In a few days my wife and I will be celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary. We will take some time to think about where we have been and what we have done. We will also take some time to think about what we will be doing in the future based upon what we have already done. That makes life just that much more exciting when you think about the great things that still lie ahead.
Churches (and associations) must do more of that. Anniversaries and homecomings are great times to celebreate the journey of the church. Others, perhaps generations of others, have worked hard and often sacrificed much to bring the congregation to where it is today. Such efforts deserve to be celebrated.
The challenge arises when the anniversary becomes such a time of remembering and glorifying a past there is no room for future thought. The anniversary then becomes a funeral. Heroes of the past are lifted up. Great accomplishments experienced and sacrifices made get the top billing. All too often the present is bemoaned as a mere shadow of the greatness of the past. The future is ignored.
Yet the time of remembering the past is perhaps the best time to look to the future. One church mentioned in an article reads at every anniversary celebration the original purpose statement the congregation wrote at the founding of the church. The dreams of the founders are never allowed to be forgotten. The future movement of the church takes the prominent place in the time of celebration.
A healthy church will remember its past with all its victories, struggles, and the lessons each has brought. A healthy church will use these lessons to move into a future undergirded by faith in the God who holds that future. The challenges of the past serve to reaffirm that the God who has brought the church to the present will carry the church into the future. God will continue to prove faithful to his people.
Look ahead in planning your celebration of the past. Let the joy lay a foundation for future celebrations. Dream about the time the generations yet to come will celebrate the victories your church experienced to give them the future they enjoy and will likewise build upon for generations to come after them. Use your anniversaries to dare to dream again!
