Two years ago, I wrote an article called “Tuning up before taking off.” I had just received my call to serve as the home missionary and mission enhancement pastor for Good Shepherd in Plymouth, Wis., and it was all so new. I wrote it before much of the work could take place. But now I write to you two years down the road after watching God bless our efforts, which, ultimately, is what grows God’s flock. The growth doesn’t come from elaborate plans or flashy events, but connecting people to the simple gospel message, a message of undeserved love, selfless sacrifice, and a call to follow.
We took that truth and embedded it into the lifeblood of our strategy. If the most important part of ministry is connecting people to the means of grace, the gospel found in Word and sacrament, then why not do whatever we can to make the road to get there as obstacle-free as possible? NO EXCUSES. We decided that we would strive to take away every excuse someone could come up with for why they shouldn’t come, or come back, to Good Shepherd. The only reason we accept is that they can’t stand what we teach and preach, which is God’s Word.
From there, we opened our ears. To take away obstacles and disarm excuses, we first needed to know what they were. We walked around and took an honest look at our services, our facility, our website, and exposed the things that had been overlooked, things that might not have mattered to us but mattered to others. We asked our members, we asked guests who had just formed their first impression, and we even posted a QR code to a public survey at Plymouth’s biggest community event. There, we invited the whole town to tell us why they think people avoid churches or choose one over another.
I’ll tell you, we got a lot of honest feedback. Brutally honest feedback . . . but it quickly became clear that not everyone comes to church for the right reason, at least not at first. Many people are simply looking for a place to belong, something to fill a gap in their life. Their excuses showed it: “The music doesn’t sound great.” “The bathrooms were messy.” “Some churches don’t adapt to modern times.” “They don’t give opportunities to gather outside of the service.” “Some churches put little effort into their public appearance.” “Church is just for members, no one else is welcome.”
As we looked at all the responses, we thought, “Those are all things we can change.” Our music didn’t sound as good as it could have? We got a new piano. Our facility wasn’t the cleanest? We fixed that and kept it clean. Some things were worth updating? We updated them. No chances to gather? Now we gather every first Sunday of the month over great coffee and donuts. We went all in on making our congregation a place guests would never forget, because we made sure they felt at home.
Little by little we made these changes. Not because we think new banners or a new website would create faith in anyone’s heart, not at all. We made them because those very things were reasons people stayed away. Forever and always, our confidence and effectiveness in ministry will be found in the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. We are just clearing the path to get there.
Nothing about this was easy though . . . Our congregation turned 50 years old this past spring. Many of our members were here when the banners were first hung, when the flooring color was chosen, when the keyboard was first introduced. They had a tight connection to all these things that once served well, and it is completely understandable to feel a sense of loss when, one by one, the things you were a part of get changed. But God blessed that hard and sacrificial effort.
A sanctuary that typically held 12 to 15 people on an average Sunday now holds 70 to 80 people, sometimes closer to 90! A parking lot that looked sad and vacant now feels lively as people search for empty spaces. A ladies group that once limped along is now more than 20 women strong, passionate about carrying our momentum further. Our Bible Information Course has a long list of people ready to hear about what makes us different. A fellowship hall that used to sit on energy-saver mode is now filled with conversation, laughter, and children playing.
To God be the glory! More and more people are being connected with his life-saving grace, so we’ll keep at it. We will do whatever it takes to reach people with his Word. They might come for the coffee and community, but they will stick around for the gospel.
Written by Eli Steinbrenner, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Wis.
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