There are two obvious issues with this grand vision. Issue the first - I have no people. Issue the second - I have no bar. However, sometimes you gotta jump off the proverbial cliff to discover whether or not there is an invisible bridge underneath you, so in the words of Richard Branson, "screw it, let's do it."
At this stage it might be worth giving something of my credentials. I am a Baptist Minister in Cardiff and until August this year, I was the leader of an emerging church that met in various bars/pubs in the city centre. After four and a half years this wonderful roller coaster of a ride has sadly come to an end, but onwards and upwards! I believe that God might be leading me into this next adventure and I aim to push every door until they are all firmly shut in my face. If anybody sees fit to pay this little record of randomness any attention, I would be VERY grateful for any comments, queries, suggestions, ideas or financial contributions you deem led to bless me with! Well...if you don't ask you don't get (and usually it helps if you use spiritual jargon).
Responding to your journeying and documenting...
ReplyDeleteFirst, an insight I've become aware of - we are NOT called to 'plant a church community', but to 'disciple all nations'.
There is a world of a difference between going somewhere to 'plant a church' and going somewhere to be a disciple-maker of Jesus-followers.
If we actively obey the 2 main commands of Jesus (to Love God and others, and to make disciples of Jesus) then we will address your first 'issue' - the people. You (and all of us as Jesus' followers) should be actively seeking others that 'the Father is drawing', and to spend time with them, to show them Jesus, as individuals and in small groups, whether not-yet-Christians, whether new Christians, whether maturer Christians, or whether those showing leadership giftings.
In this way, you/we will all be gathering people into community, and hundreds of 'communities of Jesus-followers' should be emerging!
I think this also helps to address the second issue - the bar. We aren't called to 'build churches' (by which I refer to most people's view of that, as physical buildings). I don't think you are called to buy a pub, but to reach 'all nations' (better translated as 'people-groups').
You seem to have a passion to reach the people-group that frequents the dominant British social establishments of our generation, called Pubs. It is right and proper to take steps of faith into that 'people group', and to pray for the Father to draw some to Jesus, through you.
This journey may well start small, and may well be using Eqypt's resources in the process, but that is God's way to lead people into spiritual 'exodus'.
You never know, as time goes on, God may open up more and more 'territory' in building HIS kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven, but best not to lose sight of the spiritual kingdom, and be fooled by stuff, and physical spaces, in the process!