The Wilderness Way #16

The last district I visited in finishing my Shepherd visits was the Brownwood District. It wasn’t planned that way. It is just the way the visiting played out in trying to correlate my schedule with the schedule of the various District Superintendents. I couldn’t help but think of the passage from Matthew 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

The Brownwood District is such a joy and, it represents such a challenge. All across the district the demographics are changing; really, have been changing for decades. Once prosperous towns are disappearing and our evangelism ministry has failed to engage a new and often different group of people. One lay person in Valera commented to me, “Bishop, for a while every time someone new moved into the community they were Baptist and every time someone died in the community they were Methodist.” This part of the District was tied to the railroad line. Now communities are dying.

And yet, there is also great new life. Many of these same communities are having an influx of young retirees. Trickham, Blanket and May show similar characteristics. They are warm churches struggling to reach a new generation. The communities are in flux and the school districts under demographic pressure. At Eolian there is a Union church (Methodist & Baptist) with vibrant community outreach. May participates in Angel Tree Food ministry as does a number of other churches. In some of our communities we have multiple churches. The distinctiveness, deep commitment to mission (above “taking care of each other”), and the critical component of risk taking lay and pastoral leadership will make the difference in not just surviving but thriving. As tempting as sit is, churches can not live in the past.

There are a number of churches in the same area who are reaching forward with mission and ministry for a new day. Cross Plains rebuilt after a terrible fire. Ballinger and Winters both have faithfulness and fruitfulness. De Leon is reaching out with evangelistic block parties! Hico is truly open to others and reaching out to a new generation. Coleman is providing strong leadership to the whole community and is an exciting vibrant community of faith.

Up on the northern end of the District, a number of communities are in rapid decline. Ranger is a prime example. The church is wonderful. It has excellent leadership and a great faithful Spirit. The town’s changing demographics put the church’s future in jeopardy. This can be said in a number of places. Reaching out to a new generation is crucial. The gospel demands it and our future necessitates it.

Breckenridge and Eastland were among my last visit. They are both strong and growing churches with futures of faithfulness and fruitfulness. Breckenridge has a calling to those who are disadvantaged. Their focused sense of mission and purpose is a power witness.

I thank God for the joy and future of the Brownwood District. The challenges are present but so are great possibilities. Tremendous ministry is being done in those places that are stepping up and out with risk taking service and unapologetic evangelistic witness.

By: Bishop Mike Lowry On 7/10/2009

Topics: Bishop Columns