Discipleship, Outreach, The North

Viewing Our Churches as Lifeboat

A Morning Walk In the Harbour

Once while visiting Alaska, Nicole and I celebrated our anniversary in the seaport town of Homer. Early that morning, before breakfast, we walked along the beach and strolled into the harbour. It was bustling with fishing vessels, from smaller boats equipped to haul in Homer’s famous halibut to larger tugboats and commercial fishing ships.

One of the many vessels caught my eye—a ship featured on Discovery Network’s Deadliest Catch, the Time Bandit. These vessels face some of the most dangerous waters on Earth.

Preparing for the Storms

Standing there, I imagined these ships in the open sea, tossed violently by fierce storms. My thoughts turned to their life-saving equipment. What good would these engineering marvels be without state-of-the-art safety measures?

From GPS and weather mapping to constant radio communication, these ships are equipped to avoid as many dangers as possible. Life vests are essential for the crew, and in rough waters, they might rely on body harnesses or tethers to prevent falling overboard.

When All Else Fails

But what if the unthinkable happens? What if the vessel starts to sink? In such dire moments, it’s not the high-tech gadgets but the lifeboats that matter most. These simple yet crucial pieces of equipment are often the last resort to save lives.

I couldn’t help but see the parallel. Spiritually speaking, you and I are already in a lifeboat. The church you attend is a lifeboat, too.

Churches as Lifeboats

Imagine if we viewed our churches more like lifeboats. These aren’t merely buildings or weekly gatherings but places where salvation happens—lifelines to a world drowning in spiritual storms. We’ve been saved, not to remain idle but to help save others.

What if we embraced this mission more wholeheartedly? What if our outreach reflected the urgency of rescuing those still lost?

Dive Deeper Into Scripture

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

  1. How do you see your church functioning as a lifeboat?
  2. What steps can you take to bring others into the lifeboat?
  3. How does viewing the church this way change your approach to outreach?

Your thoughts are valuable! Why not leave a few?