The Day America Went to Church

I was reminded of the 9-11 tragedy again last night as MSNBC had the day “as it happened.” I can still remember sitting with Jenny and Taylor (about 5 months old) in the living room before leaving for church. At the time I left for church, the towers had not yet collapsed.

I remember that event quite well because it matches up with my calling to plant this church. We had been struggling with a calling to start a new church that would be focused on those outside of the church–not necessarily ignoring those inside the church, but basically reaching those who don’t have a “place” in the current church landscape. The night before, by divine appointment, several of the staff were dealing with a crazy issue with our computer software. If we wouldn’t have had that problem, we wouldn’t have been at the church for the opportunity to minister to a guy who came in to “pray in the sanctuary.” Come to find out, he had just told his wife about an extramarital affair that he had been having for quite some time. He basically felt he had no hope in the world for the mistakes he had made. After a lot of talking, we talked about the “real” problem in his life–that Christ was not a part of it. I said, “Having Christ in your life isn’t going to solve all of your problems, but He will begin to heal your marriage and your life and help you be the man God has called you to be.” Jenny actually met with his wife later on that evening at our home.

An interesting part of this whole thing is that our pastor, Terry Kendrick, was on a plane to Amman, Jordan that morning and was in the air when the towers were hit.? I was to be preaching on the next Sunday for Terry (one of my first times at Hopedale) . . . obviously the plan is changed–for if there was any time for American’s to head to church for answers, it was this Sunday.? So? here is my opportunity to share the good news that God is a God who restores.? That was the theme of my message–restoration.? Restoration of hearts, marriages, relationships,? homes.? God is in the business of restoration.

When I think of 9-11, I sometimes think more of the Sunday afterwards than I do of the actual event because of the personal experiences in my life the days following the attack.? Last night’s program made me think again of how far God has taken me as a leader and the fact that little has changed since that week in 2001.? There is still a ton of tragedy in our world every day.? There are still untold billions of people on planet Earth who are living with no hope.? There is still a need for people to hear that a God who created everything wants to have a personal relationship.? They need to hear that he is still restoring lives.? May we be a part of that restoration.

The Day America Went to Church, Part 2 comes tomorrow.