Looking Back at 2009

Most church leaders are all too glad to be bringing 2009 to a close. The economic situation that began in the fall of 2008 is still impacting ministries across the country. While there is no denying the impact of that event, I prefer to take a “glass half full” approach and look at some positive movements in the Body of Christ.

Servant Evangelism – The church is expanding beyond its walls. For far too long the church has been viewed by many as a fort, keeping the inhabitants safe from the dangers outside the walls. Led by a movement of vibrant churches across the country, the church has “left the building.” Across the country it seems as if a revival of service is taking place. In churches large and small, in urban and rural areas alike, the people of God are discovering the ministry of service in unique and practical ways. And through it all, the love of God is being offered to people who desperately need it.

• In South Bend, IN Granger Community Church has invested heavily in people resources in the downtown area called Monroe Circle. Amazing things have happened there in the last eight years – and it appears that even more amazing things will happen in the future as residents have found faith in Christ and confidence in themselves to start a new life



• Hundreds of churches in Portland Oregon came together in a “Season of Service” to address five community concerns: homelessness, the medically uninsured, public schools, hunger, and the environment. Over 25,000 volunteers from these churches fanned out across the city in an outpouring of love and generosity that moved the city. Even skeptical city officials were amazed at the outflow, and promised to continue working with the churches to accomplish even greater things. Evangelist Luis Palau, Pastor Rick McKinley of Imago Dei and Pastor John Bishop of Living Hope Church are leading the efforts.



• Dino Rizzo and the Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge LA started a “revolution through serving” several years ago. It has attracted a lot of national attention, and in the week before Easter, churches large and small from one end of the country to the other participated in simple acts of kindness intended to show their communities their unconditional love.
  

What’s the deal? Here’s my take on what’s happening: We typically think of the church as the “gathered” collection of believers in a place and time: usually on Sunday mornings. Powerful worship and illuminating study of the Word of God takes place. Then the church goes home. One week later, repeat. On and on, happily oblivious to the desperate needs outside the church walls.

It’s almost as if we live separate lives.But now take another look - the “scattered” church is awakening to the power of God lived out in member’s daily lives. People are realizing that they are called to be the hands and feet of Christ, ministering and serving others as they live out their daily lives.

Tomorrow's look back: Vision.

Love in Action

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

How will you "so love the world" today?

United Methodist Bishops Combat Poverty Head on During Rethink Church Launch

Washington, DC: The top spiritual leaders of The United Methodist Church are rethinking the way they combat poverty and rolling up their sleeves in the process.

On May 5, 2009, many United Methodist bishops embraced the plight of migrant workers by taking to the streets of the Washington, DC area to serve the workers breakfast. The bishops participated in the effort as part of the launch of the denomination’s new Rethink Church campaign, the next evolution of The United Methodist Church’s “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors” welcoming and advertising campaign.

Church leaders hope that reaching out and embracing migrant workers will inspire others to rethink church as an experience that extends beyond the church walls and into communities. By taking a hands-on approach, United Methodist leaders hope to demonstrate there are thousands of ways in which a person can engage with the church—many of them non-traditional.

Those opportunities are highlighted at www.10thousanddoors.org, a new Web site to which The United Methodist Church is directing persons unaffiliated with the denomination, via Rethink Church advertising. Aimed at being relevant to an 18 to 34-year-old audience, www.10thousanddoors.org encourages exploration of the diverse ways United Methodists are making a difference in the world, and invites participation, discussion, and action.

United Methodist bishops from the U.S., Africa, Europe, and Asia will be in Bethesda, Md. May 3-8 for the semi-annual Council of Bishops meeting. During the week, council members will attend planning meetings, workshops, and plenary sessions primarily held at the Bethesda Hyatt. However, on Tuesday, May 5, many of the bishops will go out at 7:00 a.m. to serve breakfast to day laborers at three locations in and around the city. The bishops will also pray with and talk to the workers.

“Migrant workers are among the most exploited groups in American society. Day after day, hundreds of those workers gather in parking lots or on street corners hoping someone will offer them work for the day,” said Bishop Gregory Palmer, president of the Council of Bishops. “Many of them are struggling to support families they left behind in their native countries.”

Also on May 5, The Council of Bishops visited with Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to support legislation consistent with the priorities of The United Methodist Church concerning children, health care, and poverty. Ministry with the poor and fighting diseases of poverty are both areas of long-term focus for the denomination.

The United Methodist Church also sponsored other Rethink Church launch events on May 6 in New York, Dallas, and San Antonio. New television commercials and other advertising began April 20.

“The United Methodist Church wants people to begin thinking of church as an active verb; people taking action to better the lives of others. While ministries vary from church to church, United Methodist churches offer thousands of services and opportunities in the United States and abroad,” said Palmer.

The 163-member Council of Bishops—which includes active and retired bishops worldwide—provides leadership and helps set the direction of the 11.5-million member church and its mission throughout the world. The United Methodist Church is the second largest Protestant denomination in the U.S.

The Church Has Left the Building

Across the country it seems as if a revival of service is taking place. In churches large and small, in urban and rural areas alike, the people of God are discovering the ministry of service in unique and practical ways. And through it all, the love of God is being offered to people who desperately need it.

Yesterday I recounted the story of Granger Community Church and its involvement in the Monroe Circle Community Center. Amazing things have happened there in the last eight years – and it appears that even more amazing things will happen in the future.

Hundreds of churches in Portland Oregon came together in a “Season of Service” to address five community concerns: homelessness, the medically uninsured, public schools, hunger, and the environment. Over 25,ooo volunteers from these churches fanned out across the city in an outpouring of love and generosity that moved the city. Even skeptical city officials were amazed at the outflow, and promised to continue working with the churches to accomplish even greater things. Evangelist Luis Palau, Pastor Rick McKinley of Imago Dei and Pastor John Bishop of Living Hope Church are leading the efforts.

Dino Rizzo and the Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge LA started a “revolution through serving” several years ago. It has attracted a lot of national attention, and in the week before Easter, churches large and small from one end of the country to the other participated in simple acts of kindness intended to show their communities their unconditional love. Even now, almost a month later, “Servolution” stories continue to be shared via Twitter (#servolution).

What’s the deal? Here’s my take on what’s happening: We typically think of the church as the “gathered” collection of believers in a place and time: usually on Sunday mornings. Powerful worship and illuminating study of the Word of God takes place. Then the church goes home. One week later, repeat. On and on, happily oblivious to the desperate needs outside the church walls. It’s almost as if we live separate lives.

But now take another look - the “scattered” church is awakening to the power of God lived out in member’s daily lives. People are realizing that they are called to be the hands and feet of Christ, ministering and serving others as they live out their daily lives.

What a concept – a pity it has only taken us 2,000 years to begin to understand it.

Rainy Day Serving

As my small group continued to move through our most recent study - Outflow - we kicked around a few ideas about how we might do something as a group to serve others. We are planning on something in April.

A rainy Saturday and an empty nest for the weekend led Anita and I to go to the Northcross Target on a whim Saturday during the rain and walk people back and forth from their cars to the store.

A few observations:

• Most people are surprised by kindness
• Most people accept kindness
• Thank you's can be said without words
• Some people are just waiting for someone to be kind to them so they can talk
• Even little kids notice
• It wasn't rocket science

Steve Sjogren challenges all believers:

Whatever it is that you do, you can go about your day intentionally flinging seeds, nurturing relationships, and baring lasting fruit for God in the lives around you. If you do this, loving your city will become part of your everyday lifestyle.

It was a good day in the rain Saturday, flinging seeds.