Building Community

This morning I read an article by Mark Tabb (www.onmission.com) entitled, "Just Add People". He tells the story about 'Dan' who attended a Baptist church, but had been disconnected for some time from religious affiliation and had never connected in a relationship with Christ. Although he sensed no great personal desire to re-connect in church, he and his wife had some sense of need for a religious experience for their children.

I guess the thought that kept hitting me was the constant need to work at building community in our church(es). Sometimes, like building a house, the process moves quickly while at other times it moves slowly. Sometimes there is fast building and other times there are inspections. We must continue to make progress, but allow for time when people are making inspection. As well, some of the most favorable inspections take place while the inspector sees positive progress in other areas of the project...many times with the inspector's involvement.

Tabb states what most of us know, but can forget in the fray of the week-to-week of 'church': "...often they are converted to our community before they are converted to Christ." In our context, 'Dan' is more often the norm than the exception. Community is not something we can 'CREATE' and expect to be effective for the long term. It must be continuously cultivated and 'BUILT' as we serve the Kingdom.