Net Casting
Have you ever been crawdad hunting? Growing up in rural America, I remember countless hours seining the creek in my wooded backyard. My dad and brother would hold the poles on either side and the ten-year-old me would walk up stream to then scare the crawdads back into the net. To be honest, I found it exhausting and never really enjoyed it. Not to mention, we were often not all that successful. I mostly joined them because I valued the quality time with the boys.
Evangelism is a lot like setting down a net in search for critters below the water surface. The reality is, church-goers are already going to church. Our Lutheranism describes the flavor of our theology, not our promotional identity. Our mission then, is to unsettle the residue at the bottom of the river. For growth, we need to sew the holes in our net, turn over rocks, and go exploring.
Recently, I was sifting through some old photos of Messiah’s Confirmation class in the year 2000, I counted 25 students. I realize that I don’t have to remind you of the average age of our worshipers. Obviously, young people head off to college or the workforce and begin their lives elsewhere. So, while we don’t want to wallow in our failure to evangelize, we also must recognize that we need to change our strategy. I don’t view this as a threat, but as an exciting challenge that will require all of us working together. I’m giddy at the thought of creating something new, and I’m excited to walk alongside you for the journey. One day, we will realize that the point is not about the number of crawdads, but the adventure of fishing for them.
As your pastor, especially being a young pastor, I can only ask for your trust in leading us into a Gospel mission that will successfully catch crawdads. Where there are differing passions, let’s talk about them. It will take growing-pains, it will take frustration, patience, and a sacrifice of many things that you likely value in a worshiping community. Though being hyperbolic, everything besides the centrality of Christ is fair game for changing. So many emotions are evoked at the thought of change, so please express them. I make two promises: to listen when you share what’s on your heart and to put my best foot forward as a leader.
When we returned home from the creek after several hours, a large pot of boiling water would be waiting on the stove. Finally, after the smell of old bay and fish filled the house, we would spend a few hours picking away at the tails for pinch of juicy meat. Being together around a table with the one’s you love made the effort worth it.
When everyone finally has a place at the place the table, the lost, the forgotten, the marginalized, and the unheard, that is when we will experience the fullest expression of God’s presence.
Saving you a seat,
Pastor Lucas McSurley
Photo by Jonas Jacobsson