The new moderator of the PCUSA, Bruce Reyes-Chow, talked last Monday (yikes, I’m behind!) about going where people are already looking for things to make your church visible. Specifically, where they’re looking for advice on stuff other than church. For Bruce’s “emerging” church in San Francisco, that means an online review site, among other things.
How do people find things here in the Quad Cities? Where should we go to bear good news to people who need to hear/see/feel it? I’m guessing most of us didn’t find the church through an online review. We either did it the old-fashioned way and joined because it’s Presbyterian, or we found out from our friends and gave it a try (the really old-fashioned way). Did some of us find the church on our doorstep with good news in its hand?
I doubt most of us like the idea of having “Outreach” and “Evangelism” tagged on the same post, but evangelism isn’t just about convincing people to come to church. It’s about carrying good news to people where they already are. Bruce’s church goes to consumers in the act of shopping. Jesus went where the poor begged and the sick waited to get into healing pools. Where does our good news take us?
(Is it dangerous for me to link this blog to Bruce’s already, when it’s not yet at all clear whether it will survive the “what’s next for our website” process? Or is this how the “emerging website” process works? Am I stepping out boldly in faith? You tell me.)
August 18, 2008 at 10:14 pm
In my opinion, there is no such thing as a coincidence. What is happening in the present is meant to be. So the fact that this new website is up and running is as it was meant to be in this particular time. It is a way for all of us to “reach out” in another and different way (for most of us anyway). We can all join in and enjoy this relatively new communication medium and have a way speak to all who will listen. It is a way to almost anonymously share our thoughts, but still not stand face to face to a crowd (although that doesn’t seem to bother me much). So yes, share your thoughts and visions of our church; this community of ours where we all join together for our common good, and see where this will take all of us.
August 19, 2008 at 9:10 am
Fabulous, John. I love the openness you’re bringing to this website process and the faith you have in seeing us right where God has placed us.
Every so often, somebody asks me about “Predestination,” and I usually give the long historical answer about what Calvin actually meant by it. What I really understand is what you expressed, that even in the midst of a complicated new development in our world, God is still the Author of Life, and God’s intentions are still playing out. You live that commitment thoroughly (which is so much better than just “believing it”).
August 22, 2008 at 7:25 am
Nathan – Thanks for the link and shout out. Blog looks great! – Bruce