CrossPoint Community News 08/29/2025
We have just completed our study on Will Mancini’s book Church Unique, which emphasizes the importance of a church’s Vision Proper—its unique, God-given calling that must shape our priorities. For CPCM, in my humble opinion, that vision must include the next generation. Yet the reality is that we often find ourselves stretched so thin just to keep our core ministries running that we have little capacity left to intentionally build relationships with the younger people among us. It’s not that our calendars are cluttered with optional activities; rather, the challenge of sustaining essential services leaves too little margin for discipleship. And as Mancini reminds us, when a church cannot give attention to its “vision proper,” even necessary service can unintentionally take the place of deeper investment in people. If we are not careful, we risk drifting into maintenance mode and losing sight of those God has entrusted to us—the very future of the church.
This challenge reminds me of an old hit #1 on the Billboard Top 100 in December 1974 called “Cat’s in the Cradle.” The song tells the story of a father who is always too busy for his son. I know, I know—1974 was before some of you were even born—but the message is still strikingly relevant today. Each time the son asks, “When you coming home, Dad?” the father replies, “I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then.” By the time the father finally has time, the son has grown up and is now too busy for him. The song is a parable of missed opportunity: when we focus only on surviving the urgent, we lose what is most important—the next generation, relationships, discipleship, and legacy. I didn’t truly appreciate its meaning until I had a family of my own, when I realized how easily others—and even myself—could fall into the same regrets.
The backstory of the song deepens the lesson. The lyrics were first written as a poem by Sandy Chapin to reflect on family neglect. Her husband, Harry Chapin, turned it into a song after their son Josh was born, realizing how quickly busyness can rob them of life’s most precious moments. Sadly, Harry’s own life was cut short at 38 in a car accident on the Long Island Expressway, making the song an even more haunting reminder that time is fragile.
Scripture speaks the same truth:
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
“Impress [these commandments] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
Each verse reminds us: time is short, priorities matter, and discipling the next generation is not optional—it is central.
The urgency of this calling was underscored again this month when tragedy struck Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, where a shooting claimed the lives of two children and injured many others, most of them elementary students. The devastating event left families grieving, and community leaders reminded the nation that “thoughts and prayers” alone are not enough—our faith must lead to love, action, and presence. That cry echoes for us too: we cannot wait for “someday” to invest in the next generation, or “someday” to realign our ministry culture. Someday may never come. At the same time, it also reminds us as a church of the importance of being prepared for emergencies—whether fire, intruder alerts, or other crises—so that we may respond wisely and protect those God has entrusted to us.
For CPCM, Vision Proper means re-examining how we serve. Are we pouring so much energy into simply keeping things afloat that we miss the deeper work of walking alongside the next generation? Just as the father in Cat’s in the Cradle missed the season of his son’s growth, we too could miss the opportunity to disciple and mentor if we are not intentional now. The question is: are we willing to make this a true priority?
For me personally, one way I have stayed grounded is through Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), which I have been part of for more than 15 years. BSF provides an in-depth, global Bible study community where believers from many denominations can grow together in God’s Word. It’s a space where we can slow down, dig deep, and strengthen one another in fellowship. If Church Unique calls us to vision, and Cat’s in the Cradle warns us against regret, then BSF gives us an orthopraxy: a weekly rhythm of study, discussion, and prayer that helps us live with intention. If you are interested in discipleship, I warmly invite you to join me. The weekly materials provided by BSF create a safe space for fellowship, growth, and discipleship. Together we can prioritize what matters most, deepen our walk with God, and invest in spiritual growth by grounding ourselves first in His Word.
Your discipleship, your call!