Tunnel Hill United Methodist Church Pastor's Corner

Most of my conversations Monday were in the Juror’s Assembly Room in Dalton as I waited to serve on jury duty in Panel Number Seven. Considering myself a promoter of Tunnel Hill UMC, I used most of the day to talk to several people about the wonderful things going on at our church. One man asked, “How many members do you have?” I responded that we average around 130 on Sunday. He repeated his question, “How many are on your roll?” He persisted and I eventually told him we had 411 members on our roll. I can’t stand that question because it does not reflect how many people actually care to participate in the body of believers. Maybe I can’t stand that question because it is just a bragging number for some preachers. Could Satan use it to boast what a large percentage of Christians do not support Christ as they should? Maybe I just can’t stand the question because it pushes down the dreamer within me. I become the realist who understands the limits of my persuasive abilities.

But then I remember that I should be grateful to God that we have a ministry team in place. They are the laity who have decided to be intentional about finding ways to increase worship attendance and Professions of Faith. Perhaps together we can persuade more members to come back. Whether we have 150 or 1200 on roll is of no matter to me. I am thankful for each person who measures faithfulness by coming to worship Jesus on the Lord’s Day. They do support Christ through their attendance, prayers, gifts, service and witness in the local church. Only God knows what new ministries will be born in 2012. He might even plan a resurrection of some ministries that have disappeared. What about new faces? Will we be participating with God in drawing people out of the darkness of sin and into the Light of Christ? How many Professions of Faith can we imagine in our community if we are as intentional as Jesus was…in being about our Father’s business?

While some people slept, others read books or newspapers in the Juror’s Assembly Room…I was seeking out the lost and invited them to come to Tunnel Hill UMC. Yes, I promote the church at the Whitfield County Courthouse (no such thing as separation of church and state in my book). And yet I ponder all these questions in the back of my mind. All because someone persisted in asking me a question that I really do not like being asked. Pastor Mike