The Next Faithful Step

Years ago, I tried planning for several years in advance. I knew that if the church stepped up a little each year, we could see some growth, and that growth could fuel the next step up, in mission, ministry, outreach, or fellowship. Then, 2000 happened, and it became much harder to bring people into church. So, I had to begin preplanning – how could we design things so that more people would be willing to step into a church? Then, I moved from the mountains of Virginia to the coast – Suffolk first, and then here to Hampton. Things changed again. People were moving into Suffolk at breakneck pace, so we had lots of guests, but encouraging them to stay, and encouraging our own people to be
regular enough to do things became more difficult. I could plan ahead, but now, I had to take two steps back in thinking to plan one step ahead. If I wanted to see the church grow and be more fruitful, I had to think about how we could reach people beyond the church walls, build up the people inside the church walls, and manage the complex dynamics within each.

Then, politics became more divisive, and then Covid happened. I still plan ahead, but I am much more modest, because things seem to change and morph so rapidly that planning too far ahead seemed to be fruitless. Recently, General Conference happened, and there is yet another variable to contend with. At this stage, I still plan, but my question has become much more simple and direct: “What is the next faithful step I can take?” When it comes to planning sermons, planning around events, and planning where I believe the Holy Spirit is leading our church, I am still thinking ahead, but in a simpler way – what is the next step?

I am not writing this because I want to complain, but because I expect you have had to deal with more and more complexity in your life as well – and I want to suggest that this idea of the next faithful step has a great deal of promise. I have found that every step I take, whether in a sermon or a meeting, or in counseling and conversation, produces something unexpected, and that unexpected change is often the key to unlocking the next step afterwards. For example, if I preach about the Holy Spirit and stumble on an idea that people find helpful, I know that I need to pay attention and use that insight again. But if I just keep going with the original plan, I might miss a chance to truly help people connect with the Holy Spirit in their own lives.

In our own lives, looking for the next faithful step helps because we don’t have to have all the answers, all the knowledge, and the strategy. If we’re having an issue with a spouse or child, or neighbor, we just ask – “What faithful step can I take now?” and frequently, the Holy Spirit will guide us to a passage, or a devotion will give an insight, or a conversation will help us see their perspective. As we continue to negotiate a changing world, I hope that you will find that seeking the next faithful step will help you bear fruit for the kingdom of God.