IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?
For a little while now (over 8yrs), I have felt that God was calling me to start a church. The vision is to start a different type of church than what has been established for years and what has been newly started. Now, there are great things happening in established churches and new church startups all over, but for some reason God has been challenging me to think outside the "box".
Here's a little of what I see...
In the box would be targeting growing and increasingly affluent communities to start a church. This would be an effective strategy to not only survive as a new church, but to thrive.
My call is a bit different...to start a church where it is needed most...this may not be the growing communities, but the declining communities. Communities with great need, offering huge challenges to a group of people who want to make a difference.
In the box would be a church that does things on its own, has it's own ministries and is autonomous from other churches and what they are doing.
I see a church that partners with what others are doing effectively and also pioneering, through the heart of its people, new ways to bring about good in the city.
In the box would be a church where a sermon is preached by the pastor only, one-way communication while others sit and listen.
I see a church that would seek a conversation each week where all participate in sharing what God may be doing and saying to all of us and how we can be a part of His will being done on this earth and seeking to become decreasingly selfish and increasingly Christ-like.
I'm not sure if there is anyone that would share a bit of this vision with me. If so, I would love to share more with you. All we need are more people who share a similar vision for their life, church and community.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? Just make a comment...
