Responding to Change

When we encounter change or transition in our lives, God's Word gives us principles that can provide a firm foundation, an anchor for us during those times. Hebrews 13 says:
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
6 So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Some characteristics of change include: change is inevitable.  That is one of the assurances of this life - we will have new things come into our lives: new opportunities, new relationships, maybe even new places to live.  But, through it all, we can be anchored in the Lord.  We can also know that change is instructive.  God will work through those periods of change; He walks with us, gives us direction, and develops His nature in us and our dependence on Him as we navigate the challenges of change.

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We can know for certain in this life that change will occur - the challenge for believers is how we are to respond to change.

The children of Israel were facing a change of leadership; the leader, Joshua, taking over for Moses
was facing new responsibility, a new assignment from the Lord. God said to him in Joshua chapter 1:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

There was a piece from USA Today that ran in the Montgomery Advertiser that deals with how churches in inner-city communities are responding to change.  A word used to describe the conditions that some churches are facing is "gentrification."  Dictionary.com defines that process as: "the buying and renovation of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by upper- or middle-income families or individuals, raising property values but often displacing low-income families and small businesses."

The story focused on how several churches are responding to this type of change.  Front and center was a church in Nashville, East Nashville Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation that has found itself in a changing community.  For instance, a posh apartment complex has moved in next door, but behind the church there is Section 8 housing where lower-income people live.  But, Pastor Morris Tipton, Jr. seems to be staying put, even though some area churches have departed. The story states:

His church has survived tornadoes and floods as well as neighborhood crime and redevelopment. It’s not leaving, Tipton said.

“I don’t think God did all of that for us then to say, 'Well, let’s just go on and take the highest bid, and we’ll go find something else,' ” he said. “I just don’t think that’s what God has for us.”

Other examples included in the USA Today piece include:

• In the District of Columbia, a 120-year-old church in what was once a working class black neighborhood has been converted to condos selling for up to $1 million.
• In Springfield, Mo., a church was razed to make way for a Walmart.
• In York, Pa., the city bought a former house of worship to use as potential event space for a nearby hotel.
• In Knoxville, Tenn., Norwood Baptist Church's aging and dwindling congregation merged in January with a larger, thriving congregation in the suburbs.

The article includes observations from Alvin Sanders, who is the interim president and chief executive of World Impact, which is described as a "Los Angeles-based urban missions organization," which "has trained pastors working in impoverished communities across the country."

Sanders says there are four routes that churches generally take in responding to gentrification in their communities:

1) Relocation. "The church follows the neighborhood’s displaced residents."

2) A church stays in place, but "tries to change the makeup of its congregation by reaching a multi-ethnic group across social classes."  That's the model East Nashville Baptist is following. Pastor Tipton is trying to reach the apartment dwellers representing various demographics. He is quoted as saying, "I’m a firm believer that heaven is not racially segregated, and so because of that I think it’s not a good thing for churches to be,” adding, “I just feel led to try to bring back that whole community spirit.”

3) Suburban churches plant urban facilities. 

4) The church closes its doors.

This is a very interesting article and underscores how churches can be challenged to pursue their calling in the location to which they are called.  The question becomes, how are we going to minister to the city or the community to which God has called us?  And, there are many choices.  I also think people can perhaps wrestle with the issue - individually and collectively - of how best to serve in the place where God has positioned.  We can pray for the Holy Spirit to direct us to the right place where we can serve Him and serve others.

I also think we can be encouraged in our response to change.   We can become satisfied in a certain place, a certain, fixed way of life.  That may be a precursor to God calling us out of our comfort zone. There may be ministry opportunities that await us if we are willing to think and act outside of the confines we have been operating in.  There may be a new assignment that He is arranging for us even now.

We can be assured that change will sometimes bring discomfort, which can result in anxiety or frustration.  But, in times of transition, we can rely on the Lord's peace and direction.  We can adopt the view that He is responsible for the change, and will sustain us and walk with us as we navigate what He has in store.