I remember growing up and attending the “Impact Brass” concerts at the convention each year. Remember that group from Ozark? They were the coolest of all the college groups because not only did they have contemporary music but also three screens with video images that accompanied each song.
I especially remember a singer named Rachel; I’m not sure why she had an “impact” on me but I looked for her at each concert during those years. I envied her pretty blond hair and her poise on stage. I later learned she was one of the Melton Family Singers, a southern gospel group that always showed up for the convention.
This week, one of my assignments during the evening services was to keep things on schedule by alerting the speakers and worship leaders as they neared the end of their allotted time. I accomplished this via a very high-tech method of holding up a certain number of fingers to a teammate on the front row who watched for that signal and then flashed a large posterboard sign displaying the number of remaining minutes to the person on stage.
And my tech crew partner in timekeeping was none other than Rachel. Like me, she volunteered to help backstage this year and we worked together to keep things on track. And as I stood there Wednesday night with my headphones on I had to smile: at the memory of myself as an impressionable grade-schooler, at the twists life can take, and at the fun of being part of our movement. I love the NACC because of moments like this.
For those of us who have been part of the independent Christian churches for any length of time, the convention really is a family reunion of sorts. Like all families, we have our dysfunctions and disagreements, yet we keep gathering each summer because—as much as we value that independence—we want to experience the fellowship of our fellowship.
But fewer gather each year. The convention consistently trends downward in attendance and financial support, and it worries me because, as Ben Cachiaras said this week, “The NACC isn’t nice, folks. It’s necessary. We need this.” We need to be reminded that we belong to a tribe, with all the messiness and joy that entails.
This year marked the 80th anniversary of the first convention. I hope the NACC leadership finds the secret to reinventing things so it continues for another 80—not for the sake of tradition, but so future generations can continue working together, learning from each other, and experiencing small Wednesday night serendipities of reconnection.
4 Comments »
Leave a comment
Jennifer Taylor
My Other Sites
Twittering @seejenwrite- seejenwrite: Looking forward to hearing @susanisaacs and @donmilleris tonite. Flexing my fingers in preparation for copious note-taking.
- seejenwrite: Buying tix for trip to Orlando in January!
- seejenwrite: Here are my thoughts about the Twilight craze, from earlier this year: http://ow.ly/E3Vc
- seejenwrite: @FlowerDust See you there!
The connection you feel at the NACC is fun and heart warming to read about. I love those kinds of reunions. As I read about the declining attendance I felt a little sad too. However, as a life time member of an Independent Christian Church, I think back to when I was a “kid” and only the families who held some sort of leadership role in our congregation were the people who went to the NACC. Even still, of the Independent Christian Churches I have attended since I was kid, I do not recall ever being encouraged by the church to attend the NACC except for the one year it was at my church. To me it has always appeared as something for the elders and pastors and not really for the church body. This may just be my twisted perception. However, if this is not just my perception, this may be one reason that there is a declining number of attendees?
I think your perception is correct; although anyone is welcome, the workshops and other sessions seem geared to the volunteer and staff leadership of the local church. That’s an intentional direction, and one I agree with. However, not even the leaders (however you want to define that) are attending anymore–thus the low numbers.
There are numerous seminars that the leader’s can choose from. Some of them are less expensive, and closer to the home church.
Plus being in heat and humidity of the south or midwest during the summer is not fun for most people.
Just some thoughts
The NACC was for decades promoted as a family convention – Dad, Mom and the kids. Then its leadership changed; so did the direction. It was sold as “leeedurship” meeting. Now “leeedurs” have many more options of other conventions to attend during the year. And, they do.
On Friday AM Bob Russell lamented the leadership vacuum of 3 or so decades ago. The “good ole boys” ran it for too long. Bob did not preach there until he was 41.
Those empty seats at recent NACCs were supposed to be filled by:
1….the impact the development the youth ministry’s “invention” in the late “50s and ’60s was to have. Where are those public school-aged kids of yesteryear?
2…the impact of the Christian service camp’s “invention” which those babysi…er, youth ministers brought about. Where is the impact of those school-aged kids of yesteryear?
3….the impact of the generation of that same time who were sent off to bible college for “just one year”. Where are those college students of yesteryear?
4….the impact of the campus ministry’s “invention” of the ’60s and ’70s. Where are those university students?
5….the impact of those pewsitters who came to audience for the “good ole boys”? That’s an easy one: most of them have made their trip to the mortuary.
My family attends the NACC now unto the 4th generation- at $175 registration. But, last fall my wife and I attended the Nat’l Missionary Convention – for $10 registration. It is such an humble and larger group of people. More displays; higher quality sessions, on the whole; the same excellent preaching; and, a palpable feeling of seriousness.
There is becoming a difference and not a good one for the longevity of the NACC…