Relocating the church

As was stated at the information and business meeting that we had as a church to release a parcel of land in advance, the ideal, process and actual relocation of our church to 183rd street is becoming a reality.

It's been and up and down road since the church voted to sell our land and move in May, 2004.

For some, it's going to be an exciting time.

For others, it will be a stretch. I understand that.

Let me give you a few reasons why.

First, relocation can threaten the sentimental attachment to a building that people have. I can remember when they tore down old Bowie hall (the women's dorm) at CBC. It needed to go. Yet, it was a little bit difficult because my mother and my wife lived in that dorm.

Memories are powerful equations in the relocation process. We can have what is called "place attachment". On an emotional level, what is sentimental and what is spiritual may feel similar.

We will probably here comments like:

"We were married here and, then, our daughters were married here."
"My mother taught Sunday School in this classroom for 45 years."
"I was sitting in these chairs when I was saved."
"Everyone in our family was baptized in this church."
"Some of my earliest childhood memories are of being in this sanctuary."

Honest, good comments.

Secondly, relocation offers radical change to senior adults when they are least able to process any change. And no one likes change except babies with wet diapers.

Thirdly, it attacks the pride of some members. While some moved out of the community and commute to church, many have chosen to stay. Some stay because they cannot afford to move.

Some feel a kind of ownership in the community. "This is my community and no one is going to take it from me."

Fourthly, it will make some members feel their "sweat equity" was in vain. The one thing they thought they had a part in that would outlive them, won't endure after all.

While it is not being said, either intentionally or unintentionally, they filter a relocation as saying that they have wasted their lives by building up the current building. Of course, what we are really challenging them to do is invest their lives in something fresh. It is "one more time" to do something great for God.

Fifthly, it will challenge many members theology. Most Christians think of the church as a building. And not just any building. Their building. When we say, "let's go to church" we mean the building.

Others will feel and resent the fact that some "Johnny come lately's" are trying to "take away our church."

Let's say it again. The church is not a building, the church is an organism. Jesus is the church's only Owner. Stone church is not my church, nor is it your church, but it is God's church.

Ultimately, the question of relocation comes down to our most deeply held doctrinal belief - what we really believe.

It's first of all a matter of theology and then a question of strategy.

Finally, and it must be said, we will face Satanic opposition. The enemy will fight God's will just because it is God's will.

He will twist the thoughts of the unsuspecting. He will spread lies and he will arouse dark emotions. To be willing to relocate is a test of spiritual commitment. The devil will fight that.

Please don't misunderstand me. I am not even suggesting that a member who opposes relocation is an instrument of the devil or that they are not thinking Biblically about the nature of the church. However, I am saying that the enemy will attack and try to take us by surprise and we must be ready for that.