Almost nine years ago, I purchased this old house in Steubenville, OH. It is an amazing house and we are so blessed (by the Blessed Mother who got it for us) to have it. Shortly after moving in, I noticed that the roof in the garage was leaking. So I grabbed my tools and started to examine the leak. It is a slate roof so I must confess I know very little about how to fix it.

I tried a couple of quick fixes, hoping that would do the trick. Alas, the next rain showed me I had not resolved the problem. So, like any guy, I got on YouTube and search for videos on fixing leaks. After viewing several of them I realized that the task was too daunting at that time so I grabbed some roofing caulk and shoved the tip in the hole and unloaded a large amount of pitch from underneath. All you handymen out there – Don’t judge me.

“I was desperate, and I lacked the time, desire and energy

to really address this problem.”

Sure enough, there was no water the next few times I remembered to look. Problem resolved…. Then I happen to notice again that the water was back. As I inspected the areas again, there is even more damage (wood rot) which will require even more effort, time, energy and expense.

Our churches have been leaking for years, as members leave our pews in search of other Denominations or worldly pursuits. We all have noticed it and wondered why. People are making these decisions and for many we don’t know why.

“They just stopped coming.”

The truth is that we have been sitting back running programs with no real intention of developing the relationships needed for sustained growth and development of Disciples. We would much rather do programs than engage in the work of developing relationships with the people we are called to minister to. Why?

“It takes too much time and effort to do relational model of ministry.”

Unless we return to utilizing this relation model, that our Lord gave us, will will continue to be irrelevant to the culture we live in. If your still not convinced, below are a couple of points for you to pray through.

  • The New Evangelization is a call to evangelize those in our pew because they have been Sacramentalized without encountering Christ.
  • We (those of us who minister) live the assumption that because we work in the Church, people will trust what we say.
  • You only listen to people you trust but you have gotten to know them over time. If this is what you do, then why would you expect people to act differently.
  • We must be prepared to send our Missionaries (Staff Members) into the pews for an extended period of time to develop the relationships needed to earn the right to be heard.

Like my leaky roof, the time has come to do what must be done. Please ask the Holy Spirit to guide you on how to most effectively send the missionaries into your pews to reach the lost souls for Christ!