Now Thats's a Community Church

[Coconut]

I dont know the author or who this man Mercer is and I dont really care...someone shared this with me and I wept when I read it... its okay if you dont see what I see and your eyes remain dry....finally I see evidence others have caught the same vision...

Now THAT's a Community Church
by Gerald Harris Home

I think it is important to look at the following story, not as a model, but as an encouragement towards obedience from a community of God's people. We are watching God do many things through His people and there is a divine shift going on that will impact all systems and methods. At the same time we are witnessing the Lord making it clear that it is not about the system or structure, He wants to be All and in all, whether it is in a church building, business, or home. It is all about Him, and about the people He desires to touch for His glory. Be ready to do His will in ways that go beyond any religious or systematic box....... Robert Ricciardelli

If you're frustrated with leading your congregation and need a reminder of why you love the body of Christ, you'll want to hear the inspiring story of what's happening at Rolling Hills Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ga. Last year the congregation of no more than 100 people was a mere $150,000 away from paying off their $1.4 million property. Their pastor, Frank Mercer, had come from a megachurch in Charlotte, N.C., and envisioned replicating the numerical growth he'd seen there. Naturally, everyone thought that after fully paying off their buildings and 20-acre plot, they'd pat themselves on the back and move on to "bigger and better" ministry.

They have … only in a way few churches are willing to do.

On October 5, 2008, with a reeling economy hitting their community hard, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to sell the church property and invest all proceeds into what they believe really matters: people.

“Our motive should not be to fill these seats, but to empty these seats,” Mercer has often stated to a profoundly unified and supportive congregation.

But he admits it has taken a transformational journey to embrace a mindset that would rather see local families with roofs over their heads and food on the table rather than the church having a better sound system.

“We had long been considering how to best maximize ministry and missions resources by reducing operating costs," Mercer says. "But the idea of leveraging the value of our buildings and property so that we could begin to invest more deeply in people rather than property still seemed far-fetched.”

After a season in which God prompted the pastor to research more on the idea of a "church without walls," Mercer visited a small congregation in New York making a difference in their community by serving the homeless, hungry, sick and lost. When asked about future plans to purchase property, the church's pastor, Tom Richter, responded with a statement Mercer couldn't shake: "If we become a church of brick and mortar, we may cease to be a church of flesh and blood.”

Mercer returned to Georgia and gradually shared with others what he believed was God's new vision for the church. Within only a few months, 95 percent of the congregation agreed: It didn't make sense for them to spend more than 50 percent of the church budget on a building that sat unoccupied for 90 percent of the time. Rolling Hills members have since become regulars in serving a local homeless shelter, children's home and various other community projects. Once the building is sold, they are considering either renting or building a warehouse-like structure where they could meet for services while also storing clothes and food for distribution.

“At our church we’ve tried to keep up with the Jones `es for too long," Mercer admits now. "Churches buy property and build buildings to expand the club and improve the clubhouse. We suffer from steeple envy. We work to attract guests. And the church that has the most people who give the most money wins. We’re tired of playing that game. We no longer want to be like everybody else. And that is not to say that everybody should be like us either. This model is not for everybody."


Heb 10:24 And let us continue to consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another even more as you see the day coming nearer.

 

[hepaiditall]

Coconut

beautiful,,just plain ol beautiful...that was so touching. i am moving back home next week and after searching here where i live now 4 a church it has been a struggle...after being back where i am from on my vacation last week i decided to put my notice in this week..so i know it is not about the church it is about the body that is in it..i know Gods love is for the church. but i also know that this act of kindness had to make his heart smile as it did mine..tears flowing i can tell you the members at my church where i am from showed me so much love that i know that is what makes a church body..not the walls..thank you so much for posting this...it is truley touching..i told you this morning the spirit was really using you and now i see he is using you to show me alot of things...thanks again..

 

[Coconut]

Father does not recognize mens buildings and denominations.

Father only recognizes that which is built upon the foundation of His Son.

Father only recognizes that which is built upon the foundation of His Son.

Father only recognizes that which is built upon the foundation of His Son.

1Co 3:9 For we are workers with God: you are God's planting, God's building.
1Co 3:10 In the measure of the grace given to me, I, as a wise master-builder, have put the base in position, and another goes on building on it. But let every man take care what he puts on it.
1Co 3:11 For there is no other base for the building but that which has been put down, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 But on the base a man may put gold, silver, stones of great price, wood, dry grass, cut stems;
1Co 3:13 Every man's work will be made clear in that day, because it will be tested by fire; and the fire itself will make clear the quality of every man's work.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work comes through the test, he will have a reward.
1Co 3:15 If the fire puts an end to any man's work, it will be his loss: but he will get salvation himself, though as by fire.
1Co 3:16 Do you not see that you are God's holy house, and that the Spirit of God has his place in you?
1Co 3:17 If anyone makes the house of God unclean, God will put an end to him; for the house of God is holy, and you are his house.
1Co 3:18 Let no man have a false idea. If any man seems to himself to be wise among you, let him become foolish, so that he may be wise.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolish before God. As it is said in the holy Writings, He who takes the wise in their secret designs:
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord has knowledge of the reasonings of the wise, that they are nothing.
1Co 3:21 So let no one take pride in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And you are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Luk 6:46 Why do you say to me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47 Everyone who comes to me and gives ear to my words and does them, I will make clear to you what he is like:
Luk 6:48 He is like a man building a house, who went deep and put the base of it on a rock; and when the water came up and the river was driving against that house, it was not moved, because the building was good.
Luk 6:49 But he who gives hearing, without doing, is like a man building a house on the earth without a base for it; and when the force of the river came against it, straight away it came down; and the destruction of that house was great.

