There is a new report from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Perhaps you saw it in yesterday's Atlanta Journal and Constitution or USA Today. The report disclosed that for the first time in the history of the United States, Protestants are now in a minority, representing 48% of the adult population. Perhaps you have noticed that this report comes at a time when there are no Protestants on the Supreme Court and the Republicans have their very first presidential ticket with no Protestants. (Technically speaking, Lutherans are not Protestants, but the demographic people, not knowing any better, lump us in with them.)

Now for many, this is a sound of alarm. Organized religion continues to lose traction with the public. Some 20% of Americans say that they have no religious affiliation, which is a 33% increase from five years ago when 15% reported no affiliation. At the same time more and more people, when asked if they are atheists or just secular respond by saying "I am not religious but I am spiritual." No one quite knows what "I am spiritual" really means. It seems to vary from person to person, but what it does mean is that traditional church membership is still falling.

Continuing the focus from last week, it is important for us to remember that Jesus never called us to make "members." He does instruct us to announce the good news of his death and resurrection, bring healing and hope to the world, proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins to all, and to make disciples. Those who study mainline congregations continue to tell us that mainline congregations do a fairly good job with the announcing part and perhaps have some good outreach initiatives to the poor and suffering, but that mainline congregations simply do not do well in making disciples - that is, passionate followers of Jesus. Those congregations who somehow have figured out how to make disciples are flourishing.

It all begins with worship. One cannot fall in love with Jesus without worshipping him. One cannot be grasped by the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection without worship that is consistently excellent in being compelling and in offering the alternative future and life God has opened up for us. Liturgy matters. What we say and do in worship matters. We also know that the Word and the Sacraments have power of their own to change us. Yet, in this day and age, rarely is worship alone enough for one to reorient one's life and become a follower of Jesus. It takes mentors.

The transformation that has been ongoing at Epiphany is due to a consistent focus on three congregational reorientations. One of them is this: Moving from program development to people development. In short, investing in people is necessary in order to forge disciples. It is also Biblical. Jesus invested in the twelve, even though Judas didn't "get" it. Paul invested in Barnabas and Silas. Philip invested in the Ethiopian eunuch.

Investing in people is not only spending time with them and teaching them. It is also showing them - mentoring them - in how to be a disciple. It is to demonstrate forgiveness, to exhibit hope and faith in difficult times, to be generous in tough economic times, to show a reordering of life and priorities so that one's life reflects the life to which Jesus calls us. Just opening a Bible and teaching biblical principles or even gathering in a small group will not forge disciples. It takes intentionality and investment. If transforming people into the children of God for which we were created could be done simply by sharing information, then God could have just sent us a fax. Instead he sent us Jesus.

Perhaps the greatest manifestation at Epiphany of mentoring is among our youth ministries - CIA and Real Time. CIA guides intentionally invest in a small group of kids for a period of three years, and the relationship lasts beyond the intentional period. Adults invest in our high school kids and teach them how to be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus in the world, specifically in Haiti.

This coming weekend, 36 of us - youth and adults - will be away on retreat at Camp Lutheridge in the mountains of North Carolina. The theme is "Being the Heart, Hands, and Feet of Christ." This is not a getaway weekend. It is a weekend of investment. It is to walk alongside our young people with all the issues that they face and together discern what it might mean to be the heart, hands, and feet of Christ in their schools, families, and the greater Suwanee area. It is sacred and necessary work.

Pray for our youth and for their mentors this weekend.

God loves you and I do too!

Pastor Rick

pastorrick@epiphanysuwanee.org