November 4, 2002

CYBERCOLUMN:
The visitant
___By Donna Van Cleve
___When I was growing up, moving from one small town to another meant that my parents didn't have to spend much time thinking or praying about which Baptist church to join. There was usually only one. But that's not the case in Austin, where I've recently relocated. After 34 years of membership and service in the same church in Cotulla, it has been an interesting experience attending a new church as a visitor. Up until now, I've never made the choice about which church I would join.
___I had been praying about where the Lord would have me move my membership, even before physically moving up here. On several previous trips to Austin, I had visited the church where my daughter and granddaughter attend. The size was a bit overwhelming. Its membership was almost as much as the population of my hometown.
___When

DONNA VAN CLEVE

I read through the bulletin on that first Sunday, though, I was pleasantly surprised to recognize the pastor's name. Harold O'Chester, or Preacher, as he prefers to be called, had been the visiting preacher for a revival in my church over 20 years ago. My dad said he still has notes from the sermons that week.
___I really enjoyed the music and the preaching while visiting this church, but I told my daughter I might be more comfortable in a smaller church. We had only attended the worship service for a couple of Sundays, and I wanted us to try a Sunday School class before I visited another church. After the early worship service, we followed the throng of people into the foyer between the auditorium and the education building. About the time I thought we had no idea where we were going, we came upon a welcome desk manned by friendly faces ready to help. I asked a lady if they had a Sunday School class for women of all ages so my daughter and I could both attend. She said yes and was kind enough to escort us to the class.
___The small class was made up of young mothers and grandmothers, single women and single moms, stay-at-home moms and career women, and mothers and daughters. I felt right at home from the moment I walked through the door. I love being with different ages of women, and I learn as much from the younger women as I do the older ones.
___That huge church shrank considerably when I attended a Sunday School class. Names attached to faces; needs attached to names; ministry opportunities attached to needs. My daughter and I joined the church the following Sunday. Another personal touch was that church members dropped a loaf of bread by my house to thank me for visiting their church.
___It's easy to stay in the periphery of a church when one only attends the worship service, but church becomes very personal and relatable when one steps into a small-group environment such as a Bible study class.
___It's been good for me to experience being a new person in church—I can't even remember what that was like before now. But it makes me realize, too, that I had been entirely too comfortable sitting on that piano bench, unable to see the church from the eyes of a visitor.
___What draws people to a certain church?
___Our first answer would be "God's will," which is what most Christians aspire to fulfill. We like to think our attitude is that it's not what our church can do for us, but it's what we can do for our church.
___But if we're really truthful, more times than not we're looking for what a church can do for us—especially our children. That is my daughter's greatest concern at this time in her life. She wants to be sure her 21-month-old will be safe and loved while she and Audrie are learning about Jesus. Her primary motive in her search for a new church home was centered around her child, which is typical of most parents. But now that this need has been met, she is going a step further by signing up to serve in the preschool wing of the church because she appreciates the effort others are making on her and her child's behalf.
___Those of us who have been in the church for years need to regularly attempt to try to see our church through visitors' eyes. Do they feel welcome and wanted? Are they even noticed beyond filling out that visitor's card? Do they feel accepted and loved? Would they want to come back? Does our church have programs and opportunities for growth and fellowship in every age group? Are visitors seeing our best put forth for the Lord in our worship services and Bible study classes, or are they seeing disorganization and half-hearted attempts?
___Those of us who are new to a church have a responsibility, too, to step forth and get involved. Too often, we sit back waiting to be personally asked to serve in some capacity. One woman I knew expected to be asked every Sunday to come sing in the choir and didn't sing if somebody hadn't asked her. Well, for anyone waiting to be asked to do something in a church, consider it done. Jesus tells each of us to take up our cross daily and follow him. We're to serve the Lord with gladness, and with love we're to serve one another. Most churches have lists of needs regularly posted, too, that you can refer to.
___If you're not sure where you should serve, ask the Lord to put a passion in your heart for an area of service.
___That's where I am at this time in my life. I've joined a church that has real piano players, so I can retire that part of my previous service to him. I get to tune up this rusty voice and sing in the worship service now. I've signed up to help with the Kidfest, and I'm praying for my classmates' needs as well as for my two Sunday School teachers, one of whom is on a mission trip to Africa, all the while I'm waiting for the Lord to show me where he wants me to serve and work in this church and community.
___I guess you could call me a lady in waiting right now, but I know the Lord expects me to pray, study and work while I'm waiting.

___Donna Van Cleve is a writer and wife of one, mother of two, and grandmother of Audrie, and is a new member of Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin.





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