Date: 3/23/2009
<br>Author: Devin  Pickard
<br>Title: Letter to the Editor
<br><br>I thought I would share a “Letter To The Editor” with you that was in the March 10 issue of the Tennessean.....it was entitled “Churches make many people feel unwelcome”, by Leslie Hudson.<br><br>“Most churches aren't known for open-mindedness, so it's no wonder they blame empty pews on declining birth rates.  No doubt there are multiple reasons why church attendance is trending down, but I find it hard to believe the “birth dearth” is to blame (referring to an article from March 8).  <br>Times have changed.  People have other obligations on Sunday besides church.  Perhaps they have soccer games or baseball practices.  Maybe they have a second or third job that requires working on Sunday.  Or maybe they once attended church and didn't find what they were looking for.<br>Churches excel at making people feel unwelcome if they don't look the part, if they don't want to teach a class or work in the nursery, or set up chairs and hand out bulletins.  Churches also excel at making their own people work beyond exhaustion, evidenced by a new book out, “Mad Church Disease:  Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic”.<br>Churches would do well to take a long hard look at themselves.  Perhaps if they flung the doors open wide so that visitors were free to come inside and members were free to leave, the focus would turn to how they can help their community instead of how empty their pews are.”<br><br>After reading the letter, I felt compelled to throw my two-cents worth in on the subject as well.  The following is a “Letter To The Editor” that I wrote to the Tennessean in response to the thoughts above.  Though it was not published, it still gave me opportunity to get it off my chest.  <br><br>“I recently read with interest the letter to the editor, “Churches make many people feel unwelcome”, written by Leslie Hudson. (March 10)  I agree with Leslie's statement, “No doubt there are multiple reasons why church attendance is trending down, but I find it hard to believe the “birth dearth” is to blame”.  Church pews may be more empty these days, but I don't think it has very much to do with how many children are being brought into this world.  I am afraid though, the rest of the March 10 letter colors all churches with the same highlighter, to which I must take a little exception.  I am blessed to be the minister of the Fairfield Church of Christ in Centerville, TN.  Over the last couple of years this congregation's regular Sunday morning attendance has increased 75-100 people.  The reason?  It's simple.....we love people.....all people.  We seek out those who are hurting and reach out to those who are struggling.  In essence, we try to carry out commission of Christ found in Matt. 25 to “feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty.....visit the sick and those imprisoned”.  <br><br>There may be churches that excel at making people feel unwelcome, but I can assure you that there are still plenty of us out here who have our doors “flung open wide so that visitors are free to come inside”.  Leslie, I'm sorry for the negative “church encounters” that you have had in the past.  Come pay us a visit at Fairfield some time.....we just might change your mind.  By the way, times may have changed, but people haven't.....we ALL still need God.” <br><br> If you happen to know a Leslie Hudson of Nashville, I would very much appreciate it if you would give them a copy of this.....at least on the day of judgment they won't be able to say that someone didn't try to get them to change their mind.<br><br>Go the extra mile - Devin<br><br>