sometimes ministry sucks. churches are not even close to perfect. nor are fellowships. struggles are real. hardships are frustrating. perspective is difficult. fakeness is the easy way out. that’s why i love our pastor. He is never fake. i love that fact that he was real with us last night. I loved his willingness to be vulnerable and to be one of the few pastors to admit that sometimes ministry sucks and that he was frustrated and disappointed and all the other crappy emotions he had. I loved it. i think it takes a real big man to do what he did. To give us the inside look at his thoughts instead of letting us assume happy pastor man has got it all under control. ACF has issues. it’s obvious. outreach, cliquishness, unwelcoming outside our little friend bubbles. That’s real. I personally believe that all of that falls on us. the individuals that drive this fellowship. I respect a ton that Aaron was willing to take blame and question his leadership. That’s what you want in a leader. you want your quarterback down 7 in 4th quarter to want the ball in his hands. However, we gotta start blocking for him, running correct routes, holding on to the ball…in non football terms, we need to step up as a church and fellowship.
That aside for a second, i did love how aaron handled it all and i really hope people felt challenged by both sunday and wednesday. Do you care about the people around you more than what they think of you? more than the awkwardness you might feel? do you really?
My advice for outreach and being missional is don’t think about it. thinking about it makes people projects. makes you focus on YOUR words. Make God number 1 in your life and it will exude from you. Come the the drastic reality that this life isn’t about you. this college experience isn’t about what you can get out of it. what your 4 years will look like. what fun you can have. Don’t leave this place like that. those are empty memories. i’m not saying don’t have fun. leave footprints though. do you remember kenny hiser? edith clogg? of course you do, cuz they got it. Their lives weren’t about them. they didn’t outreach or be welcoming cuz they felt like they had to. they did cuz they really really cared about people and living out what God says.
bottom line, if you feel like you have to do anything or things i just said…then don’t do them. i’m serious. If you don’t legitimately want to love on people, then don’t attempt. Forcing is Religion. This was never about Religion. Do’s and Don’ts are crap. That’s Religion. Christ being real in your life is Christianity. And following Christ means following his basic way of life: love God and freaking everyone.
This was a bit of rambling, i apologize. hopefully it makes sense, apparently there was a lot on my mind about this.
I have seen 5 different dynamics of ACF. 1 per year. I have slowly watching ACF change. from a place where it was the number one priority. no one wanted to ever miss an ACF. no exam thursday (which is a crap excuse by the way), no club meeting, no anything would get in the way. People cared first and foremost about being a part of this body, encouraging one another, worshiping together, and being filled up on the word together. It has changed to a social gathering at times. A place where if it is convenient in peoples schedules, they come. It is not number one priority. THEIR college experience is. THEIR grades are. THEIR fill in the blank is. ACF is a direct correlation to a walk with Christ. Everything describing church in the bible is here. I think people are taking it for granted. and mis understanding the importance of the body and a weekly time to meet as believers and worship, be challenged, encourage, pray, read, etc.
maybe this is harsh. maybe your thinking its not so bad. that’s fine. but i see it. Numbers aren’t everything, but look at them…room doesn’t fill anymore, almost no freshman. no charismatic worship. Something is in the way of letting God break through. I believe change is coming. I think Aaron has stirred the sleeping giant if you will.
Faith is not an activity. College is the best time to challenge your faith, make it your own, and leave your parents views at the door. Your right, this is your college experience. It will also be the biggest shaping of who you are. Who do you want to be when you leave here? how are you going to pursue that? I’ll leave you with switchfoot “This is your life…are you who you want to be?“
Set
+Our God is Love :: Lee McDerment
+Marvelous Light :: Charlie Hall
+How Great is our God :: Chris Tomlin
+To know your Name :: Hillsong United
+Our Love is Loud :: David Crowder
