Calvary is an unusual environment in many ways. Folks come here from traditional backgrounds and find things very different from what they have been accustomed to experiencing. Sometimes our uniqueness is well received and sometimes not. But, for those who decide to stay and get acclimated to this place, the experience usually becomes an edifying and healing one.

   Some have said that Calvary Church causes them to think of a healing oasis -  a spiritual MASH unit set on a hill. They share that they have come here to find rest, healing and hope again. And we frequently hear testimonies of those who had all but given up until they found this little hideaway in our small, hidden community of Reinoehlsville.

   Indeed, we have often joked about our unlikely location. “If you found your way here, you must have been led of the Spirit - it’s the only way to find us!” I was born and raised in Lebanon, and the first time I was supposed to preach here, I was late. I couldn’t find the place. The Garretts, a family vocal ministry from New Zealand called the “Scripture in Song Singers,” were invited to come here to lead a service and teach about worship. They couldn’t find us either although they had stopped to ask for directions from the fire company and police department - neither of which could tell them where Pennsylvania Avenue was!

   It seems that everything about this little church is different from the norm, whatever that is. The Lord has had his hand on this small congregation from the beginning, and it has been obvious in so many ways. How can such a small church send so many young men and women into full time ministry - and provide the education for them to go?  How can such a small church with no single, large patron or wealthy upper class membership to carry the finances have such a wide spread missions outreach? People find their way here, they heal and grow, and then they go out again to serve in other places. Calvary Church stays small, yet dynamic.

   Different for us has been good. And yet, we can succumb to a fatal condition if we are not careful. We can become stagnant, stale and set in our ways. Inertia can kill us and rob us of our place in the Body of Christ’s ministry to a hurting world. If we are to continue to be relevant, then we must continue to let the Lord make us different. Different from us. We must be open to change and His dynamic leadership. The Lord does not want us to stay as we are, individually or as a congregation. He wants to change us from glory to glory. We will, like all other life forms on this earth, grow or die.

Can we be open to change …. dramatic change? Will we be ready to step into the unknown and evolve? Are you ready to hear his voice and step out in faith? Will we get up and act when the still, small voice from within speaks that we should do something? I pray it will be so.

But …… here’s the glitch …… If we are not seeking him, praying, listening, and pursuing him, we may never hear that sweet still voice in the first place. We can’t sit and wait for him to speak, we must seek him out daily.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 at 3:41 pm and is filed under From the Pastor's Desk. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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