From “Abandon the Orderly House: Good News for Skeptics & Burned Out Believers” by A. W. Regets
I’ve talked before about selling a sanctuary, at my last call after merging two small churches in Illinois. And I talked about the way God worked through the frustrating delays that we faced. But I never talked about the way the merger itself allowed new life to spring up in that community. But it did. What looked like the death of a congregation turned out to be something else entirely. Because the people who closed their doors chose to be faithful, even as they marched toward the church’s end. And one of the stories that illustrates this new life is the tale of our organ, and what happened when it was no longer needed.
After the merger was finally completed and these two small churches were worshipping as one, we found ourselves with two identical instruments, both of which were almost new. And rather than allowing one to sit unused, or selling it for less than what it meant to the church, we decided to donate one of the organs to a new home where it could still see regular use (and where the music it made would continue to bless Christ’s church.)
It just so happened that the town’s Methodist congregation was looking for an upgrade at the time of this decision. They had an organ that was designed for gospel music, but they were playing a more traditional style of hymns, and they were thrilled to receive the gift that we gave them. But that left them with a dilemma; they had to find a new home for their previous organ.
After a bit of searching, they found a small gospel church just a couple of towns over that was ecstatic to receive the instrument these Methodists no longer needed. But now that gospel church had a problem. They had to figure out what to do with their old organ, which still worked perfectly fine (even if they liked their new one better).
So, they started searching for a church in need. And eventually they discovered a little country church just across the state lines in Indiana that had been using a piano, though they were hoping to get an organ someday soon. And that gospel church was able to provide this rural congregation with an answered prayer, free of charge. But now that country church in Indiana had to find something to do with their instrument.
And after looking around their small community, they found a funeral home that didn’t have any instruments on site, and they were glad to take the piano that once filled that small sanctuary with songs of praise.
What started as a conversation that felt a lot like failure, turned into this incredible chain of blessings where God used the closing of one sanctuary’s door to provide for at least three congregations and a funeral home, too. And one of the best things about leading through a merger was seeing all kinds of stories like this!
To the outside it looked like a small church had died (or perhaps given up). But in reality, new life was springing up all around us. Because even in their dissolution, this community was faithful, and they served a God of resurrection power.
In the end, the merged congregation that resulted from this supposed death was much stronger than the two churches that came together to create it. Because, this new community didn’t fear failure.