This or That?
Part 2
Why we have a “Sharing Time” at Turkey Run Mennonite Church in Logan, Ohio
The open sharing of testimonies, praise reports, and prayer requests has been a regular part of the faith family gatherings at Turkey Run as far back as can be remembered.
Located close to where Fairfield, Perry, and Hocking counties join, Turkey Run congregants have been meeting since Ohio became a state in 1803. Ellis Good, a grandson of one of the founders, was born in the early 1900’s and is remembered to have regularly shared encouraging testimonies, though not a preacher.
There are several reasons why the opportunity of sharing is important to us—one being the seeming trend of the modern church for less congregational participation. A leadership-team-driven mentality can create an atmosphere that makes one feel like worship is something to be observed rather than participated in. The current trend in worship music is another example of what can sometimes feel more like “performance” than “participation.”
Paul says in Romans 1:12 that in our gathering together we “may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (NIV).
Our physical presence is important, but the sharing of our joys, sorrows, and needs draws us closer together as a family. We have found that some children even feel comfortable to share what is on their hearts with the congregation. Children need to feel that they are an important part of the life blood of the church. That being said, there is a level of risk, which takes wisdom on the part of the one moderating.
The idea of church is to draw the congregation together as a family. Not only do we invite participation in sharing, but also in offering prayers for the things shared. With our lives being so busy and pulled in multiple directions, we believe public worship is an important time for congregants to connect as the Body. So, for the church at Turkey Run, with close to one hundred attendees, we cherish this time of open sharing.
Mike and Ruth Bender have served as the pastoral couple at Turkey Run Mennonite Church in Logan, Ohio, since 2006. Mike also worked in maintenance and production management at General Electric until retiring in 2018. Benders have nine children and are expecting their 19th grandchild.
Why we don’t have a “Sharing Time” at Maple City Chapel in Goshen, Indiana
Once upon a time…we had an open mic-sharing time. Congregants shared updates and prayer requests. While it provided a sense of care and community, there were both significant and cringe moments.
When I was a teen, such times often felt long and impersonal—like Aunt Mary sharing about her friend suffering from gallbladder complications, Mr. Yoder talking every time the mic was passed (which somehow always ended on politics), or the mysterious “unspoken” request. Five to ten minutes of sharing was often followed by a five-minute prayer detailing each request. (I know it was at least five minutes because I used to see how many times I could hold my breath. Don’t judge me too harshly!)
Authentic sharing and prayer provide opportunities to care for one another. As Maple City Chapel grew, we found several alternative ways to effectively meet this need. Small groups provide an intimate setting to share deeply with people who know us well and are invested in our lives. That just couldn’t happen as we grew to 300, 500, then 900.
On Sunday mornings, our Prayer Team stands ready for anyone who responds to the sermon or desires prayer. Our Intercessor Team meets weekly to pray for the church and each request that comes in. We also send out Care Notes, which are updates or immediate prayer concerns to those who are signed up to receive them.
With these approaches, not only are we better meeting many of these needs, we are freed to use our limited meeting time to build the Body and connect meaningfully with guests without making them feel like outsiders.
In today’s online world, privacy is also a factor. It is a priority for us to have a strong online presence. Most who visit Maple City first watched our services online. Do people want their personal prayer requests aired to the world?
Sharing needs and caring for each other will always be part of the church. How we achieve it sometimes changes. We have found what for us feels like a better way.
Todd Miller serves as Family & Group Pastor at Maple City Chapel in Goshen, Indiana. He and DeAnn have three sons, one daughter, and a new daughter-in-law. Previous ministry experiences include leadership at Bethel Camp, the SEND program of Rosedale International, and pastoral leadership of a Vineyard church.
3 Responses
We have 2 services in our church, with the 2nd hour live on FB. In our first hour service we do have a time of sharing prayer requests and joys. We also share with our Sunday School classes. I would not want to share my requests in the live feed on FB. There are times I share my concerns with the church and other times with my SS class. We also have a prayer chain that we can leave prayer requests on. I definately feel the size of the church makes a difference.
I suspect the size of the congregation may be the single greatest factor in the culture of a congregation.
Well said, my amazing son-in-law! Our church at Eden Mennonite, Inola provides this sharing time in our many Sunday School classes. You are right in saying that it brings us closer to share our needs with each other. Blessings as you continue to minister at Maple City!