Over the last 2 weekends I had the privilege of engaging in 2 conferences focussed on mission and evangelism. The first was the “Fire” conference which we co-sponsored with Springwood Church of Christ – featuring Paul Gibbs and Lindsay and Myk McKenzie. The second was the Uniting Church “A Clear Call” conference in Adelaide – featuring John and Olive Drane who are very involved with the “fresh expressions” movement in the Church of England, UK.
There were 3 things that struck me out of these weekends:
1. Encouragement. I was greatly encouraged regarding the journey we have been on in shaping church around incarnational mission and relational discipleship.
Incarnational Mission = instead of trying to get people to join us we go and serve and witness where people are at. Examples through LUC are: people participating in building God’s kingdom in their workplaces; people caring for neighbours or people they meet at the gym or on the bus or …; providing breakfast at the local schools; going out on street vans and serving homeless where they hang out etc.
Relational Discipleship = recognising that discipleship requires “life on life”: that is, discipleship involves engagement in relationships that are genuinely honest and encouraging. Such relationships include reflecting together on the bible and what God is saying to us personally, being honest about how we are or aren’t participating in God’s purposes, encouraging each other in incarnational mission; working together and supporting each other through life issues etc.
2. Disciples of Jesus disciple others. I have been reminded of the need for all of us to take responsibility for discipling others. One of the mistakes we can make is that when someone shows any interest in God we think the next step is to invite them to a Sunday service and/or to try to connect them with others who can help them grow. In reality, if we have a relationship with them then we need to own the responsibility of seeking to disciple them. Our IFFF questions and the Discipleship Pathway offer some tools that can assist us in this.
3.Be ready to try innovative things as God makes us aware of the need. At the conference in (Cont P2)
Adelaide we heard the story of a 70 plus year old lady who recognised that physically she couldn’t do as much as she once did but after 50 years as a follower of Jesus she could pray for people. In her village in England there was regular “spiritual fair” and she decided to set up a little booth and offer free prayer for people. The response was amazing as young mums, in particular, sort her out. In another story a church in rural England was dying with a congregation of 6 people all over 80 years of age. There was nowhere in their village for young mums and children to meet so they converted their church building into a children’s indoor play gym with coffee etc. The relationships developed through this have become “church” for many.
We are seeing these innovative responses taking place through the life groups and ministries of LUC as people take initiatives in connecting with the YMCA school at Kingston (serving the students and families); as a life group takes responsibility for connecting with and encouraging another ministry of LUC; as people become aware of a neighbour in need and involve their life group or IFFF in helping them out; as member of LUC takes the initiative to help a mate who lost a child through Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytis by organising a group of people to get involved in “tough mudder” and raise money for the leukaemia foundation – bringing a sense of community and purpose to his friend and others; and so on.
I am greatly encouraged by the incredible gift we have at LUC of people who are willing to continue to grow and stretch as disciples of Christ who make disciples.
Yours in Christ
Graham Keech
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