The Home League fellowship time was slowly winding down as tea cups were being collected and the dishes piled. Off in the corner of the room, however, one of the ladies was motioning for me to join her. As it turned out, an elderly gentleman had just wandered in the front door with some information he wanted circulated to the congregation.

As we spoke, I discovered that this man is a local photographer who has an interest in capturing the history of prairie churches on film. With flyers of his pictures in hand, it was obvious his interest was extensive. His work was to be on display at a local gallery that following weekend. I walked away from this chance encounter impressed with the man's interest, admiring his work and promising to circulate his information. Any further questions I might have had about this gentleman did not register until the Sunday edition of the local paper reached my doorstep a few days later.

There it was in black and white on the front page: the man's picture and a detailed write-up about his work. Quickly, I said to myself, “Hey I remember that guy!” It was the opening line of the reporter's editorial, however, that stalled me in my tracks. It went something like this. “For a self-described non-believer, [this Winnipeg photographer] has a deep faith in the power of photography … Yet in actual fact this man's interest in prairie churches has nothing to do with religion, but it was a question of preserving a history soon to be lost.” While from a historical angle, many would take their hats off to this gentleman for his initiative, I found the editorial troubling from a theological perspective. Here is a gentleman who spends all of his free time with views of churches in his lens finder. His eye is constantly looking toward the outside of church buildings, admiring their architecture and form. Yet, in the three decades this gentleman has engaged in this hobby, nothing has motivated him to get inside the Church. Greater still, nothing seems to have convinced him of the need to get inside the faith the church represents. Even though he has come in contact with over 700 houses of worship still he is a self-described non-believer!

Putting this through my own theological view finder, I wonder how many people we have come into contact with who have been on the outside of the Church and never found their way to the inside of faith. I'm guessing the Apostle Paul would probably have a great sermon about this, and perhaps hints at this theme when he speaks of us as being “Christ's ambassadors, as though Christ were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). It's hard to miss Paul's sense of conviction when he says, “We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

Paul definitely had the insider's scoop on what relationship with his Lord was all about! Confidently he would stand in the testimony meeting and say, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17). I like that insider's report! It makes me think that perhaps President's Choice (Superstore) is on to something in the regular publication of the Insider's Report. Certainly their goal is getting people inside their store. So, here's my big question: What will it take for us to not only get people inside our corps buildings, but greater still, inside the faith experience upon which our lives are grounded and sustained? Talk to me Canada and Bermuda! I've got my ears on.

Major Julie Slous is corps officer at Winnipeg's Heritage Park Temple. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the College for Officer Training. In May 2009, Julie will complete her doctoral studies in biblical preaching. Her thesis work centres on “Preaching a Disturbing Gospel─The Homiletic of The Salvation Army for Postmodern Times.” When not studying and writing, personal hobbies include reading, cooking, musical composition and, of course, listening to sermons! Married to Brian, she has three children.