Archive for May, 2009

If I was a Community Pastor I would… CREATE & ENGAGE #9

Create opportunities to engage and build relationships with the community. Be a hub for social activity where relationships can start, deepen and grow. Do things that locals what to be apart of. This means knowing the community you are ministering to and trying to reach. Does your local community love art? Are there artists in [ READ MORE ]

If I was a Community Pastor I would… Have a 4 DOOR CAR #8

I had an experience where I wanted to be generous by offering a lift to a group of four elderly people. I got them in my trusty 2 door hyundai arrived at the location and one of the ladies struggled to lift herself out of the backseat. I was worried I would have to call [ READ MORE ]

If I was a Community Pastor I would… #7 BE A FRIEND

Be a friend to those who are lonely… pop-in-and-say-hello ministry. So many people in our society are ‘time poor’ and don’t sacrifice things to enable themselves to give time to people who are less fortunate than themselves or in need relationally. Don’t fall into this same trap as the world. Its a sad result of [ READ MORE ]

If I was a Community Pastor I would… #6 PARTICIPATE

Be interested in the things that locals are putting on. Go to precinct meetings, pop along to the seniors lunch, the art festival, the markets, etc… Keep up to date with whats going on on Council Websites, Noticeboards. So often Christians put on events and think they need them to do evangelism. Events are helpful [ READ MORE ]

If I was a Community Pastor I would… #5 DO COFFEE

Have coffee with unbelieving locals, locally. #1 Make friends with the little old lady with the dog and shout her a coffee. Firstly because she is lovely, has storys. Secondly most people in the community know the little old lady with the dog and so you happen to meet lots of people when you sit [ READ MORE ]

If I was a Community Pastor I would… #4 HANG ABOUT

Ensure there is time in your week to just hang about and be open for conversations. I know it is a luxury to be able to just hang about, and there are some weeks where that just won’t happen. But can I encourage you to try! In my observation, when you leave the church doors [ READ MORE ]

If I was a Community Pastor I would… #3 KNOW KEY PLAYERS

Who are the key players? They are the people who know people…The faces everyone recognises. They are the institutions in your local area. Where do you find these people? Local neighbourhood centres? PCYC? A youth centre? Adult Community Education Schools? Go take up a course there, check out what they do and involve yourself in [ READ MORE ]

If I was a Community Pastor I would… #2 LIVE LOCALLY

By live I mean LIVE. (by live I mean: shop, rent, get coffee, exercise, church, post, eat…) This means sacrifice – either living in a area that isn’t “your natural” demographic, paying more to live in the area, renting instead of buying, buying smaller but in the area rather than have an study and live [ READ MORE ]

If I was a Community Pastor I would… #1 Pray

In his book, Let the Nations be Glad, John Piper talks about prayer as a “wartime walkie talkie not a domestic intercom”. (pp. 45-49). We need guidance, strength, supplies, wisdom and strategy from headquarters. Prayer is for mission. It is designed to advance the kingdom, not for calling the butler to turn up the thermostat. [ READ MORE ]

If I was a Community Pastor…

If I was a Community Pastor I would: Pray for my community. Live in my community. (by live I mean: shop, rent, get coffee, exercise, church, post, eat…) Get to know key players in my community. Have time flexible to just to hang about and be open for conversations. Have coffee with unbelieving locals, locally. [ READ MORE ]