3/23/2025
Rosewood Church Family,
This morning, Austin shared something that has been stirring in our hearts for a while now. It’s a goal that, if we get it right one piece at a time, could change lives, reshare our church, and make a real difference in our community.
Here it is: To become a church people who have stepped back and stepped out of church want to attend.
I know, that might sound a little unusual at first. Even contradictory. But think about it – every one of us knows someone who has walked away from church community or never really felt like they belonged in the first place. Maybe they had a bad experience. Maybe the pandemic threw them out of the routine. Maybe they have big questions that never got good answers. Or maybe they just don’t think church is for them.
But here’s what we believe: Jesus is for them, so we will be too.
And what does that mean? It means the consistory and staff have been and will continue to think deeply about how we create environments that are welcoming, engaging, and helpful for people who are skeptical, searching, or just unsure about faith. It means we’re going to be intentional in how we communicate, operate, and love our neighbors. It means we’re going to take intentional steps towards becoming a church where people can belong who are still figuring out what they believe.
Over the next few months, some changes will begin to be rolled out. Some big; some small. Some noticeable; some behind the scenes. Some you’ll like; some you won’t. But for now, we’d love for you to do three things:
- Pray – Ask God to open doors to our community and open hearts, including your own. Pray for the people in your life who don’t have a church community.
- Engage – Our effort isn’t to make church more comfortable for Christians who are here, but adopt a burden for people who aren’t here yet. The treasure of faith in Christ is yours, and what would you do or give up for the sake of one more?
- Invite – Especially with our Easter series beginning April 6 and Easter on April 20, be on the lookout for someone who could use a fresh start with faith. And when the time is right, invite them to come and see.
I can’t wait to see what God does through this. Our conversations have been exciting and refreshing, and we can’t wait for them to begin to come to life. Because when we become a church for people who don’t go to church, we start looking a lot more like Jesus.
– Pastors Austin and Lindsey, with Rosewood’s consistory and staff