July 31, 2008
Lasting Impressions
For many years my (previous) church sponsored a Boy Scout Troop. Once each year the Scouts would dress up in their uniforms and come to a worship service. Taking a moment before the message, the preacher had the Scouts stand up so the congregation could recognize them. In turn their spokesperson was given time to express their appreciation for the church support. Three or four years ago the troop leaders, Scouts and their families came for their yearly visit, however this time they sat through the whole service and the preacher never once acknowledged their ‘official visit’, much less introduced them. Oh, the preacher knew they’d be there, but he had decided he wouldn’t promote or support them, so he ignored them. Out of common courtesy you’d think the preacher could have, at the very least, told the Scout leaders of his decision ahead of time. I felt sorry for the kids and their families and I was embarrassed for the church. That day the church certainly made a lasting impression on those young minds.
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Gail;
-----He made a lasting impression on everyone else, too. I remember that issue and the buzz it generated. Several people who were familiar with the annual tradition of exchanging recognition were quite upset. But honestly, if not for their expressed ire, I don’t think I, or very many others in XYZ Church that morning would have even noticed the difference.
-----And that is just the rub. Two hundred people gathering together each Sunday morning, week after week, can quite easily rumble down the road of time asleep in the back seat while the church maintains a quiet relationship with this little organization carrying Christian principles into the community. But the sleepers will miss the whole relationship unless someone speaks up and points it out. The Scout leaders and young men were simply there to thank the church for its support.
----Thank God these few watchmen sitting in the front seat, not asleep, were willing to turn around and tell the rest of the sleeping church what it had missed because of the ignoring type attitudes of the leaders. I am not so sure the term “ignorant” would not express it well.
Love,
Steve Corey
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