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The Memphis Manatee – A Metaphor of Our Churches?
Posted by Geoff Baggett in Uncategorized
A couple of years ago I received the weekly newsletter from Cordova Baptist Church in Memphis (I once served as Youth Pastor there), and was shocked to learn that a manatee had been spotted in the Mississippi River. It was discovered by local fishermen. A local report stated: “These old fishermen spotted it two days ago and called the zoo to report that they had seen a prehistoric animal, a Loch Ness monster or something,” said Lt. Ed Vidulich with the Memphis Police Harbor Patrol.
Apparently, this eight-foot, 1000-pound beast had made the 700-mile journey up the Mississippi River, and spent a few days swimming around in the harbor near Mud Island.
This was a pretty amazing event. According to scientific and historical reports, there had never been a sighting of a manatee so far north up the Mississippi. His presence drew a crowd. People came from all over just to catch a glimpse of the manatee that had wandered into Memphis. They wanted to see this creature that obviously did not belong. Wildlife officials were being flown in from Florida to plan a rescue and get the blubbery critter back to the Gulf Coast. Then, as suddenly as he appeared … he was gone. The local citizens, as well as the wildlife officials, seemed relieved.
What could have caused his to stray so far north? Surely it must have been seeking something. But what? Graceland? The ribs at The Rondezvous? The ducks at the Peabody Hotel? Probably not. Perhaps he was just hungry and looking for food, or lonely and looking for a mate. Maybe he was just curious and looking for something … he just didn’t know what. But whatever he was looking for … he obviously didn’t find it.
But what does this have to do with the church? Plenty, I think. Pretty soon after I received news of the manatee’s visit, a family from my church (Crossroads Fellowship, an exciting six-year-old church plant in Cadiz, KY) visited a large “First Baptist Church” in a nearby community. They attended to celebrate the baptism of the child of a family member.
This family from my church is pretty hard to miss … they have five kids! Seven of them “crashed the service” that Sunday. But here’s the rub … the dad reported to me that during their visit, they did not receive a single handshake nor a single word of welcome. No one asked about them. No one invited them to come back. They only received curious stares. They felt like they were under quarantine in a room of about 750 people. They simply felt like they didn’t belong … and they could not wait to leave. And believe me, these are not quiet, withdrawn people looking for something to complain about. They are warm, outgoing folk. Tony, the dad, is one of my small group leaders. He is a very energetic, “never-met-a-stranger” kind of guy.
So where am I going with this? Well, think about it – How many such “manatees” (guests) wander through the doors of our numerous (almost too many to count) plateaued and declining churches each Sunday? Not many these days. But when they do, it’s obvious that they are looking for something. Many times they really don’t know what it is that they’re looking for … they’re just seeking.
And how do we, the people of God, most often react? Most of the time we observe. Many times, we observe from a distance. We’re afraid to reach out or even to speak. Because, after all, they’re not one of us. They don’t really belong. Oh, they may “bob around” in our territorial waters among us for a while. But eventually they leave. Why? Because our “waters” are just too different from those “waters” of the world in which they live. Because they really don’t feel like they belong. And because even though they were looking for something, they just couldn’t find “it” … whatever “it” was. And really, whether we even realize it or not, when they leave many of us are relieved … because we don’t have to change anything to fit our newcomers.
Church … we have to do better. We have to adapt to reach our culture. We must realize that many of us are trying to minister in the 21st century with 1950’s church models, ideas, programs, and mentalities. A step through our front doors is often like being transported through a time machine. We have to wake up from our comfort-induced slumber and become truly missional. We have to meet the people of the world where they are. We cannot expect them to seek us out and meet us in our own stagnant little ponds. If we don’t shape up … and soon … the world will begin to look at us like we are the “lost manatees.” We must change. I think the future of our denomination depends on it.
Actual photo of “Manny,” the Memphis Manatee
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Geoff,
I am prepared. Let’s get it on. I am ready for what for. The community here can tape my mouth, pour their tar, stick their feathers in my wrinkled old body and run me out of town on a pole. Fine.
Nonetheless, it seems to me it must be stated. I do so in the form of a question: when will the traditional model of doing church be considered as having done her duty, served her time and fulfilled her punishment in public stocks placed there so often by nontraditionalists? Or is it a life sentence we’re facing?
