First Baptist Church of Herndon

Age and Identity

Linda Soller | Nov 18, 2024

Recently our congregation met to discuss our church’s identity as part of the process of finding the right new pastor. One of the terms selected was diverse. We went on to say we are diverse in – age, race, nationality, socio-economic standing, and religious heritage.  The following weekend we celebrated four special birthdays. The four members are 92, 93, 94, and 105 years young. I kid you not. All four are examples of living life well.

But this week I want to look at age from another perspective. In the prior meeting on November 10, I was so encouraged to see members of all ages sharing ideas. While there were many views of our church’s identity, in the end we were able to agree. I have to admit that agreeing on the top three was our goal. It wasn’t magic. On the other hand, it was surprising how close the answers from the different tables of people came to each other. Could it be that our community of faith has learned to see beyond the age of a person? Have we learned how to recognize what is important to our church as a whole? I think both statements are accurate, and I would add there is always room to grow.

If a church is going to flourish (however you define flourish) the church has to value all of its members. Neglecting the old, ignoring the young adults, or any other age driven action can prove detrimental to the well-being of a congregation. Just as in a family, each member is a contributor. You may not always like the contributions, but they are part of the whole family story. It was with this on my mind that I so appreciated the creative energy in our meeting. It was noisy and chaotic and wonderful.

First Baptist Church of Herndon is an old church. We could have selected that word “OLD” as part of our identity, but we did not. We have the hope and energy of a young church, the experience of years to guide us, and the promise of change in our future. I don’t think age or old will ever be a good descriptor for our church’s identity.

Be kind, be brave, have faith!  : )   Linda