The Fathers Church is built upon ONE foundation, the structure itself being built with lively stones, built with LOVE, by the Holy Spirit.

While Father waits for His church to be built with LOVE, men keep building with deadwood.

I spent my whole life serving myself. I went from service to service to service to service, and I only served ME. I enjoyed the fatness, and the goodness of the Lord and drank the milk He gave me, and devoured the meat He fed me, and worshiped Him with my lips, and spent the rest of the week, when I wasnt sitting in the banquet hall, working to take care of me. I`m sure sure sure in all my self serving, there were prisoners, and captives to the devil, and hungry, and sick and despaired out there who could have used a little of that loving my neighbor as myself, instead me spending all my time loving myself.

Saints alive! Or is that Saints sick from over-indulging ourselves? When did loving God with all our hearts minds and souls become loving ourselves first, and serving only the Saints, and the Pastors, and the offering plate, in our coveted "church" buildings? I never ever gave to the poor, I only gave to the Pastor, and its all I was taught was required of me. I am appalled at my wasted years of selfish, self indulgent, self serving "worship"! When are we going to start asking ourselves, is our worship pleasing to God? We are Gods "workers"? Then shouldnt we be offering ourselves as a "living offering" to do GODS work? Oh we do plenty of standing around and talking at the "work site" [not THE work site] about doing the "work of the Lord."
We look prepared to work too...we have our work hats on, and our work boots...but hey...when do we eat?


Jesus [whom we supposedly serve] gave Himself as a "living offering, to give good news to the poor; he has sent me to make well those who are broken-hearted; to say that the prisoners will be let go, and the blind will see, and to make the wounded free from their chains, To give knowledge that the year of the Lord's good pleasure is come." Luk 4:18

Isa 58:5 Have I given orders for such a day as this? a day for keeping yourselves from pleasure? is it only a question of the bent head, of putting on haircloth, and being seated in the dust? is this what seems to you a holy day, well-pleasing to the Lord?
Isa 58:6 Is not this the holy day for which I have given orders: to let loose those who have wrongly been made prisoners, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the crushed go free, and every yoke be broken?
Isa 58:7 Is it not to give your bread to those in need, and to let the poor who have no resting-place come into your house? to put a robe on the unclothed one when you see him, and not to keep your eyes shut for fear of seeing his flesh?
Isa 58:8 Then will light be shining on you like the morning, and your wounds will quickly be well: and your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will come after you.

Rom 12:1 For this reason I make request to you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you will give your bodies as a living offering, holy, pleasing to God, which is the worship it is right for you to give him.
Rom 12:2 And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.

 

[Coconut]

Mat 7:24 "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on a rock.
Mat 7:25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation was on the rock.
Mat 7:26 "Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn't obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
Mat 7:27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and battered that house, and it collapsed, and its collapse was devastating."
Mat 7:28 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, the crowds were utterly amazed at his teaching,
Mat 7:29 for he was teaching them like a person who had authority, and not like their teachers.

Ti 4:1 In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge those who are living and those who are dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly appeal to you
2Ti 4:2 to proclaim the message. Be ready to do this whether or not the time is convenient. Refute, warn, and encourage with the utmost patience when you teach.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with healthy doctrine but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their own needs.
2Ti 4:4 They will refuse to listen to the truth and will turn to myths.
2Ti 4:5 But you must be clear-headed about everything. Endure suffering. Do the work of an evangelist. Devote yourself completely to your ministry.

 

[HeIsMyFather]

My eyes did not remain dry....that was very moving and reminded me that Christ had no walls or edifice for his ministry. He went to the people where ever they were, ministering to all their needs.

 

[Coconut]

Thank you for those responses ladies...you both edified me greatly...
How I love fellowship that ministers to the desire of the heart of Christ...(although those who think our sole purpose is to only minister to the saints will holler loud and long that you have "forsaken the assembly" if you refuse to "assemble" according to the dictates of mans religions)

Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten what it means to serve Christ, and began to expect Christ to serve us....servants that insist on being served...well I`ll be....maybe the best thing for Christ to do with us is take us straight to the marriage supper...and let the world perish.

Or here a drastic thought...we could take a hard long look into Christs heart, and see there a love so great for this world, He gave Himself for them...and anybody who says Christ only "preached" to them is blind and deaf...


John 3:8 The wind blows where it wants to. You hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. That's the way it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."