I read that by some estimates, every day in the United States, nine churches shut their doors forever. On January 26, 2014, my church””the Reformed Church in Plano (RCP)””was one of them.
After hearing the news late last year, I cried during every worship service for six weeks straight. The music, a prayer, a line during the sermon, or a simple look around would trigger me, and the memories and tears would flow.
I wasn’t the only one. After-church hugs and chats lingered a bit longer each Sunday, as everyone comforted and supported one another.
“I still can’t believe this is happening,” someone would say. “Can’t we figure out a way to save our church?” said another. “I’m sorry, but I really think that (fill in person or circumstance here) is a lot to blame for this,” several people remarked. “What are we going to do? Where are we going to go?”