I was in Rustenburg Sth Africa last week and saw the huge new stadium they have built for the upcoming world Cup of Soccer. It stands huge on the landscape of what is a fairly small regional city. Great fears are held for it’s sustainability after the great event.
The same is true for the church. We have become very good at big events and some churches even place their future on the next big event. Remember – the church is not an event. It is a family of faith doing the journey of life together. Sure enjoy the big event when it happens and make it awesome- but don’t forget in all the doing and bustle of the event that it is the relationships you forge and strengthen in the event that count for the future. Make Sundays about people. Make conferences about connections. Make church about the issues that affect peoples live. Just make up your mind that the people you now have in your family of faith are your best friends and so look forward to seeing them again and again.
I’m off to another huge event today – but in all my doing and preaching etc I will be looking to connect meaningfully with at least one new person who will enter my world for the rest if my life.
Build your world one day at a time an one new friend at a time.
Before you know it you will have a huge world and then big events won’t seem so disproportianate in your bigger world. SJP
