Welcome Sandi Patty
(This article was written by Rev. Larry Davies, as a devotion, and has since been modified into a lesson on how to welcome new people to church.)
One of my favorite singers was Sandi Patty. Sandi had a voice that seemed to reach the stratosphere and her songs combined great melodies and beautiful lyrics of praise to God. Sandi disappeared from the Christian music scene for a few years as she struggled with a painful divorce. In her book, “Broken on the Back Row: A Journey through Grace and Forgiveness,” Sandi described an awful marriage, intense loneliness and many mistakes. Yet during the ordeal, she never completely walked away from God.
Patty did wonder if God still loved her. Sandi wanted and knew she needed to go to church but couldn’t face the pain. So, on Sunday morning, Sandi Patti, a world-renowned Christian singer stayed home. There are many like Sandi Patty: sincere in their belief in God but wondering if they could ever be worthy of going to church again. Would they be welcomed?
One Sunday, Sandi decided to go by herself and check out a church in another part of town. She quietly sat on the back row, scared someone would recognize her but looking to hear something hopeful that would help her find a way back to the church and to God.
As the service started, Sandi scrunched down in her pew so she wouldn’t be noticed. Maybe everyone would be so focused on talking to each other, they would miss seeing her. After the initial announcements, the minister said something that would change Sandi Patty’s life forever.
“If you’re visiting with us today, we’re so glad you’re here. There are people all around you that would like to know your name, if you want to tell them. We want you to know that the God we serve lives within these walls and outside these walls, too. But maybe you’ve been visiting with us this morning and you’re not ready to tell anyone your name. Maybe all you want to do is sit on the back row and cry. That’s OK. We want you to know that the God we serve knows how to find you. He hasn’t forgotten you. We serve the God of second chances of new beginnings. We serve the God who sets His children free.”
The minister would later say, he had no idea why he said those words and he certainly did not know Sandi Patty was sitting on the back row. Yet – those words of welcome and the welcoming spirit of that church enabled Sandi to once again renew her relationship with God and with the church.
How we welcome others whether into our home, at work, or at church, says a lot about who we are: Maybe you are part of a church looking to become more welcoming or maybe you are someone who is looking for encouragement to come back to God’s church. Please know that this message is for you.
“If you’re visiting with us today, we’re so glad you’re here. There are people all around who would like to know your name, if you want to tell them. We want you to know that the God we serve lives within these walls and outside these walls, too. But maybe you’ve been visiting with us this morning and you’re not ready to tell anyone your name. Maybe all you want to do is sit on the back row and cry. That’s OK. We want you to know that the God we serve knows how to find you. He hasn’t forgotten you. We serve the God of second chances of new beginnings. We serve the God who sets His children free.”
Many thanks to Rev. Larry Davies for sharing this story with us. Please share it will your pastor and observe it in your church. Members need to move around and sit in different seats every Sunday. We need to get to know our new folks and we need to be sensitive and allow them to “sit on the back pew and cry”. We need to be there when they are ready to talk and immerse themselves into the church – the Family of God. God calls us to be His hands and feet.
