Day One of my return to Faith Church felt sort of like starting a new job, except that I already knew the people. There was so much to absorb. I even had to learn how to use the telephone; a new system had been installed while I was away.

I discovered that the church was not sitting idle while I was gone. There were incredible stories of spiritual growth and mission adventures. The elders made some changes. And a major building renovation was launched and is halfway complete.

Most importantly, the word missional is on people’s tongues. Members are trying to figure out how to connect with their neighbors and how to make a difference in the community. Bottom line: there is a growing awareness among members that matches my growing conviction that we are in a new day, requiring a vastly new approach.

I said to one member last night, “Fifteen years ago young families literally poured into Faith Church. Today there are just as many young families in Medford as before, but they’re not coming. Even when we invite them, they politely decline. We have to find a way to connect with these people on their terms and on their turf, and that will require learning a new way, not of doing church, but of being church. We will have to learn how to crawl before we can walk, and walk before we can run.”

Her response to me? “That’s a pretty good place for us to be.” I couldn’t have been happier with her reply. We have only the sketchiest idea of what we need to do or how to do it, but we’re ready to get going on the adventure of following Christ into the world.