It's Time to Heal

It was an ugly, heartbreaking split between two churches 50 years ago. I was too young to have any idea of what was going on—I just remember suddenly being in a new Sunday school class with some of my same friends from my old class. We were in a new, vibrant church with familiar people, and so the transition was pretty easy for me.

But as the years passed, I began to get glimpses of the hurt and pain that accompanied the split of one of the largest churches in town. I overheard critical comments. There seemed to be a competitive spirit at summer camp between my new and old churches. Although we would join together for a Thanksgiving service with churches of the same denomination, I always knew there were still hurt feelings between believers who were once considered close friends. Certainly, unity in the Body of Christ was not on display as the two churches struggled to co-exist in the same town.

Then about five years ago I received an invitation (as did hundreds of people) to return to the original church for a 125-year celebration. I learned the son of the original pastor was scheduled to speak (his father was no longer living). I knew this former pastor was the source of great controversy, but I also sensed in my spirit God wanted to start a work of healing. So I prayed—and then sent a letter to the son who was scheduled to speak. I acknowledged that our families probably landed on different sides of the issues, but that it really didn’t matter. I simply stated this was an opportunity for him to speak peace and healing into the church by somehow addressing the obvious lingering conflict.

I then prayed that God would use this celebration as a defining moment of restoration and reconciliation. I returned to my hometown to attend the celebration, believing that the Lord was prompting me to pray those prayers. Although I had wished for more, he did touch on the past and spoke to the need to move forward. I had to trust the Lord was at work in even that slight mention.

Now, five years later and at exactly the 50-year mark—God is truly answering those prayers! Just last Sunday night, there was a unanimous vote to bring the two churches together as one congregation. God has done a work of healing and restoration—something I wasn't sure I would ever see in my lifetime! But the people are genuinely ready to come together in a spirit of unity and forgiveness, with great hope for the future.

I can’t help but wonder if this is just a glimpse of what is coming in the Body of Christ. True revival includes reconciliation between brothers and sisters in Christ who have experienced hurt and division over the years.

If this can happen between two churches after 50 years, it can happen in any church, ministry, family, or situation. That’s what I’m praying toward—the revival and restoration of the Church that in turn ushers in spiritual awakening in our communities and nation. It’s time.