Places have personalities. Places have identities. Places have character and mindsets and rhythms and values. Places have energy. More than just spots on a map, places are the culmination of all who live there and all that has happened there. Like everything else in God’s good creation, every place is unique.
Good pastors know their communities. They know the histories and stories. They know the moments the community celebrates and the moments the community grieves. They know who makes the decisions and they know who’s left out. They understand the local calendar. For instance, while I was a pastor at one of my early churches, everyone understood not to do anything in August. The summer was spent picking and packing peaches grown in the local orchards. In mid-August when the packing was done, everyone headed to the beach. There was no one left in town.
Needless to say, we never planned a stewardship emphasis in August.
I’m still amazed how many pastors do not know the mayors of their towns. Most pastors will have to deal with local community political leaders sooner or later. It may be about the location of a red light or expanding the parking lot, but something will come up and the pastor will have to engage with the leaders of the community. The pastor should already have a friendly relationship with these leaders before any matter of seriousness comes up.
Knowing the community, pastors will also be able to identify the points of need in their communities. Where does the community need help? Is it in the local school system? Is it in affordable housing or hunger issues? Addiction has damaged many neighborhoods across our nation. Is this a place where the church can help?
Why does this matter? Because we live in a time when ministry comes before the message. That is, people watch to see the congregation’s love in action before they will listen to any message. Therefore, every congregation must understand the unique calling they have to their community.
The place where the great need of the community intersects the gifting and calling of the church is the location of the local congregation mission. That is the last point of our clarity. The pastor has to be clear on the mission of the church and that happens when the pastor understands why God put this congregation in this place at this time.
