Pressing On
By Daron Brown
The Slow Turn
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t this stage of life, all three of our children are teenagers. I taught my older son to drive, the second one is currently learning, and our daughter will soon be ready. I repeatedly remind them to anticipate what is ahead and to drive defensively. One of the rules of the road is to slow down when taking a turn. Those of us who have driven for years do this instinctively. But, like everything else, new drivers need to learn that the sharper the turn, the slower you need to go. My local church is in the process of relocating. Because a natural disaster destroyed our buildings two years ago, we are moving to higher and drier ground. Additionally, we need more space and accessibility. Our current facilities served us well for nearly eight decades, but they have run their course. The new building is only two miles away. Although the distance is not far, the move is a major milestone. You
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might say my church is making a turn—a sharp one. In fact, it’s the sharpest turn we have ever taken. I confess, I feel inadequate as I lead the congregation through it. I also confess that part of me wants to hit the accelerator and get it behind us. My pastoral instinct, however, cautions me to be deliberate, to take this turn with care.
You might say my church is making a turn—a sharp one. In fact, it’s the sharpest turn we have ever taken. I am aware that a community of faith plus a different facility equals a different community of faith. The “church” is the people, but architecture plays a significant role in shaping us. The size, scope, and layout of our new home will affect us in new ways. The last thing I want to do is give my congregation whiplash. With more than a year to prepare, the staff has been working on sermon series, meaningful events, and logistical steps to ease the transition. We talk about what to anticipate and how to communicate. We imagine ways to make this move deliberately, creatively, theologically, and with liturgical meaning.
NBUSA Quarterly
