The Ones That Got Away...
Nothing’s more frustrating to a fisherman than the one that got away. To feel the thrill of the tug on the line, to hear the spin of the reel, to catch a glimpse of him in the sunlight as you’re reeling him--- only to have him come off the hook before you can get him into the boat!
For fishers of men, this is happening more and more.
According to a 2009 online survey of Chattanooga area residents, 87% of the respondents indicated they had made a commitment to Christ at some time in their life. Extrapolated to the population, this represents 93,000 people between the ages of 15 and 60.
Of those who had at some point shown an interest in serving Christ, nearly half (or 46,500) had not attended church anywhere in more than a year, nor had they taken their 13,500 children under 15.
For someone who grew up near the banks of the Tennessee River, these are not just statistics. For me it’s personal. I’m going home to go after the ones that got away.
The lures that existing churches are using are not working anymore. It’s time to go back to the tackle box and try something new. It’s time to think like fish. According to the survey, people cited four main reasons they no longer attend church:
- Church is boring
- People are fake
- Teaching doesn’t speak to my life
- Too judgmental
A church going after “the ones that got away” will have to address these issues. RiverSong will seek to be a place where people who are attracted to Jesus won’t be turned off by his church.
The downtown Chattanooga/ North Shore area has seen revitalization and growth over the past 10 years stemming from the addition of the Tennessee Aquarium. Homes are being renovated; new homes, town houses, and apartments are being built around a community filled with restaurants and small businesses. Perched on the bank of the Tennessee River, Coolidge Park offers a picturesque setting for families to picnic, walk the dog, ride the carousel, or enjoy an ice cream cone. With the University of Tennessee @ Chattanooga just across the river, this area offers a cultural diversity and post-modern flavor attractive to young families. This is quickly becoming the hip new place to live in Chattanooga. The only thing this area lacks is a restoration church presence that is designed to meet her spiritual needs--RiverSong!