Unmissable Church is written by two Australian pastors, Richard Sweatman and Antony Barraclough. This fact alone tweaks my interest. In a world full of guidance and advice for church members and leaders, it is a delight to read something that is from my own country.
The subtitle is helpful too - "Why you need church and your church needs you". Living in an age where church attendance is generally sporadic and people wonder what they get out of coming to church, it is a good reminder that 'your church needs you'.
I mentioned research. While I could do my own, Barraclough has done the hard yards already in his doctoral level research on church attendance. This was centred around Sydney Anglican churches so some might think this is too narrow. As this group in many ways reflects my own, it is helpful to me. I am also assuming that this group - which takes the Bible very seriously - takes church attendance seriously. It might be that my assumptions are too generous.
The early chapters help to define what church is. These chapters are important reading for all of us as they help to point out, or remind us, what a church is supposed to be and achieve. Even a small church is a gathering of God's people, just as heaven will be a gathering of God's people.
The middle section of the book focuses on some of the reasons that people are inconsistent in attendance or stop coming to church all together. These chapters are helpful reading as I consider why some people aren't in church, and moaning about a lack of commitment might be completely wrong. Chapters six and seven deal with 'relationships' and 'mental health' respectively and highlight some aspects of life that I don't often consider, or at least don't have in front of my mind.
I am one who battles at times with mental health, or 'dark days' as I call them. On these days I would often be content to stay home, sit on the couch and just avoid people. But I can't do that. I'm the pastor and I have to get to church and be with these people. And while some days are difficult I can say how glad I am that I go to church even when I don't feel like it. There is something about being with God's people who are praying for me and who love me that spurs me on.
Chapter seven offers encouragement to the one dealing with mental health issues AND to the congregation.
The Bible's instruction to the church is not "let the fainthearted and the weak fend for themselves", but encourage and help them." p137
Chapters eight and nine bring us to consider our place in the church. It is good to be reminded of the value we find when we have the opportunity to serve others, and your church is a place where you can serve others. It is also good to be reminded that service doesn't mean your name is on a roster. You can serve others and encourage others simply by being there each week.
As a pastor, I can assure you that your presence matters more than you might possibly imagine.
Chapter nine spends time considering what the book of Hebrews teaches us about involvement and attendance at a local gathering. You might be surprised to learn just how much is to be found in Hebrews.
The book closes with four appendices. I found the 'practical tips for pastors' to be wise and helpful. Sometimes I need to be reminded to 'not tie my self-esteem as a pastor to the attendance of my flock.' (193)
The final appendix is timely and important but I confess I also find it distressing. This relates to the impact of Covid on Australian churches. It is timely and important because we need to reflect on the impact on our churches of Covid restrictions, lockdowns, mask and vaccine mandates etc. This appendix reminds us of a moment in history when church in person suddenly became church online, a time when we were all learning something new and dealing with the difficulties of it all.
I confess I also found this distressing as it was a period of church life that was difficult, and I'm not sure I want to think back on that time. Perhaps that's because I am in Victoria where we had the harshest lockdowns in Australia. This doesn't take away from the value of this appendix.
I highly recommend this book. Pastors, you should read this book to remind you that the lives of our church attenders is often very different to your own.
Church attenders should also read this book to remind you what church is, why we meet together, and why your attendance and absence makes an impact.
Perhaps we should all have a copy in our church library for people to read.
