Dealing With the Division

Dearest Rachel –

As much as there were mixed emotions involved with our church’s expansion to multiple locations, it didn’t faze us as much as it could have. Sure, we wouldn’t see certain people at the original location on the same weekly basis as we used to, since we were moving over to attend the new place. But there were other weekly activities that brought us back to the flagship, such as our work in Awana and Sparks, so we would still see some of them (in fact, when the announcement came out last night, some of them actually wondered if the new location would have any staff at all; our regular presence there caused them to conclude that everyone was still attending the original location at one service or another). So we weren’t completely separate from those at the main campus.

That’s about to change.

I suppose it was inevitable. The number of kids showing up each week is starting to get unwieldy (“starting to”? It’s been the biggest handful we’ve ever have to deal with since the first night of this season). It’s getting to the point where parents actually get here, look at the completely full parking lot, and just drive away (although, considering that Daniel and I park on a cross street on the other side of the main road, that really shouldn’t be an excuse. And for that matter, can’t the kids be dropped off, and the parents go on their merry way for an hour and a half? But maybe times have changed since I was a clubber – heck, they’ve changed since Daniel was a clubber), and we can’t have that.

So, starting in January – in the middle of the school year, no less – we’re breaking up the whole operation between the Des Plaines and Randhurst campuses, in order to give the kids, parents and the campuses a little extra breathing room, as well as the chance to potentially grow that much further. Assuming that the population splits fifty-fifty between the locations, this would free up loads of space in Des Plaines, as well as possibly attracting volunteers to the Randhurst location for whom Des Plaines was a drive too far to deal with (and in any event, we almost had enough volunteers to start with).

Of course, that quite the assumption. Even from a cursory assessment of the team, most of the more specialized volunteers (dealing with games, like Daniel, and registration, like myself) will be transferring over; while the odds of obtaining new, more generalized leaders should be relatively easy at the new location, finding these specialized positions at the flagship location (where, presumably, everyone who can volunteer already is volunteering in one capacity or another). I’m not saying it can’t be done – over the course of the last decade, I’ve learned just how unwise it is to claim that about anything (especially when it comes to doing God’s work) – but it’s going to be more than challenging to coordinate.

And on the subject of coordination… I was somewhat concerned when I heard that the clubs would be held at the same time and day as each other. While I realize that not everybody could do it, I’m pretty sure that Daniel and I could swing both locations if they were to have scheduled one on the traditional Monday night, and the other on, say, Tuesday or Thursday (the latter, of course, meaning that we would have to reschedule our dinner night at the folks’ going forward, but of all people to understand that, they would be the first); maybe we aren’t even the only ones who could do it. But if they’re both being held on Monday night, as per usual at Des Plaines, well… that’s not an option. We go one place or the other, and that’s effectively the end of it.

And this is the most difficult part of this, and why I bring up the initial creation of the additional locations in the first place. When we left for the new campus, we knew we would be back to the flagship – not just as an occasional visit, but as a regular part of our service. We wouldn’t be leaving the folks in Des Plaines behind, as we would be spending at least one night a week over there throughout the course of the school year. But now, that will no longer be the case. We’re being divided up that much further, and more permanently, with this new plan. I don’t know what to make of it, nor does Daniel, who admits to being more shaken by it than the original separation, as well. We’ll be leaving behind old friends in a way that just attending weekend services didn’t divide us over.

Perhaps I’m too busy staring at the axe in the rafters; you’ll have to forgive me for it, as its existence has just been pointed out to me, and it’s the one bit of news to tell you about at the moment that isn’t a rehash of previous musings. I’m sure we’ll find a way to deal with it, and each other, going forward. There’s also the reminder that this isn’t about any of us or how we feel about it; it’s about what is best for the souls of the kids we’re trying to reach. If having this at a single location is getting in the way of some, then we need to change in order to reach others. Believe me, I get that. At the same time, I hope I don’t sound to the Lord like I’m complaining; I’m just wondering how this will work out, logistically speaking; both for the clubs, and for us as people with relationships with each other. I don’t know how this will work out, and I’d like to.

The thing is, however, while we don’t know what the future holds, we know Who holds the future, and I guess we have to trust that a.) He knows what He’s doing (which, duh) and b.) we’re following in the direction He wants us to go (which is a little less obvious, sometimes, especially when what we want appears to conflict with His plans). So with that being said, keep an eye on us, honey, and wish us luck. We’re going to need it.