The answer is in the burrito.
So here’s a question for ya - when God gives you a specific calling to be a leader for a Christian community, and then opens doors to give you the training necessary you’d expect he’d just drop opportunities for life-long, full-time ministry right in your lap. But NOOO! He sends you this wild curve ball instead! Instead of setting you up nice and pretty with a great church that will take care of your family and your health plan, he sends you a vision of a “new way to do church” altogether. This way is powerful, dynamic, authentic…and moneyless.
It’s true that simple churches (like those that meet in houses) actually give MUCH more than your average church does proportionally - (6% of Christians in traditional churches tithe, 50% of Christians in simple churches MORE than tithe!) - but what happens when you drop down into an area where there IS NO church?
I know that I have been blessed by God to be the initiator of a new church planting movement in a city. I’m really struggling this morning with God’s gifts and visions he’s given me up to this point, because I’m beginning to see a huge leap of faith I’m going to have to take in the next few years. How will God provide for Katrina and I? How will all this preparation take shape in a life-long ministry (without the benefits of healthcare I’m guessing?).
The answer is in the burrito.
This Friday, we’ll be sharing some of these (and other) questions and frustrations with my professor Kent Smith. We’ll be meeting at a Mexican Restaurant for the best burritos in town. He teaches Organic Church Planting, and is the missions coordinator for North America at ACU. I’ll let you know how that goes.
Last 5 posts by Mark
- God is Wholly - October 2nd, 2008
- The Great Moderation - September 30th, 2008