Grace Mennonite Interview

The following is the conversation held at the consultation between Sue Steiner, facilitator, and Waldo Pauls, pastor of Grace Mennonite Church, regarding a new mission of the congregation.

Sue: Waldo, you came to Grace Mennonite Church two and one half years ago. Everyone knew that revitalization of the congregation was essential if it was to survive. Now this winter you're planning to share your building with a new congregation, and Grace sees this as part of your mission in the community. Describe that arrangement, and how it fits with who Grace is.

Waldo: Grace is a church that has always seen itself on the cutting edge. When I came to Grace, it was to help the church to close with dignity.

In the summer of 2007, the discussion at that time was around giving the church building to another congregation. There were two sides with strong feelings.

This spring another congregation approached Grace and because of the work done in 2007, the congregation entered into a discussion.

A proposal came from church council to make this congregation a mission project of Grace, offering them the space free of charge and moving our service by 1/2 hour to accommodate their worship time as well. Grace's service is a more traditional worship service and the other more contemporary. This proposal was accepted.

Sue: Jack Suderman has just been talking about the continuum of "sufficient wisdom" and "spiritual surprise." What spiritual surprises has Grace experienced in the last year or so?

Waldo: We have had a lot of surprises.

One of the biggest was last summer's proposed building renovation. With some hesitation, the congregation voted in favour and has experienced a tremendous difference. It has brought a change in our worship space and also seems to have brought a change in our fear of changing structure. Small groups had a history of "not working" at Grace but we now have four small groups and are working at establishing a fifth.

One couple, in their 80's, shared about their child with Downs Syndrome. Many years ago they had wanted to bring him to church but were asked not to as it was felt he would be a disturbance. During a recent communion service at Grace, the congregation asked forgiveness of this couple. There wasn't a dry eye in the building that day.

When I first came to Grace, I was told that they could hardly afford to keep a pastor. Now they support a music minister and the budget is healthy.

At an annual meeting, renovating the library was on the list of things to do. The library is in the foyer and the plan was to do away with it. This new congregation has asked if they could use the library as part of their space, thus revitalizing that area.

With a new group using the building, Grace Mennonite is able to stay with traditional music. The second service will be more contemporary with guitar and drums. The drums will be on the platform during our traditional service as well. Perhaps we wil camoflauge the drums initially with plants!

Sue: You have consciously grounded the church council and the congregation in God's wisdom and guidance through the Scriptures. Tell us how you have approached this.

Waldo: With the board, when we have a meeting where we are to discuss significant issues, we begin with a ½ hour bible study. We have done this consistently. I speak with the church chair and decide on a passage based on the issues we will be discussing. We find that the discussion goes better. We have also made deliberate steps to make board meetings shorter - 2 hours, even with a ½ hour bible study.

Sue: What energizes you as you look to God's future at Grace?

Waldo: I didn't expect to be as energized as I have been. We have approximately 60 people with an average age of 73. People who are older have tremendous energy and vitality. We have begun a breakfast at church to attract former members and people's grandchildren to come back.

With the new congregation, they have been operating for seven years and have baptized 120 people. We are expecting to be a part of this group as well. If God is blessing them in this way, we feel that God's blessing is going to energize us.

I have seen growth in people. A man who has attended for 42 years and now wants to change his membership to Grace, prompted by something he heard in a sermon. Another man was asked to read scripture. He read scripture quite well and was asked to do it again. He began to give an introduction to the scripture reading and eventually I asked him if he would like to preach. He has now preached two sermons and has asked to join the church.

Question/Answer

How did the congregation begin a revitalization process when it was looking at closing the doors?

Waldo - I think the greatest thing is that you have to love the people. If you love the people with integrity, and they see that, you can work together.

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The following is the conversation held at the consultation between Sue Steiner, facilitator, and Waldo Pauls, pastor of Grace Mennonite Church, regarding a new mission of the congregation.

Waldo: Grace is a church that has always seen itself on the cutting edge. When I came to Grace, it was to help the church to close with dignity.

In the summer of 2007, the discussion at that time was around giving the church building to another congregation. There were two sides with strong feelings.

This spring another congregation approached Grace and because of the work done in 2007, the congregation entered into a discussion.

Waldo: We have had a lot of surprises.

When I first came to Grace, I was told that they could hardly afford to keep a pastor. Now they support a music minister and the budget is healthy.

At an annual meeting, renovating the library was on the list of things to do. The library is in the foyer and the plan was to do away with it. This new congregation has asked if they could use the library as part of their space, thus revitalizing that area.

With a new group using the building, Grace Mennonite is able to stay with traditional music. The second service will be more contemporary with guitar and drums. The drums will be on the platform during our traditional service as well. Perhaps we wil camoflauge the drums initially with plants!

Waldo: I didn't expect to be as energized as I have been. We have approximately 60 people with an average age of 73. People who are older have tremendous energy and vitality. We have begun a breakfast at church to attract former members and people's grandchildren to come back.

With the new congregation, they have been operating for seven years and have baptized 120 people. We are expecting to be a part of this group as well. If God is blessing them in this way, we feel that God's blessing is going to energize us.

Question/Answer

Waldo - I think the greatest thing is that you have to love the people. If you love the people with integrity, and they see that, you can work together.