Our network of emerging, spiritual communities has been waiting a long time for this. Several of us have struggled over how to best connect our network with itself. We truly just don’t know the answer to “what about larger gatherings?” when people question us about our dreams for life in the Kingdom. We believe that finally God is showing us some important steps to take.

For really the first time, the Jesus Family Network is hosting a gathering for anyone invested and leading Kingdom of God communities here in Abilene and West Texas. Organic churches, neo-monastic communities, life groups, families living as outposts for God’s Kingdom in poor neighborhoods, you name it - we’re desperate to hear from everyone, because we believe that the Spirit has things to say to everyone, through everyone. What is Christ up to in our region? What will it take for us to join him? I honestly don’t know the full answer to that - but I can contribute to the conversation, and through others I can learn so much!
Here in a few weeks, we’ll take a Saturday afternoon and turn it into a beautiful web of conversations. Around tables, we will laugh, share, and search for God’s word for us. What would it take to see a vibrant family of Jesus in close reach of every person in West Texas? Then we’ll hop up from that table, and share what we’ve learned with another table, cross-pollinating the whisperings of the Spirit as we continue to share with more and more people. We’re calling it Wikicclesia because God’s church (ecclesia) is about hearing from the Lord through his people - a sort of mass collaboration (Wiki) that brings us closer to the Truth.

This is our first attempt at living as a “starfish“. Wikipedia learned that when you release people to talk about what they are experts in, you see a huge proliferation of genius and breadth of insight. Of course, you also have to sort out the wackos…
Nevertheless, I believe that the Spirit has something to say in each of us, and that we are missing out when our “church meetings” involve a singular “sage on the stage”. Why can’t every person who feels invested in God’s life share what he’s been up to, and benefit the whole body? In a sense, Wikicclesia is only the beginning.

The Jesus Family Network is just as it’s name implies - a network that is coherently synthesized as a family; consistently sharing love and insight. I have seen this happen regularly in a smaller way through JFN, and now I believe God is allowing us to try things out on a larger scale. I have invited a few people that I know and think may benefit from being there. Others have done the same.

This is about natural relationships, not about broadcasting the event on radio and newspaper. Those who need to be there will be there. And God only knows what will come of it!

Last 5 posts by Mark

• Brain Dump - October 8th, 2008
• God is Wholly - October 2nd, 2008

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 1st, 2007 at 2:33 pm and is filed under Conversations, Learning, Network Developments, Prevenience. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.