Embracing and Learning from Our History
As members of West End Baptist Church, our history is very much part of who we are today. Understanding and embracing our history can prepare and free us for our future ministry. Taking an honest look at our history will help us to decide what needs to be celebrated, what is valuable and needs to be carried forward, what is painful baggage that needs to be prayerfully left behind, and how we can best maximize for the future. A study of our history will help us see how God’s hand has been upon this church in the past and where he is leading us in the future. It will help us see the context in which we have ministered, and will help us to understand how that context has changed.
The “Time Lane” that has been placed in our hallways is designed to help us visualize our history. You are invited to add to the “Time Lane.” Write in your memories; add your baptism, marriage, or other significant personal events that have been part of your experience here. You may have pictures that you can add to the “Time Lane.” Maybe you have saved old clippings from a newspaper that you could add. You may also want to add some painful memories—times when we were not at our best.
Let’s get our story in front of us. In January the Transition Team will lead the church in another joint session where we will both celebrate our history and deal creatively and honestly with painful experiences that need to be turned over to God. Together we will find our way onto the path that God has ordained for us now and in the future.
