities and village churches.  A second conversation is planned for November 9th.  This was originally planned for October, but we felt that releasing promotional material at the same time as mourning for the death of our late Queen seemed insensitive.

 

The theme on this occasion will be how churches can develop mutually helpful links between their church and the community in which it is set.  In the past such links were strong but now seem much weaker, leading to decline in interest in the church and its message.  But this is not always the case.  So, we will be exploring what we can learn about developing and maintaining healthy and helpful relationships that help sharing the gospel and growing the church.

 

It starts at 10.00 and you can register to attend by CLICKING HERE.  You do not need to subscribe to Zoom.

 

A Rural Consultation is a relatively small gathering of rural church leaders living and working close to one another.  Typically, two dozen clergy or lay leaders are invited to spend six hours together for fellowship, mutual encouragement and prayer, with some helpful input on simple and appropriate ways of sharing the ‘Good News in the Countryside’.  Just such an event is planned on 22nd October for churches in the Sharnbrook Deanery of the Diocese of St Albans.

 

Our David Wells has been working within this diocese, encouraging various initiatives and supporting the clergy.  The close geographical area of a deanery makes this kind of consultation ideal.  It can be, as in this case, for a single denomination, or it could be open to various traditions.  Costs are minimal and we will work with any church that is willing to take the initiative.  More details can be obtained by emailing an enquiry to info@ruralmissions.org.uk.

 

While we value your prayers and interest in these two schemes, there is the third resource I have yet to describe.  It is here that the parallel between learning to swim and becoming effective in mission are most pronounced.  We are currently offering to provide the content - absolutely free - for any rural church, or group of churches - for an Away Day exploring how Mission Can Be Fun.  It takes approximately six hours and includes a light lunch.  Together we will explore what gifts and resources God has already given to the church(es) and look for creative ways in which these could be used to respond to the needs and opportunities in their location(s).

 

It is an interactive programme and has always proved enjoyable - often to the surprise of the participants.  The intended outcome of the Away Day is that members of the local congregation(s) grow in confidence in their faith, and the church(es) are able to design their own appropriate plans for mission that fit their size and feel comfortable.  It aims to do ‘what it says on the label’.

 

This Autumn through to Spring 2023 is an ideal time for looking afresh at how we are joining in God’s mission and the expression of his love for the people surrounding our churches.  We value your prayers as we offer such helpful programmes to individual churches and groups of churches.  Many of us are looking at our programmes post pandemic.  Now is a great time to get it right.  Can we help you and your church?  Start a conversation soon.  Treading water is for those who merely want to stay afloat   Swimming is for those who plan to make progress.  Let’s get swimming together.