Our next gathering will take place on Wednesday July 7, 2010 at noon at Ha Ha’s Grillhouse. As we gather we’ll take time to share with one another about the recent happenings of our lives and communities, follow up our conversation about Infuse, float a few ideas including the possibility of a fall / winter prayer and solitude retreat and dialogue on the following:
During our recent trip to Haiti we encountered the deep contrast of beauty and brokenness. In creation, in people, in systems, in possibilities. Our first few hours of navigating chaotic and crumbling streets, hiking up eroded mountain paths, breathing in the mixed aroma of burning trash, exhaust and food being cooked over open flame led one of our companions to say, “this can’t be fixed.” Over the course of our time in country we also met amazing and creative people, experienced hospitality that left us humbled, and began the joyous process of friendship and misison shaped partnership. As such, the aforementioned companion, and all of us, realized that progress, redemption and change could and would happen. But it will happen little by little. Or as the Haitian proverb we learned says, “piti, piti, wazo fe nich li” (little by little the bird builds it’s nest).
I’m confident that all of us would agree, to some extent, that the same is true of our mission shaped work in this time and place, and in all times and places. But what about our souls? Would we agree that, to some extent, our souls are formed in the same way? As I reflect upon the brokenness and beauty mentioned above I find myself confessing that there are days, seasons, where my soul is a crumbling mess, much like the streets of Cap Haitien. And if I were to expand the story a bit more I’d say that there have been times where I’ve tried quick and unsuccessful fixes, or simply wondered if it could ever be fixed at all. What about you? What about those we journey with? What about those we seek to mentor and develop as future leaders?
How do you assess the state of your own soul?
Have / Are you experiencing soul formation as a “little by little” journey or something other?
Do you see this as an aspect of mission shaped (missional) formation and faithfulness?
How do you foster care for the soul in your church community?
How are you training future mission shaped pioneers in this?
What other questions or issues related to this would you raise?
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Scott Thomas, director of Acts 29, talks with Jeff Vanderstelt (Soma Communities, Tacoma) about leading your church toward disciple-making together. You can check it out here, and notice that there are 3 separate posts: How to share your Faith, Being on Mission, and Life on Mission.
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Rob Fairbanks will be sharing about the recent Infuse process that took place in Portland, OR, as well as helping us prepare to host Infuse this fall here in Spokane. Take some time to review an overview of Infuse prior to June 2nd as we’ll focus our conversation on activating this collaborative training.
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May’s Ecclesia Spokane Gathering will take place on Wednesday May 5, 2010 at Ha Ha’s Grillhouse. Please be sure to RSVP by responding in the comments section, and spread the word! This month we’ll be discussing how we are developing Missional Communities. With all the buzz about being missional, and all the names for these kinds of groups (neighborhood groups, city groups, gospel communities, small groups, etc), it is easy to lose sight of what they are and the purpose they serve.
How are you equipping your people to live as a gospel community on a disciple-making mission? What are your measurements of health when you think about your groups? How are you forming and resourcing your groups? What challenges are you facing in this arena? What insights have you gained that could help us all be more fruitful and effective in this area?
It seems to me there is a deeper issue, even, underneath the practical challenges. The question I often find myself asking is this: Why is this not naturally happening already? Why does it seem like such incredible labor to get people to stop attending church and live as disciples who make disciples all the time? Is it simply that we’ve not told them enough times that they should? Is the Bible not clear enough on what it means to be the church? Are we preachers not talking about the Lordship of Jesus enough?
What needs to happen in your church community to move your people out of the seats and into their neighborhoods and workplaces, living in deep community together as servants of Christ, joyfully talking of the greatness of their Savior to each other and to the world?
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April’s ES Gathering will take place on Wednesday April 7, 2010 at Ha Ha’s Grillhouse. Please be sure to RSVP, spread the word and read the following paragraph by Eric Blauer, which will be guide our conversation.
