The Church And The Community

Galindo analyzes that the fundamental “mission” of a congregation is the same as any other congregation that exists in any part of the world. He argues that though every congregation has a mission and a vision, at the same time, it shares a basic common mission. (43) This reminds me of my home church The First Church of Evanston and my Field Site, The Evanston Vineyard Church. Both churches have a common mission of welcoming people to the church, irrespective of their ethnic, cultural, racial, and economic and, gender backgrounds. The mission is to help people be received in the house of God with due and deserved Christian love so that they feel loved and welcomed. Both these churches encourage church attendees to attend the service and receive the Eucharist.

I think Church’s have major responsibilities to communicate the gospel message. We need to remember that it was God’s kindness that saved us. Church’s shouldn’t focus too much

Zae Niringe from Uganda says that the North American Church spends too much time thinking about roles and positions.3 “What’s the role of the North American Church?” do we have an interdependent relationship with our brothers and sisters in the global church? There are many things to learn from our global church by building relationships with them. Western Christians need a more robust involvement in the global missions community. North America has much education and resources share with the global Christian community. We also have things to learn and ways to learn from Christians in other countries. Borthwick encourages us to form mutual partnerships with our global church. To invest in these relationships will take time, but the relationships produced will be

Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis emphasizes the two overarching principles that govern the practice of church and mission, that is: Being gospel centered and being community centered, where the content of our message is the gospel, and the context of our message the Christian community. Only when those principles are put into practice does the Word is carried away, with the mission of the church being carried out and the mission of the church of making relationships a priority is carried out.

Hunter’s first essay, titled “Christianity And World-Changing” attempts to refute the common assumption that cultures can be changed “one heart at a time” or, in other words, from the bottom up. Hunter argues the contrary, that cultures are usually changed from top to bottom through small networks of elites. These networks create space for thinking about an alternative culture, which allows our thinking to then spreads outward (p. 78). In other words, Hunter explains his want and anticipation for Christian leaders to come forth and create the foundation for a more powerful change in culture. However, he explains that this needs to be done without resorting to force or imposition. He later calls the “Constantinian error” (p. 152).

Often, pastors think within the four walls of the church, and rightfully so, when they look at their ministry. However, getting involved in community events, i.e., city commission meetings, business leaders, local stores, and business, etc., are important to change the culture around the church. Trull and Carter

In a world that does not know the Gospel anymore, we must indulge in it, and love our fellow community though they may not share similar values, but find balancing in still remaining in our own values. Though many of times we find ourselves in opposition of the majority of the world, we must exude Christ love onto others as He does to us unconditionally. The author addresses ways in which we are able to live out our faith and still find a place within our community though they may not share similar values.

The three subtopics I am using was greatly incouraged by my pastor. After interviewing my pastor on how the Christian church affects the local community, he told me this is acheived through spiritual guidance, economic growth, charity, and interactive projects for criminals. I have found through my readings, and my pastor as well, Christ cares alot about the community, and is cncerned with it's welfare. The church is the light of the community, bringing hope, restoration, and guidance to the lost in many ways. I have many sources to support my subtopics, and I look forward to sharing how the church affects the local community in a powerful, inspirational, and positive way.

A sentiment common to almost any organization is that the one fact that remains constant is change. As society changes, and human understanding grows, any organization that maintains a static posture, assures its demise. Churches and Christian organizations are no exception. The gospel may remain the same, but the method for communicating it must speak to the audience to assure understanding. The Christian leader must be prepared to meet this challenge by incorporating an effective model for change into his theology of leadership in order to keep the ministry relevant and effective. Searching for such a change agent can prove to be challenging as well. To aid in this search, four

Finally, those who adhere to the Reformed tradition have enthusiastically promoted a vision of the transformation of culture. According to this viewpoint, the various cultural and social structures in this life can be renewed in Christ. No aspect of reality is alien

Believers have been unified in salvation by grace and are called to live like Christ.

The emerging church movement consists of a diverse group of people who identify with Christianity, but who feel that reaching the postmodern world would requires it to radically reshape the chruch’s beliefs and practices to conform to postmodernism.[14]

All institutions within society facilitate communication, and in that way, they all contribute to the creation, spread, and evolution of culture (Crouch, 2008). When Christians speak of engaging with culture it usually means consuming culture with discernment. We teach one another how to analyze and evaluate culture in its myriad forms. The only way to change culture is to create more of it” (Crouch, 2008, p. 66) This is right and important. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so we are not

The church should continue to teach as the word of God says, and show love to all. With the emphases

Furthermore, it is vitally crucial for the church leadership to clearly articulate its missional vision, which is to be embraced by the rest of the church’s community. The process of spiritual transformation starts from the invitation and continues through engagement and discipleship. This transformational process embodies the missional vision and the language for 'right now ' and 'here '. Surely, the church’s vision ought to be aligned with the missional attributes of the gospel itself, which are 'the good news is for everyone ' and 'belonging before believing '. Our witness should take place amidst relationship and listening. One principle that I consider to be exceptionally useful in my community is St. Patrick’s idea of Celtic Evangelism: establish community, engage in conversation, and invite commitment (2009, 101).