by Ethel Canty Bothuel

Do you remember this phrase from the song that Fred Rogers sang to introduce his successful TV show, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”?   This children’s show aired on PBS from 1968 to 2001.  It taught kindness, good manners, basic things that children should know, interesting things in science and so much more.  Fred Rogers taught children to love themselves and others and even addressed some of the fears that children experienced. When revisiting “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” (I did on YouTube), some of the ideas of his show are useful not only to children but to adults as well.  If it is true that we reap what we sow, then even with our busy lives, we can take some time to sow kindness to the people who live in our neighborhood.  Kindness matters!

With so much division all around us today—in education, politics, the secular and the sacred, it’s time to have a “kindness movement.” Let’s spread kindness everywhere starting in our own neighborhoods. In our suburban communities, our high-rise apartment homes, our condos, and wherever our neighborhoods happen to be, show some kindness right where you live.  Be the one who makes your neighborhood a part of the kindness movement.   So if we begin where we are, in our neighborhoods, perhaps we can realize and help others to realize that kindness matters!

A smile. A “hello and have a nice day.” An invite for tea or lemonade. A “Hi, my name is … and I live across the street. Just wanted to let you know that I’m glad to be your neighbor.”  Give away your kindness to others and very likely you will receive kindness in return.  It is refreshing to experience a good neighbor’s kindness when you arrive at home, pull into your driveway or get into your high-rise elevator and see a friendly neighbor who says “hello hope you’re having a good day.”

As I write this blog from my new apartment that I moved into about five months ago, I wonder if I’ve passed the good neighbor test. We have exchanged names, but everyone seems so busy.  One neighbor is a stay-at-home Mom who takes care of the kids and the dog while her husband works, and the rest of us are out and about during the day.   One is a physician and the other travels extensively.  So I’m thinking about how I can begin the “kindness movement” in my neighborhood.   How can I be a good neighbor in the midst of my busyness?  Hmmm, I think I’ll bake a batch of cookies, show up at their door, and share it with them.  Maybe they will sense I am asking that question in Mister Rogers’ song: “Won’t you be my neighbor?”

Two truisms plague the church: “if you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always gotten” and “If you do not know where you’re going, it doesn’t matter what road you take.” While these are sayings that should go without saying, we sometimes must be reminded of them—especially in the church. In a changing society, the church that doesn’t pay attention to its environment will lose its attractiveness. Churches that were once vibrant and exciting have become dull, boring, and lifeless. Congregations become insular, in decline, and in denial about its impending death. Like the lady in one church who said, “We used to be a great church! We had an outstanding music ministry, an excellent preacher and pastor, and everyone enjoyed our services on Sundays. Now all of our young people are gone and only a few of us old-timers are left.” She said, sadly, “I don’t know what happened.” This familiar story is told in many places when, in fact, it could have been a different, more lively story.

In our personal lives, we plan for the future. Our 401Ks and other retirements plans are part of our compensation packages so that income will continue to come to us even when we do not continue to go to work on a daily basis. What if we did the same for the church where we hold membership? What if we considered how to teach good stewardship, reach more unchurched people, and keep our church interesting, attractive, relevant, and welcoming? For God’s Sake!…we are to make plans to keep the church going. Yes, we know Jesus said to Peter that “…the gates of hell will not prevail against [the church];” but what about your church? If long-term planning works for your personal life, it certainly will work for your spiritual life.

Planning for your church’s success means doing a better job of what has worked well in the past. Doing church is a work in progress; planning never ceases. It is a continuous thread that runs throughout the life of the church. In the absence of this second most important activity (preaching the Gospel is the first), the congregation will decline, those who are left will become disillusioned, and the legacy of a once flourishing church will be lost.

Planning requires the use of many resources. First and foremost is God’s word. Often it seems that the very people for whom the Bible was written will not pay attention to what the Bible says about planning for the future. Habakkuk 2:2-3 advises its readers to write the vision and it will come to past. Isaiah 30:8 is a related Scripture that encourages and assures that when the vision is cast, it will come to past, and will last forever. In fact, when we signed on to be a follower of Christ, we were told that it would cost us (see Luke 15:26-35). The sacrifice of time and resources needed to plan the church’s future will result in successful transformation of many churches that are in decline and will keep vibrant churches relevant.

Secondly, people resources are essential to the planning. Leaders, members of the congregation, and others who bring energy, godly wisdom, and innovation will be of value to the planning process. With these resources, the pastor who diligently seeks God’s will for the church’s future is able to put forth the vision revealed to her or him and will be able to lead the church is a direction that secures a healthy future. Your future can begin when you commit to engaging the planning process.

Here are six suggestions to help with revitalizing your church and keeping it healthy:

• Make a thorough assessment of where you are now, how you got there, and where you wish to go.
• Use the Bible as primary guide and other proven resources that will provide needed guidance throughout the planning process.
• Do not hesitate to seek consultation; preferably someone who is brand new to you and your church and who will bring unbiased and honest perspectives.
• Do not use the words “we’ve never done it that way before” to mean that you will not try something different.
• Engage the entire congregation in the planning process. There are meaningful ways of doing this.
• Assemble a group of people whose primary function throughout the process is to pray for each individual in the planning group and for God’s will to be done in the church’s future.

If the church believes what Jesus Christ said to Peter in Matthew 16:18, “…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” then the church must take responsibility for doing excellent ministry and fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). How do we get this done? For God’s sake, plan!