Pastor Jeff Fisher
At this year’s Council Retreat, the Unity Church Council reflected on the defining moments in the life of this church. Moments that have defined us and moments that we want to define us. The question we asked ourselves was what events or circumstances have been turning points or convergence moments in Unity’s history. These are events that particularly signify the purpose, principles, or direction of our church. Defining moments are not always something that ends up defining or direction-setting. We can also define a moment by deliberately acting to create a turning point or a convergence moment that enhances or carries out the mission and vision of the church. These defining moments enable us to determine how we do what God has called us to do in our specific situation and circumstances.
As these defining moments happen, we need to be sure that we deal with them properly. There are three key actions essential to properly embracing these defining moments. We need to recognize the moment, protect the moment, and respond to the moment.
First of all, we must recognize when an event or decision is a defining moment. Many times we do not recognize defining moments until they have passed. And that will often be the case, because we do not always know how an event or decision will fully play itself out. However, it is possible to identify when a defining moment is happening. There will often be tension about the decision or event, because it will be a major move. This tension should not be avoided, but embraced and addressed so that the best possible decision can be made. There will also be a realization that this moment will result or is resulting in a significant shift. In the church, we should anticipate that God will move in significant ways and anticipate his movements. We won’t always know what they will be or where he will take us, but we should be prepared to acknowledge when something big is happening. This will enable us to recognize a defining moment as it happens.
The second key action is that we need to protect the moment. There are really two parts to this action. The first part of protecting the moment happens “in the moment.” Defining moments will often include a level of vulnerability as people take risks, reveal their thoughts and emotions, and open themselves up to what God has in store for them. We must be careful not to do anything that hinders these sacred moments in people’s lives. But there is also a second element of protecting the moment. And that is remembering the moment and building off it. Similar to the way the Israelites commemorated and reiterated the significant events where God worked in powerful and significant ways. While these events can never happen again in the exact same way with the exact same impact, we can most definitely remind one another of these defining moments and identify how they have shaped us into who we are as a church.
The third key action is responding to the moment. Because of the nature of a defining moment, it would almost seem impossible that one could not respond to the moment – whether positively or negatively. This is where the opportunity to come together or pull apart enters in. This is where we can build up or tear down. How we respond to a defining moment will often result in whether a church moves toward health, life, and vitality or toward stagnancy and life-ceasing deadness. A church can define its moments by doing nothing and never changing. It has then defined itself as refusing to change and only focusing on the past defining moments and not the present or the future. There is always the danger to dwell too long in any one of these areas – past, present, or future. By properly embracing our defining moments we should maintain a healthy balance between the past, present, and future. We commemorate, hold onto, and remember the defining moments in our past that have made us into who we are. And we recognize how those moments shape our present and realize how we are defining ourselves today. And we look ahead to what God has in store for us in the future so that we define our moments in a way that builds on the foundation of the past and applies the circumstances of the present. That way we maintain a good balance of past, present, and future, but also move forward in such a way that we are actually carrying out the original values and principles on which this church was founded.
So what were some of these defining moments in the history of Unity Church? There were numerous events in the history of Unity Church that were identified as defining moments. And each person will always have a different perspective on what were especially monumental moments from their own perspective. But several of these defining moments are worth noting. The first, and probably most important, was the initial movement of several families walking forward in the First Church basement to sign the sheet to say they wanted to be a part of starting a new church. Beginning this church was a major defining moment, as well as the values articulated in the beginning. This church sought to be outreach-oriented, both locally and globally. The people desired close fellowship, vibrant worship, and opportunities to use the gifts and talents that God had given each person. And when the first pastor, Dr. Ed Roels, came to Unity, he encouraged the open minds and thoughts among the congregation. Along the way, over the last twenty-plus years, each defining moment has been something that carried along these original values.
Some of these defining moments that continue to this day were the commitment to jail ministry, incorporating praise times in Sunday worship, beginning the Night Vision youth services, starting the intern program and adding staff, beginning Unity Day Care, and working to reach out to younger couples and the youth of our community. Though these activities may not look exactly like some might have expected when beginning this church twenty years ago, they are all an outplaying of the original values and mission of this church. With the arrival of each pastor and the gifts and emphases they brought, and through workshops and visioning processes, Unity Church has continued to build on its foundation and sought out new ways to be the place God has called it to be. This past year we have also had some significant defining moments. The funerals of Rich Post and Sam Ruplinger were both monumental events that shaped us as a church community. Some of the most important events this past year included the decisions to proceed with a building project, to expand the pastoral staff, to redevelop a small group ministry, to implement the Finance Ministry Team, to officially open the pulpit to Pastor Wendy, and to seek to stabilize the leadership of various ministries, such as youth group, missions, and worship planning. With each of these defining moments, we as a church body have the opportunity to recognize them for what they are, protect them in the moment and beyond, and respond to them with eagerness and anticipation for what God will continue to do.
That is why the Council wanted to not only look at the past, but also the present and the future. So we discussed the defining moments of this past year and what defining moments we wanted to see in the next five years. This part of our reflecting and visioning was the most extensive. There are a lot of things that we would like to see happen in and through the ministry of Unity Church over the next five years. Here is just a sampling of some of the moments we want to see happen that will define us as a church:
• Breaking ground and finishing the new addition to the building
• Filling the new building with people and activities
• Continuing the growth of small groups, both in numbers and spiritual vitality
• Increased emphasis on discipleship and equipping everyone for ministry
• Greater participation of youth in our worship services
• Continued emphasis on outreach to the surrounding communities, including ministry teams, work teams, and prayer teams
• More healings in our church and community
• Seeing a greater diversity in our church membership, particularly as a result of our outreach and counseling ministries, including fuller ministry to jail ministry recipients and multicultural activities among those of other ethnic backgrounds
• Providing ministry opportunities for people of all life situations, especially focusing on better outreach to and activities for young singles
• Increased emphasis on children’s ministry, with the possibility of youth ministry staff
• Starting a sister church that would enable wider community ministry
• Being a regional church that hosts significant conferences and events
• Continuing to merge together new members and established members to further advance the mission and vision of our church
• Achieving new highs in passionate spirituality throughout the church body
Every single one of these was a goal expressed by the Council for the future of Unity Church. Some of these are well on their way to happening and influencing the life and ministry of Unity. As they happen, we must be aware of their significance and how they shape us as a church. We must do what we can to ensure that the risks that are taken in the process are protected, and that the past defining moments are upheld and remembered. And we must respond in God-honoring ways as each of these moments plays itself out.
Sometimes, as we have seen before, these moments will not end up looking like we expected, but by God’s grace they will be yet another step in his process of making Unity Church a place to belong and a place to become. May we look ahead to what God has for us with eagerness and anticipation. May we look back on what God has done for us with thanksgiving and celebration. And may we walk in the present, trusting in the grace of God and the leading of the Spirit, to both recognize and create the moments that will define who we are. To God alone be all the glory!
