For months now, I've written stories about pastors and members who have reconnected with inactive members. Through friendship and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, those people have come back to God and to the church. This month, I get to share my own story.
It was Sabbath morning and if I didn't hurry, I'd be late for Sabbath School. Where did I put my car keys? I wondered. Soon the wondering turned to anxiety. If I didn't find them in a matter of minutes, I'd be late for sure. When the clock said 9:20 a.m. and I knew I had a ten-minute drive to the church, I began praying out loud! Finally, at 9:30, I found them tucked behind the couch cushion.
As I drove into the church parking lot, I was hoping that I could sneak in. But when I got out of the car I saw a father and his teenage daughter. I didn't know them, but I knew something about them. The mom had been deeply hurt by a member of another Adventist church. Their family didn't attend regularly by any means, but would sometimes visit various churches.
"I'm glad I'm not the only late one!" I said to them with a smile.
They walked over to me and the dad said, "My daughter, *Katie, would like to go to Sabbath School. Would you be willing to show her where the earliteens meet? We live just down the road, and she can walk home afterward."
"Sure!" I answered. When I showed Katie her classroom, I said, "Hey, if you want to stay for church, my husband and I sit in the second row on the left-hand side. You're welcome to join us!"
After I helped with announcements, I went to sit in my usual pew-and Katie was there! Something about her made me think that she was reaching out-that she wanted God in her life. I've never been quite so bold, but after we'd visited after church, I looked at her and asked, "Have you been baptized?"
Her eyes got big. "No," she said. But I want to be!"
"Well, go home and ask you parents," I said. "And if it's okay with them, we can study together."
Two days later her dad called, and we set up a time to meet. The whole family came that first time! Dad, Mom, Katie, and her two siblings. Her mom made it clear that she had been deeply hurt in the past, and that it was hard for her to trust. But her daughter wanted this so badly that she decided to trust me to study with her. Along with our weekly studies, Katie also joined our active youth group and got acquainted with other teens.
A friendship formed with that family. Slowly, they started attending church. And then I started asking Katie's mom to help with certain church programs where she could use her unique gifts.
On Katie's baptism day, her dad came forward and gave his testimony. "That day I walked Katie to church was a low time for my wife and me," he said. "We were very discouraged. But watching Katie get excited about God made me realize that I had a role as the spiritual leader at home. And with God's help, I'll take that seriously."
Katie was baptized in a lake. As she and I came out of the water, her mom and dad were there on shore to hug her. God had won this family back to Him.
Katie's story has given me a new passion for outreach to non-attending members. If we reach out to their kids, we're reaching out to them, too. If our churches would provide youth groups that have both spiritual and social gatherings, and if our pastors or members would offer to study with teens for baptism, I wonder how many inactive families would start attending church again?
I told Katie on her baptism day, "I'll always believe that God kept me from finding my cars keys that Sabbath, just so I'd be late and meet you." She smiled, and agreed.
Prayer Focus: Pray that we would empower the reconnecting ministries of youth and young adults. And that we would make ourselves available to advocate, equip, involve, and cooperate with them in this ministry.
Recommended Resource:
The Complex Religion of Teens, by Roger Dudley. Order from
AdventSource.
* Names have been changed
