The Final Leg

Getting up on Sunday morning, we went to the breakfast bar at the motel and had a decent breakfast.  Most motels anymore have good, or at least decent breakfast areas anymore, but some still don’t “get it.”  This one seemed to be fine.

We packed up and checked out, knowing that we would be leaving for home after church services.  We got to the new building a few minutes early, and knew where we were going because we went by the place the evening before.  Going in, we were met by a couple of people we knew from way back when, and Brent also soon found us.

We took a quick tour of the building, and were told of future remodeling plans and how they envisioned church being done then.  But soon, it was time to start the Bible class.

Class was a 25 or so minute video, the last in the series, on the names of God by Tony Evans.  It was a good video and class, and I made a mental note to look up that series for our own use at RiverWalk.

The worship was typical Church of Christ.  Brent’s lesson was done without notes and with enthusiasm and passion.  I really hope that the folks there know what gems he and Diana are, and treat them well.

In our discussions of why the church has grown, Brent and Diana tell me that it didn’t happen overnight…just a gradual, over the last 20 years thing that is the result of the church loving God, loving others, and serving the world (to borrow a phrase from Thom Ranier’s book “Simple Church”).  Evidently, in the early 1990’s, the church was on the verge of closing its doors.  One or two of the members were always, it seemed, the wet blankets for any new ideas or ways of doing things.  But those members went away, and the church began to blossom.

One thing that stands out is the number of little children in the church, and the truly intergenerational nature of the congregation.  There were only a few there who were older than we are (mid 60’s), but many in the child-rearing years and younger.  Brent tells me that they started years ago with just a few younger ones, who brought their friends, who brought their friends.  And families stay there.  Kids marry, have children of their own, and stick around.  Yes, some leave upon graduation, but many stay there…at least in the church there.  The congregation was young, vibrant, and passionate.  It was alive.

The children’s ministry is going strong, as is the youth ministry.  Parents and church members volunteer their time and effort in these two ministries, and the effect is telling.  Not only do the kids learn and grow, but so do the parents and volunteers.  The inter-generational nature of those ministries forms a bond between generations that carries forward into adulthood and is the envy of many churches who wonder what they can do to foster better inter-generational interaction and understanding.  Maybe, just maybe, the answer lies, at least in part, in finding opportunities for inter-generational interaction within the congregational organism.  Be intentional in befriending.  Don’t rely on paid staff to do all of the youth and children’s ministry.  Be involved.  Give yourself.  It seems to work in Goodland, Kansas…maybe they could teach us larger churches something.

Following a great time with the congregation there, we went to eat at what used to be Ray’s restaurant…now remodeled into a Mexican place.  Brent and Diana accompanied us and we visited more while we ate fajitas, enchiladas, beans, and rice.  The food was good, and so was the conversation.

Reluctantly, we said our good-byes and left the restaurant.  Heading out toward I-70, we took one last look at one of our favorite places in all the world, Goodland, Kansas, and headed down the road for home.

(Addendum:  The trip home was uneventful.  We arrived in good time that afternoon, unpacked, and decompressed, thankful for the opportunity to see what we saw and experience what we experienced.  God is Good!)