Godgrown

Updates from September, 2005 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Mark 3:18 pm on September 22, 2005 Permalink | Reply  

  God’s Cooking 

  This morning was my first actual conference call (I think that’s a milestone towards becoming an adult!). The conversation was held by some pretty amazing people; all servants of Jesus throughout North America. Many of them are initiating church planting movements in cities like Madison, WI, New York City, Mexico City, and elsewhere. I was humbled to be a part of the conversation, though I didn’t feel like I had much to give. In the past week, God has been showing me some real flesh and blood examples of what I am studying in my classes! I was able to hear stories of great encouragement, challenges faced, and hopes and dreams from a people I do not know yet connect so deeply with.

  It isn’t about a model of church or a certain philosophy that ties us together. I am not planning to live my life in a simple church structure because I believe in its power. I believe in GOD’S power to change lives, and I do whatever I can to get in the way of his transformative touch. I want my family right there beside me, and I pray for a community to surround me in this journey of “new creation” God has set us on. The model of church is unimportant. More importantly – in what specific ways may God find me and soften my heart so he can mold it to his design? For me, and for millions of others around this nation, a family-based, simple, house church community is the road God is taking us on. For those I heard over the phone line sharing their hearts and prayers (which was also a first for me), I hear a similar hunger. When a hunger is strong enough, people begin to follow the smell of delicious food. It could be that God is cooking up something entirely new…

  
   

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  Mark 12:15 pm on September 20, 2005 Permalink | Reply  

  Grass Roots Reality 

  
  Yesterday afternoon I took a stroll through the Faculty offices in the Bible, Missions, and Ministry College. There is a room in the center labeled “Missions Strategy Room” – a room filled with chairs and tables; great for conversation. I quietly entered, examining the library of videos, the familiar marker board up at the front, and the giant map of the world affixed to the back wall. As I looked closer, I saw that there were faces and names scattered all over the map’s continents. “Juan Monroy – Madrid”, “Andrew Jacobs – St. Petersburg”… It showed teams on every single continent. I looked over towards the Pacific Ocean, and saw a long list of those still here at ACU, in training. Many of these people are those who I know well and have been through classes with.

  Chills ran down my spine as I imagined all the places where God’s people are battling for souls. Still more were felt as I thought about my name and picture among them. Where would I be headed? Where would God send Katrina and I? The statement above this map read, “Our vision: By 2010 prepare and train teams to initiate at least 4 church planting movements on every continent.”

  Church planting movements are just what they sound like. Churches that plant churches that plant more churches. It is a grass roots reality – the way the Kingdom of God exists! I want nothing more than to be a part of God’s Kingdom; just gotta figure out where he’s taking me!

  
   
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  Mark 4:23 pm on September 17, 2005 Permalink | Reply  

  A New Kind of Community Part 2 

  What do I mean when I say “post-Christian”? I am not saying that Christians are leaving their faith behind; just the opposite in some cases! Because the general disposition of the culture no longer identifies itself on the whole as “Christian”, the culture now views itself in and against the authentic Christian community. This calls for new ways of relating to such a culture:

  1. Powerlessness.
  This can be seen as a very good thing. For the first time in 1500 years, the church is released from having to be the “moral police” of an entire culture. Now it can focus on what it was created to do – point to the Kingdom of God.

  2. Good News to the Poor.
  No longer accepted in the “high-class” societies of Western countries, churches choose purposely (no matter what their social status) to be identified with the poor, and the marginalized in a culture. This looks strangely like the “Year of Jubilee” described in the Old Testament, where there was a major redistribution of wealth, freeing slaves, and canceling debts. Unfortunately, what is “good news” to the poor may be bad news to the rich!

  3. Humility.
  Our post-Christian culture is a pluralist culture, accepting a buffet of all kinds of religions and spiritualities. Many try to blend these faiths together, but this is a disrespect to each of the faith’s identities. The church in a post-Christian context boldly proclaims Jesus as Truth, but refuses to take possession of that truth. We ask for forgiveness from those who have been injured by Christian’s religious arrogance in the past, just as we are forgiven by God.