Conned by God: A Church’s Journey from Closure to Purpose
When I sat down to listen to the latest episode of The Last Service Podcast, I thought I knew what to expect. I’ve heard countless stories of churches facing closure, communities grappling with change, and leaders making tough decisions. But this episode, featuring Bruce Deel from City of Refuge, hit differently. It wasn’t just about a church’s journey—it was about the kind of faith that runs headlong into crisis and comes out the other side as something beautiful and alive.
From the moment Bruce shared how he felt "conned by God," I was hooked. What a powerful image: a man sent to close a struggling church instead finds himself in the midst of a miracle. Imagine being asked to shut down a place of worship, only to find it overflowing with people in need—people hungry not just for food but for hope. Bruce’s story is a reminder that sometimes what looks like the end is actually a divine invitation to begin again.
One of the most impactful moments for me was when Bruce said, "If we want people in trouble to trust us, we have to live among them and show we trust them." He and his family didn't just serve from a safe distance; they moved into a 65-year-old church building, took baths with a garden hose, and turned the sanctuary into a playground for their kids. This is the kind of radical, down-in-the-trenches love that changes lives. It challenged me to think about what it means to truly live out faith—not just to do ministry, but to become a living, breathing example of God’s love.
Bruce’s story also speaks to the power of redefining success. When asked about the many who took advantage of his kindness or didn’t succeed, he said something that I won’t forget: "It's not about the numbers. It’s about obedience." That hit home. Sometimes, the measure of success isn’t in the visible outcomes but in the quiet faithfulness of showing up, loving well, and trusting God with the rest.
For any church leaders who feel like they’re at the end of the road, Bruce’s message is a lifeline. Take a pause. Ask if you’re representing the heart of God in your community. Don’t be afraid to rewrite the story. Maybe, just maybe, what feels like a closing chapter is actually the opening line of something extraordinary.
If you haven’t listened to this episode yet, do yourself a favor and tune in. It’s not just a story of a church that refused to close—it’s a story of how love, trust, and obedience can transform a dying congregation into a vibrant, life-giving community. And it’s a story that reminds us all that sometimes God’s greatest work begins when we think we’ve reached the end.
