by Chuck Lawless
It’s colored with age. In fact, it’s yellow, black, brown, and other colors that have faded with the decades gone by since I first received it. In fact, you might be able to see the various shades in the picture above.
“It” is my “New Member Instruction Certificate” I received when I joined my first church at age 13 now 50+ years ago. In case you can’t read it, here’s what it says:
Charles Lawless, having manifested credible evidence that he has been converted and has entered into covenant with Pisgah Heights Baptist Church and having completed the course of instruction for new members, is hereby awarded this certificate commending to him the further joys of the Christian life and church membership.
My pastor (the only pastor I ever knew before I became a pastor myself), Glenn Davidson, signed the form. My wife and I found the certificate as we were clearing out “stuff” in our home this past weekend—and it has brought to mind so much about that little church in southwestern Ohio:
1. My church was not perfect, but they surely grounded me in the Word. I didn’t learn arguments for and against the inerrancy and infallibility of the Word, but my pastor taught the Word week after week after week. When I later faced some of those hard questions about the authority of the Word, I started with a strong foundation because of that church.
2. The church was somewhat unusual in requiring a membership class in those days. To my knowledge, not many churches in the area were requiring a membership class then. The class met for only a few weeks during the Sunday school hour (as I recall), but our pastor led a few of us through simple books to get us started in our Christian walk. Little did I know then how important a membership class is (or that I would decades later write a book on church membership called Membership Matters and work with Sam Rainer, author of 7 Basics of Belonging: The Meaning of Church Membership).
3. The church didn’t always use the “covenant” language on this certificate, but they gave me much even as they expected much from me. They taught me the Word. They showed me Christian love. They invited me to become part of their family. Then, they gave me opportunities like teaching Vacation Bible School, leading a 7th grade boys class, and preaching on Youth Sunday. My pastor also introduced me to “visitation” night when we regularly visited guests and shared the gospel. This church helped me put my feet on the ground in ministry.
4. I didn’t say “thank you” enough – and perhaps that’s the point of this post. That church no longer exists by that name, and the congregation has long since re-located their facilities. Looking back, I took that church for granted. I didn’t pray enough for our leaders. I allowed myself to get too frustrated when I differed with some of their decisions. Little did I understand just how much they cared for me, and even less did I realize how much they would mark the rest of my life. A few months ago, in fact, I unexpectedly and wonderfully saw one of the members of that church when I was preaching in Kentucky. She was a reminder of that sweet church family in West Chester, Ohio, to whom I owe so much.
Pastors and church leaders, I encourage you today to say “thank you” to God for the churches in your past who marked your life—and say “thank you” to members of those churches if you can still reach them.
Imperfect though every congregation is, they are indeed God’s gift to us.