Knock and the door shall be opened — A Reply

Ian Watton responds to an article in the last issue

Photo: pro.corbis.com

Like many church buildings, things look different depending on whether you get beyond the door or not. That depends partly on whether the door is open.

Our Methodist church in Gillingham, Kent, recently had a makeover, that’s to say it was shut for a period of time, some of the pews removed and the interior changed (for the better!). The result is that passers by on the street outside can look straight through the main doors into the body of the church, all the activities and services on full naked view to the world at large. And what a difference it has made! Whereas our numbers were steadily falling with an ageing congregation and few children in the youth group, we now have healthy numbers, a wide spread of ages and continued growth for the future. Many groups now use the church building for events such as concerts, seminars and special services (the local schools use it regularly), and that’s in addition to our Sunday services, which are getting steadily fuller as the weeks pass.

Opening the doors, and more to the point, ripping down the drab high walled entrance, has tempted people in off the street to see what we do. With the ministerial team we have in place, who deliver challenging and thought provoking sermons, the elements we need for sustaining growth in Gillingham.

The best way to get a message across to people is to catch their attention, and to meet them where they’re at.

In my workplace in London, (I graduated 4 years ago) there are many different people from varying backgrounds and cultures, so to talk openly about Jesus and God is somewhat frowned upon, even smirked at by certain individuals. Better I have found to not mention openly but just be there for my colleagues and friends. There are one or two guys in the factory who slip Christian texts into the toilet cubicles, with parts of the text highlighted. Such a shame the guys’ names are never added to the bottom of the scrap of paper, they are perfectly happy to spread the word but to stand up and say “Hello it’s me!” (or anything else along similar lines) is beyond what they see as ‘right’.

I prefer the method of showing people I care about them, not by openly expressing a belief but by letting them gently know where I stand on certain topics. My closest colleagues are Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, non-religious and (a Jamaican guy with a hint of) Rastafarian. So to keep on spreading the word every day would be pointless, they have their beliefs and choose to keep them (or not as the case may be). So when topics arise that are ‘close to the wire’ and rub uncomfortably with what I believe in versus their beliefs and values I’ll let them know where I stand. We discuss many ideas and historic events that are relevant to all of us, from creation to where we are now. Some ideas are spread through media intervention; others just crop up in general conversation.

But does this mean I care about them? Certainly, I know them and share their ups and downs. When they want to ‘talk’ and perhaps when they could do with someone just to ‘listen’ to them. Some of my colleagues have a way of dropping their voices, a change in behaviour, a request along the lines of “Would you like a cup of tea?” These little things don’t go unnoticed by me, I know they need to get something off their chest and give them the time to do it. (Often stopping what I’m doing just to give them that time). And when we’ve sat down and drank our teas, their troubles shared and my advice sought, the smile returns to their face and they’re ready to carry on with the day. I didn’t need to mention Jesus or God once, but simply by being there for them I’ve met them where they’re at. We can both walk on together.

Ian Watton