The responsibility of the church is both local and global. As told through Charity, Shane, Rachel and Nathan here's a quick pictorial overview of African Redemption stories as told through Charity, Shane, Rachel and Nathan. Here is the link to their blog while they were gone complete with stories and pictures, warning there is a lot there, don't try to read it all in one sitting.

We live in the crossfire of competing voices, some telling us how to live, what we need to be us and still others questioning whether we have any true value. Some of these voices are external, it's culture that screams at us from the moment we step out the front door each morning. Other times, the voices we hear are internal, and we often find ourselves powerless in shutting them off.

But what if there was another voice? A voice that deliberately calls out softer than all the rest? A voice that calls us to be who we've been created to be? A voice that calls us to healing, redemption and purpose? This voice, is the voice of the church. As Christ speaks thru her, we hear the call to get up and follow. And in turn, as we come together as the church, with our voices in unison, part of our mandate is to speak into the darkest corners of our culture, calling all - even the least likely as Jesus called Levi in Mark 2 - to get up and follow.

For the love of Sarnia, for the sake of the Levi's and for the protection of our own souls, may we follow Jesus wherever and to whomever he leads, calling all to get up and follow.

"'It isn't the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick.' What sort to things might the church be doing if we needed to explain them with an aphorism like that? If we aren't doing anything that needs that sort of explanation, then we need to ask ourselves whether we are in fact presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to today's world. We must be ready to challenge society in Jesus' name. Jesus himself, after all, challenged his own society by overturning its expectations, and celebrating the kingdom of God with, as it seemed, all the wrong people." (NT Wright)

"Dreams, by definition, are supposed to be unique and imaginative. Yet the bulk of the population is dreaming the same dream. It's a dream of wealth, power, fame, plenty of sex and exciting recreational opportunities. What does it mean when a whole culture dreams the same dreams?" (Kalle Lasn)

"I go to Bloomingdales, to the fourth floor, and I buy 2000 of the black bras, 2000 of the beige, 2000 of the white. And I ship them around between the homes and the boat and that's the end of it for maybe half a year when I have to do it all over again." (Ivana Trump)

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What moves us? What images cause us to look outside and maneuver beyond our own self interest? And as the church, what images do we embody and transmit to the world around us? Last Sunday, we chatted about 3 images in particular that we are ‘delivering intact to both our current and to succeeding generations' with which to pursue the Mystery. They were/are: The Authentic Pursuit (deliberately keeping Christ the center of our individual lives and as a community); The Big Fat Risk (betting it all on the next move for God's glory and the benefit of others); The Irresistible Revolution (the overpowering redemptive force that begins in us and spills over to all those we come into contact with).

theStory is in the image business: Affirming, creating, connecting images to tell the story of Jesus anew.

Are you in?

"The purpose of orthodoxy is not to tell you the whole truth but to deliver intact to every succeeding generation a set of images with which to pursue the truth. Theology, therefore, is a hunt for the Mystery..." (Robert Capon)

"Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing." (Hudson Taylor)

"Churches should strive to create an alternative community, deeply placed in risk, summoned in baptism to a world in which God is a pivotal player." (Walter Brueggemann)

"Wherever you are, whoever you are with, you are called - we are called - to hold on to Christ firmly with one hand and to hold on to those around with the other, in prayer, discussion, generosity, gratitude, teaching or learning, caring or being cared for." (NT Wright)

"God raised Jesus from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence." (Ephesians 1:20-23)

"After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:20-22)

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Lead Team
Phase 2: 2008-2010

As a local expression of the body of Christ, theStory exists to love God, others and to tell His story. Since its inception in 2006 it has functioned under the leadership of a Lead Team of three, but as the community has grown and evolved, a new platform of leadership is now required. Thus, in order to effectively fulfill the mandate of this new phase, a hand picked Lead Team will be selected to guide and govern the community as both elders and deacons.

Roles

Elders
The function of an elder is to keep the church on course, both Biblically and in accordance with its vision and values. Key responsibilities will include:

*Discernment in all matters pertaining to the mission of theStory
*Establishing consensus in terms of church belief/Biblical interpretation
*Addressing people needs and protecting the ecology of the community through prayer, pastoral care and spiritual direction

Deacons
The function of a deacon is to manage the overall operations of the church. Key responsibilities will include oversight and accountability in the following areas:

*Financial: setting and holding to the yearly budget
*Staff: to support, empower and keep accountable
*Building: attending to upkeep and improvements

Phase 2: Stabilize//Cultivate//Forecast

Stabilize
*Focusing on the internal aspects of the church community, the Lead Team will create and implement structures that will aid in creating a healthy, sustainable model

Cultivate
*Focusing on those outside of Biblical community, the Lead Team will help establish the underpinnings of a permeable membrane that will serve both our downtown community and those with whom we are in relationship

Forecast
*Focusing on the future, the Lead Team will aid in charting the course and setting up the necessary framework for Phase 3: 2010-2012

Requirements & Standards

*Exemplary commitment to live out the mission, vision and values of theStory, to invest generously into the community, and to encourage others to do the same
*Comprised of both male and female members, the Lead Team must be committed to the criteria of church leadership as described in, but not limited to, 1 Timothy 3:1-10, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4.
*Accountable to the Lead Team, Lead Pastor and the Free Methodist Church of Canada
*1 year commitment; option of a second consecutive year

 

 

 

 

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