Freeing a church from its dock

Richard Frazer May 5, 2020

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The USS Intrepid first sailed in the South Pacific where it battled the Japanese fleet during WWII.  It went on to serve in the Korean Crisis, the war in Vietnam, was a participant in the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis and served as a recovery vessel for the Mercury and Gemini space missions. 

During its courageous tenure it lost 270 of its crew, survived 5 kamikaze attacks, was hit seven times by bombs, and took a direct torpedo strike.  It even provided the platform for an historic Robbie Knievel jump.
 
The mighty warship was decommissioned in 1974, and in 1982 was moved to Pier 86 on the west side of Manhattan, where it became a museum.  Each year it houses more than 700,000 visitors.
 
In November of 2006 the craft was scheduled to be towed five miles down the Hudson River to undergo a $20 million restoration. But when the moment came for the titanic vessel to be lugged down river, the ship wouldn’t budge. 

One tug after another joined the pull until an armada of seven joined forces in a futile attempt to drag the Intrepid free. Twenty-five years worth of New York quagmire held the mighty warship fast.

The dignitaries, including former crew members, watching from the dock offered to get in the water and push the ship if they needed to.  It ended up being a pitiful sight.  It wasn’t until weeks – and millions of dollars and man-hours – later that the sludge was dug out and the once-grand carrier escorted away.  
 
The story of the Intrepid sounds like the story of a lot of churches.  Today it is estimated that 85-90% of churches in America are stuck or sinking.  They are either at a plateau or in decline numerically.  

Once they were mighty and strong – today lodged in the mire.  Once they marched courageously against the gates of Hell – today they huddle to reminisce about their Golden Days.  Once they touched the needs of their neighborhoods with children’s and youth programs – now they decry they don’t have any young people.  Once they lifted up hearty and heartfelt singing to the Lord – this Sunday they will barely make a joyful noise. 

Too many yesterdays have passed and anchored them in history. Leaders have stopped dreaming and plotting new courses. Crew have abandoned ship and headed for safer ground or to other vessels. Signs of life have disappeared.
 
What is happening in many of our churches reflects what must have happened in the Church in Sardis. In Jesus’ personal letter to them, He writes, “You have a name that you are alive but you are dead. Wake up!” (Revelation 3:1). What a shock to the church.  “You have a great reputation, but you are showing no signs of life. You are dead.”  

This is intriguing because just as Jesus is about to “call it,” and make “the pronouncement,” He gives them hope. “You can DO something about your weakened spiritual condition! Stop sleeping and let’s get going!”
 
Moving ahead can mean many things for a church these days. It may mean unhitching a glorious past to be set free to experience an exciting future. It may mean rearranging leaders and going with a new vision for a preferred future. I will no doubt mean reassessing strengths and building up the things you are doing well and temporarily or permanently retiring that which you can’t.

Undeniably, any progress forward will require making wise changes that will streamline decision-making and maximize existing opportunities and resources.  
Ultimately, moving ahead for many of these church families will mean refreshing their submission to the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, and being recommissioned to fulfill the exciting faith-filled adventure of accomplishing their unique ministry opportunities.
 
 

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Rich Frazer is President of Spiritual Overseers Service (SOS) International, a global training ministry equipping indigenous ministry leaders. He holds a Doctorate of Ministry with an emphasis on training ministry leaders to upcycle declining churches. Learn More »

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