A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 3 NO. 1                                         February 26, 2006

SO, WHO CARES?

BY STEVE NIEMEIER

When you arrive at the church building and the doors are unlocked, the lights are on, the heat or air-conditioning has the building comfortable do you think “who did that?”  Normally, it is when we arrive at the building and these things are not done that we want to know “whose job is it!”

When you leave the building do you ever think “who is going to turn off the lights and lock the door?”  Have you ever been the last one to leave the building and have to make sure that everything is closed down properly?  Only when one drive's by the building later and realizes a light was still left on in a classroom or restroom that you can see from the street do we wonder “who was suppose to turn that light off?”

Do you ever wonder who cleans the building, maintains the baptistery, mows the lawn, shovels the snow, changes the light bulbs, buys the supplies, etc.?  Most of these duties have been assigned by the men of the congregation here to certain ones to make sure these things are accomplished.  Have you ever checked the bulletin board to see who is responsible and what you might be able to do to help them?

Did you ever think that you could “team” up with another person or two or three and take on doing some of the “behind the scenes” work that needs to be done?  The one who is responsible for having these duties done can always use the assistance and can help you get together with another person or two.

Yes, there are plenty of “physical” duties that must be done to keep a building ready for worship.  However, it seems that some never give a thought to the planning and work that must be done to keep the building in working order.

While there are plenty of these duties to do there are also unlimited duties to do on the “spiritual side” of the work of the congregation also.  Do you ever wonder when the preacher is going to tell your neighbor about the gospel of Christ?  When you see a visitor at services do you wonder who invited them or how they knew about us?  Do you ever wonder if you are the only member in the congregation that doesn't know every other member?  It is possible that the answer to some of these questions might just lie within each of us.  Have we talked to our neighbors about the gospel of Christ?  Have we talked with our visitors? Have we invited others to services?

When the congregation has a gospel meeting do you pick up some of the invitations and invite folks?  Do you mark you calendars in advance so that you will make it a point to be at every service?  Have you thought about being at services 15 to 20 minutes early so you can greet the visitors and other members?  Did you think to check the meal list for the visiting preacher to see if it was full or in need of one to sign up?  Have you checked your attendance record and see what percentage of the time you are here?  One might be surprised at the percentage!

A quote from Dan Shipley from PLAIN TALK of April 1981 seems so appropriate to conclude this article.  “Shunned and shifted responsibility has hurt the Lord's church immeasurably.  The slothful spirit of “doing-as-little-as-you-can-get-by-with” may suit the world, but it is grossly inappropriate for those who care - and those who have been blessed with God's best.”

So who cares?  God that's who!