How many of you started singing to yourself “He’s got the whole world in his hands…” when you saw the picture in “Part 1”? You know you did, so don’t try and deny it!
The Christian church as it exists today in America, as a whole, is flawed. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any great ministries out there because there are! In fact I have been a part of a couple. I have family and friends who belong to Christ centered, Bible believing, and, I believe, God honoring churches.
But we are also seeing a shift in the paradigm of what church looks like, or rather, needs to look like. Many of us grew up watching the change in ministry as churches went from a conservative Baptist type to a contemporary style of worship service. The organ was replaced by a band, the pulpit with a music stand, choir with a vocal team, hymnals with upbeat praise and worship choruses, etc.
We also watched it model and become more like corporate America with its marketing strategies in order to lure the “unchurched” to their services with gimmicks and flashy PowerPoint. I have even read of one church giving away hundreds of iPods to bring in the crowds. Now that sounds like a great way to spend God’s money!
All in the effort of becoming “seeker sensitive” which, I feel is contradictory to Scripture since there is “no one who seeks God.” (Rom 3:11b). The problem is, since there are no real seekers, to expect people to think to themselves “hmm…something’s missing in my life, I think I’ll check out that church around the corner because I hear they have a great doughnut display,” is futile thinking. We need to be the ones who seek out those who need God in their lives.
If you took an honest look around at churches today, there is a significant decrease in one particular age-group. You’ll find that young adults between 18-30 are among the lowest attendees at many if not most churches. Why? They are longing for something more real, more tangible, more organic. They are looking for authenticity, transparency, and genuine relationships.
They’ve tried churches and found the hype to be just that and lacking in substance. Like the space-aged travelers of Star Trek, it’s time that we as Christians come back to a way of doing ministry that meets the obvious needs of the people where they’re at; where their hearts beat the strongest. It’s time to boldly go and take the message of hope to the people instead of expecting them to come to us.
That’s really the central idea of outward ministry at Ekklesia. Instead of trying to build a core team of believers from a church and waiting until just enough money is raised to secure a killer sound system, our plan is to take a handful of strong believers out into the world in twos and threes and start meeting and establishing relationships. As we frequent the same coffee shops and hang-outs and start meeting some of the regulars, we believe God will begin to grow our church from the “outside in.”
Ministry will take place where people generally tend to congregate, places where people go not just to procure goods and services, but to be around other people. We intend on finding one or two places we can meet at regularly (i.e. bars, coffee houses, etc.) and start establishing relationships. Rather than talking at them, we will talk with them- get to know them. As God begins to do a work in their hearts and as God inevitably brings people to a saving relationship with him, we will take these people and expand to other locations. Thus the church will grow. Perhaps slower than a traditional church-plant, but with people who have more of a vested interest in the life-changing reality of a relationship with Christ.
Not that Christians from other ministries will not be welcome. Far from it- the more the merrier! But we will not actively seek them out, trying to build a core first. Rather than spurring on growth via internal shifting (Christians migrating from one ministry to another within the body), we hope and pray God will grow this ministry through people we encounter who come to know the Lord and desire to serve him by spreading the love and truth of Jesus’ message.
In a nutshell, that’s what the ministry of Ekklesia will look like. There is obviously much “fleshing out” of this concept that needs to take place, but we are confident in Jesus to take his message out boldly. We are excited about making more and better disciples and bringing hope into the lives of those whom God brings across our path.
We, I, covet your prayers as we venture out into new and uncharted territory. Please contact me if you are interested at all in being a part of our prayer support, or in joining our mission to boldly go where many today have not dared to have gone before.
The Christian church as it exists today in America, as a whole, is flawed. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any great ministries out there because there are! In fact I have been a part of a couple. I have family and friends who belong to Christ centered, Bible believing, and, I believe, God honoring churches.
But we are also seeing a shift in the paradigm of what church looks like, or rather, needs to look like. Many of us grew up watching the change in ministry as churches went from a conservative Baptist type to a contemporary style of worship service. The organ was replaced by a band, the pulpit with a music stand, choir with a vocal team, hymnals with upbeat praise and worship choruses, etc.
We also watched it model and become more like corporate America with its marketing strategies in order to lure the “unchurched” to their services with gimmicks and flashy PowerPoint. I have even read of one church giving away hundreds of iPods to bring in the crowds. Now that sounds like a great way to spend God’s money!
All in the effort of becoming “seeker sensitive” which, I feel is contradictory to Scripture since there is “no one who seeks God.” (Rom 3:11b). The problem is, since there are no real seekers, to expect people to think to themselves “hmm…something’s missing in my life, I think I’ll check out that church around the corner because I hear they have a great doughnut display,” is futile thinking. We need to be the ones who seek out those who need God in their lives.
If you took an honest look around at churches today, there is a significant decrease in one particular age-group. You’ll find that young adults between 18-30 are among the lowest attendees at many if not most churches. Why? They are longing for something more real, more tangible, more organic. They are looking for authenticity, transparency, and genuine relationships.
They’ve tried churches and found the hype to be just that and lacking in substance. Like the space-aged travelers of Star Trek, it’s time that we as Christians come back to a way of doing ministry that meets the obvious needs of the people where they’re at; where their hearts beat the strongest. It’s time to boldly go and take the message of hope to the people instead of expecting them to come to us.
That’s really the central idea of outward ministry at Ekklesia. Instead of trying to build a core team of believers from a church and waiting until just enough money is raised to secure a killer sound system, our plan is to take a handful of strong believers out into the world in twos and threes and start meeting and establishing relationships. As we frequent the same coffee shops and hang-outs and start meeting some of the regulars, we believe God will begin to grow our church from the “outside in.”
Ministry will take place where people generally tend to congregate, places where people go not just to procure goods and services, but to be around other people. We intend on finding one or two places we can meet at regularly (i.e. bars, coffee houses, etc.) and start establishing relationships. Rather than talking at them, we will talk with them- get to know them. As God begins to do a work in their hearts and as God inevitably brings people to a saving relationship with him, we will take these people and expand to other locations. Thus the church will grow. Perhaps slower than a traditional church-plant, but with people who have more of a vested interest in the life-changing reality of a relationship with Christ.
Not that Christians from other ministries will not be welcome. Far from it- the more the merrier! But we will not actively seek them out, trying to build a core first. Rather than spurring on growth via internal shifting (Christians migrating from one ministry to another within the body), we hope and pray God will grow this ministry through people we encounter who come to know the Lord and desire to serve him by spreading the love and truth of Jesus’ message.
In a nutshell, that’s what the ministry of Ekklesia will look like. There is obviously much “fleshing out” of this concept that needs to take place, but we are confident in Jesus to take his message out boldly. We are excited about making more and better disciples and bringing hope into the lives of those whom God brings across our path.
We, I, covet your prayers as we venture out into new and uncharted territory. Please contact me if you are interested at all in being a part of our prayer support, or in joining our mission to boldly go where many today have not dared to have gone before.
1 comment:
Preach it, Brother Paul! Ever since I got out of mainstream church, God has brought one person after another to me to minister to, whether for salvation or a word of knowledge from the Lord. These kinds of things didn't happen in my life while I was super involved in the church organization. You're right about our attitude that the lost need to come to our programs because the programs offer something the lost need. Nobody (least of all true Christians) needs another program; everybody needs salvation and a new life through Christ. I think we have forgotten WWJD. When I read the book of Acts again, the light went on with me. We need to seek the lost and edify the saints. Not entertain the masses.
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