Craters and Ocean Rock

Church Relevance - Issue 12
October 2006
by Kent ShafferÂ

Some 35 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona is a giant impact crater measuring 4,000 feet in diameter and 570 feet deep. It is known as the Barringer Crater, and it is a remarkable monument to the power of nature. I’ve never been there, but I did visit the beaches of North Carolina this past summer. They are dotted with hundreds of rocks polished smooth like glass from years of ocean current. Like the crater, they are the result of a force of nature that completely transformed its surroundings, yet their transformation has finesse.

Nature uses both power and finesse to change its environment, but so should your church. Churches are commissioned to preach the gospel and bring change to the world. This change can be something quick and obvious like a crater, or it can be gradual and subtle like ocean rock. It is not a question of which way is best. You should be doing both simultaneously. By focusing on creating both big impacts and gradual transformations in the lives of people, you will achieve a balanced synergy that will maximize your church’s influence on your community.

Craters - Big Impacts

Powerful moments reach out and change people. Like craters, they are big and sudden impacts that cut through the clutter of life, get your attention, and leave an impression. But how can your church create such a moment?

  1. Do the extraordinary. Average never leaves an impact, but the extraordinary can change a person’s life. As a kid, I sat through many Sunday School classes. I don’t remember the flannel graphs or the boring lessons, but I do remember a handful of extraordinary lessons. Why? Because they were creative and engaging. The teachers used amazing object lessons that not only entertained me but taught me spiritual truths that I still remember today. Their small investment to improve their lesson made a big impact on the rest of my life. Going the extra mile to make something extraordinary will pay off. Even if you do not notice a difference, there is a good chance that your extra investment impacted a life that will notice.
  2. Show compassion. Every community has windows of opportunity to reach hurting and desperate people. Single mothers, community outcasts, and hurricane victims are all opportunities for your church to make huge impacts in the lives of people who need your help. It is about communicating God’s love and compassion, and that compassion can be life changing.

Ocean Rock - Gradual Transformations

Ocean rock starts out rough but is worn smooth over time. Not every influence your church has on your community is instantly measurable. Some things take time and patience. Creating a gradual transformation in your community is a two-fold process.

  1. Be in the community. Having a presence in your community isn’t about how big and noticeable your church building is. It isn’t about how much marketing you do, or even how many acts of compassion are performed. Having a presence in your community requires being a part of your community. The church is separated spiritually in the world, but all too often, the church separates themselves relationally as well. Relationships are the key to reaching your community.
  2. Be an example. Relationships are the vehicle that allows you to interact with your community, but being an example is what makes or breaks the influence your church has in these relationships. Practicing what you preach and not compromising is just the beginning. You are to be an example of Christ as best you can.

Creating Synergy

When your church focuses on reaching people with big impacts and through gradual influence, you will be creating a synergy that steadily reaches out to your community with heightened levels of influence. They are basic principles, but not to be forgotten as your church focuses on fulfilling the vision that God has given you. They are not static goals. Purpose to become more extraordinary. Look for more opportunities to reach people with great needs. And never stop creating relationships and improving the Christ-like example your church has in your community.

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