Rapid Changes

I rediscovered an article at John Mark Ministries today, in which I described rapid changes in my urban ministry, around 2007.

"Thirteen years ago, our Church was an estimated 80% English-speaking by birth. Today, this applies to less than 40%. This is just one indicator of radical cultural shifts. Further, where our Church previously held serene and well-ordered services, we now experience, on some Sundays, a high degree of good-natured “disruptive chaos”. Not only this, but our office is like a bazaar, Church leaders have found it difficult to cope with increased disorder, and the minister would seem to be virtually under siege."

OBSERVATION: It was all signs of a thriving work, and the congregation showed an amazing ability to adapt. However, a few years after this, a few people "wanted their old Church back". Yet the new Church had been created by the Church itself -- and, if one sees it with the eyes of faith, it had been created by God.