These are terms that I have been hearing a great deal about over the past few months.  My wife Holly and I are enjoying the blessing of being part of LifePath’s “Rooted in Stability” capital campaign (https://lifepathyork.org/2026-capital-campaign/) to raise awareness and funds to support a new facility in York City to serve those experiencing homelessness.  Our mission is to work with York County, Pennsylvania churches and their leadership to make them aware and seek their support of this endeavor.

The blessing is being a part of it.  The reward has been interacting with and getting to know many church leaders.  As we looked at the list of over 600 churches in York County, we first approached churches that we knew were thriving and growing, not only in size, but in their focus on outreach.  And in “capital campaigns,” this is what you do because the ultimate mission, in this case, is raising funds.  As Holly and I have engaged with these leaders, a word that we continuously have heard is how their churches are “connecting” with the community.  They are interested in what LifePath is doing, because they want “connections” with those who are seeking assistance.  They want to “connect” to agencies like LifePath Christian Ministries.  

Being intrigued, I have enjoyed researching many of these churches, visiting some of them as we can.  We attended a fundraising event at another York County church that is involved with us.  What I have found is that this idea of “Connecting” is a theme that is part of each of their church cultures.  Their ministries are all focused on how they can connect with folks, visitors, and those in their communities.  Watching many livestream services, I found validating evidence in their worship dialogs, “if you would like to connect, if you would like to connect with someone in prayer following the service, our Youth Group is connecting with their school communities…,” etc., etc., etc.

So, what is the big deal about being “connected?”  Is it simply a new buzz word – a new vibe that churches are playing up so that they grow?  Until I experienced it, I thought so.  But it truly seems to work.  The word “connected” is an adjective and the meaning that Cambridge & Collins dictionaries document in the context of what I have experienced is,

Connected;  adjective (FEELING):   feeling that you understand, like, and are interested in someone or something.  If one thing is connected with another, there is a link or relationship between them.

Buzzword or Biblical attribute of the church?  Does it matter?  I believe it does.  This past Sunday in my Sermon, I referenced a concept that I found in a book that I am reading, “Unreasonable Hospitality, The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect,” by Will Guidara.  Not a book about church, or Christianity.  A book about how to treat people.  In an interview question, Guidara asks the question, “What’s the difference between service and hospitality?”  The answer… “Service is black and white; hospitality is color.”  “Black and white” means you’re doing your job with competence and efficiency; “color” means you make people feel great about the job you’re doing for them.  …Genuinely engaging with the person you’re serving, so you can make an authentic connection—that’s hospitality.”

Wow, there’s a lot in that quote!  As a faith community, do we live this out?  I focused on the elements of this quote in worship, but as I continue to ponder this, I believe there is something much more important in Guidara’s quote than the “what” it is we do.  He references the term “serving.”  And I again needed to ponder this a bit.  Do we come to church to “serve.”  Do the majority of folks attending church services come with the idea that as Children of God, our witness may be in the fact that we are called to “serve others?”

As I was pondering this, I was looking at my LinkedIn feed and even there was an article on “Connection.”  It was an article about Chick-fil-A.  “The Secrets Behind Chick-fil-A’s Success #2:  Connection.”  Oh my, this “connection” stuff seems to be everywhere!  In the article, it states that:

— Customer satisfaction is not customer loyalty.
— Satisfaction means the transaction went well.
— Connection is what gives people a reason to return.

If our church services on Sunday go well, we may satisfy those in attendance.  We can surely say that our service “went well.”  But, when we see that many folks who share how much they liked being here don’t return, might we question, “did we connect with them?”  How did we serve them?  Did they feel great about what we provided for them?  Do we engage with those that God sends through our doors?  Do we give those who visit our church a reason to return, or, do we simply provide a good transaction?

I recently challenged some of the leaders in the church I serve about starting new programs and initiatives focused on families in our community.  In our discussions, it was stated that these are difficult as “children and young families are not coming to church anymore.”  The statistics seem to support this.  On top of that, “we just don’t have enough folks interested in supporting this type of programming.”  That is a sobering and kind of depressing reality… or is it a perception?  Holly and I are experiencing something much different in the York County churches we are engaging.  Significant growth, many new families and young adults seeking a place to “get connected.”  Many are doing their own capital campaigns to expand their facilities and build new campuses in an attempt to meet these needs.  They feel a calling to serve their communities as the need they are experiencing is real.

And I believe it comes with their desire to fulfill what Jesus states is the greatest commandment.   “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  (Greatest Commandment, John 13:34-35), I don’t think He was talking about simply hugging each other and being kind to one another.  He was talking about engaging with one another, meeting one another’s needs, and providing “unreasonable hospitality” (See Acts 2:42-47 as well). 

I think a worthwhile consideration for our lives as Children of God-Christians,  are we living a “Black & White” Christianity, or are we living a “Color” Christianity that meets the tenets of the Greatest Commandment?  Are we satisfied with simply meeting the expectation of attending a Sunday morning worship service, or do we want to engage with folks, make authentic connections, and make others feel great about what we are doing for them.  Are we a “consumer-minded” church, or a “serving-minded” church?  Are the indications that we are providing “worship,” “a reason to return,” or both? 

Connect, Connected, Connections.  What do you think?

Peace and Blessings,
~ Pastor Dave Kominsky