Last week I spent in Nome working with the Community United Methodist Church. Attending our meetings was a couple who was new to the Nome community in the last year. They gave a wonderful testimony about why they chose to attend the UMC. When they got to town they talked to people about what was happening around town. They kept hearing about the UMC. They heard a lot of "buzz" about the UMC - the UMC does this and that, they all go to the UMC, you should meet the UMC pastors...
I thought that was a wonderful witness to the vitality of the church. Does your church have "buzz" in the community? When a new person comes to town what do people say about your church? Do people even know you exist?
Often we get caught up in all the good works we are about and forget to develop relationships in the community - to let people know what we are doing - to work connections outside the church. I pray that our churches all have a positive "buzz" around town for what is happening through them for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Intentional and passionate.
One thing that has always been true about me is that I am passionate. Often my passion gets me in trouble because often passion carries me away and I speak or act before thinking. So, because of all that, my spiritual practice this Lent is to be intentional in all aspects of my life.
In my work with churches and the class I am taking this semester on the church of the future I am coming to a solid conclusion: Churches that are "successful" are churches that have married a passion for Christ with living out their faith intentionally. It isn't about being a perfect church with all the whistles and bells, but about falling in love with Jesus and being intentional in all that we do especially what we do as a church.
Perhaps you have attended this church: beautiful building, excellent preacher, choir director and other staff, all the right programs and yet something isn't quite right. There is no spark or excitement. They appear to be people who are dead in their faith who have learned how to play the part. Versus an offbeat church in an unlikely location who may not have it all together but they are chasing after living like Jesus as if they were in a race for their lives.
Intentionality and passion. Key ingredients in my mind for being what God has called me and the church to be. Give me that offbeat church any day.
In my work with churches and the class I am taking this semester on the church of the future I am coming to a solid conclusion: Churches that are "successful" are churches that have married a passion for Christ with living out their faith intentionally. It isn't about being a perfect church with all the whistles and bells, but about falling in love with Jesus and being intentional in all that we do especially what we do as a church.
Perhaps you have attended this church: beautiful building, excellent preacher, choir director and other staff, all the right programs and yet something isn't quite right. There is no spark or excitement. They appear to be people who are dead in their faith who have learned how to play the part. Versus an offbeat church in an unlikely location who may not have it all together but they are chasing after living like Jesus as if they were in a race for their lives.
Intentionality and passion. Key ingredients in my mind for being what God has called me and the church to be. Give me that offbeat church any day.
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