I am uncertain of your age, Geoff, or most of those who argue contra the traditional model, but the truth is, the points you bring up in this post about the cold, lifeless zombie like existence of the absolutely loveless but large “First Baptist Church”, Anytown, USA is the identical description I offered of them in 1981 as a young Pastor. Frankly, I’m glad I got over it. It was almost a disease I recall possessing.
For what it’s worth, then, this mythical creature you describe has been around all my ministry. And, I do not hesitate to say, I think it predates me by several generations. The point is, it’s still around. It’s time for departure has evidently not yet come.
The irony is, the atmosphere you describe is not wed to the “First Baptist Church” stuck in her time-warp.
Recently, I visited my daughter’s church in Nashville. This Church is one cool fellowship. Besides one of the “Elders” there, my wife and I constituted the single pair of senior adults in their exclusively Sunday Night only worship service.
I would guess no one, other than us, were beyond 30 years of age. It is undoubtedly the youngest congregation I’ve ever been in. Not a “Youth-Church” mind you. My daughter is 30, married for five years and a school teacher. She blended perfectly into the congregational landscape. We looked like morning dandelions on a freshly mowed lawn.
These guys were young families, had small kids there, some looked like college students, some looked like street bums. Every seat filled.
At fellowship time, not one single person came to us and shook our hand, told us how glad they were we were there, etc etc. Virtually the same experience as your family reported from the typical, traditional FBC, gag-a-magnet-congregation we’re all supposed to rise up and curse. Or, to be fair to your words, “We must change, people!”.
I cannot overstate the cultural connection my daughter’s Church appears to possess. Heck, they were doing a Benefit Run the following week (I’ll give you one guess the controversial community for which they ran)! Yet, given your focus on being friendly and/or shaking people’s hand type of positive signs necessarily indicative that cultural relevancy is in check, Kim’s Church failed miserably because nobody walked up and shook my hand or made me feel welcome. I honestly don’t blame them much. I’m a pretty traditional-looking guy. I probably gave them the creeps.
There is another bit of irony about that congregation I’ll reserve for another time, another thread. They truly are an amazing group of believers.
I am glad there are nontraditional congregations. They threaten me not in the least. But I have to tell you: they do not get ahead in modeling the perfect Church paradigm, at least from my perspective, by pulling down their traditional brother’s pants. Surely one day we’ll get beyond this junior level of conversation about doing church.
Grace, Geoff. With that, I am…
Peter
Hey Geoff,
From time to time I read posts or hear sermons about the need to change, but there is often a lack of “how” or “what”.
So I ask:
What is your game plan to see change in the people who you lead? What will you do to stop the time-machine effect when people walk into your meeting room? What will you do to urge people to be truly missional? How are you meeting people where they are?
I look forward to your answers.
God’s Glory,
Lew A
Lew, I’m not sure, but I believe Geoff is out of town on a fishing trip with family. He pre-posted this before he left. Geoff has several ideas he is using in his church that may be found in the archives of this site. His church is in the midst of a working to start new churches in Peru, for example and they go in teams every quarter, I believe. They make trips to New Orleans to help with rebuilding from the Katrina disaster. He use to have a personal blog where he put on various things his church was doing.
While, Geoff and I part ways on a few traditonal things, he definitely offers much to chew on in the way of keeping his church missional. I’m sure he can offer much more when he is able to comment. selahV
At the risk of inserting myself in the middle of someone else’s argument, might I be so bold as to suggest that there is quite possibly a third option, a happy synthesis, if you will, between the apparently contradictory views expressed by Geoff and Peter here?
I think we all can agree that all churches, “traditional” or “non-traditional,” made up mostly of young people or of old folks, can stand to more missional in their approach, and more welcoming to outsiders.
The way forward, in my opinion, does not consist in “throwing rocks” at those who choose to do things differently than we do, nor in staunchly defending the status quo. It is in recognizing that, in order to reach the varied people in the contexts in which we live with the life-changing message of the gospel, we are going to need all sorts of different approaches and models of Great Commission ministry. It is also in accepting one another, just as Christ accepted us, and embracing the fact that we are all brothers and sisters together in the wonderful family that is the Church that Jesus is building around the world and down through history.
