Lesson learned

Yesterday we loaded up the family and headed out to a long awaited fun day-trip excursion. Our destination was Fontana Village North Carolina. We love this place. There is lots of family friendly stuff to do. Mini-golf, hiking, softball games, scavenger hunts for the kids, tennis, shufflebard, volleyball; but the thing that we were really looking forward to (with the record heatwave) was the waterslide and swimming pool.
We have gone to Fontana Village every summer (except maybe one) for the last 20 years. It had become a family tradition. The one thing we had noticed over the last several years is that the resort was showing some serious signs of age. It was sold to a new company a couple of years back, but they weren't maintaining things properly. Rather than repair things they would close them. First it was a cafeteria, then another restaurant, then the basketball courts. Year after year there were less and less people.
So yesterday we drove up to spend the day. We drove the 2 1/2 hour trip, looking forward to spending time by the pool and waterslide. When we arrived, we couldn't believe our eyes. The pool had been drained and the waterslide was shut down!
The place was like a ghost town. There were literally no cars in the parking lot but ours. This once thriving growing happy family destination had all but closed up. How sad.
We bought an ice cream and loaded back up and turned around and came back.
I thought about how this same thing happens many times in churches all across this country.
Many, at one time were growing, happening, relevant places that people looked forward to coming to, but over the years they didn't make adjustments. They hadn't made the necessary updates. The parking lots that were once full are now empty. The lobbies that were once filled with the sound of excited people, are now silent. They used to be a shining lighthouse in the community. Now they are barely a flashlight. How sad.
It doesn't have to be this way. God has called The Church to be hope of the world. Churches must be willing to make updates when it comes to the methods we use to reach people, while holding firmly to the message that we have been mandated to deliver.
From a physical appearance standpoint, facilites must be constantly cleaned, maintained and updated.
If churches are not willing to make the changes they will die a slow agonizing, pathetic death.