Reaching the Unchurched

Summer is almost over, and I have had the incredibly blessing of participating in three different Bible school outreaches.  I have talked to a lot of people in and out of the church, and here are some things I have learned from listening to others' stories.

1) Religion turns people off to the Gospel.  Many people who are unchurched think the Gospel is not a big deal, because they can't past all of the rules tacked onto their heads the minute they walk through church doors.  They know their tattoos will be frowned on.  They know they are a single mom with kids.  They know they are divorced.  They know their lives are messy.  It makes me sad.  The Church is supposed to be the body of Christ- not a self-righteous possy that beats up broken and lost people. 

2) Churches that are active and making a difference in their communities are attractive to unchurched people.  Most of us in the South have been part of dysfunctional churches where pew warmers are the norm.  Many of us have scars from nasty church fights within, and some of us leave to escape the pain.  When the unchurched see a church that is actually doing something, they get to see a glimpse of the Gospel.  They wonder... maybe this place is different?  Maybe there is something here that matters?

3) The environment your church creates every time you meet is HUGE.  I've visited quite a few churches during this transition period, and let me tell you, how the church feels when you walk through the doors matters a lot!  It doesn't take a visitor long to figure out whether or not they are welcome, whether or not they are being looked up and down for wearing the wrong or the right thing, or whether or not the people in this room actually care about each other.  The churches that are growing are the churches where people feel loved and safe.

I don't know about you, but I want to be part of a church that matters.  I want to be part of a church that takes Jesus into the darkest places in our community and to the ends of the earth.  I want to be part of a church that embraces sinners and leads them to Jesus for healing and new life.  I hate religion.  I want to experience the freedom that Christ has purchased for us.  I want to see unchurched people try out church again and realize that God is not dead.  Jesus is alive and powerfully working through His body to redeem and make a treasured people for His name's sake.  Brother and sisters, let's repent if necessary and commit together to do church well.

Planting a Church Is Like Buying a New Couch

Well, as you know, our precious toddler tot was diagnosed with a dust mite allergy recently, and we are scrambling to make as many changes as we can in our home to keep her from getting sick as often.  We have carpet out of one room and have three more rooms to go.  We have the laminate flooring for one more room but then have to find more for the other two.  Since money is obviously tight as we transition full swing into church planting, I have been praying like crazy for God to provide the resources we need to knock out the dust mites in our home.  Like a good Calvinist, I haven't just been sitting by waiting for everything to drop in our laps. We have been building websites like there is no tomorrow.  I have been scouring craigslist like a vulture waiting for the perfect deals on flooring and furniture.

This past week, God graciously provided the deal of a lifetime on a fairly new leather couch and loveseat set.  A lady was downsizing and needed to get rid of her lightly used furniture quickly, so she sold us everything for $150.  Is it 100% leather?  I doubt it, but it is 100% dust mite unfriendly either way.  For a mom that is sick of seeing her sweet girly whiny with one sinus infection after another, I jumped on the bargain and sent Bryan to pick it up.   Yay!

We quickly realized after moving the new furniture into our tight cozy living room that this was going to be a big change.  After shifting item after item around for about 2 hours like puzzle pieces, we figured out the best combination and locked everything in to stay.  The end result- we have much more room but realize that not everything we have is going to work well with our new setup.

The list starts like this... The chandelier is going to have to leave the room... ok.  It was getting in the way every time we rearranged furniture for launch group anyhow.  We are going to have to downsize our big table. No problem.  Bryan has what we need to build a smaller pub table.  And the list goes on... a necessary change (a.k.a our new leather furniture) has caused a cascade of smaller changes that are inevitable to make the whole thing work.

Welcome to my life now as a church planter's wife!  As we welcomed church planting in as the next frontier of the Cirlot household, so many other things about us are changing and shifting. More than ever, I know how much I need Jesus.  But... I am not complaining.

Just like our new couch, church planting is exactly what we need right now.  Living day to day seeing God's provision is a beautiful, challenging thing. 

I am thankful to be on this journey.  I like being His.

Three Churches

My heart is full right now as I type this.  In the past 48 hours, I have been part of three different churches that are close to my heart.  All are completely different, but all are serving God's purposes in their own context.  What an incredible opportunity it is to be able to experience such diversity during this time of thinking out what we feel like God wants our church plant to be!

On Saturday nights, we attend the Mosaic in Ocean Springs.  It is an attractional model church plant that meets in a local skating rink on the weekends.  I love the casual atmosphere and the way the pastor presents the Gospel in a clear and contextualized way every single week.  The worship services are my style of preference... very contemporary and well done.  Their children's program is fantastic.

On Sunday mornings, we attend Ridglea Heights in Escatawpa.  We became members there yesterday.  We spent our high school and college years as members here, so it is good to be back again.  The people are friendly and welcoming, and it has a "family" atmosphere that most churches wish they had.  It has a praise band that leads with a mixed blend of music.  Abby loves going to play with her cousins while we worship.  It's easy to  find a place to serve here, and it is harder to just "blend in" and "fade away" (which I think is a good thing).  People stay around after the services to chat, and the staff has to run people out when they are ready to go home.

On Sunday nights, we just started our Core Group meetings for the church plant.  We have been through a lot together, and suffering together binds people in a way that good times can't.  The affection and respect we have for each other as we gather is a beautiful thing, and I pray that those qualities only grow.  Gathering to worship with other believers who are "all in" is a unique and humbling experience.  How many times in your life do you get to do church with people who are willing to give up everything for Jesus?  Last night, we worshiped together, studied the Word together, dreamed together, prayed together, cried together, and laughed together.  The joys and fears we share must be a lot like the early church felt as they wondered how the Gospel was about to change their lives and rock their world.  We are praying big prayers together, and I am excited about what God will do.  Ironically, there were eleven of us who met together last night... exactly the same as the number of disciples that Jesus left in charge to change the world they knew.  Sobering, huh?

Keep praying for us.  We pray our journey is far from over.

Church

Church.  Say that one word and it means a thousand different things to different people.  Living in South Mississippi, that one word alone can bring back more memories of pain, hurt, and confusion than most words.  It's loaded.


I grew up going to quite a few churches- various denominations.  I've lived through my fair share of painful church splits, poor leadership, bad doctrine, and stale pews.  If anyone has a reason to give up on the church, I do.  It's let me down... a lot.


It's also blessed me... a lot.  God seems to think it is pretty important if you read through Scripture.  Being actively involved in a local church isn't optional for a Christian.  It's essential for healthy growth as a believer.  With so many churches living for themselves, Jesus isn't being made much of.  It makes me sad.  Really sad.  The unchurched just don't get why church matters.  Here's my plea.


Instead of complaining about why no one gets up on Sundays and makes it to church, let's reach out where they are and love them as they are first.


Instead of grieving over why our light bills are so high this month, let's shed genuine tears about why the pews were so empty "again" this week.


Instead of pointing fingers at those sinners who aren't doing better, let's ask ourselves why we aren't loving each other well.


Instead of fighting over whether we sing a hymn or praise song, let's remember that we are singing to Jesus- not ourselves.  He's concerned about our hearts- not the style of music.


Instead of making sure we get the latest "whatever," let's give to someone in need that needs a break.


Instead of defending our dead traditions, let's just be Biblical.  Let's keep what is helpful, and throw off what weighs us down.


Instead of not caring, let's care.


I think we can all do better.  Then, I think we will start seeing the Church be the Bride Jesus has chosen for Himself.


If not, I'm afraid these words will be true for some of us.


“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" Mt. 7:21-23


Let's repent Church.  It's all about Jesus- not us.