Need to be needed

In my recreational reading I’ve been engrossed in a book entitled, “The Essential Church”. It’s a book written by Sam and Thom Rainer who have done a great deal of research concerning church growth and the patterns within the religions of our nation. This particular work is focused on trying to regain those who were once members but have chosen to “drop out”, particularly those in the 18 to 22 year old range.
In that book the Rainer’s point out what ought to be obvious to us. People simply will not stay in a church where they don’t feel important or needed. In other words, in order to simply maintain the members that are already there, we have to make sure they have meaningful things to be involved in and know that they are important to the success of the work that is going on.
As I read that section of the book I began to think about our congregation and whether or not we have made it clear to everyone that they are loved, appreciated and truly needed. Almost every week we have people visiting our assembly. When they walk through the door what do they experience? Do they see a group of Christians that are really engaged with each other and happy to be working arm in arm for the Lord? Or do they see a bunch of individuals who come in, sit in “their” seat and hurry out after the last “amen” so they can get on with life?
When YOU walk through the doors what do YOU see? Do you feel like you are a valuable part of what’s happening here? Have you “pulled back” from the work you once did? Are you going out of your way to make sure others really feel welcome, and know they are loved and needed?
It’s often the case that the leaders don’t make clear the things that need to be done in a congregation. But it’s also often the case that we as members don’t ask the leaders for an assignment or task.
We probably all feel like every person here is important. But we probably don’t all feel like we’re needed. As we look to the future we see challenges to our abilities because of our age or because we are tired, poor, lonely or (you fill in the blank). But the truth is the more individual members choose to be active with the group of Christians the more work we can accomplish and the happier we will all be.
YOU need to know…you loved AND needed! (Dan Boggs)