As the pastor at Danish Countryside Chapel, I have had a unique experience that has greatly influenced my approach to ministry in the rural Midwest. Living in Germany for three and a half years with the Air Force gave me a unique perspective on the role of the church in society. In Germany, I found that very few people attended church, and those who did were often just going through the motions. By the time I returned to the United States in the late 90s, I noticed that this was becoming more and more prevalent in rural Midwest areas as well.
To me it seemed like the only people who were attending church were grandparents, people in big trouble who needed to straighten their act out, or visitors passing through town. The churches in the hometowns were falling apart, and many were being taken over by others. Meanwhile, new Evangelical churches were popping up everywhere, building new facilities, and everyone was wild about it. I believe that it is unfair that people will not support the churches in their hometowns but instead go to new churches elsewhere. I feel that this is a loss for the local communities who would miss out on the opportunity for spiritual growth, and the churches would suffer. As a result, I believe that true involvement and investment in a church are essential to a thriving community.
I've been asked about the importance of welcoming other denominations into a church's mission and how this aligns with Lutheran beliefs. I believe that understanding how other denominations view the sacraments and being involved in one's own denomination is important. I believe that if someone ascribes to something, they should announce that they are that and be it well. I believe that online presence is essential for growth but do not want it to be an excuse to not go to church. Instead, I want to use the internet to reach people and get them back to church.
In terms of the future growth and evolution of Danish Countryside Chapel, I believe that our online presence will continue to grow, but I do not want YouTube to be an excuse to not go to church. We will only put sermons after the fact online. I also want to focus on getting people back to church, teaching them about going to church, baptism, and the sacraments. Additionally, I plan on talking to people about their family's backgrounds and their church backgrounds. I want to get a hold of the pastor in their hometown to get them back where they were going so we can get the ball rolling again, rather than this constant hemorrhaging of people not going to church.
In conclusion, as the pastor at Danish Countryside Chapel, my unique experiences have shaped my approach to ministry in the rural Midwest. My time living in Germany with the Air Force gave me a perspective on the role of the church in society, which I have applied to my work in rural areas. I believe that true involvement and investment in a church are essential to a thriving community, and it is unfair that people do not support their hometown churches. I think that understanding how other denominations view the sacraments and being involved in one's own denomination is crucial, and an online presence is essential for growth. However, it should not be an excuse to avoid attending church. Going forward, I plan on focusing on getting people back to church, teaching them about baptism and the sacraments, and encouraging them to reconnect with their hometown churches. I believe that by doing this, we can build a strong, united community and ensure that our churches continue to thrive for generations to come.
Pastor Loren
Comments