By Dr. Johannah Myers
Connecting on the Messy Journey
This year, my church celebrated 10 years of Messy Church. As I looked back through the pictures, I couldn’t help but laugh about how wild those first few years were. I remember in the spring of 2013 hosting a dinner for key church leaders to “pitch” Messy Church – how did I even know what I was talking about?! I had a vague notion from some ex-pat friends living in England, a book I’d ordered (also from England), and a dream. Did I even have a clue? Ha! I also can’t help but remember how alone we were in those early years, trying to figure out what it meant to be Messy Church. When we started in 2013, there was no Messy Church USA, no trainings, no other Messy Churches anywhere close to us. We just figured it out as we went, praying that God would show up in the Mess. (Spoiler alert, God did.) I see as I look through the pictures and reminisce the ways we got Messy Church “right” and the ways we’ve grown into something deeper, better.
Because I know what it’s like to walk this Messy journey alone, I don’t take our Messy Church USA network for granted. Messy Church USA came along in 2017 and I’m so thankful for the connections I’ve made with other Messy Church leaders. Leaders across the country (and the world!) have inspired me, challenged me to grow, and encouraged me. I am privileged to walk alongside many of you as you begin your Messy journey. Some of my dearest friends have come through Messy Church.
Value of Messy Connection
The value of this Messy Church connection is one of the reasons I’m so excited about our national conference in April 2024. I look forward to reconnecting with Messy friends from across the country – many of whom I’ve only met online. I also look forward to new Messy connections. Even more, I’m excited to bring some of my local Messy Church team so that they can experience for themselves (instead of just vicariously through me) the joy of these Messy Church connections and be inspired by you all and your teams.
We say at every training we lead – get connected with Messy Church USA! This isn’t some ploy or marketing tool. Those of us who have walked this Messy journey alone know how much more fun and glorious – and well, Messy – it is to have friends walking with us. I hope you’ll join us in Northfield, Illinois this April (April 18-20, 2024) as we Celebrate the Mess.
Peace on the Messy path,
Johannah
