Faith and friendship are two of the most pivotal factors in determining quality of life. Just as the Bible encourages that ” we live by faith, not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7 NIV), it also extols the virtues of friendship, even suggesting that “A sweet friendship refreshes the soul” (Proverbs 27:9 MSG).

Who is your friend and why is friendship important? Elbert Hubbard proposes, “A friend is someone who knows you and loves you just the same.”

Not everyone enjoys the blessing of companionship and friendship. In 2018, CIGNA Healthcare surveyed 20,000 U.S. adults and discovered that 46% sometimes or always feel alone. As churches seek to address the needs of their communities, they will discover that loneliness is a significant concern and a major ministry opportunity.

Through the years I have often concluded my prayers, sermons, and newsletter columns by saying, “May we continue to grow in faith and friendship.” I use those words intentionally because I believe faith and friendship have a symbiotic relationship.

I am intrigued and perplexed at times by the vast diversity of denominations and sects within the Christian family. One of the most fascinating groups to me are the Quakers. I admire their emphasis on the love of God, their passion for justice and equality, and their conviction that the light of God can be seen in each human being. But I especially like their name: Society of Friends.

In Jesus’ conversation with his disciples in John 15:15, he specifically states, “But I have called you friends.” I am convinced that church is first and foremost a community of friends. Church at its best is not a religious institution or a brick-and-mortar campus, but a spiritual community that thrives on being friends with Jesus and being friends with others who are friends with Jesus.

Friends can help you celebrate good times and provide support during bad times. Friends prevent isolation and loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too.

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified five ways that friends make life better (www.mayoclinic.org ):

• Increase your sense of belonging and purpose.
• Boost your happiness and reduce your stress.
• Improve your self-confidence and self-worth.
• Help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one.
• Encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise.

In my experience, faith and friendship are forged and nurtured in the shared life of a healthy congregation. Ryan Burge, a political scientist and research analyst from Eastern Illinois University, notes that “In obituaries where a religious community was mentioned, the person lived an average 5.5 years longer.”

Multiple times in John’s gospel we are told that Jesus came to show us the way to a “full and meaningful life.” Faith and friendship are two of the most important dynamics in embracing an “abundant life.”

May we grow in faith and friendship!

The first time I walked onto the grounds at Augusta National in 2002, I was in awe of the aura and the ambiance. I better understand why Nick Faldo said, “This is the The Masters. It’s got the beauty, it’s got the color, it’s got the sound and the breezes. Everything together makes this place special.”

I have been privileged to attend The Masters several times through the years, and on each visit, I am inspired when I step foot on this immaculately manicured acreage, which is a rare combination of botanical gardens, nature preserve, and golf course. 

During my years as a pastor, I have gleaned valuable insights about life, business, and ministry from innovative organizations that strive for excellence, companies like Disney, Amazon, Chick-fil-A, and Apple.

Last weekend as I watched the golf tournament on TV and recalled my previous visits to the property, I began to reflect on the lessons the church could learn from The Masters. Here are a few things worth considering:

• Hospitality is welcoming and winsome. From the parking attendants to the ticket takers, to the groundskeepers, Augusta National evokes a friendly vibe as staff members greet patrons with “Welcome to the Masters!” and a hearty smile.  A hospitable sense of welcome is a trademark of a healthy congregation.
  
  
• Not everything has to be high tech. Technology is important. I utilize a smart phone, a laptop, and a tablet. And I served churches through the years that embraced technology, striving to have the most recent computers, the most up-to-date audio technology, the most cutting-edge video screens, and the most elaborate lighting. I am not anti-technology, but it is sort of nice to see thousands of patrons staring at a low-tech manual scoreboard manned by volunteers, which happens to be one of the most iconic scoreboards in the world of golf. Churches should remember that technology is one tool in the toolbox, and if we become co-dependent on technology, it can become a liability rather than an asset in ministry.
  
  
• Appreciate silence and celebration. The aura of Augusta alternates between the roar of the crowd and a holy hush. I am always amazed that thousands of golf enthusiasts can cheer with loud enthusiasm, and yet a few moments later they can stand still in focused silence as a golfer is about to putt.  A healthy church appreciates and makes space for silent meditation and jubilant celebration.
  
  
• Simplicity and excellence often work in tandem. The kitchen staff at Augusta has mastered the art of making egg salad and pimento cheese sandwiches. Nothing fancy. Just a simple sandwich. Excellence in the local church doesn’t require glitz and glamour, but often emerges in doing the simple things well.
  
