Congregational Strength through Adversity

Two things to note before you read today’s post:

1. This post is personal. I try to make as many posts on here personal as I can, but this one is very, very personal.

2. You are going to read about some struggles going on at Lebanon Road, but this congregation is strong. I mean…very, very, very strong through this. In fact, I’m overwhelmed by the response to a recent string of troubles. This is not some “cry for help” for a congregation, nor is it an airing of dirty laundry [I would never do that on this blog!!!]. In fact, if you read all the way to the end, I think you will be amazed, and your faith will be strengthened.

With those things in mind, proceed!

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A couple of Wednesday nights ago, I “hit the wall,” emotionally. Things in my personal and family life were going very well, but Lebanon Road had been going through a lot of struggles. Thankfully, nothing with leadership or any type of public sin that was tearing away at unity. Simply put, there are many individuals and families going through very hard times, and the “bad news” just kept coming.

In fact, one evening I was on the phone with one of our elders. He was giving me yet another bad news story, and I just said, “The hits just keep on coming!” It’s just been a stretch of time like none other I can ever remember. We have had older members find out they have cancer, as well as a five-year-old find out the same thing. We have had members to lose children. We’ve had others to get laid off. We have had marriages going through extreme levels of pain, and there are other people who I’m sure are struggling quietly with things we may never know.

All of this came to a head two weeks ago for me. We had planned a special time of prayer for one of these situations after I delivered the invitation. About 1 minute before I was to get up and extend the Lord’s invitation, I got a tap on the shoulder. It was our youth minister, handing me his cell phone. On it was a text…more bad news about the one we were getting ready to pray for.

That’s when I just lost it.

When I got up to speak, I just had to admit that I had a lesson ready (and it was biblical!), but it was just not needed. I “winged it” and just spoke from my heart. Tears just started coming. In fact, as I type this, some of those same tears are trying to come again. I spoke of how many we have who are hurting. I spoke of how Satan will use times like this to test the meddle of a congregation. I also said that he is not going to get us!!!

Finally, after blathering on for a few minutes, it was all over, and I had to turn my mind to teaching a class on Revelation 18. (Talk about a change in moods!) One of our guests that night is a friend of mine who preaches in Western Kentucky. As I tried to compose myself, I looked over at him and said, “They just don’t tell you about days like this in preaching school, do they?” He shook his head.

Later, as I reflected, I thought of that statement. I am thankful for the training I received at Freed-Hardeman, especially in graduate school. I am grateful for so many other Christian colleges and universities and for so many schools of preaching that are doing a wonderful work in giving students many of the tools they need to preach and teach. They tell the students that there will be days like this…but there is no way to teach it! That takes experience, and it’s an experience you really don’t want to have.

HOWEVER… there is good in this. May I share with you some of the good that has come from this heart-wrenching time?

1. Unity. I have never seen anything like it. Literally. The number of calls, hugs, tears, cards, acts of kindness, and any other expression of love and concern you can think of is incalculable. People who are usually “in the shadows” are coming to the front in acts of kindness. Older folks are hugging younger folks who are struggling. Children are seeing elderly members shower them with care and concern. It is amazing.

2. Prayer. Personally, I can tell you that my prayers are far closer to what they should be through all this. As a congregation, we are spending a lot more time in specific, fervent prayer. Sometimes it takes tragedy to do that. I wish that wasn’t the case, but it is just true. Our elders are leading prayers filled with wisdom…and tears. We are naming people in our prayers. It has become more personal.

3. Leadership. I’m going to “pull back the curtain” a bit here. I met with our elders a few days ago, and took some time to thank them for their leadership through all this. I know it has been hard on them; very hard. But their leadership has been so strong that I had to choke back even more tears as I talked with them. They have been all over the place: at surgeries, meeting with the hurting, on Facebook…everywhere. With that type of leadership, it is no wonder the congregation is not only surviving these things, it is thriving!

4. Stories of Faith. Each time I talk with someone who is hurting, I am blown away. Maybe it’s just my pride, but I keep thinking that I’ll be giving them some comfort and helping to strengthen their faith…but the exact opposite happens: they strengthen mine! The faith of those who are struggling is amazing, and I think it shows how great God is. These Christians are not going to leave Him, because He has not left them, even in their times of struggle.

So, there may be tears flowing many days here, but we are strong. Lebanon Road may have an inexperienced preacher in times like this, but we are going to be okay. Satan is not going to get us. God is still on His throne, and we are going to keep our faith in Him. No matter what you are going through, may you do the same!