Might I suggest that the loss of regenerate church membership is a contributing factor to this problem among churches of whatever “style”? Having delved into this problem a good bit, I find that the members of my church are almost never reluctant to introduce themselves to and welcome visitors because of regarding them as “outsiders.” Rather, they are afraid that they are actually among the “insiders” who are completely unknown to the church. The embarrassment of “introducing” yourself to someone and “welcoming” them as a guest, only to have them say, “I’m a member here,” leaves a powerfully unpleasant taste in a church member’s mouth. They pull back after that.
BTW, the barbeque at Corky’s is better than the Rendezvous, IMHO.
Bart,
I think you are correct regarding regenerate church membership.
I also think that, once our churches reach a certain size, the phenomenon you describe is almost inevitable, unless there is an intentional, systematic plan to make sure newcomers to not “fall through the cracks.” It is the responsibility of church leadership to make sure this takes place.
Having said that, I have found it can be quite an enlightening experience, as long-time church leaders, to visit other congregations “in cognito,” and try to put yourself, as much as possible, in the shoes of the “outsider.”
I will never forget a positive experience that happened to my wife and me in this regard once. In a church service of several hundred attendees, the couple sitting next to us not only effusely welcomed us in a very natural, non-awkward manner (not just at the official “meet and greet” time); they also, on their own initiative, invited us out to eat with them after the service. I think this is the type of behavior that is more easily “caught” than “taught.”
My church is certainly not perfect, but we do an excellent job of welcoming visitors. They seek out the visitors before and after services and make certain they know they are welcome here.
Regarding worship styles, our eagerness to make welcome visitors is just as strong in both our contemporary service and our traditional service.
I think Bart’s point about unregenerate members is quite good.
Les
Brother David,
Amen.
Brother Bart,
Amen.
His mercy be with us all,
From the Middle East
The church I fellowship with is a First Baptist Church but not THE first in Lawton. Ours has grown from a smaller church with two a.m. traditional/contemporary services (you really can mix the two ya know), which outgrew it’s space to a much larger church with two morning services and still growing.
I’ve been there four years and truly never expect to know everyone. It’s near impossible. However, greeting people is not a problem for me, which it may be for others. That’s why in any given Sunday, in any given service, I am sure some visitors (and members) feel shortchanged in a welcoming experience. Though most Christians try to be welcoming, there are a number of reasons why some are not welcomed–no matter what size the church or what “style” of worship is observed within the church.
Geoff has made an observation of an isolated situation that for the most part DOES occur in all churches–not just the old FBC’s in towns across America–at some point or the other when visitors attend.
I have always been one of those folks who simply introduces myself to others around me if I don’t know them. To my surprise, I’ve found several visitors sitting next to me in some of those big churches I have visited. Cracked me up. Here I was thinking, well, if you aren’t gonna talk to me, I’m gonna talk to you and then I find out they were just like me. Sitting there wondering why no one was talking to them. God works in mysterious ways, sometimes. selahV
I think the atmosphere that Geoff is talking about has much less to do with “what we do” than it does about “who we are.”
People can be welcoming, friendly and hospitable in any style of worship service, and people can be unwelcoming, unfriendly and inhospitable in any style of worship service.
My sense is not that Geoff is advocating a change in style so much as an examination of the underlying questions of “who we are” and how to avoid leaving guests with the sense that they are intruding in someone else’s territory.
I don’t know, perhaps Geoff thinks that style is a part of that. He does mention methods, programs, etc. in the last paragraph, but I just got the sense that it was the next-to-last paragraph that is at the heart of what he’s saying.
Perhaps when he gets back he can clear it up for us.
I think the problem has absolutely nothing to do with the type of church.
I think a lot of “casual” Christians simply don’t know how to be friendly without being intrusive and geeky.
Let me throw out another perspective.
I’ve visited churches.
You know what I DESPISE about visiting churches? Those “information cards”. The special attention. The “if you’re a first time visitor, raise your hand and an usher will get you an information packet…” What if I don’t want one? What if I’m shy, but I feel it’s wrong to lie and not raise my hand? I despise the “members, look around and find a visitor and make ‘em feel welcome” moments. The subtle “We just want to know you’ve been here” line that really means “we’re gonna send a visitation team to your house tomorrow night, call you three times in the next month, and put you on our mailing list for eternity.”
