This post will continue the notes from my CIY church planting class...
The Oasis Story
The Oasis story began with a vision to plant a church in Athens, with a particular focus on the campus of Ohio University. However, some circumstances of life kept my famiy from getting to Athens right away. For over a year we lived 30 miles south of Athens in Meigs County. Because the calling of God to make disciples was on our lives regardless of where we lived, we began to do just that. Within a matter of months a fellowship had begun among people in Meigs County. While continuing to do our best to be faithful in God’s purpose in the world, we began to allow our theology of “church” to be rearranged, and our concept of church planting became much simpler than we had ever realized.
Today we are in our second year of living in Athens. I am currently acting as pastor of a church in Meigs County while also pursuing relationships and vision for a church in Athens. In addition, during the last two years I have been sort of like a consultant and distant "pastor" of a church in Waverly, OH (about 60 miles west of Athens), visiting these brothers and sisters on a once-a-month basis. This extensive involvement with multiple churches would not be possible with a traditional church planting philosophy. But with simple, kingdom-minded church philosophy, everyone recognizes their call to serve, to bring something to the community (1 Corinthians 14:26). They recognize the different ways God has gifted each member (Ephesians 4:11-13). They recognize that being the church is much more than gathering together for teaching and worship. This allows a person who is gifted to pioneer new churches and help multiple congregations to function effectively in that gift.
We have to ask ourselves… how would an average person in the church define the word “church”? This question deals not with styles or methods. It goes deeper, to the heart of who the church is. I will give two possible definitions people may give, and then elaborate just briefly.
· Definition #1: I come to church to be fed, to have my needs met through quality programs, and to have leaders teach me and my children about God. Church, in this definition is seen as a dispenser of goods and services… this is called “going to church”. In this definition a person will describe to someone else about the church to which they “GO”.
· Definition #2: I see church as a body of people sent on a mission given by Jesus, and who gather in community for worship, encouragement, and teaching from the Word of God, which supplements how I am feeding myself throughout the week. In this definition a person will describe to someone else the church to which they “BELONG”. Church, by this definition, functions much like a good family.
The issue is more often the mindset, not the model. When the mindset of every believer is consumed with a missional vision (definition #2) for the church to which they belong rather than a consumer vision (definition #1), then the model will really not make a difference. God will use the large church, the house church, the simple church, the complex church, the urban church, and the rural church. It just depends on which one fits best for your community.
This is why we have two very different looking Oasis Fellowships in southeastern Ohio. Meigs County is a very different community and culture from Athens. In Meigs we have established some stability, with growing and multiplying house churches, and a regular Sunday gathering in an established neutral location. In Athens I am currently meeting with people in a variety of settings as we explore some different possibilities for the growth of the kingdom in that culture. Please join me in praying for the campus of Ohio University. Much of our efforts and ideas are focused toward penetrating the campus of Ohio University with the Gospel in a way that has never been done. We continually need God’s grace and wisdom as we develop this vision.
<< More on this "OU vision" real soon!!! >>
Here are a few quotes about church planting that I included in my CIY notes.
“Church planting hurts. Scott Peck wrote, ‘The definition of mental illness is the avoidance of pain.’ Most often planting a church reveals to the church planter and team members many of the personal weaknesses they would prefer not to see.”
“A church that does not do outreach is a waste of time.”
“There is nothing sacred in this process except the forward progress of the Kingdom of God.”
“The power of God’s love is what brings people to Christ—not slick programs, not telling people how bad they are, not evangelism and not theology.”
“You must respect and honor everyone’s tradition. God has brought the gospel to you through the hands of others and by their hard work. But if honoring them requires you to ignore the current calling of Christ in your life, you must choose the way of Christ That sort of concern will handcuff you and keep you from church-planting effectiveness.”
“You must communicate that the aim of your church is to produce disciples who do stuff, not disciples who only know stuff.”
“What do you dream about? Is it a big church… or changed people?”
Your thoughts???
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