Issue 1199 – An Empty Church – July 20, 2023

We spent some touring Long Beach Peninsula yesterday. We spent some time on Klipsan Beach (part of Long Beach) and were blessed to see hundreds of pelicans fishing and resting on the shore. The beach by the pelicans was liberally littered with the carcasses of freshly devoured crabs. We also saw at least three species of gulls, crows, sandpipers and a bald eagle. As far as we could see, there were less than half a dozen people in either direction.

We visited historic Oysterville. Their website describes the community as “Oysterville is a historical community nestled into the Willapa Bay on the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington State. The once lusty boomtown of the mid-nineteenth century faded with the oyster population, leaving behind lovely homes and pioneer descendants, several of whom still own their ancestral properties.”

We did a quick driving tour through the town and were impressed. It definitely requires a more extended visit. “The Oysterville Church was a gift to the community from founder R.H. Espy, who donated the land and money for construction in 1892. Over a hundred years later, the picturesque little church of Oysterville continues to welcome visitors with open doors.”

The church is still open for tours, serves as a community centre, and offers vespers at 3PM on Sundays.

Even though the community is pretty much a ghost town, and the church only offers a short service on summer Sundays. It stands as a reminder of those who loved the Lord enough to erect the structure and serve Him there.

I don’t know where, or even if, the remaining residents go to church. There are plenty of options within a 15 or 20-minute drive throughout the peninsula. We will only know the local congregation’s impact when we get to glory throughout much of the world.

There are empty, abandoned and repurposed church buildings. Some succumbed to war or natural disasters. Others from changing economics and dying communities. Still, others were left behind when the congregation moved to larger facilities.

The building isn’t the church; it is simply a shell that serves the local congregation as a meeting place. If they could talk, all those empty, abandoned or repurposed shells could regale us with tales about lives changed and communities impacted. They will have seen people come to know the Lord, heard sermons preached, seen baptisms and ushered saints off to glory.

The Word of God does not return void, and where it was preached, the impact was felt. Only God will know of the fruit produced over the years, but He has been gloried.

Sometimes we bemoan the closing of a church building, the death of a local congregation or the split of a group. All those events have an element of sadness. Still, God remains sovereign, and nothing escapes His notice or falls outside His ultimate plan.

At times those events bring us to despair, and we begin to wonder if there is any hope left or if we are the last faithful ones left. That isn’t a new phenomenon.

On Mount Carmel, he faced the prophets of Baal with a knowledge of the Lord’s greatness but an overestimation of himself.

Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 

1 Kings 18:22

After watching the Lord work in undeniable ways and defeating the prophets, he lost his nerve and retreated. The Lord gave Elijah time for rest and restoration before sending him out again. When He did send him afield, he reminded Elijah that he wasn’t alone.

Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:18

The same is true for us. No matter how alone or isolated we may feel, regardless of the state of our local congregation, God has not abandoned us, and His work continues.

Take heart, my dear friends, you are a vital part of something eternally important, and you are far from being the last faithful one.

Be Blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV). 

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