I have attended a Monday Morning Pastor’s Fellowship sponsored by the Troup Baptist Association in LaGrange, Georgia, for many years.  This past Monday, Associational Missionary Rev. Andy Buchanan told us preachers about a church sign/marquee he had seen over the weekend.  He said the power of the message on the sign was derived from its simplicity.  There were no “cutesy” or “clever” sayings on it.  The sign read, “Strugglers Welcome!” 

That message resonated with me!  First, it resonated because of its simplicity.  This church articulated to the world what they are about with just two words.  Secondly, it resonated because of their clarity in identifying their target audience.  Thirdly, it resonated because they extended the welcome mat to the world.  Wow!  I am convinced there is a truth here of which all churches need to be reminded.

The more I pondered this, the more I became convinced that, as churches, we have lost sight of this concept.  We want to believe, or at least pretend, that Strugglers are welcome in our church.  However, if the truth is known, we prefer not to have people in our church whose lives are “messy.”  We really don’t want to have to get dirty in order to minister to them.  We prefer that our church be populated with people who have their act together.  And while we want to believe that our mission as a church is to win the lost, disciple the found, and mend the broken, all too often, the cold hard truth is that our mantra has become, “Our four and no more,” and we have become the defenders of the status quo.

As I continued pondering, I began to run different Biblical scenarios through my mind where Jesus welcomed Strugglers.  I thought about The Woman Taken in Adultery.  Thank God that when her enemies brought her to Jesus, the marquee read, “Strugglers Welcome.”  I am glad that when Blind Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by and began to cry out to Him, saying, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me,” the marquee read, “Strugglers Welcome.”  I thought about The Woman with the Issue of Blood, who for twelve years had spent every penny she had on every doctor and every cure known to man, only to get worse.  Oh, but she was in the crowd when Jesus passed by and said, “If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.”  And when she touched His garment, the marquee read, “Strugglers Welcome!”  (You readers do realize that I’m about to have a Holy Ghost spell as I’m writing this article, don’t you?)  I thought about The Thief on the Cross.  He was struggling for his life and dealing with his eternal destiny when he looked to Jesus and cried out to Him to have mercy on his soul.  And while Pilate had put a sign over Jesus that read, “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews,” it may as well have been a marquee saying, “Strugglers Welcome.” 

Sadly, I thought about some other Biblical stories.  One is about a Pharisee and a Publican.  The Pharisee thought he had it all together and that God was lucky to have him as a follower.  He began to recite his resume to the Lord while praying.  The Publican wouldn’t even lift his eyes toward heaven while praying.  He prayed, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”  The Bible teaches me that God turned on the, “Strugglers Welcome” sign for him.  He went home justified!  I also thought about the Man with the Barns.  He had a bumper crop come in.  He tore down his barns and built bigger ones.  He said to himself that he had it made and could eat, drink, and be merry.  That night, God required his soul.  And while the, “Strugglers Welcome” sign may have been on - he ignored it.

I am so glad that over fifty years ago, when I made my way into an old-fashioned church, a sinner lost, doomed, and damned for a devil’s hell, when I made my way to an old-fashioned altar, I found the “Strugglers Welcome” sign on!  Hallelujah!  It’s still on today!  What a Savior!  

If you’re struggling with your life, don’t miss the sign: “Strugglers Welcome!”

Brother Aaron