Recently our congregation received a nice group of new members. This is usually a very exciting and energizing experience for the whole community. New people bring fresh ideas and a spirit of enthusiasm that spills over into the rest of the congregation. We literally become a new church! Our newest arrivals stir the pot, mixing in a new batch of spiritual gifts and passions that helps to wake up the rest of us "sleepy heads" and move us forward in our shared mission.
The challenge for most congregations is to help these new brothers and sisters in the family to feel like they belong and have something important to contribute. Some experts believe that if new persons don't make 6-8 new friends in their first 6 months, 80% of them will not continue as active members of the church.
It's funny, we in the church work so hard at the front door when new people come in and we work really hard at the back door when they leave, trying desperately to get them back in. But what about the middle door? This is perhaps the most important door of all!
The middle door represents the true life of the congregation. The middle door represents all those opportunities for members to grow in their faith, enjoy making new friends and worshipping and serving together in Jesus name. The middle door is where the action is! It's what makes new members true disciples and partners in the work of Christ's mission in the world.
Let's be creative in coming up with new "middle door" opportunities for all people. It could be as simple as inviting someone new to fellowship hour after worship or forming a team to work on a Habitat for Humanity build in the community. It could truly be as simple as introducing someone new to another person in the church that has a similar set of interests or hobbies.
Let's work harder at the middle door! Let's work harder at building stronger relationships! Then maybe we won't have to form a committee to deal with the "back door" concerns of our church, giving us more time and energy to do the things that really make a difference for the Kingdom of God.