The problem is that it has virtually ALWAYS felt artificial. The ushers are just doing a job. The pastor is just welcoming visitors because the deacons will fuss if he don’t. The members only shake my hand because the pastor will fuss if they don’t. My kids are embarrassed because they don’t know anyone but yet everyone acts like we’re really important. It always FEELS like my tithe is being recruited.
Is that true? Is everyone in a church out for my money? Do they mean to embarrass me? No, not by a long shot. Most – if not all – of these efforts are sincere and genuine, and the intention is to be welcoming and warm and make it possible for me to grow closer to Christ. I really believe that.
But we do, as a church culture overall, a very bad job of saying “I really care about you” in a way that ALSO says “I really like you.” Of saying, “Man, if I met you on the street, I would really enjoy just kicking back with a cup of coffee.” More often, the message that a visitor HEARS is “We’re at church together, and I want you to feel welcome here, but please don’t expect me to really become your friend. We’re not the same type of people.”
Church people want to be equals with non-church people while at church, but on the street, we want to hang out with our real friends.
Our church encounters are often forced. We tolerate the “need to be friendly” because we’ve been taught that it’s a critical part of winning people to Christ.
But we’re not very genuine. We really don’t know these people, and “forced love” is really obvious to the recipient.
We DO care about their souls, but we really don’t like them as persons.
And I think that’s fairly universal, regardless of old church, modern church, or whatever.
The change that is necessary is NOT in the style of church. It’s in the Christian’s heart.
Starting with MINE.
Bernard, I’m not overly fond of the visitors packets or such. We have a tear-off on the bulletin that we tell folks to fill out and drop in the offering plate at the END of the service. No money required. (just kidding)
I wish there were better ways to make folks feel comfortable when they visit. I wish I felt more comfortable when I visit other churches. Some do great jobs and are filled with wonderful folks. Some are filled with wonderful folks and don’t do such a good job.
As a Christian, I am not offended by the treatment I receive either way. To the lost, most of them want to be left alone and pray that no one will talk to them. That’s how I was before I became a Christian. But I thank God I filled out that little card. If I hadn’t, the twelve people who followed up on me wouldn’t have come. And I probably wouldn’t be writing this today. In fact, I’d probably be dead. selahV
SelahV and anyone else – I don’t mean to say that none of the things we do should be done. I simply mean to say that we should pray, seek, study, and PRACTICE sincerity.
Jesus didn’t die simply because it was “on the program” or even because it was prophesied. He died because He LOVES Bernard Shuford. Geoff Baggett. Tony Sisk. George Bush. Paula Abdul. Vladimir Putin. Brett Favre. Michael Jordan. The homeless guy named Bob. The guy with the dirty shirt. The guy in the tie and $500,000 in the bank.
That genuine sincerity is a lofty goal, indeed. But, personally, I want a more genuine love for people. I don’t want to just do it out of duty, even though it is my duty, and I will do it as a duty until the love comes. I want to genuinely love the PEOPLE who come through the doors at Crossroads Baptist. Not just the fact that they help our numbers.
I want to love THEM. When I do, I know it will show.
I think being real about it will make a tremendous difference.
Brother Bernard and Sister Harriette,
I cannot wait until one or both of you come and visit our church. We give the visitor Packet and ask them to raise their hand in order to be recognized. I used to have all of the members stand so as not to embarras the visitors, but guess what part of the human anatomy the visitors got to have in their faces? How welcoming do you think they felt after that ordeal?
Sister Harriette, we used to have the tear off’s on our bulletins too. However, I could not get the visitors to turn in the tear offs. Since going to the visitor packets we receive back visitor information. But, some do not turn that card back in and they go home with the rest of the information on the church in their hands.
All this said to ask a question. How does one know if their church is welcoming? I have heard of some dressing up and going into the worship service disguised as a bum and a rich person and then revealing to the congregation who they were. One thing that I have found an it works every time. Find the person in the area that everyone says is the most agnostic or atheistic. Develop a relationship with that person and ask them to describe for you what they see in the church you pastor or attend. You will get the true story on your church that way.
Blessings,
Tim
Oh Tim…the picture you paint is soooo funny. We still have churches that stand and let the visitors sit. I guess, Tim, that there really are no perfect ways of doing this. Especially in a larger church where folks alternate the times of service they attend.
