Being Present in the Community -- Being a Borderland Church
We have heard the adage about being in the world but not of the world. Jesus said that his kingdom wasn't of this world. Many have taken this to mean that we're just passing through, just visiting the planet.
The church has often lived in such a fashion, separating itself, living as if the neighborhood really isn't there. We drive in and drive out, without making a mark. But if we're to cross over into the borderlands. If we're going to live in a way that transforms the world and ourselves, then we can't live in such a way.
Gary Nelson, in Borderland Churches writes that the leadership of borderland churches must understand that the church exists for others. That is difficult, because we usually build things that suit our own sensibilities -- and churches are no different. In the book, he contrasts churches built on an "attractional" model -- the "come to" churches -- with the missional model -- the "go to" churches. The question is -- how does this take place?
He writes:
The italics above are mine, because this is the struggle that we have. In my own congregation we do need to attend to the building, but our missional ministry is not only caught up in revitalizing a building, it requires us to enter and engage and embed ourselves with and in the community. That's because to be missional recognizes that we're not just passing through. We're taking up residence.
The church has often lived in such a fashion, separating itself, living as if the neighborhood really isn't there. We drive in and drive out, without making a mark. But if we're to cross over into the borderlands. If we're going to live in a way that transforms the world and ourselves, then we can't live in such a way.
Gary Nelson, in Borderland Churches writes that the leadership of borderland churches must understand that the church exists for others. That is difficult, because we usually build things that suit our own sensibilities -- and churches are no different. In the book, he contrasts churches built on an "attractional" model -- the "come to" churches -- with the missional model -- the "go to" churches. The question is -- how does this take place?
He writes:
Borderland churches know their neighbors, their politicians, and their neighboring businesses. They share in the community activities and are recognized by the agencies that work there. They are a presence not just through their buildings but through their social networks. (Gary Nelson, Borderland Churches, Chalice Press, 2008, p. 39).
The italics above are mine, because this is the struggle that we have. In my own congregation we do need to attend to the building, but our missional ministry is not only caught up in revitalizing a building, it requires us to enter and engage and embed ourselves with and in the community. That's because to be missional recognizes that we're not just passing through. We're taking up residence.
Comments