A bagel, a conversation, a God on mission
Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”
// Joshua 3:5
I read those words yesterday as I read through the book of Joshua for my Old Testament class at Asbury. As I read across those words, I prayed that this would be true in my life that day. I prayed, “I set myself apart for Your use. Would You do amazing things in my life tomorrow?”
Well, God lived up to that prayer! This morning, I met in Greenville with Jason Malone, pastor of Summit Church (launched in fall 2007). I first heard of Jason through Buddy Rampey’s blog when Jason came to speak to a ton of Wesleyan pastors at a Growing Pastors event. I emailed Jason a couple weeks ago to tell him briefly about my current life situation and asked if we could meet sometime. I was hoping to spend some time with someone who could possibly speak some wisdom and direction into my life. I also am passionate about church planting, reaching people far from God, and the need for both in Greenville County. So, I thought Jason would be an awesome guy to chat with.
I was right! We met at Bruegger’s Bagels this morning at 10am. I had the chance to tell him a little more of a detailed story of who I was, where I’ve been since graduating, feeling God’s leading to leave seminary, my passion for music, worship, church planting, and my all-consuming questions of what God has in store for me to do right now. Jason is a guy who has been through those questions before in life as God led him on a two-year journey which culminated in church planting in Greenville. He knows the frustrations of having all those questions and having to wait on those answers. Jason encouraged me a lot as I continue through answering my questions, reminding me to enjoy the journey and learn from it as much as possible.
Jason also told me about Summit and their philosophy of ministry as they are attempting it. I really love their model of church. Their model is probably the most kingdom-minded I have ever heard of (which is AWESOME!). He told me about one Sunday in which they had the whole congregation split up into groups with each group attending another church in the area, worshiping with that church, praying for their pastors, and handing them a check…no strings attached…no stealing members…no agenda. That is so…crazy! I love it! These guys definitely have a passion to reach everyone in their area with the Gospel, no matter what it takes. Here’s a couple “almost verbatim” quotes from the conversation that stuck out to me most (sorry, Jason, if I mess some of these up):
- A church should never feel so important that if Paul were to have written a letter to the churches in their city that they would assume it would be addressed to their church specifically. (I know of some churches that might fit that category!)
- We believe that all the money that comes to us is not ours! That money goes back out on mission.
- The Church in Europe is pretty much dead. The Church in America is almost dead for that matter. The Church in China has grown from barely a million to many millions in only recent years, yet their Church is not highly programmed; in fact, it’s all “underground” in house churches. (Those of us leading in the American Church should take some notes!)
- Our God is a God on mission. God has, for whatever reason, chosen to use His Church as the vessel for that mission. We are His church. So, we MUST live on mission. (That couldn’t be any farther from my own heartbeat!)
There is tons more I could write. I’ll sum it up with this statement: Nothing has made my mind start rolling that spastically in a LONG time… at least since I was Dr. Witherington’s class last semester. It was a great meeting! He suggested a book for me to pick up and to even keep meeting some. I’m hoping to visit Summit next Sunday morning to check out their worship service.
Jason, if you end up reading this, thank you again so much for giving me some of your time. My mind hasn’t stopped rolling since I left. You’ve helped light to flame the spark that was still in my heart for people, planting, and living out the mission. I ordered the book today! If you can, I would love to keep meeting! I want to continue this conversation and see where God leads it…and us through it!
Just as Joshua said: I am set apart for You. Do amazing things tomorrow! Rock my world tomorrow!
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