Does the Church still impact the community?

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On Sunday, I had a great conversation over twitter with a student.  The student said something that sparked a question for her, “How do we advocate change”?

Student: “I just think, myself included, that all the Christians at our school need to stand out more. We’re all in this bubble with our Christian friends, but when Christ came, he came for the sinners, not the saved. I’m not saying don’t be friends with Christians, but i feel like a lot of us are kind of livin with our heads in the sand a bit. we need to have more ‘outreaches’ at our school, trying to connect with the unsaved more. I’m going to do everything I can to start reaching out to those in need. and maybe with friends with me on that too. I’m excited to see what God is going to do in my school.”

James:  Student involved, student led outreaches are really the only way to reach them. I do believe the Church (big C) needs to be more approachable and more involved in a relational way, not really a religious way. I would like to see the Church be known on all campuses, not for our (youth) program, but for our willingness to get involved with the school (community).

Student: Yes! I also believe the big C needs to be more approachable. I see so many people hear the Name “God” and turn the other way and I just want to do everything I can to at least be able to talk with these kids and get to know them and their story. I WANT them to feel the Love I feel and yes, I completely agree! I look forward to being able to do everything I can to get to know people and talk to them and such! I think great things will come out of this.

Beyond breaking the 140 character record, the question on how can student ministry impact a community is for us all.  Let’s start the conversation with these two questions.

1)  In what ways can the Church (Student Ministry and the Church in general) impact their community?

2) Are “Campus Ministries” a thing of the past or do you see them vibrant in your community?

ME10 (Missions Expo 2010) Why?

Missions Expo 2010 (AKA ME10) at Bridgeway Christian Church is one of those events where I believe I thrive.  It’s a ministry (besides student ministries) that I enjoy.  People often ask me why I do what I do.  An easy question, yet a taunting task, to organize mission trips for one church.   My answer:  Because I love to get people out of the church to be the Church.   We need to constantly remind ourselves that being the Church is what truly God wanted.  Meeting in buildings on a weekend is part of service in itself.  Meeting in a building (in a corporate sense) builds unity, fellowship, and spiritual growth.  However, it’s not the end all.  What you and I do monday through Friday is a true representation of the Church.

Many non believers want nothing to do with the Church because of the way we live our everyday lives; they’re the ones looking at the Church and wanting nothing to do with it.   If we’re drinking our sorrows at the local bar, I guess that means part of the Church is doing just that, drinking at the bar.   There is no doubt in my mind the Church is full of messed up people.  However, God did not love us because we’re perfect.  He did not send his only Son because of our complete obedience to everything he has called us to, but in His mercy and love He loves us because we are his son’s and daughters.

I enjoy the Missions Expo because I get to put on a platform the many opportunities for people to make an impact in this world.  Because without events like these we often forget what is in our very own backyard, much less what is across the ocean.

Every year we pray for the Missions Expo, that it will empower, motivate, and help us move one step toward God’s obedience.  It’s my personal prayer that Bridgeway Missions will change our perspective in the way we live our lives. I love what the beginning of Joshua 24:14 says, ” So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly”

I often really do think:  If everyone has a heart for Christ like you have a heart for Christ, what would the heart of the Church look like.