in march, as a result of some of the relationships that i had been building with coworkers and some of the resulting conversations, i began to think about forming a group. call it a gathering, a conversation, a round table, or whatever you will, i wanted to create a time, a space, a community for those conversations, instead of piecemealing them together between refilling teas and running food. after rolling it around in my head for a few weeks, i mentioned it to renee as something i would like to do over the summer. well the summer has almost slipped by and i had yet to put any serious traction to this idea, as i am sometimes wont to do. well this past week renee called me to the carpet asking me what i had done to inaugurate this gathering. that conversation alone would have been enough to press the wheels into motion, but little did i know that they would be kicked into top gear the very next day.
merely 20 something hours later my brother-in-law, michael, asked me, "so, what's next for your ministry?" to which i responded, "i have in mind starting a group with a few of my coworkers from my jobs." he followed with the question, "what would that look like?" i explained how i would like to start a group that would meet and discuss spiritual matters that could progress into a study and on into a core group that would eventually be the foundation of the table. he responded with, "what's holding you back from starting that this week or next?" i hemmed and hawed a bit, before realizing that i had no good answer except that i hadn't asked anyone to join me. with that out of the way, we talked about trying it out the following week.
and so this week--wednesday at 11pm to be precise--i am going to host the first gathering at a local taproom, with michael generously subsidizing the tab with this weekend's poker winnings. imagine that, beer and gambling being used to further the kingdom of God?! i have invited or will invite 8-12 friends to join me in an open conversation on spirituality. of those i have asked all have either expressed interest in or outright committed to coming. as a wannabe pastor, i want to know and plan on asking (though, i reserve the right to change, rephrase, amend, or add to these questions as the Lord leads):
- where they have come from?
- where are they now?
- how have they gotten here?
- what hangups do they have with God, Jesus, the Bible, Christianity, and the Church?
i anticipate lively and revealing conversation and hope that it will spark within each individual a desire for community and truth, such that they keep coming back in the following weeks. i desire that they will not only bond together in community, but they bring friends as well. i hope that we meet so frequently and grow to the extent that i have to find other means of sub"suds"izing the gatherings beyond even a year's worth of michael's poker winnings. i envision that one day this gathering will move from discussion of the general and superficial spiritual hangups that i initially anticipate, to a deeper discussion and study of biblical issues (such as the person of Christ, his work on the Cross, and his resurrection), to a core group that would be the foundation of the table. but of all the hopes and dreams that i harbor for this gathering, i desire, first and foremost, that each individual comes face to face with the life-changing reality of Jesus Christ and find their lives inescapably changed.
it is upon this adventure that i enjoin you. i need and covet your prayers, not only yours but those of Christ-followers in this great state, across this country, and around the world. if you find this compelling, i ask you to forward it on to anyone who you think might be equally moved. i would also welcome any comments or encouragements that you have, for i have never felt so much trepidation and at the same moment anticipation for anything in my life. it is truly thrilling. and so it is with you that i take my one step out...
6 comments:
You go Bro. Praying for you on the other side of the ocean and since we are 9 hours ahead of you, we'll start early. Sounds like a great idea.
And I liken that "leap of faith" to a movie from "my" generation when Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are being pursued by the law and they come to the edge of the precipice and realize at the same time their ONLY alternative is to jump. They express themselves in a very real way . . .
Go for it . . . wherever you land it will be worth it. He promises! FAITH is the ONLY way to please Him.
Love you guys! All four of you.
Ann (and Robert)
Hey Sandy, it's time bro. Praying for repentance and a deeper faith for all of you. As you encounter those who reject Christ and those who reject the church, I pray that you are able to show them the beauty of Christ and the beauty of a tattered bride. It's not much of a win if they love 'the table', but hate the rest of the church. I will pray for healing for all.
No doubt. Just attended a church leader's conference in which one of the main pushes was to just get out there and do something to be the church. Sounds like you're one step ahead and I truly respect you for your willingness to put yourself in a position to allow God's word to be proved powerful. I hope you don't feel any pressure to have this succeed. Worse case scenario, you fail and can start again smarter. Let me know if I can help in any way.
Hey Sandy, sounds like you have a great plan in mind, and an eager group. I'll pray that you can avoid the typical pitfalls of this type of gathering, where it simply becomes a type of platform for disgruntled people against the Church and Christianity, and it ends there. I also pray that you give them much love and understanding as you reach out to them in their struggles. Keep us posted on how this goes. And I'll see you in a a little under two weeks, we can go out before the show and chat about it too.
todd, there is no doubt that i do not want to stage a church or God bashing demonstration. i believe that the people currently committed are interested in dialog and i am not trying to spoon feed them answers, but rather to guide the conversation so that they can work through some of their difficulties. not to mention that i do have the desire to move the conversation to a deeper level.
chris, thanks for the comment on pressure to succeed. i think that i am willing to experience "failure" for God's glory, but it is one of those things where i'll have to get there. that said, i am also amped right now, thinking of the possibilities of how this could go.
jacob, thank you for a good word. i hope that i will never be a divisive force in the church. i love the church and desire to be a unifying agent within her. at the same time i desire to reach out to those who feel like they have been marginalized or are disenchanted with her.
This is very encouraging to hear, bro. Will definitely pray for you.
I would like to encourage you in the fact that you do not necessarily need to see so many distinctive "steps" in the process to bringing this community where you are hoping it will go (and be thankful it is not YOU who brings the community along anyway, but HIM). I propose that you start with the questions, but don't be so concerned about when the conversation turns to who Christ is, his life giving resurrection, etc. By that I mean, be willing and ready to share scripture with them immediately. If you've had spiritual conversations with them they are more than ready. Even if they haven't, there is nothing better you can talk about with them.
Failure isn't an option, and you won't fail if you love them enough to share Christ's love with them.
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