theCityShouldBeDifferent: theCityChurch begins season to focus on serving the least...Day 1 of 90 Day Journey, 9-26-12 #cancelworshipservicesfor90days

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

theCityChurch begins season to focus on serving the least...Day 1 of 90 Day Journey, 9-26-12 #cancelworshipservicesfor90days

SUNDAY GATHERING INFO: We will NOT meet at Stellar Beans on Sunday's, from September 30 till Christmas. We WILL be meeting as a community on mission together to equip to serve others, including the least, or to go and serve. Why the change? Well the video above and text below, and the last few posts will give you the picture. THIS SUNDAY we are meeting at Paul's house from 10:45-Noon. You are welcome to join in on the 90 Day Journey. Need directions? Call/text/email/tweet Paul, 337-794-9891, paul@theCityChurch.us, @paulpettefer.

How do you feel about adventure? It's fun to watch on movies, but in real life, it can be scarry!

As a church, we recognized something in recent days: that we were fairly equipped to having worship gatherings, but were not nearly as equipped to serve others, especially the least of these...so we are doing something to remedy the situation: From now until Christmas Day (90 days) let's focus all we do on learning, as a team, to be others oriented, that is, to learn to serve others, especially the least of these.

That means we have canceled our regular Sunday Worship Gatherings, and are spending our energies on learning to serve others. For a pastor of a church, that, my friends, is a little scary! We are using an incredible resource, the Barefoot Church Primer as our primary tool in walking us through the first part of this process. It's a daily walk our whole church is doing together. Oh, and the author of the book and the primer (a daily guide) is walking us through this with a daily blog (here is day 1, today, http://barefootprimer.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/week-1-day-1/.

Our journey using the Primer will have us gathering as a Missional Community on Day 5, which is Sunday Morning, and our first week is at Paul's house (email paul@theCityChurch.us. or text 794-9891 for directions).

Keep checking out theCityChurch's website at www.theCityShouldBeDifferent.com, or on www.Facebook.com/theCityChurch for updates and to participate.

Join in with us anytime, or bring the 90 days to your church or group!

Because God's love is real...theCityShouldBeDifferent

paul

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theCityShouldBeDifferent

Since #JesusIsAlive, then from #Goosport2Graywood #theCityShouldBeDifferent

theCityShouldBeDifferent.com

a move to Unite theChurchatLakeCharles.us

and Transform the city

through Building Capacity for Engagement

So That John 17:20-23 can happen here, now.

OK, that sounds good, but what does that mean? So here is an Example: We have this enormous industrial expansion headed to SWLA, bringing 25,000+ new construction jobs. There are lots of, say, young men in our area who are not meaningfully participating in the workforce, but who could certainly fulfill the unskilled helper jobs that will be a small portion of this large construction workforce needed. What they need to be ready for these jobs is some hope. We, church, are charter members in the hope trade. So, via relational engagement, we let the young men borrow some hope from us, inspiring some to begin working on improving their character and soft skills, getting ready for this meaningful work opportunity.

There are a bunch of kickers in this real-life scenario.

1.) The industrial construction helpers can make $15 an hour, and typically have lots of overtime. This scenario really stomps on the gas pedal in this way: a new entrant into the workforce in this situation can save enough to buy a reliable car in 1-2 months! That is hope building; dignity establishing!

2.) If we are going to see a thousand young men (that's my vision) pass through this opportunity, we will need a whole-bunch of support systems, meaning mentors, encouragers, soft-skills instructors, rides to work and more.

3.) When we engage with our real-life neighbors, in real-life serving, everyone's character, everyone's faith in Jesus gets a real shot at growing! It's what you call, Discipleship.

4.) When a young man gets a job that can pay $40k a year, they have real options! They can get more education and training. They can inspire those around them to follow them. They can be inspired by those who invested in their life for free and set them up for this situation, and they can help the next group of young men who aren't working get on board.

5.) When people from all corners of the city who are a part of the Jesus story get engaged together on a real-life mission worth doing, one that doesn't benefit any of the men or their churches directly, but the benefits are so powerful and real, then we get to build trust, relationships and capacity and see that Jesus unites and trumps race or class. We get new respect for each other and our capacity to do go and be real brothers is greater than we could have foreseen

...

Are you getting a little glimpse at the picture?

The people who follow Jesus are carrier's of the Hope of the World. We, in the Lake Charles area, have a beautiful opportunity to engage with our community, building relationships and helping lots of people see who Jesus is more clearly.

There is lots more to say, so stay tuned and, if you are intrigued, lean your voice into the mix. Contact Paul Pettefer at 337-794-9891, paul@employmentisbetter.com, @paulpettefer, or stop by the InterGalactic Offices of theCityShouldBeDifferent.com located inside Laundry World, 2712 Lake St, Lake Charles.