Happy 155th Birthday!!

First Baptist Church, Springfield, MO had their 155th year anniversary this past Sunday. We went downtown to church in the morning and then to River Bluff Fellowship’s new building dedication in the evening. I love singing those old hymns with the organ cranked. It brings back a lot of memories of my childhood into my college years. My pastor during college, Lynn Worthen preaching in the morning service. He did an awesome job talking about CHANGE. If there is anything that any church (traditional or non-traditional, new or old) doesn’t want to do is change. I’m not really sure how well the message was received, but I hope it was received and the church will flourish.

Something really funny was said by the pastor. Russell and Carolyn Newport were given a really nice appreciation during the service. The pastor said that Russell was the interim music pastor for 14 years!! Pastor turned to Lynn Worthen and said, “Pastor, I’ve learned that you can stay for as long as you want here at First Baptist . . . if you are an interim.” Classic line!

I also noticed something that is very unsettling to me. They had the names of all of the church plants that they had sponsored/been a part of over the years. There are a TON of churches around here because of First Baptist’s planting heart . . . until the mid 90s. Something happened after they planted Ridgecrest. (I can still remember the excitement and weekly reports of Ridgecrest and of how it was going “in the white house off of Republic Road”. Maybe that was the first glimpse for me into church planting as a junior high student!) Something happened in the mid 90s . . . but no one could put a finger on it then. In the mid 90s, there was a big fight over “important” things like what kind of music we are going to sing, who’s liberal and conservative and who’s not. It was a very similar fight that many have been apart of all over this country in SBC life. It turned toward staff and pastors. It was quite sad. During that time, the church turned inward, stopped planting churches and decline began to happen. Obviously I am a church planter, so what I am about to say is pretty biased. But when a church stops looking to expand the Kingdom of God and looks to guard their own little kingdom, God removes His hand from that place. Have people been saved in that place since the mid 90s? Absolutely. Were they a part of works after 1985? Absolutely. But I wonder what “could have been” if “we” hadn’t lost our focus on the real goal–reaching unchurched people for Christ. I say “we” because I am a part of that place. I always will. Jenny and I were married there in that sanctuary in 1995. I was a part of the youth ministry there. Jenny and I were baptized there. I surrendered to full time Christian service there. I began my ministry career there teaching Sunday School. I helped with Summer Celebration during two summers. I love that place! I love the people!

I say this because I love that place . . . there could be so much more (future tense). What an exciting place downtown Springfield has become! I sure hope and pray that we truly can change for the better and that, if the Lord tarries, she will have many more years of effective ministry in downtown Springfield.

If our little “baby church” can learn anything from a 155 year old church it is to remain faithful to the GOSPEL. When we begin to focus too much on insider information, we lose the hand of God. I pray for Finley Crossings that we would remain focused on those on the outside looking in. That we would not lose sight of the vision that we have tons of people coming to a relationship with Jesus Christ through this church family. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a 155th anniversary for Finley Crossings? Think of the LEGACY that we are leaving behind for generation after generation to come. REMAIN FAITHFUL . . . that is what I learned from an old bride this weekend.