There is much talk in church leadership having to do with the importance and significance of being relevant to the people we are trying to reach with the hope of the Gospel. This got me to thinking recently about our relevancy as a church. Let me ask you – what is it that makes us relevant to our communities and to the people we are attempting to share God’s love with? Is it our music? Is it our building? Is it our programs? The revelation I had is this. We can have the best of everything. We can communicate well. We can have the best building, the best music, the best graphics, the best that technology has to offer, the best programs and still not be relevant. The church can have all this and still not be relevant if we do not love and if we are unable to connect with people. When we act and respond in love – we will always be relevant. I may be a cowboy living out in the country with no clue about city life and still be able to reach a wealthy city business man if I am able to connect with him and respect him as a person. When I am able to separate the lifestyle from the person and love the person regardless of how they may be living – I have become relevant. As a church we want to be excellent it all that we do and present, more importantly though we want to love and connect well with people of all walks and types. Our relevancy is directly related to our ability to love and connect. The same thing that made John the Baptist relevant is what will make us relevant – the ability to love and connect. Who are you loving and connecting with? Is it making a difference?