Leadership Vignette

Everybody Here Knows Me

The pastor of a fifty-member church in a small Midwestern town
tells how a clear vision touched a young boy’s life.

I believe the vision that drives this congregation is one of an “open table.” We believe God calls all to fellowship with one another. Everyone comes as divine guest. I asked one of the children, “Why do you come to this church?” The child replied, “Everybody here knows me. Everyone knows my name.”

The church lived out this vision when an eleven-year-old named Matthew started attending the church regularly, even though his family attended only occasionally. At school Matthew spent considerable time in the principal's office because of disruptive behavior. At church he followed a similar pattern. During his first year of attendance, he fought with the older children, raced through the hallways, and threw paper airplanes during worship. He did, however, come to worship each Sunday, stay for breakfast provided after worship, and stay for Sunday School that followed.

The next year showed considerable change. One of those paper airplanes now resides on the altar. Matthew wrote on the plane: "God loves all of us." These words showed an increased awareness -- and touched the congregation's heart.

His family had faced difficult times: drug abuse, prison, overdue bills, chronic unemployment, and illness. Matthew's stepmother waitressed at the town restaurant. "I want you to know," I said to her one evening at the cafe, "what a delight it is having Matthew in church." She responded, "Church has become Matthew's special place. He won't miss."

Before Christmas, Matthew told me he was failing two classes. When I saw him admire the church's soccer ball, I made him an offer: "If you bring those Fs to As, I'll buy you a soccer ball and if you stay out of the principal's office!" When Matthew brought his report card, he had all As. And he never went to the principal's office again.

One Sunday Matthew spoke to me from his pew: "I would like to be baptized." Matthew then whispered in his stepmother’s ear. "Matthew would like to know," his stepmother said, "if he could be baptized." "Yes, of course you can." The church presented a Bible to Matthew at his baptism, and at breakfast a cake was decorated for the occasion of his baptism.

Before Matthew's baptism, I visited his home and talked with his folks. His father was laid off from work. Their electricity had been shut off. They owed $800. I asked if I could help, though I was not quite sure how to raise the $800. I talked with the church board chair about possibilities. "I don't think they really want help," he said. So I asked the board chair to visit them while I was away for several days. When I got back, I was told, "The board talked it over, and the church paid the bill.” The visit made the difference.

> Back to Leading Ideas