Imagine walking into your church next Sunday and not recognising anyone there at all! Would this be a good or a bad problem to face? We pray for more visitors in church and yet the reality is that if you went to church and didn’t know anyone at all, you would likely feel a little unnerved, uncomfortable, or even a bit lost.
That is the reality these days for many churches in Eastern Europe, near the war zones. There are so many new people coming into church that it has shaken up the whole way that the churches do Sunday gatherings together. New visitors don’t know the songs, they don’t know when to stand or sit, they have no knowledge of the Bible, or what is appropriate to say or pray in church!
DL Moody famously once said: “The church is not a cruise ship. It’s a lifeboat. Save all you can.” On a lifeboat, strangers are thrown together in response to danger. However uncomfortable it may be for us when so many new people are here – imagine how much more so for them, who are so unfamiliar with church life? The goal of the lifeboat is to get everyone to safety – so here are some ways we can pray about this:
Pray that those who seek God will come without fear
Setting foot in a new environment can be pretty fearful for those who have never been to church. Pray that God would compel them to come and that churches would think hard about being welcoming places for strangers – whoever they are and in whatever numbers they come.
… there is a huge shortage of disciplers, as many Christians have left as refugees.
Pray that believers would be ready and keen to disciple others
The New Testament church grows into maturity in Christ when “every part does its work” (Eph 4:16). In our churches now there is a huge shortage of disciplers, as many Christians have left as refugees. Pray that those who remain would have an appetite to help disciple others, and that many others would soon return to take part in this ministry.
Pray that Christians would be more ready to serve than be served
In some cases, those who do remain have complained that the newcomers have “changed our church – it isn’t what it used to be!” This is cruise ship mentality, not lifeboat mentality. Pray that God would make his people willing to make any sacrifices, that we might win some for Christ.
Pray that there would be a steady flow of new people bursting into the kingdom
Jesus called the burdened and heavy laden to come to him for rest (Matt 11:28-29). Pray for genuine conversions among those that come – not just human shelter from the bombings in a church building. Their souls are only eternally safe when they find “rest for their souls” in Christ. They need this eternal lifeboat to shield their soul from eternal justice, not just a building to escape drone attacks and enemy bombing.
A has served in Eastern Europe with his wife and daughter since 2007, after 9 years in UK pastoral ministry. Their main focus is Bible ministry, training, church planting and responding to war and humanitarian disaster.
Photos: (Banner) Church congregation (image for illustrative purposes) (Top) Visitors at church (Bottom) Congregation standing in church
