Defining Spam?

by Bob Setzer, Jr.
Recently, I came across a software jewel that has made my life in cyberspace much easier. It is a utility that nests in my email program called “Unsubscribe.” This little ditty makes “un-subscribing” to emails from marketers, organizations, or news providers wonderfully easy.

Often, stopping subscriptions to an e-newsletter or weekly email flyer is a laborious process. The user must email the marketer or news provider and ask to be removed from the distribution list. The other party then sends an email confirming one really wants to stop their incoming messages. The user must send yet another email confirming, “Yes, I really want to stop your service!” Most of the time, this works, and one’s inbox is not quite so crammed with SPAM.

But with my new favorite program, “Unsubscribe,” one just hits the magic onscreen button that says “Unsubscribe” and Voila, the offending marketer is gone!

Lately, along with expelling a number of message providers from my Inbox, I have also been reviewing deacon assignments for our church. This time of year, all our active deacons are given lists of the individuals and families assigned to their care. Most of the people on those lists are folks our deacons will know and recognize. But there are always a few church members assigned to deacons that long ago hit the “Unsubscribe” button. For various reasons, these individuals fell out of active involvement with the church.

Some on the FBC “Unsubscribe” list simply got distracted with work or family obligations and fell into non-attendance; once they stopped gathering with the church family week by week, the rhythm of work and worship, work and worship, ceased to be part of their lives. Some on the FBC “Unsubscribe” list, left because they were disappointed or disillusioned with the pastor or another church member. Some ceased to be actively involved because they were hurt or wounded and no one seemed to notice or care. A few of these folks eventually drifted on to other churches, but most are still in limbo: they receive the Highlites and other occasional contacts from the church, but have little meaningful engagement. They’re not quite “in” but thank God, not quite “out.”

So here’s my challenge to all FBCers: look around your Sunday School class, your section of the sanctuary, or your Wednesday night table. Who’s missing? Who hit the “Unsubscribe” button? Drop that person an email, send him or her a note, or better yet, pick up the phone and call. Find out what’s going on and how you can help.

And to those currently on the “Unsubscribe” list, we’re not only missing you, but hoping you’re missing us! Come on back and take your place in the family of faith. No excuses or explanations needed, just the willingness to be embraced by brothers and sisters glad to see you’re home.

Hitting “Unsubscribe” will do when dealing with electrons in cyberspace. But at First Baptist, we’re family and we owe each other better than that.