Communities that are Mainstreet Communities must, in order to continue to access the resources of that organization, evaluate each activity they are a part in order to decide what worked and what didn't. It is Mainstreet's way to force communities to look at each program, causing them to look at what worked and what didn't; to repeat what worked and to not repeat programs that failed to meet goals. When a program works, it is written up with full details on why it worked and is then passed along to other Mainstreet communities. On our Program Ideas page on this CACMS web site we would like to pass along information about programs and activities that went well with full information. I'm hoping if you have some successes, you will pass along the information so we can post it for others to duplicate in their church.

When a Mainstreet program does not work, is not successful it is a more difficult process. It sometimes means admitting that what seemed like a good idea was not and that it should not be repeated. The temptation, when a program fails, is to make excuses for the failure and to do it again. We find the same thing happening in our churches. Before Christmas is too far past, may I encourage you to take a look back on the activities and programs you had at your church. What were the goals of the program? Were they met? What did you want to accomplish with it. Did you? Who was it meant to serve? Did it? Repeat it next year? What would you do differently to better meet the goals; to serve those it was meant to serve? What could you have differently in the planning process? Could it be so simple as starting earlier or getting more people involved? Who was not served? Why? What might have been done to include them or to meet their needs?

There is a lot of talk these days about communicating with the unchurched. The discussions center on vocabulary and the way we use words. It is indeed important that we make sure people understand what is being said. For instance, a favorite hymn talks about being "washed in the blood of the lamb." I'm not suggesting that we do away with the words of that hymn but it is important that it doesn't give the wrong message especially in this day where so many people seem to dwell on the dark side of life. Click here to take a lighter look at this subject.

My mother is in a nursing home. For a time my best friend was in the same nursing home. One night I stopped by to see both of them. Mom told me how bland their supper had been - no flavor to it. When I sat down with Carolyn she said she was surprised that they would serve such a highly seasoned supper to seniors who had sensitive stomachs. Had mom and Carolyn both eaten at the same place? I checked - indeed they had both eaten the same thing for dinner.

Why do I tell this story? Well, for one thing I think it is a fun one to tell - I got such a kick out of it when it happened. That cook at Good Sam could not have done it right no matter how she tried. Yesterday something happened that brought the story to mind. I visited mom late yesterday and she handed me the Review - our local weekly newspaper - and said "It didn't take me much time to read it - not much in it." The Review has new owners so I came home, settled down with my supper and started to read. I got done with my supper and was still reading. I found some great articles and interesting information. For mom, it was a bland newspaper. For me, it was highly seasoned. Now first of all, do we see a trend here - mom and bland? :-) We'll leave that for another time. The Review had been owned by my friend Carolyn. When she died, her daughter and a friend of her daughter took over the daily running of the paper. They are not only another generation but much different in style and temperment. To keep the subscription base, they need to have a paper - well, like my mom was looking for. To build the subscription base, they need some of the things of interest to me - and some things that are not of interest to either my mother or me but those younger than both of us.

You may still be asking "Why do you tell this story?" These are two wonderful examples of what we face in our church planning, in our church ministries, in our worship. A worship service that may be bland for one may be highly seasoned for another. How do you serve them all - or should you even try? Many churches I'm sure have had this discussion. Regretfully, it has lead to splits in churches. In a less dramatic result, it may just mean that some people just do not have the worship experience they are in need of. For several years our home was a three generation household - my mother, in her 70s; my son, in his teens; myself, somewhere inbetween. My son loved hard rock and I could get him to listen to DC Talk. My mom found comfort in the traditional hymns she could sing by heart - without having to hold a heavy hymnbook. Me, I do like contemporary Christian music but I also love the great hymns of the church. I admit the only thing I found acceptable in DC Talk was that my son would listen to it.

What kind of music should we have experienced at our worship services? The same questions can be asked about the order of worship or the formality or freestyle of the worship. For a large church the solution may be several worship services, lots of Sunday School classes and Bible Studies. A small church doesn't really have that option. And I am thankful for that. In a small church we have the opportunity to build the whole body of Christ - not put each part of that body in a box. We get to learn to appreciate and respect each other and each other's preferences. We understand that some people actually enjoy quiet music or music played on an organ and others like to "rock!" Sometimes people can have praise and worship without a praise team and other times a praise team can send someone from a service with a zeal to go out and tell the good news to someone who needs to know our Savior. Sometimes the calm of one of the Psalms can impact a person's life and sometimes a comedy routine well illustrates a Biblical concept.

To big a job? You are probably on this page because you are looking for resources to help you do the job before you. The task may seem too big, too overwhelming. The following was circulating on the web and I thought it might be an encourager as you look for the resources you need.

Moses and the people were in the desert, but what was he going to do with them? They had to be fed, and feeding 2 or 3 million people requires a lot of food. According to the Quartermaster General in the Army, it is reported that Moses would have to have had 1500 tons of food each day. Do you know that to bring that much food each day, two freight trains, each a mile long, would be required! Besides you must remember, they were out in the desert, so they would have to have wood to use in cooking the food. This would take 4000 tons of wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, just for one day. And just think, they were forty years in transit. And, oh yes! They would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes, it would take 11,000,000 gallons each day, and a freight train with tank cars, 1800 miles long, just to bring water! And then another thing! They had to get across the Red Sea at night. (They did?) Now, if they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and would require 35 days and nights to get through. So, there had to be a space in the Red Sea 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5000 abreast to get over in one night. But then, there is another problem. Each time they camped at the end of the day, a campground two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island was required, or a total of 750 square miles long...think of it! This space just for nightly camping. Do you think Moses figured all this out before he left Egypt? I think not! You see, Moses believed in God. God took care of these things for him. Now do you think God has any problem taking care of all of our needs?