  
• Spectators cheer for the golfers, not against them. In other sports, and even at other tournaments, fans may boo or jeer the opposing team or their least favorite golfer. Church is a place to “encourage one another” without prejudice.
  
  
• Golf has a discipleship program that is called “drive, chip, and putt.” This catechism is designed to teach basic skills and disciplines.  Healthy churches emphasize and exemplify the basic tenets of the faith, giving opportunities for the next generation to practice “on the course.”
  
  
• Bad things happen to good golfers. Good putts lip out. The false front causes the ball to release and trickle into Rae’s Creek. Wind direction changes and weather is unpredictable. Yet the best golfers are required to be disciplined enough to put the last shot behind them and focus on the next shot.  Likewise, healthy churches help others to put the past behind them and the future before them, and to “press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
  
  
• New terms, new rules, and new norms take some getting used to. Did it sound a little different to hear the announcers referring to “patrons” instead of “fans,” and “penalty areas” instead of “hazards”? Or are you still adjusting to seeing players putt with the pin “in” the hole? Were you surprised when no penalty was assessed for knocking the ball off the tee during a practice swing?  In church we like to say that our message is timeless, but our methodology is always changing. Churches must exercise patience as our “patrons” adjust to our evolving nomenclature and a rapidly changing culture.
  
  
• Treasure and maximize diversity. At Augusta National, no two holes are identical. At many golf courses, the trademark characteristic might be big greens or postage stamp greens, lots of undulation or no undulation, elevated greens or elevated tee boxes. However, at Augusta National, the rich diversity of landscape, elevation, and undulation is a part of the appeal. Churches often struggle at the task of navigating diversity. But healthy congregations perceive diversity as a strength, and they find ways to leverage their diversity for missional purposes.
  
  
• Everyone loves a good redemption story. Sometimes the tournament is won by one of the most popular golfers. On other years the winner is someone who has fallen to the wayside, and yet through hard work has rebuilt his game and his reputation. Among many other things, church is a place of spiritual redemption, a place where the prodigal is welcomed home, a place where grace covers a multitude of sins, a place where we celebrate recovery, and a place where all stand on level ground before the cross.

The golf club at Augusta National is not a religious place, but in their quest for excellence in facilities and engagement with their patrons, their hospitality, simplicity, and adaptivity is a good model for faith communities to emulate.

(Barry Howard currently serves at the pastor at the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist with the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, reside in Brookhaven, Georgia.)

A devotional for Holy Week

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: ¹⁶ This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”
¹⁷ Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” ¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Hebrews 10:15-17 NIV

Long before mobile phones became the normal means of communication, my landline phone rang at 2:30 in the morning. Usually that meant it was either an emergency or a wrong number. Startled from my sleep, I grabbed the phone prepared for bad news. The voice on the other end of the line was frantic, but familiar. The caller was a church member, let’s call him Tommy, who apologized for calling during the night, but quickly explained his desperation.

I had known Tommy for years. He was a good guy, married, with two kids. I could tell that Tommy was at the bottom of the well emotionally and spiritually. He said he hadn’t slept well in several days because of struggling with a deep sense of guilt. During our conversation Tommy seemed consumed by the ghosts of his youthful and recent sins. More than once he said, “I am underserving of God’s grace” and “I’m not sure that Jesus can forgive my sins.”

As a young pastor, I was relieved it wasn’t a trauma call, and I was trying to think how to respond in a helpful way while still in the fog of being almost awake. Off the cuff I suggested three things: First, I said, “Being underserving is a prerequisite to receiving grace.” Second, I proposed, “I’m not sure which sin is bothering you most, but if it includes a violation of one of the Ten Commandments, I think you are covered.” And finally, I added, “If God has forgiven the sins of other human beings for thousands of years, it might be considered arrogant to think that you are an exception.”

After a long pause, Tommy said, “I’ve never thought about it that way before. I think you are right. Even my sins can be forgiven.”

Today is Good Friday, a day we reflect on the suffering of Christ on the cross. Let us be reminded that all our sins, from the simplest to the most horrendous, were nailed to that cross, and because of God’s grace, we are forgiven.

Prayer: Our most gracious God, thank you for forgiving the worst in us so that you can bring out the best in us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Barry Howard serves as the pastor of the Church at Wieuca, a diverse, mission-driven congregation in North Atlanta. The Church at Wieuca is glad to support the ministry of Morningstar Children’s Home. Barry and his wife, Amanda, reside in Brookhaven, Georgia. He also serves as a columnist and leadership coach for the Center for Healthy Churches.)