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“Then the Lord God called to Adam, ‘Where are you?’” – Genesis 3:9

It’s quiet. That’s not normal when you have an “almost” 2 year old who makes noise every waking moment and even when she’s sleeping.

Jenny and I “tag-team” when it comes to taking care of Jaida. From play time, changing diapers, bathing and feeding, we both are involved in taking care of our little girl. On this day, we were both in “tag” mode, noticing and involving ourselves with Jaida as we went about doing other things. So, since I recognized the silence first, I got up from my chair to find her and see what she’s up to… or into for that matter.

I looked in all the obvious places but I couldn’t find her. The anxiety level rose a bit, hoping that nothing was wrong, just a season of quietness. I looked in the “not so obvious” places. No little girl to be found. Anxiety level 2, plus crazy thoughts running around in Daddy’s head and heart about what I hope to find her doing, and what I don’t!

After a few moments of controlled panic, I went upstairs and around the corner to find little miss Jaida next to the potted plant, hands in the potting soil, throwing a little, eating a little. Not good to have “gone dark”, not in the obvious, routine places and getting dirty. But, thankfully, not the end of the world.

Like my precious baby girl, many Christians go missing. The noise of intentional relationship in the obvious, routine places is suddenly quieted by the haunting silence and lack of presence of the ones they so love and appreciate. Anxiety builds the longer the absence. Thoughts, centered on trust are bombarded by the unknown that seem to always move our mind towards the worst outcomes.

People “go missing” for many different reasons. Some just simply find themselves lost at no fault of their own. Life can lead to a series of choices and excuses for not engaging where distance is created as a consequence. No matter the justification, love calls us to go on a search for those who have “gone dark”, not in the obvious, routine places or who may be caught in the mud.

A Church can be known for its buildings, programs, style, vision and mission, but all churches are ultimately defined by people. The name on a building is only as important as the heart of the individuals who make up the church.

Journey Church is a community of people, moving together towards God as He reveals the next step for each person to take. We are individuals, but moving together. When one person is missing, it affects the whole movement of the community. The crisis of who’s missing will define who we are as individuals and as a church.

Here are a few things you can do to help “missing persons”:

1. Pay attention to silence. If you haven’t heard from someone in a while, find a way to connect with them and break the silence. They may be overcome by a hectic schedule, a season of depression, marital stress, job insecurity, discouraged spiritually or guilty in sin.

2. Take initiative to engage. Recognizing silence in a relationship is God’s way of involving you in the reengagement process. Don’t diminish the fact that God put it onYOUR heart. It’s not the responsibility of the church staff to know everyone and track down everyone. Care is best served through committed community, the life-blood of the “greater” church that responds like a family to the needs of those they have grown to know, love and celebrate.

3. Give priority to restoration. Love demands that we think the best of one another, seek the best for one another and offer the best for one another. Wandering souls caught in silence or sin need to experience the freedom delivered through a loving heart that is seeking to save. Attacking naturally breeds resisting. Kindness, tolerance and patience is the best antidote for a resistant heart who needs the touch of a safe, gentle hand before surrendering their way back home (Rom. 2:4).

As I walked up to Jaida, I assessed the situation. She was still alive, no bleeding, no broken bones. The mess could be cleaned up. Whatever bits of dirt and leaves she ate would not be fatal, but hopefully educational.

I leaned down, brushed off the dirt, smiled at my little girl who, I could tell, was a little scared that “daddy” caught her and looked up, waiting to see what I was going to do.

My eyes caught hers. I could have been justified in “bringing the heat” so she wouldn’t do it again. But that wasn’t what my heart told me to do. She already knew what was wrong, I needed to help her know what was right; that she was loved, in spite of it all.

Leaning down to pick her up, I smiled at her, kissed her dirty little face and we made our way back downstairs to a better place to enjoy time together.

May we love our community with a heart that wants to find who’s missing. Not every person will desire a family like this, but for those who are open to the awesome wonder of Christ-centered community, may we seek to be a church where no one goes missing… at least not for long.

What do you think?