The blessing and danger of boomerang-ing back to your spiritual home

Depending on the time of your conversion, there is a fair chance that you’ll have a church you consider your spiritual “ancestral home”.

You grew up there.

You made memories there.

You had spiritual awakenings there.

You had mentors there.

Maybe you got married there.

Maybe your children were even baptised there.

But… after years or decades, you moved on.

Maybe it was caused by a change in geography, vocational or life circumstance - no matter - you’re now at a new church.

This is me.

I’ve been at my current church for around five years.

Prior to my years in youth ministry, I attended the church I was converted in for a decade-and-a-half.

This is my spiritual home.

And I haven’t been back for quite a few years.

But, I wonder, should I periodically return?

Should churches expect boomerang visitors?

If a church has a long-term history, but finds itself in a location which is financially unrealistic for young adults to stay, can a return Sunday be a genuine blessing or ministry opportunity?

Frankly, I don’t know.

I don’t know, aside from a slice of morbid curiosity, what boomerang-ing visitors would achieve.

Sure, I’d like to know whom, after a decade or two is still alive… but that shouldn’t be the reason I visit.

I’d like to know how things have changed… but that isn’t why I should attend.

I’d like to take a gander at the renovations… but that isn’t why I should darken the doors on a Sunday morning.

To be honest, every reason I’d have for attending would be a little self-serving.

I’d feel like an ecclesiastical tourist.

But, what about those at my home church?

May they not gain something?

Won’t they enjoy seeing me?

Perhaps.

But there is a flip side to this issue.

What if everything isn’t how you expect it to be?

What if your home church is dying?

What if they’ve made changes to something you deeply valued?

What if those you looked up to are now deceased and you’ve missed their funeral?

What if you’re no longer in ministry and they aren’t aware?

What if you ultimately leave more disappointed than encouraged?