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 30 minutes away.

“I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22)

Personally, as a part-time pastor at my church I have to admit I don’t earn lots, enough, but not lots. At the beginning of the year I had to work out whether it was worth making the sacrifice to pay rent to live in the local community  or my church /parish boundaries or  move home with Mum and Dad and save a little cash but be 15 minute drive away?(for those who don’t know Kirribilli is up there as expensive places to live.) I went with the financial sacrifice, where 45% of my pay goes to rent. It means I live amongst those I long to be in relationship with, for the sake of loving them and for the sake of their salvation.  Is this a good stewardship of the money I receive? Good question and one I wrestle with. At the present moment I see it as a means of trusting in God’s generous and constant provision, it keeps me humble, and it provides means by which God can use me to walk through doors he is opening within Kirribilli.

Other than having your home in the community, buy from the community! Presents for mothers day, gifts for friends 30th’s, the milk, take-away dinner, stamps, newspaper (…etc) I all try to buy in my community. I even try to Have dinners out in the community with believing and non-believing friends. Have a coffee at the same cafe, at the same time every week or second week. People have routines and you can become a part of the fabric of what they see as their community.
To get or not to get a Fitness First membership has been the question I have asked myself all year… The dilemma is that there isn’t a Fitness First in walking distance to my house – it is  10 min drive up the road, its cheaper and you can use its sister gyms. However  I feel that the local gym – which does not have those sister gyms and is more expensive has a higher concentration of locals. Check out also, the outdoor group fitness sessions that personal trainers do in the area, go for a walk on the same route, same time everyday and go to the gyms/pools that are nearby and not in the neighbouring suburb – stay in your parish?!? I am starting Boot Camp in 1 week and using the same guys to run a group personal training session as an event for our church’s outreach for 125 year Celebrations.

I don’t share these thoughts to give you rules on how you ought to live, I am more than happy for you to go to fitness first but I want to share insights with you as an encouargement to get you questioning how you are making the most of the breath God has given you and using it to make his name known in your community.