The Wilderness Way #15

The Waxahachie District was a joy and challenge to visit. South of Dallas, the district has a different feel from much of the Central Texas Conference.

It is clearly a rural district, and yet the south growth of the Dallas area impacts much of the area.

Dotted around the countryside are ³ranchettes² (McMansions on a small acreage). With only a very few exceptions, we are not connecting to this new population. Many (but not all) traditional small town churches are struggling. We have been slow to reach out to new evangelistic possibilities. If there is a bad location to place a church, we¹ve usually found it.

I could not help but be struck by how many other churches in the area had relocated and how few United Methodist churches have been willing to do so. We appear to hold the building more sacred than the mission of making disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world.

Midlothian is reaching out in exciting ways with an active youth ministry and excellent community leadership. Ennis First is reaching a younger generation and sharing real spiritual depth. Their prayer ministry is a model of faithfulness.

Alvarado also evidenced strong community involvement. Evangelism is not strong, but they are open to learning. The location is a challenge.

Relocation is also the challenge for Ovilla. They have so much to commend but a future of fruitfulness will involvement courage in relocation.

Grandview is a neat church with excellent youth involvement. It too is location challenged. Palmer on the other hand is in an outstanding location and is just beginning to reach out to the community. Their openness to new forms of worship and use of multimedia was impressive. Red Oak has a super Vacation Bible School and is poised for growth. They relocated a few years ago, and it has given them good opportunities for the future in reaching out for Christ.

The Waxahachie District has an impressive clutch of county seat churches with strong ministry and leadership. They are challenged by the changing shape of Christian worship in America and the need to learn how to do evangelism.

First Corsicana is an impressive place of service and faithfulness. Its leadership in the community is distinctive. First Hillsboro is reaching out to children. Waxahachie First appears to hear God calling them into a new day of leadership and even possibly giving birth to a new church (parenting). In churches like these three and others, there is so much that is so good and so strong; yet, the real threat is a cautious complacency that rest on the past rather than embraces the future.

Courageous leadership from both lay and clergy is the order of the day.

A number of churches are in changing communities where the challenge is great and the future is problematic. I was deeply impressed with the life and vibrancy of Alliance of Faith. This mission post for the Kingdom of God is making a difference. So too is Venus UMC. Along with Sardis, they¹ve got a super youth group and conversion ministry taking place. The Holy Spirit is blowing in these churches! Other small churches were clinging to the past and slowly dwindling. The people are wonderful. The relationships deep. The challenge great.

God blessed me in my time in the Waxahachie District. There is truly much here that calls us as a larger church into the future. I would be remiss if I did not close by lifting up two churches that are close to each other. First UMC in Mansfield: it is one of the largest churches not only in the conference but also in the denomination. Great leadership (lay, clergy, staff) and courageous outreach are making impact for God.

Community of Hope lives its name. It is truly a community of Hope. One can sense the Spirit of Christ moving in the midst of this vibrant new congregation. I thank God for their ministry and the ministry of the whole district.

By: Bishop Mike Lowry On 6/26/2009

Topics: Bishop Columns