Look for the Faithful Helpers
By Glenna Marshall
I walked into church that Sunday with low expectations. It was summertime. It was vacation season, camping season, traveling sports team season. And attendance that Sunday morning reflected all of those things. The pews were markedly bare, and I was discouraged for my husband who had worked hard on his sermon all week. I noted the empty pews and the people who hadn’t filled them in a while. Distracted and discouraged, I barely acknowledged the people who were present, who had come to worship the Lord, who sang and served and loved and listened and gave and encouraged. I left church that day disheartened by the absences and oblivious to the presence of the faithful.
When your life revolves around local church ministry, it’s tempting to focus only on the church members or attenders on the fringes of church life. We invite, encourage, pray, remind, and at times lovingly confront those who have covenanted to be a part of the local church but are resistant to being an active part of the family of God. It is necessary for us to go after the sheep who wander, who are discouraged, who fight the comfort and discipleship that fellowship and teaching can provide. It is right for us to seek those who seem reluctant to join us. When we’ve tasted and seen the sweetness of the church for our spiritual growth, we can’t help but want for others to pull up a seat at the feast of corporate worship and encouragement. However, those of us in ministry must also take notice of the faithful members who show up week after week to worship, give, serve, and love. In going after the “fringe folks,” we must be careful not to overlook the gifts of faithfulness before us.
You’ve probably heard the famous Mr. Rogers quote regarding emergency situations: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” I sometimes consider that advice when I walk into church on a Sunday and feel discouraged by low attendance or when the faithful 20% of the church show up to do 100% of the work at an outreach event. In my flesh, cynicism wells up in complaints that I voice to the Lord: “Why is no one here?! Why are we the only ones invested in this church?” But, if I will look around, I’ll notice that it’s a gross overstatement to say that “no one is here” or that “we’re the only ones invested.” Even when the numbers were low during some of our more difficult years of church ministry, there were always others ministering alongside my husband and me. There were faithful members who quietly showed up whether or not I stopped to appreciate their presence.
In Colossians 4, Paul mentions several fellow ministers as he closes out his letter to the church in Colossae. He names folks like Epaphras, Tychicus, Onesimus, and Nympha, reminding the Colossians of their faithful work in serving the church. Perhaps the recipients of his letter needed to be reminded of these faithful workers for the kingdom of God. Whenever I see the names of particular people in Paul’s letters, I take notice. These brothers and sisters served the Lord in their local church, largely in anonymity. For some, we know only their names and that Paul mentioned them in connection with his ministry. Nympha hosted a church in her home in Laodicea—and that’s all we really know about her. But her faithfulness was important to the kingdom work of building up the local church. Our churches are full of Nymphas—members who are faithfully involved even if no one notices.
From where I sit at the piano every Sunday morning during the music, I can do a quick scan over the congregation. Certainly, I still notice the ones who don’t show up. I make note of who probably needs a text, call, or note of encouragement. But, I’m trying to notice the Epaphrases, the Nymphas, the Tychicuses, too. I praise God for Barry and Matt and Addie who dutifully cleaned the bathrooms and swept the floors in the sanctuary this month. I’m grateful for Doc and Cheryl who come early to make the coffee every Sunday. For Ruth who has many health problems but shows up whether or not she’s in pain. I appreciate Tyrone’s efforts to keep the grass mowed around the building and for Lucas’s work to direct parking at our small neighborhood property each Sunday. I notice Dora’s faithfulness to come to Bible study no matter what, Lana’s generosity in hosting a mentoring group in her home, Lisa’s exuberance to learn as much as she can from Scripture, Marilyn’s steady stream of letters and phone calls to encourage members individually. If I will look for the faithful helpers, their presence will encourage me.
The Lord loves His church, and He uses all kinds of people in all different ways to comfort, encourage, exhort, and serve. If your discouragement over absences or lack of involvement is coloring the way you view your church family, ask the Lord to help you look for the faithful helpers. Their presence will encourage you. The body of Christ is made up of ordinary people whose names will likely not be remembered a hundred years from now. But God sees them, and so should we.
Glenna Marshall is married to her pastor, William, and lives in rural Southeast Missouri where she tries and fails to keep up with her two energetic sons. She is the author of The Promise is His Presence: Why God is Always Enough (P&R) and Everyday Faithfulness: The Beauty of Ordinary Perseverance in a Demanding World (Crossway).