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(Our mission house before & after – former gang house restored)
Chris Monroe has posted an excellent piece on his blog entitled “Would Your Church Leave a Hole in the Community?” (HT: BroMay). In this thought-provoking post, he asks:
How big of a difference are we making in our community, and if our congregation were to suddenly disappear, what size hole would we leave?
As I considered this, I hoped and prayed that our community (Little Flowers) would feel the lose. I really believe that it would. No, it may not make the newspaper (though I question if this is always a valid criteria), but our neighbours and neighbourhood would feel the loss. I am thankful that we have been able to come to that place as a missional community.
However, it was while I imagine us leaving our community that the most profound and painful question came into my mind:
How big a difference is our community making in our lives, and if we were suddenly to disappear, what size of hole would they leave?
The answer to these questions for me are: The difference they have made is incalcuable, and our leaving them would leave a huge, ragged, gaiping hole in our lives. For all the pain and dysfunction in our inner city neighbourhood, it is also a place of beautiful diversity, genuine neighbours and active, full life. It is home, moreso than any other place since my childhood home. I have roots here. I have seen my neighbours kids grow up, seen the face of the community change for the better and the worse. We are truly an active part of the story here.
More than this, even, is that it is here that I have discovered Christ most truly. Long gone are the romantic notions of finding Jesus in the homeless man as I give him food, him smiling back in teary-eyed gratitude. No, I found Jesus when my own selfishness, abuse of power and privilege cam face to face with the realities and brokenness of human lives and systems. I found Jesus in the humbling realization that I can’t save my neighbourhood, but I can participate with my neighbours in pursuit of the salvation we are all caught up in. I found Jesus by being present and integrated for many years in a place most seek to flee.
Is your neighbourhood a part of your life? Is it part of your congregations life? Or is it just an incidental of convenience or history? When you ask yourself what kind of impact you are having on your neighbours and neighbourhood, be sure to ask yourself what kind of impact are they having on you.
What kind of impact are your allowing them to have?
thx Jamie.
No worries, Don.
Peace,
Jamie
[...] Read the whole post here. [...]
Reciprocity is an important emphasis in missional expression in order to embrace the mutuality of our salvation.
Thanks Grace. It is so true. We need to understand as much about what we are doing in and to the community as they are in and to us.
Peace,
Jamie
Just stopping by to let you know I’m reading…loved this post. Or church and home is quite far from the community we reach out to…this is changing this year and I am so excited to see the difference it will make not only in the wider community but in us as well. Good stuff ahead.
Hey Chris,
That is SO exciting to hear. We look forward to visiting you guys down there some day.
Peace,
Jamie
There’s something about being on the “front lines” of life, and seeing the rain fall on the good and the bad alike. I’m not sure many of us could respond to the same challenge that you have with the same kind of courage and grace. I doubt that many churches would leave holes as big as yours would be, should you leave.
Thanks Grey Owl. If we were to leave, the hole in our lives would be huge. I would like to believe we are doing good things here that would be missed, but it is most certainly mutual. It is an amazing thing to be weaved into the fabric of a community.
Peace,
Jamie
So,please explain this to me. If you “make God known”to other people,and they have a different religion,what is the right thing to do in that situation? Do you walk away,or do you keep telling him/her that our God is the right one?
Hey Tim,
Not sure if your question is in respect to this post or is it just in general? That is a very general question relating to a situation that would otherwise be more complex. We respect people of other religions, sharing frankly and honestly what we believe. Relationship is mutual and we continue that relationship as long as they are willing.
Peace,
Jamie
Hi Jamie,my question was just a genreal one. So am i correct to understand that if the person does not belive in God,and they are belivers in something else,you will still continue a relationship with them? I hear of people going to other countries and trying to “convert”them,why does that happen?
Awaiting your reply.thanks,Tim.
Hey Tim,
Since the question is off topic, feel free to email me if you would like to explore this question. My Gmail address is jamiearpinricci. Thanks!
Peace,
Jamie
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