English as a Bridge
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?
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.
How Can You Help?
By · CommentsAntioch Family,
Below is an invitation to a special event coming this Saturday night here in Louisville. I have been blessed with the opportunity to speak and would appreciate your prayers.
We also need some help before and during the event. So, if you can give some time in the next couple of days, or if you can commit to help at the event, please let me know as soon as possible.
blessings,
Todd
Time of fellowship with the Haitian community in Louisville
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
What: Time of worship, prayer, and fellowship with Haitian Bethel Church, Haitian Tabernacle, Antioch Church, Sojourn Community Church, and other members of the Haitian community in Louisville. This will be a time to pray for, encourage, bless and comfort those who are grieving over the loss of family members and friends in the recent earthquake.
Why: To express to the Louisville Haitian community that they are not forgotten during these days as so many of them grieve from afar unable to help their own families, their own people. Not only do we have the opportunity to serve those in the Haitian community who follow Christ, but also those who do not know Christ and who are grieving without the hope that we as Christ-followers have.
When: Saturday, January 30th, 6-8 p.m. (Dinner wil be Pot-luck style; Please bring an entrée, appetizer, or desert that can feed at least one family).
Where: Bethlehem Baptist Church, 5708 Preston Highway, Louisville 40219
Churches Helping Churches
By · CommentsFor more on this follow the links below:
Heartache for Haiti
By · CommentsTonight my heart is heavy for the people of Haiti. As I am writing this, the suffering of untold thousands of Haitians is unspeakable. While praying for them tonight I had no where else to go with my thoughts but the Bible. God led me quickly to Psalm 46. I’m so thankful He did and I thought I’d share this familiar passage with you.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.