NEXT STEPS

Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen Taylor and Joe Sutphin is a child-friendly, illustrated adaptation of John Bunyan's classic allegory of the Christian life- the challenges and the victories. This book was one of my childhood favorites. I remember vividly the chapter in which Christian discovers that the path to the Celestial City leads straight through a dark forest. He hesitates to enter, realizing that the thick foliage will quickly darken the path he needs to follow. The sun is setting, adding to the darkness of the path ahead. Christian looks for a way around the forest but finds none. So, with fear and trepidation, Christian follows the path, walking all night in darkness, one step at a time, until finally he emerges from the forest just as the sun is coming up. Christian looks back at the path he has just trod, now lit by rays of sunlight. He discovers that on one side of the path is a sheer cliff dropping off into a deep chasm. On the other side of the path is the forest full of wild animals ready to devour. One wrong step… one wrong step… Christian realizes that one wrong step would have meant his demise. He wonders who guided his feet to stay on the path.

When I think back to our journey as a church through the Pandemic years, it feels like Christian’s Forest experience. So many dangers. So many questions. So many decisions that had to be made quickly. So many depending on the leadership of our church to make good decisions during those dark days. As I look back, I can see the chasm on one side and the forest full of predators on the other. Yet, during those days, I could only see the step right in front of us. I felt the danger then, like those moments that make your stomach clench and your hands grow clammy. But it wasn’t until we emerged from those days that I could look back and see in detail how a misstep could derail our ministry and leave us limping into our next chapter. While I marvel at dangers avoided during those days, I recognize with you the One who guided us one step at a time.

We made many prayerful decisions during those Pandemic years to enable our faith community to continue in worship and in service. Those changes were made to keep our ministry thriving even as our nation struggled: worship style… worship time… digital communication over paper… online streaming… zoom meetings and Bible studies… a weekly Pastor’s Letter… and so many more. Many of those changes have become a part of our life together. At the beginning of 2025, the Elders decided that the time had come to evaluate the ministry, to consider the changes that have come by necessity, to determine whether our current pattern of ministry allows us to thrive into the next chapter. In other words, we want to look back at our journey through the forest to decide if who we became is who we need to be in the next years of our life and ministry together.

The Elders contracted the Center Consulting Group, based in Dublin, PA, to do Phase I- an assessment of the health of our church. Interviews were conducted, surveys compiled, and a report written to highlight the strengths, challenges and opportunities of our church. On Sunday, September 28th, Phase II began. The faith community of Lenape Valley was invited to gather in Fellowship Hall to dream together, allowing God’s good plan to bubble up through the priesthood of believers. Over 90 people shared in that visioning event. Four generations (youth, young adults, young parents, empty-nesters, grandparents, great grandparents) gathered to imagine God’s good next steps for Lenape Valley. The walls of Fellowship Hall were decorated with colorful Post-its expressing ideas, hopes, and concerns. Every comment was transcribed for the Elders to consider. Not one comment was lost in the shuffle.

Then each table discussed the opportunities that Lenape Valley should focus on in the next few years. When table leaders shared the thoughts of their team, quickly themes emerged as God’s good plan began to take shape. Those opportunities will be gathered and communicated to the Elders for their consideration. Now, the Elders will work to form a Strategic Plan to target the most important opportunities that emerged from Phase I and II to allow Lenape Valley to be faithful and effective in the years ahead. We want God to move and shape our ministry so that we are His instrument of grace in the world God so loves. Please hold our Elders in prayer as they take the next step, leading our church as they follow the Savior.

With you in prayer,
Anita