Illegal drug & alcohol abuse is a reality within all of our congregations. It’s a cultural problem that has long lasting consequences for individuals, families, children and our communities. As leaders who embrace a gospel of grace, and enjoy the freedom it allows, as it relates to responsible use of God given pleasures; I wrestle with what this looks like among the addicted and those in recovery. Most recovery models or programs are “abstinence based”, which isn’t always consistent with the message of learning “moderation in all things” as a gospel value, that I often teach. I also find many other elements within recovery ministries that seem out of harmony with the gospel…i.e. fear based accountability, legalism, law focused teaching, defilement anxiety vs. sanctifying power, habit vs. transformation, works over grace, man focused vs. God focused, determinism vs. new life.
I am interested in discovering a recovery model or program that embodies a healthy balance of truth and grace that enables addicts to truly experience the power of God for change. Helping people find and live in wisdom and freedom that empowers them to not be “mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). How are you approaching these issues personally and within your church community? ,We’ll put these questions and the topic of recovery on the table as we gather in April.
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Meek and Mild?
Posted on 18. Mar, 2010 by stevehart.
Author and playwright Dorothy Sayers (1893-1957):
“So that is the outline of the official story—the tale of the time when God was the under-dog and got beaten, when He submitted to the conditions He had laid down and became a man like the men He had made, and the men He had made broke Him and killed Him. This is the dogma we find so dull—this terrifying drama of which God is the victim and hero. If this is dull, then what, in Heaven’s name, is worthy to be called exciting? The people who hanged Christ never, to do them justice, accused Him of being a bore—on the contrary; they thought Him too dynamic to be safe. It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround Him with an atmosphere of tedium. We have very efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified Him ‘meek and mild,’ and recommended Him as a fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies.”
From Michael Horton’s The Gospel-Driven Life.
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Infuse Update: Postponed & A Few Q’s
Posted on 11. Mar, 2010 by justinbryeans.
We’ve discussed for some time how we might work together to produce an environment where the mission of God and mission shaped living can be explored, resourced, etc. Infuse arose from those discussions, but not without a bit of confusion as to how the process would work and the logistics of the event itself. As such, and with apologies, the event has been postponed here in Spokane until we are able to clarify some of the lingering questions and prepare well for the event itself.
Therefore, here are a few questions intended to help clarify and prepare.
1. After reading the outline, what questions, if any, do you have regarding the overall focus and possible outcomes of Infuse?
2. Once clarity and good preparation are in place, will you participate and will you facilitate the participation of others?
3. Are you willing to help with the logistical preparation of the event?
4. Other?
Again, apologies for the confusion, the postponement and such. I think that by addressing the above questions, and the ones that come up in conversation, we can work together to host a learning community that illuminates the centrality of mission for the church and resource that mission here in Spokane and beyond.
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Resource: GCM Collective / GCM Groups
Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by justinbryeans.
If you have yet to see the GCN Groups site, I’d recommend you take a quick look. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve tracked a few discussions in the “Everyday Mission” and “Community Life” groups that I’ve enjoyed, that refer to good resources, etc. Also, the GCM Collective site is slated to launch on Monday I believe, and will be a portal for gospel communities on mission.
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Acts 29 Regional Event in Pasco
Posted on 16. Feb, 2010 by stevehart.
Just wanted to put this out there if anyone is interested… Acts 29 is putting together a regional event in Pasco on March 17th. More info here.
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Infuse: A Mission Shaped Learning Community?
Posted on 11. Feb, 2010 by justinbryeans.
Over the last few months we’ve discussed the possibility of working together to host a mission shaped learning environment with a hope of provoking further missional engagement in our region and beyond. Here you will find an outline that has been put together by our friend Rob Fairbanks and that will be fleshed out in Portland in March and April. As you read over the outline please consider whether or not this is something that you would support and if it’s something that would be doable this spring. Leave questions, etc. in the comments section.
