We live by the Animas River. Our city, congregation and home are all in the valley carved by this river. Once explored by the Spaniards, the story is told of a dispute that arose when the soldiers reached this beautiful mountain area. The commander ordered that they should return, but some wanted to go farther up the river in search of gold and fame. A small group disobeyed a direct order, went up the river and was never heard from again. Hence, the Spanish name for the “river of lost souls,” “El Rio de las Animas.” I do ministry by this river, and when you think about it, so do you. We are part of a battle for souls. God has provided guidance, and yet we have all rebelled. Fortunately, in Christ we have been baptized in a “river of life.” So why are there still so many lost souls and why does it seem that we care so little? For too long we in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have found comfort in the fact that every year we lose fewer members than some of the other main-line denominations. Evangelism is seen as something new and frightening. These attitudes can no longer be accepted if we are to live out the mission and vision that Christ has given the Church. We have distanced preaching and evangelism from each other. We have distanced evangelism from our main mission of the Church. We have come to expect that the only response to the sermons we hear is to “please stand and sing the next hymn.” What would it be like if one preached intentionally on the themes of evangelism? What if there were other ways to respond to a sermon that would motivate people to reach out? Would a congregation step out of its comfort zone and invite people to worship? By preaching themes of evangelism and providing an opportunity for individuals to affirm their baptism as part of a sermon, I believe our congregation has been empowered to invite others to worship. Please join me on this trip down the river as I share my experience at Christ the King Lutheran Church in the Animas River Valley, Durango, Colorado.
