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What Would Your Church’s Time Capsule Look Like?

Orginally published on Monday, May 07, 2007 at 6:28 AM
by Todd Rhoades

A church near Louisville recently opened up a time capsule that had been prepared in 1956 when they’d built their new building. Now that part of the building is being demolished, and the time capsule was uncovered. Included inside were magazines, a hymnal, sermons, and newspapers that reflected the stories of the time and the church. One newspaper sports page told of Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra being suspended from a baseball game after a brawl in a nightclub. Another story dealt with the national church's debate on whether it was time to get involved in the U.S. debate on segregation. Lifetime church member Jim Tennill saw himself as he was in 1956—a 13-year-old boy wearing a robe and headdress for a church Easter program. The time capsule provided an interesting look back at the church and community, frozen in time, some 50 years earlier.

As I read the story, I thought about a couple of the churches that I attended growing up. One church was vibrant and growing when I was 13, only to get caught up in legalism and cease to exist just a few years later. The church I’m currently attending was about ready to close just 25 years ago. Today it’s grown to nearly 900. If a time capsule were prepared for either of these churches just a few decades ago, what would be uncovered today would reflect something totally different from the present.

A few questions for you this Monday morning…

First of all, what would have gone into your church’s time capsule 50 years ago? How has your church done in the past 50 years? (And if your church hasn’t been around that long, how would your church’s first year compare to now?) Has your church grown or declined? How many of the people who would have appeared in those old pictures are still serving God? What things have changed (from musical style to theological debates)? What major leadership struggles does your church’s history include?

Okay…question two: What would you put in your church’s time capsule if you had to assemble one today? Would your capsule be a glimpse of life or decline? Would there be pictures of people who are coming to faith or pictures of pie socials? What would you include to encapsulate the life and times of your local church in 2007?

And, finally, are you leading in a way that ensures a solid future for your church in 50 years? Do you have a plan to transition your church into 2057? What will your church be like in 50 years? Believe it or not, much of that picture depends on your leadership today. It’s actually a pretty humbling thought. What we do today has a tremendous effect on the church and community of tomorrow.

So, what’s the state of your church? And how’s its future looking?

Have a great week!

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Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.