I believe church can be done differently in Lancaster City and the vicinity. I believe we can train strong leaders to plant & lead strong house churches and strong community groups wherein seriously edifying transformation and discipleship can take place. If this is all done faithfully we can then trim down the usually bloated production budget of church as we all know it. Think about it! I’m sure 95% of what happens in church could be - and should be - happening in the community instead. Yet, we drop huge, huge amounts of money and we vainly try to squeeze it all into a segregated, four-walled box and try to convince outsiders that it is community and not consumerism. It doesn’t work! Honestly, it just doesn’t work anymore. Is the final product really worth all of that money? Really? Is it really community? Or is it really just a second community existing far apart from the first community? I think it is the former, honestly.
Too, the money and resources rescued from bloated production budgets can be used to invest in the city, the community, and the people in God honoring and Spirit-filled ways. Think about what could really be accomplished if the bloat was popped and deflated! Local service and world missions could become the collective priority! The Great Commission could once again become more important than our budgets and our thin attractional, consumer based ministry methodologies.
Does this mean Inner Metro Green will never gather as a church? No! We will gather every Sunday for seriously stripped down celebration, worship and Gospel exhortation. Too, part of the vision is theological training (Theology School) fitted for your schedules. There is a lot being imagined and dreamed about at this point. Pray with us that the Spirit will help us put in on the ground in a life-changing, tangible way.
You are welcome to join us in this dream and this work.
Please Note: “In Utero: The Dawning Vision of Inner Metro Green” was cross-posted @ the official Inner Metro Green web site.
Well, I’m very gald that the word “too” is getting the attention it so deserves! In fact, this post is now brought to you by the letters T & O!
I’m not totally sold on bi-vocational ministry, Ben. I think pastors, teachers and leaders should be equipped to focus on the ministry of the church full-time. I just happen to think most of the ministry of the church should be happening in the community, rather than inside the church building. This shift would not only trim much of the excess production bloat, but also put people in a position to take faith, discipleship, growth and maturity seriously. In other words, people would really engage in training and leading. Again, all would still meet every Sunday for corporate fellowship, worship, and exhortation, but it would be seriously trimmed down.
All of this, to work effectively, would require full time organization. I’m not anti-organization. I am anti-bloat.
I completely agree with you on your points.
Too, I wonder sometimes about the biblical precedent for full-time paid staff members. Seems to me that more pastors (if not all) should be bi-vocational. What do you think?
P.S. - I like using the word “too” instead of “also.”
LOL! Great question, Kyle! It’s just a habit of mine, born from the complete boredom beget by the blandness of the more familiar “also” when implemented at the very beginning of a sentence or thought.
Side note: why is it that you use the word “too” as a substitute for the more common word “also,” to the complete exclusion of the more common word? Inquiring mind wants to know!
Thank you, Drew! I’m open to chatting anytime!
this is exciting…blessings on the birth. we made need to chat sometime…