An open post for my fellow former members of Hope Community Church

If August 21st marks one of the best days of my life, my wedding anniversary, then August 24th marks one of the worst days of my life, the church business meeting from hell. I was the youth pastor of Hope Community Church for exactly 10 years (June 1, 1998 — June 1, 2008). At the five-year mark we were averaging around 1,500 in attendance. On my last day there were 90+ in attendance. Though not all of the factors that led to the church’s decline can be attributed to the August 24th business meeting about eight years ago, it was still a major turning point in the church’s story. Trust was broken, lines were drawn, and from that point the pile of unanswered questions, confusion and hurt began to grow in a lot of people’s lives.

For whatever it’s worth, I want to offer some thoughts for all of my old Hope Community Church family:

Remember the many more good times: There were more good times that happened at Hope than there were bad. Though that might seem like an untrue statement to some, it is only because hurt or anger won’t allow you to truly remember. I will never forget the baptism we had at Shepherd High School where over a half-dozen teens got baptized. I’ll never forget laughing with Eddie in the back of service or in his office. I’ll never forget the Realm. I’ll never forget nights at Harry’s. I’ll never forget the music or services in Chicago Christian or road rallies. I’ll never forget hanging out with people in my office (which was the coolest office anyone has ever been in). And I could keep going on and on and on. And if you allowed yourself to, truly allowed yourself, you could remember some awesome times as well. Times of worship, times of community, times of growth, times of laughter. What were your favorite memories?

Try and get back on the bike: The saddest statement I’ve heard over the last few years whenever I run into someone who used to go to Hope is, “I still haven’t started going to church anywhere yet.” Like a person who doesn’t want to ride a bike again after an accident or someone who doesn’t want to date again after a bad breakup, there’s a trepidation that the hurt will repeat. This defense boundary is understandable. But it’s important for all of us to remember this: not all churches experience what ours did. And more important to acknowledge: that’s not how church is supposed to be. Please don’t judge every other church in the country guilty by association. Try and get back on the bike — check out a new church. It could take time, it might take visiting a few, but don’t be disconnected from the community of God we were meant to be apart of simply because ours didn’t have it all figured out. Don’t be disconnected from the community of faith!

Remember who it is all about: Though it is sad for me to know that some have left the church all together since their Hope days, it is devastating for me to know that some of checked out on God as well. The guilty by association goes beyond churches to Him. How leaders acted has turned you off. The way other church people acted has made you uninterested. We have to remember — it was never supposed to be about the leader, nor the people. It’s supposed to be all about Him. Don’t hold God hostage because some of His kids acted like idiots. Don’t miss out on knowing Him because you want to forget various people. And let’s be honest, the question in the hearts of some might be, “Why’d you let it all happen God?” Instead of the finger of accusation pointing at this leader or that person, it is really directed at Him. I know I felt this way for awhile. For me I had to come to a point where I realized that God’s heart broke for our church more than mine did. He was unhappy and sad and probably a little angry as well. When I realized that it broke down bitterness in my heart that I was directing toward Him. With that wall dismantled I was able to reconnect with Him again. Yes, it’s easier to stay disconnected, be indifferent or to just say that He doesn’t exist then it is to process the hurt and anger. But healing only comes through honesty and dealing with what happened. Don’t be disconnected from God!

For old Hope people and non-Hope people alike — don’t attend a church: Now let me clarify that statement before someone calls me crazy. By all outward appearances our church was growing and rocking. But the sad truth is that at 1500 people we had more people coming for the show and only a small percentage making things happen. The majority of people weren’t serving and the majority weren’t giving. It highlights an issue in all churches — the health of the church isn’t just the pastor’s responsibility. What happened at Hope wasn’t one person’s fault, it was everyone’s fault. The actions of a few just pulled the blinders off our eyes so we could see the genuine health of the whole place. We had tons of people attending Hope, but we needed people to own the church and their faith. And this is true in your church as well, guarantee it. Leadership is important, vision is important and all that. But leadership and vision only steer a ship, the people collectively living out their faith and being obedient to God make it move. Your church doesn’t need you to occupy a seat, they need you to be part of the family, a champion not a critic, a member not a spectator. If you don’t know what’s going on — then ask someone. If you don’t know what to do — then ask someone how to get plugged in or try something. Don’t just sit. Don’t just watch. Don’t just talk about things that need to happen or aren’t happening. BE a part of your church! Why did God give you to that church? I promise it wasn’t to warm a seat. Don’t just be an attender!

Driving by this field where the church building was supposed to be built is a sad experience. And that needs to be said. We see what isn’t and are reminded of what was, and that is a thing of grief. But may this field never only represent the past for any of us.

What we wanted to see in this field didn’t happen — but that doesn’t mean God is absent or not even present. He is not the God your anger, your hurt, or your confusion tell you that He is. God is a God who can make things grow in fields we see as broken or barren. God is a God who can turn our human mess into a thing of beauty and awe.

May this field remind us that God is a redeemer and restorer.
May this field remind us that God’s plans are bigger than ours.
May this field remind us that God’s reputation is more important than any of ours.
May this field remind us that nothing can stop God or His desire for the world to be reconciled back to Him.

Though Hope Community Church is no more the hope of God is still true and real and alive. So when you see this field — remember that. Remember that people still need to meet Christ and grow in Him.

And you still need Him and still need to grown in Him as well.

Peace and hope and grace to you, all of my beloved old church family.

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