Tough Times-Missional Times

It’s too late for me to be the ‘Shicken Little’ of our countries economic state. It’s no news for me to tell you that our economy is suffering some major casualties in our ‘Global’ economic downturn. I’ve read articles that speak of the economic state from across our country, so when I say that things are looking grim for our Ontario region, I’m sure the same can be said for other regions in our church’s conference as well.
I read a Star article on June 11 that stated that Ontario was to suffer 45,500 full time jobs. This seams realistic seeing as our small community of Elgin and Oxford County in southwestern Ontario has suffered 3000 (probably more by the time your reading this ) jobs since the beginning of the summer. Further to this I heard just the other day that Ontario received its first equalization payment, officially making the province a ‘have not province’.
To give you an idea of what that looks like, “if all these people went to church in St Thomas on Sunday morning, there wouldn’t be enough pews in the entire town to fit them all in”. Economic downturns do not discriminate. In my church alone the ratio of job losses are at least 1 in 10 and growing very quickly. The president of the company that I work for; recently gave a ‘state of the Union address’ and stated that “American Housing starts have gone from 2 million in ’05 to 800,000 this year”. This cost my company 40 full time jobs. It seems as though the morning radio shows are announcing plant closures every third day, one of which is the Sterling Truck plant. The closure of the ‘Sterling Truck’ plant will cost St Thomas approximately 1100 full time jobs not including the spin off jobs that are attached to that in the service sector.
The question I ask myself is…”what impact is this going to have on our Church’s?’ I believe the road map to that answer leads us through this thought; “yes, this is an economic problem, but we as the Church have to first recognize this as a Theological problem”. This is primarily a theological problem at its core and here’s why. “Human beings are created in the image of God and are endowed with traits of their Creator that fit them for creative, useful, joyful, God-exalting work. Therefore, extensive idleness (when you have the ability to work) brings down the oppression of guilt and futility.” 1
Simpler; people were made to work (Adam and Eve worked in the Garden before the fall). If they aren’t working, people will get depressed, anxious and frustrated because they aren’t doing what they were created to do. Knowing this, I think that the Church and it’s leaders need to get ready right now. Here’s why;
1. ‘Senders’ will become ‘SENDERS’
a. In all of our congregations there are 2 groups, goers and senders. Goers are those people who rely on the funds of people who have ‘secular’ vocations (Senders) to operate ministries such as pastors, church staff, missionaries and para-church organizations. These people make it possible for the word of God to reach beyond their own sphere of influence. If portions of our congregations are living on reduced incomes then those people will proportionately have less to give. At the same time there may be instances where people may not be as motivated to even come to church. This means that those people who still have ‘secular’ vocations will bear a greater financial burden in the congregations. Like I said earlier ‘senders’ will become ‘SENDERS’.
b. The other aspect to this is that there will be a greater need for Goers. In difficult times people also move to a greater dependency of the Lord. My prayer has 2 directions. First is that this will produce a hunger for God that will reach the far corners of the country and when the Lord answers that prayer, my second prayer is that there would be more people moving to Vocational Ministries to meet the need.
2. Mennonite Migration….again?
a. History proves itself that people go to where they perceive the work is. With the western and eastern provinces being perceived as Job hotbeds right now, there is going to be an exodus to these places. After their moves, will people be saying to themselves, ‘There’s no church for us to go to here’. Is there a way for us to know where it is that they are going so that we can meet them with a church so they won’t have to say that!
3. Tim Horton Community Church
a. I found it so interesting, even though Imperial Leaf tobacco plant in Aylmer, closed down a number of years ago the demand for Tim Horton’s was never stifled, in fact I think the demand went up. I think the thinking for most of the people getting laid off was “Why wouldn’t I go there when the guys I used to work with are there, they can’t find jobs either”. Tim Horton’s will continue, and increase to be a gathering place for those that are displaced from their jobs. The “total” church will recognize this as a great place for bridge building. I see Tim Horton’s the same way open air preachers saw the town square.


Are we ready for what’s to come? Are we ready to help those that are in need? Are our ministries prepared to send and plant where the needs arise? Individually, are we ready to present Jesus to the guy standing in line with us as he waits for his Sesame seed bagel toasted with butter? As these days progress I’m scanning the sidewalks and halls to see where the needs are. On Sunday morning, I’m scanning the pews to see who it will be to reach the people on those sidewalks and halls. Unfortunately, the possibility could be that the best time to be missional will be during the worst of economic times.


1John Piper, Don’t waste your life, Making Much of Christ from 8 to 5