Shawn - A Ministry Manifesto - Going, Not Inviting

Two and a half years ago, Marina and I voluntarily jumped off a high cliff by leaving behind the conventional church in order to take the timeless message of Christ to people who have become disillusioned with 'organized religion.'  It's taken some time to get used to the feeling of free-fall.  When I think of it logically, in a spirit of prayer and connection with the Master, I know that we are right where He wants us…very excited about the journey we are privileged to travel.  But when fatigue sets in, or the fiery darts of doubt or fear come our way, we feel like weird people. 

Our journey in this direction began a few years ago at a conference where I heard a speaker/author named Neil Cole teach at length about the concepts of his book “Organic Church.”  He shared things that blew my mind regarding the American Church:  That we have become unwittingly caught up in a sub-culture of “churchianity” while the vast majority of our own neighbors & children are, for the most part, deciding not to “be reached”; That I was not alone in my desire to leave behind the programs and administrative responsibilities of church life in order to identify with people on their own turf; that sharing the love & teachings of Jesus is supposed to be simple and personal, rather than institutional.  Really revolutionary stuff, right?  Any honest student of the Bible would admit that this was true of the Church of the New Testament.  I had come to the conclusion that 13-years of “professional ministry” had somewhat inoculated me against a virus that I was never meant to get over.  My job was to lead groups of people to faith and help them grow as sons & daughters of God.  My struggle, however, was that this essential value got washed over by the heavy tide of responsibilities, expectations, and the clergy-centered mindset that comes with the territory of “professional pastoring.” Also, the past several decades of church growth strategies has produced a whole subculture of churchgoers who desperately need to learn to stop depending on others to feed their spirits.  If I sound jaded and condescending, I don’t mean to be, I’m just being honest.  This is part of what has led me away from full-time church ministry…not that normal churches are doing it “wrong” and I’m going to go out and go it “right”…that belief taken to its extreme would make me a cult leader like Joseph Smith or Charles Taze Russell.  My desire is to experience what author Miles Connoly refers to as an “Amiable Rebellion.”  To some, this will seem like a contradiction in terms, while others will recognize that pioneering Church growth throughout history is always somewhat rebellious.  Here is the deal: I want to join arms with all the other churches in this area to reach out to people with the message and love of Jesus…I’m just focusing my attention on those who aren’t going to their churches.

An acquaintance of mine, who is doing something very similar in post-christian Europe, said this:
“Our church is actually in the process of refocusing our ‘fishing efforts’. For a year and a half now we’ve been casting nets so to speak and have been trying to get our name out there...but now we are stepping back…We’re just doing one simple thing and a worship event once a month. The simple thing (we’re starting 3 of them across Paris) is called Table Groups... they meet every week in homes at different places in the city.”
 
I appreciate what he said about “fishing efforts.”  What we really need to do is redefine what it means to “cast the net.”  Christians too often rely on the church institution to create programs and marketing to attract people to the church, while Jesus’ example and command is for His PEOPLE to be cast into the world to share His love and help.  My perspective has radically changed in the past few years.  I have experienced years of training and practice in throwing large nets to catch a multitude of whoever swims by, and reaped accordingly.  As a former Youth Pastor for 10 years, I can truly say that at least half the kids in my groups didn’t really want to be “caught” for Jesus, they just got caught up in the program hype or the relationships that got them there.  This method is good for short term group building, but not for truly affecting people with the lifechanging love and power of the God who seeks to relate with them personally.  So now I have decided to jump out of the boat and go hang out with the fish. 

I believe that ministry is for all Christ-followers, and that it is to be lived-out informally and respectfully in the public arenas of our communities.  I strike up conversations with folks at the store or in restaurants or gas stations.  Some people don’t even know I’m a pastor, but when they find out I tell them that I’m a pastor for people who don’t like organized religion.  They usually like that a lot.  So I endeavor to work hard, be authentic, and speak their language, and value every person as precious to God – knowing that they will see the light of Christ through me, and hoping they will be attracted to Him because of it.  It’s not my job to preach at people or try to “sell God” to them.  Instead, it’s God’s job to draw new people into relationship with Him through authentic relationships with His people.  Eventually, as people come into relationship with God, they will need to get together in order to encourage one another and learn, and another church will be born as a result.  Our vision is to create a network of small communities of faith, filled with people who want to experience God in everyday living and spread it around like word-of-mouth-wildfire.  When I read the New Testament, that is what I believe Church is.

What do you think ?

Comments

[Dave]

Yeah, good thoughts. At the same time, I can't help but think while I'm reading that part of where you are is a personal attempt at compensation for past 'imbalance' in ministry. As you know, I'm involved in the 'institution' of church, but I approach things in much the same way you do. I don't know that we need to over-correct for past misguided-ness. This format (writing) doesn't suit me well for getting into all the nuance and explaining better, but I thought I'd throw a response out there. :)

[Dave]

I think you would like this blog/website/ministry: http://thepracticingchurch.com/

[Shawn Mitchell]

Yeah, you're right about that Dave. But sometimes when things are really imbalanced, more drastic efforts are needed to influence change toward 'the center.' In short, someone has to stand over here.