9th
Lunch with Barry
On Monday, I had lunch with Barry the sr. pastor at New City Fellowship. They are deeply immersed in the struggles of their community. Their church offices are right in the dicey neighborhood where they serve.
Question: How would our ministry change if we had church offices were near downtown?
Just before I arrived three old vehicles in their fenced lot had their catalytic converters cut off. This poses a dilemma: At $300 a piece, what should they do? Replace them to honor the emissions law knowing that they may well get cut off again or put on a straight pipe. Hmm.
I asked Barry to share the core values that drive their church. Here they are in simple form:
1. The church must be driven by what Jesus taught were values of his Kingdom - compassion, justice, with special attention to the poor and vulnerable (widows, widowers, orphans, immigrants).
Key question: How are our efforts matching with Kingdom values?
2. The church body must work as a team and in teams. They believe that God puts his work on a number of hearts - this group calling creates a team to minister. The staff’s work is to equip people and specifically teams. (Ephesians 4)
The congregation needs to know that the are being invested in and unleashedto serve.
Identify a team leader and especially invest in them.
Key question: If an individual has an idea, the question is -who else senses the same calling? Further, who is the team leader and how can we invest in them?
3. Power flows out a the Gospel of grace. There is a clear Gospel message and strong invitation to follow Jesus, but it is highly grace driven. More mercy!
4. Team’s service focus inform and drive the budget
5. Huge idea: Humble circumstances. They believe deeply that individuals must live out Jesus example (Philippians 2) by entering humble circumstances where we have little control, we struggle and discover OUR needs. They believe we must minister to others out of need and not power. We must enter the struggle and resist “fixing” things. Fixing things is a huge issue for most. They believe that we walk with the poor and needy, helping them, but without a superior attitude. Trials, questions, and difficulty are natural parts of our spiritual journey.
Key question: Does our community see our church and members as humble and serving?
6. Having people serve in international situations won’t diminish the heart and work of local service.