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Advice on Being Community

Written by Mark Van Steenwyk : November 5, 2004

I’ve been reading the latest edition of the Cutting Edge, the church planter’s newsletter of the Vineyard Church USA.  In it, Ken Wilson gives advice on how to build "Jesus-brand communities."  It’s definitely worth check out.  Here is a summary of his advice:

1. Make a long-term
commitment to a local community.

2. Express gratitude for
the gift of community whenever it?s possible.

3. Emphasize whole-life,
holistic small groups.

4. Remember that your
ministry to the poor isn?t just throwing resources at poor people; it?s
building community with them.

5. Develop a Biblical
theology of community.

6. Build on the social
capital strengths of women.

7. Spin technology to
build social capital.

Mark Van Steenwyk is the general editor of Jesus Manifesto. He is a Mennonite pastor (Missio Dei in Minneapolis), writer, speaker, and grassroots educator. He lives in South Minneapolis with his wife (Amy), son (Jonas) and some of their friends.


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Viewing 2 Comments

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    That's cool... but, I tend to simplify things a bit further.

    Just follow Jesus, and community will develop around you. Just as you will be drawn to others on a similar journey, others will be drawn to you. It's HIS community, why not let Him build it? I've found that it works much better that way. Honesty in relationships can only happen when we come together around one centerpoint - Jesus. When we come together with our own selfish agendas, i.e. "we must build community", the focus shifts from Him to us and our objectives.

    But that's just the way I see it. I honor your decision and your motivations to follow Him the way you see fit. That's the glorious thing about freedom in Christ. None of us has to be perfect... He's already done that for us. We reach perfection by clinging to Him.
    • ^
    • v
    I was just reading that article today. Boy, those "winemakers" sure seem to have their heads on straight. They seem to be finding the balance between charisma and community that eludes the rest of us.
 

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