Unchurched Friend # 4 Interview

This interview was with Erin, a Catholic by faith, who admits she hasn't been to church in years. She is also a housekeeper and has four children, ages 13, 11, 4, and 2.

1) What do you think is the greatest need in your area?

Something for kids to do. More community involvement for the kids. There's nothing around here for kids to do.

2) Are you actively attending any church?

No.

3) What are a few issues or topics that impact/interest you?

Children. My children. They're my life. I like to read a lot. I like to read anything, as long as it's well written.

4) Why do you think most people don't attend church?

I think a lot of people have lost faith in God.

I made a comment about people maybe needing to be in church in order to receive faith. Erin got this funny look on her face, like a lightbulb went off, and she agreed, that might be true.

5) If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things would you look for?

Acceptingness. Welcoming (We grew up going to Annunciation and they're snooty about the way you dress. I haven't been back because of it). What religion it is.

6) What advice can you give to pastors who really want to be helpful to people?

Talk to the people; not just during the sermon, but afterwards. Be involved in their lives...not just when they go to church.


After interviewing Erin, my first thought was that she didn't have too much to say and I wasn't sure if I would be able to write too much about what she DID say. However, in thinking back about the interview, there was a lot communicated without words...

Erin was the only person I interviewed who was immediately willing to BE interviewed. She agreed without hesitation; without getting "puffed up" in any way. It seemed as though she was doing it with a servant's heart (I don't know quite how to express the attitude she conveyed when she agreed)...It was as though she was doing it because it was something that was expected of her and part of her job, but she was also putting aside her own need to finish what she was doing in order to satisfy my need to interview someone. If someone had spilled something on the floor and I had asked her if she could mop it up, her type of response and willingness to respond would have been the same. I guess the way she responded makes me think about the passage of scripture (I had to look it up, it's Philippians 2:3-4) that says: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." It made me start thinking about that kind of an attitude and what makes us good (or not-so-good) servants when it comes to serving God. It's an area I want to contemplate a while longer...

In reviewing Erin's answers, and in reading between the lines, you can see that she might have that same mindset at home: her concern is for her children (and other kids in the community) and their needs. She's aware of injustice (is that the word I want? Maybe condemnation or judgement. Hurtfulness.), even within the body of Christ, when others look down on you because something about you is different or not up to their standard. It makes me wonder with what measure they will be measured? Or with what measure I might be measured? It makes me wonder if I might have carelessly said or done something that ended up keeping someone out of church or away from God? That's a scary thought(God, forgive me if I have)!

There also seems to be a misconception among alot of people that God is Catholic (or Methodist or Lutheran or whatever or a Republican or...) and if you're a catholic, that's your free ticket into heaven. I don't remember reading that in my Bible...I just remember reading that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." It isn't our good deeds that get us to heaven. It's Jesus' good deeds that gets us there.

Erin also seems as though she would like to be pursued. To have someone (pastor, priest, God? Someone. Anyone...)show her that they think she's worth enough to take an active interest in, outside the church setting. In church, there is a certain (distant?) relationship that is expected with the people there; but is that where the relationship stays? Is it only good for church on a Sunday, or is she worth more than that? Is she worth pursuing and building relationship with? Is the Bride of Christ worth wooing? I am, for whatever reason, reminded of Abraham's servant who was charged with going out and getting a wife for Abraham's son, Isaac. We are God's servant in this same respect, charged with going out and getting the Bride for God's son, the Bridegroom. God, the Father, sends the Holy Spirit out before us, just as the angel went out before the servant of Abraham, in order that he would have success in his mission. And just as the servant of Abraham was given all kinds of good things from his master in order to woo Rebekah, God also gives us all kinds of gifts in order to woo the Bride He has in mind for His Son. We are only released from pusuit of that particular "bride" if they are unwilling to come. Are we willing to be that kind of servant?