An inspiring letter from East Goshen Friends Messy Church in Beloit, OH
January 23, 2022
Hi Roberta,
I just returned from our January Messy Church and my heart is so full! I have to share!
Our wee rural church has been slowly declining in attendance over the years. And sadly, we have a few hold-out members who are reluctant to change. However, our leadership realizes that Messy Church has been the single most effective ministry we have shared to reach existing and new families. Leaning into where God is moving, we have chosen to hold Messy Church once a month on Sunday mornings in place of our traditional service. And He has met us at each Messy Church with families and children who would otherwise not have come.
For this particular January Sunday, we had planned the Messy Church title “Celebrating Small” based on the March 2022 session in the Get Messy! magazine. The night before, the chicken tenders were ordered, meal prepped (except for the veggies, which I forgot to do until Sunday morning) messy materials gathered, tables set, and volunteers secured. And then, Sunday morning we were hit with SNOW! I knew there was about an inch forecasted, but now the weather man was saying 6 inches! On our rural Ohio roads – No! Now, what to do? Surely, NO ONE would want to venture out in this! Cancel the chicken? Reschedule? Wait until next month? I called our Pastor to see what he wanted to do. How would we let everyone know? What if someone finally decided that this would be the day they would come only to find no one there? Gulp. So… we determined to stay on course and see what happens.
I am blown-away by God’s goodness! He continues to show us, tiny bit by bit, that Messy Church is the change to support the growth we desire and need. From the small, may His Kingdom grow!
Will a snowstorm stop Messy Church?
Well…the roads got increasingly treacherous (like cars in the ditch treacherous) by the time 10:30 rolled around. But slow and steady got myself and all of our volunteers there just fine. And greeting me as I trudged through the snow (veggies in tow) was a car full of kids we hadn’t seen in a month unloading from their grandpa’s car. Followed by a young family of 6. Then a grandmother and grandkids. A neighbor… A returning visitor from the Sunday before who also brought along her sister this time. A mother and daughter. And a good handful of our faithful church family.
Messy Activities
We had a vibrant celebration with young and old acting out the wee mustard seed growing into a full-fledged tree and home. We sang of the power of small faith with the kids joining our praise duo on the stage. “Messy Church is my favorite kind of church.” said one little girl. The others around her chimed-in their agreement. We painted crazy trees, created seed-scapes of peace, made mustard seed prayer jars, batted birdies into their nests, and built an indoor treehouse (“Oh, Yay! I wanna do that!” said one little boy with his brothers).
Messy Church is my favorite kind of church
A little girl attending Messy Church
The Messy Meal
And finally, my husband arrived with the chicken, flying in at 20 MPH, as opposed to the usual 55 MPH! We broke bread and shared our lives together. One young family, expressed that Messy Church is the only church they feel comfortable attending with their “crazy boys” (Whom we love!).
37 Beautiful people of all ages worshiping and growing in faith together on a day when NO ONE would dare. I don’t know why I ever doubt the course I know is His. I am blown-away by God’s goodness! He continues to show us, tiny bit by bit, that Messy Church is the change to support the growth we desire and need. From the small, may His Kingdom grow!
Thank you for all you do to lead and support Messy Church USA!
Love,
Samantha Hofmann
East Goshen Friends Church
You can read more about East Goshen Friends Messy Church here.