Archive for Church Planting
English as a Bridge
Posted by: | CommentsWhat does it mean at Antioch Church when we say that English is a bridge language? Largely we are talking about how we use English and other languages in our corporate worship gatherings. While we will always attempt to integrate as many languages as we can as a part of how we celebrate in worship, we recognize that for our church English will always be seen as the overarching and unifying language. Now, for some multi-ethnic churches the bridge language may be different, but it seems inevitable that there must be a choice made.
At this point it works out like this. We are integrating Swahili and Arabic into our services through prayers by individuals. These are not translated. We also read Scripture in all three languages with translation being projected on the screen in the languages not being read at the time. We are verbally translating the Bible story phrase by phrase. We are still fine-tuning translating the main points of the sermon on the screen in both Swahili and Arabic.
We are still considering several other ideas. One is to use electronic devices for headset translation. This is a challenge due cost and the need for an extremely talented real-time translator. It also raises the question of how many languages can be supported with this technique. We minster in a neighborhood with 70 people groups and certainly can’t fully translate to all of the languages that might come to a service. Another thought is to provide translators in cluster seating during the service, so that, those who want to hear things translated, that are not translated from the stage, can be close enough to do so.
The realities of striking a language balance in a multi-ethnic church are always going to be difficult. It requires grace and understanding. It requires sensitivity to those participating. It demands careful and thoughtful planning by leaders. But, believing that the celebration of multi-ethnic worship is one worth pursuing all of the demands are worth it. One further note, this type of worship also demands that opportunities are given, in our case through weekly Family Groups, for gathering in a context where the language barrier is not issue.
Please feel free to ask questions or comment, or by all means, if your church has a handle on these ideas share your solutions.
Mission…what?
Posted by: | CommentsAre we doing missions or are we being missional? Yeah, yeah, I know…semantics right. It’s just playing with endings, but it’s all the same. Well, whatever you want to call them, I think the two concepts are different. Surely the thoughts I’m pondering are not new or original, but they have been rattling in my head and heart a lot lately. So here’s what I’m thinking.
If we are simply doing missions, then we are by definition relegating the mission to a task, action or program. So, we simply go on mission trips. We have a missions department or ministry. We organize people to sign up and get equipped to do something.
If on the other hand, we are living missions, i.e. being missional, then by definition our mission begins to define who we are. We are equipping people to be something. Missions is not something we do, but instead runs through the fabric of how we think, what we love, and how we relate to others. We see the church as a community of called out people living out the gospel in every aspect of their lives.
Jesus came to live the redemption mission. God didn’t send us a revamped program of how to engage Him. He came, He lived, He died, and He rose again. This is what the mission looks like. It is an “all in” affair. We can’t just do “missiony” things and declare ourselves faithful.
Like the description on the Kingdom of God, living missionally, living “for the sake of the gospel” is like yeast it permeates everything. In other words you can’t be a little missional, slightly gospel centered or a tad Kingdom minded. The gospel captures everything about us and therefore our response should be to live it out in every aspect of our daily lives.
Church Planting Greatness
Posted by: | CommentsI was thinking the other day about what success or greatness looks like. Later, in a conversation with a friend the inevitable query of, “How’s it going?” was asked, and I had to really think. My first and typical response is, “Great!” But, I think it’s only fair to ask, “Why is it great?” Now I must say that of late my evaluation of what’s great and what’s not so great has been in a process of transition. In the past when thinking about church planting success, I might have more quickly run to things like structures, numbers, programs, or accolades. Maybe it’s an age thing, although frankly I think it is a lot more of a heart thing, but those answers just don’t cut it for me anymore. In many ways I almost don’t care about them. Now, before you question whether the “A” is for anarchist rather than Antioch, I am not saying that there is no value in those things. What I am saying is that there are things far richer and beautiful to judge our “great” by.
So, here is why I say that things are “going great” at Antioch Church. God is answering our prayers! He is clearly and unequivocally working in and through us in response to our prayers. It is enough to be great that He is working at all, but that He is blessing us to let us be a part, through our asking, is just plain mind-blowing. We have been asking God to bring us faithful, godly people. Ones who will be a part of this church family with the same passion and desire to reach the nations for Christ that He has placed in us. We have asked, no begged, for God to raise-up leaders that will reflect the community and be willing to pour themselves into the lives of others for the sake of the gospel. I see God graciously answering both of those requests. The greatest asset that God has given us as a church is to entrust us with His sheep. He is raising up a true community for His glory here in the Southend. Faithful men and women of God have joined in the journey, have moved into the neighborhood, have begun to give, have opened their homes, have started investing in neighbors and each other. This is a beautiful, wonderful, amazing…gospel thing! New leaders are beginning to emerge that love Christ, love this community and are burdened to serve. God IS answering our prayers.
We have also prayed that God would allow us to be fully faithful to His commission to the church. He is answering that prayer as well. This Sunday we will celebrate our first baptisms. Two men in their twenties will make their public declarations of faith in Christ. These two men, because of their backgrounds, will be doing this at great risk. Already in their discipleship they have determined that the gospel compels them to be bold, and having counted the cost, they will take the next step in their journeys with Christ. This is one more beautiful example of answered prayer. Others are being drawn by the power of the gospel, still others are being shaped and carved into more faithful disciples. Answered prayer, answered prayer.
So at the end of each day I am thankful that things are “going great,” not because of the reasons that I have celebrated in the past, but because I see the same God who called us to start Antioch Church, being faithful to work out His plan in and through HIS church. We have a God that for whatever crazy reason hears our prayers and in His mercy responds to them according to His will. So, no matter what else happens or whether we have all the tangible evidence that things are great, if we know that God is still listening and we see Him continuing His work, then I think I’m safe to conclude that not only are things “great,” but more importantly I am reminded that He is “GREAT.”