It is very easy – particularly as a pastor – to focus on what seems sub-optimal and disappointing. I find it pays, at least now and then, to remind myself of specific things that were an encouragement to me. So, I thought I might do that publicly here, as I have done before, in the hope that what encouraged me might be an encouragement to you too.

A new family

I wasn’t particularly encouraged by a new family showing up. That happens with frequency and, as you can imagine, not everyone sticks around at any rate. So a new family being there, in and of itself, was not especially encouraging.

What was encouraging is what lay behind them coming. Namely, another of our members had been waxing lyrical about our church and had been encouraging her friend, that she works with, to come. Most specifically, I was encouraged that the specific driver behind coming, the main reason given for coming to this church in particular, was the teaching and preaching.

I know what you’re thinking. But I wasn’t encouraged because it makes me seem brilliant, as though people are being attracted to my amazing preaching (not only is nobody flocking to us for that reason, I’m not convinced that was what they meant!) Rather, I was encouraged that somebody is being attracted specifically because of the Word rather than the multiplicity of other reasons anyone might be attracted to a church. I was thrilled to hear one of our members so loved the Word, and was keen for others to engage as well as possible with the Word, and wanted to bring them to the place where they were sure the Word would be preached and taught helpfully and that that person was, indeed, attracted by it. I was extremely encouraged by that.

Old friends return

There were at least two sets of people, who we haven’t seen properly on a Sunday for a long time, who were back with us on Sunday. One couple, who have been away from us because we sent them to serve elsewhere, were back with us this Sunday. I was particularly blessed to see them.

Another person, who has been away from us for a long time, showed up for the first time in an age. A chunk of their being away is down to work patterns and commitments. I was grateful to see them again and they even said they think they have reorganised their work commitments so they will be able to be back next week. I was encouraged by this.

Big commitment

One lady I spoke to – who is such a blessing to us when she is there – spoke to me about her work commitments. She had been on a night shift and was due to be working again later that afternoon. But there she was, in church, making a priority out of meeting with us. She had even encouraged others to come and be with us too. I would not have blamed her at all for thinking she was too tired, couldn’t make it, it was too difficult. But there she was, engaged with us, praying and singing together with us, there to bless us. I was super encouraged by the sheer desire and priority this lady had to meet with God’s people. What a blessing she is!

Intercultural church on display

One of the other things that intrigued our new family was the fact that ours in a multicultural church. She had been going to a monocultural, African majority church. Our Nigerian sister who encouraged her to come wanted her to see what belonging to a multicultural church was like. That was part of what drew her to us.

But not only is the church multicultural, there is a a level of intercultural church on display. Our church is not a white-majority church. I am, if I’m honest, not sure who is the majority these days so much as having three or four largeish groupings of people of similar culture. But there are different voices on display throughout the service, not least because we have open times of prayer, singing and sharing testimony that engages others. The ministry – not least demonstrated by our Nigerian sister – is not held by a handful of people from one culture, but engages and is led by people from different cultures. Their own cultural expressions are readily on display.

And it isn’t just national cultures, there are also various sub-cultures. We have a mix of nationalities, classes, generations and other things. These cultures are rightly and properly welcomed, displayed and involved in the ministry. I am encouraged that the church is not just apparently multicultural, but there are others from different cultural backgrounds about to serve and engage in ministry at various levels in the church.