The first step forward: Letting go of the past

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MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY — A few years ago, a Church of Christ in this South American capital made the agonizing decision to sell its historic building and move into a smaller space. The old facility was just too large for the small, aging congregation to maintain.

One of the missionaries instrumental in purchasing the old building was Dan Coker, a towering figure in Latin American missions with a doctorate in anthropology and a booming voice. Coker envisioned the building as the future home of a Christian university for students from across the continent.

But after 30 years, the school had not materialized.

What would happen to this dream deferred? Was the church giving up on the work of all those who came before, including D.H. Hadwin, Jack Walker, Pablo Lazaga, Miguel and Nela Alem, Michael Strawn and Foree Grove? 

We don’t think so. We believe that brother Coker, who died in 2019 at age 82, would be pleased with what’s happening in Montevideo. The church is growing again — so much so that it’s already testing the capacity of its new meeting place. Waves of immigrants from other parts of Latin America are bringing new life. The church is even making plans to revitalize and plant congregations outside of Montevideo.

Letting go of the past, it seems, was a necessary step toward the future.

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Related: Editorial: Why the restoration plea is still valid

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Initially, we intended to transition here to a discussion of our new design. It was difficult for us to let go of our outdated logo, which used a narrow font called Binner Gothic, and the globe that accompanied it. A few readers have raised concerns that the words “The Christian” are much smaller on our new logo than before. (We believe they’re also easier to read.) We humbly ask that you judge us not by the size of our typeface but by the quality of our content.

In our recent discussions with the Heritage 21 Foundation, we note a concern that’s much larger than any font. Across the U.S., many Churches of Christ have dwindled to 10 or fewer elderly members. They know there’s little chance for prolonged survival, yet they are reluctant to sell their property and reinvest the profits in future evangelistic work. That’s one of the avenues that Heritage 21 and a handful of other ministries in our fellowship offer. They also work to help the churches that have a chance of survival to reengage with their communities and reenergize the work. Often, however, this requires the sale of old facilities.

We pray for wisdom, patience and understanding for these churches as they contemplate the difficult decisions ahead — and we plead with them to not put off these decisions any longer. May we not be like the Israelites in Ezra 3 who, upon seeing the foundation of the new temple, wept in bitterness because it would not measure up to what they remembered.

We pray for wisdom, patience and understanding for these churches as they contemplate the difficult decisions ahead — and we plead with them to not put off these decisions any longer. May we not be like the Israelites in Ezra 3 who, upon seeing the foundation of the new temple, wept in bitterness because it would not measure up to what they remembered.

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Related: Tape on the pews: As we return, let’s not repeat a failed restoration

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May we instead focus on the words of the prophet Haggai, who spoke to these same Israelites and encouraged them to continue the work of building a new, less grand temple. A step seemingly backward may be the first step forward.

And, as the Lord told Haggai, “In a little while … I will shake the nations, and what is desired by all nations will come” (Haggai 2:7). A new house waits for us, and its glory “will be greater than the glory of the former house. And in this place I will grant peace.” 

— ERIK TRYGGESTAD, for the EDITORIAL BOARD

Filed under: church closures Church decline Editorial Heritage 21 Heritage 21 Foundation Opinion Perspective redesign The Christian Chronicle Top Stories Views