The only problem with the atheist and agnostic is that they would be coming JUST to judge the climate. Not really a true barometer. As far as “how does one know if their church is welcoming” or not, depends on a person’s perspective as to what makes them personally FEEL welcome. That varies with each individual, I’d say. Which is why we really cannot put a specific way of welcoming anyone as the criteria by which they feel welcomed. It’s not what we do as an organized effort, in my opinion. It’s what we are as individuals and that goes back to the fruit-filled, spirit-yielded people in the pews.
If there is any responsibility upon the leadership, i.e. pastor, and associates, it is to train members to be sensitive to others around them when they worship. To be friendly to all who are there whether they be visitors or not. there are no perfect solutions other than that. Perhaps churches need greeting teams that teach others how to greet and talk to people they don’t know. Some folks are plain shy. And wouldn’t you know the devil’s gonna place the visitor next to them?
While I consider our church one of the friendliest churches you’ll find, I’m sure there are always folks who come and feel left out and fall through the cracks. One of the greatest areas this happens with is the youth. selahV
You can’t get in or out of our church without people shaking your hand and asking your name and making you feel at home. We have the tear off things and he asks that everyone tear it off at the same time and make a big noise. It’s always fun and causes a ripple of laughter. The kids can’t wait for it. The visitors are asked to fill it out and after the service, 1st time visitors can take theirs to the welcome table and receive a free gift. It is usually a coffee cup with the church’s logo, a small info pkt., a book, a candy bar and a few other things in a nice little bag.
He also mentions that the offering is for church members only.
My husband and I have a different mission. I’ll tell you where it came from. When I was a teen and we had just moved to Memphis (G’town) we visited Germantown Baptist when it was running around 200. The father of a girl that was my age introduced us and invited my family out to eat. He was very convincing and friendly so we went. (We went to Red Lobster!) Our whole family had a great time. I learned how to make lemonade with the water and lemon and sugar packets that day. When the dinner was over, we were already friends. Think we joined the church? We found out later that he did this all the time and we weren’t all that special, but we felt that way, and by then, it did not matter.
That always made an impression with me and we have carried on with it. We look around for visitors and invite one or two out to dinner every Sunday. We pay. We always have a good time and make new friends. We find out a lot about them and they about our church and us. They usually join the church if they were looking for a friendly one. Even the “lost” ones that accept the invitation have a good time and find out that all Christians are not stuff shirts.
If we don’t see anyone, our pastor, who knows we do this, will frequently point someone out for us.
I think this is a good ministry in this day and age. It seems to work better than knocking on someone’s door in the age of cocooning. What’s one extra dinner a week?
I think some would call our church traditional-casual (No suits).
Liz
Liz, I absolutely adore you! What a blessing you are. Thanks so much for sharing that. We can all take a lesson from you. selahV
Liz – See, that’s GENUINE. That’s exactly what I’m trying to get at. You didn’t feel like the victim of a program; you felt like a normal but special person.
Love the ideas about the tear-offs and the “visitor gets a prize” thing, too.
Thanks for sharing.
Sister Liz,
That is a great idea. I used to do the prize thing, but I had it tied to the area I lived in. Since moving to this ministry I have not been able to figure out what prize to give. You have certainly began my visitor welcoming juices flowing now. Thanks. :>)
Blessings,
Tim
Thank you. I was just thinking that we can gripe about those “other churches” that we know are out there and wish we could give a few of their members some hints. Maybe that’s all they need – some hints. It only takes a few people to get some excitement back.
I think I’ve told this before, but after we were married, looking for a church, we kept driving by a church where an old gentleman stood on the sidewalk and waved at passersby. We thought it was corny, but it worked. We said, “Let’s try that church where the guy waves you to come in.” Now, we would not have joined if no one else was friendly, but it really only takes a few people.
Liz
liz and others,
you are exactly right. no matter what type of worship you have….it’s about friendliness. being friendly will reach people.
my wife and i visited a church in tn that was a contemporary one time. we went to a special thing that they were having. they were in another town. we were not welcomed by anyone. after the program was over, they had a fellowship snack time. we went. we sat by ourselves…with the occasional half smile and nod of the head as people walked by us to sit with thier friends. i told my wife that if i was a real visitor i would never go to such a church as this. she agreed.
david
geoff,
btw, i remember all of that happening. it had memphis hopping. also, the pic is very funny.
david