richard logan

by: John O'Keefe

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1.  Planting a church in an emerging/postmodern culture, what do you think are the key elements of a community of faith in an emerging/postmodern culture?  The first key element that comes to mind is to not idolatrize postmodernity…yes we live is a postmodern age but I don’t think that  planting a church in this age is about figuring out what is relevant to the culture and trying to get “them” to like us or think we’re cool.  Honestly, it seems that the key elements today aren’t much different than down through the ages.  I think the main thing is getting to know Jesus better together in order to imitate him and see our lives, neighborhoods, and world change as a result.  I think it’s key to keep Jesus at the center, be real,  and be incarnational as a body of believers… engaging culture, and getting involved in the lives of those we are in proximity to, in order to be a blessing and make our neighborhoods and city a better place to live in.

   

2.  What do you see as the four (because three is too traditional) differences between the community of faith you are serving and those churches in your area?    This is kind of a weird question.  We don’t want to think we are “all that”, or have arrived with the “right way” of being the Church and everyone else is wrong, but I guess it would probably be fair to say there are some things that are a little different about us…

1. Dialogue vs. Monologue…on Sunday morning when we meet, it tends to lend itself more to a conversation than a sermon

2. We’re comfortable using art as an expression of worship to our Creator God

3. People feel free to come as they are spiritually and physically speaking…no one’s expected to act or dress like they’ve got it altogether

4. We’re not all about programs…still figuring this out, but we don’t think the church should replace the family nor should it relinquish parents of their responsibility to spiritually raise their children.  It just seems that the more programs a church has, the less time people are actually spending out where they live being a blessing and sharing life.

   

3.  Is the community you serve connected with a denomination?  If "yes," what do you see as the benefits and problems with that relationship, and if "no," what do you believe are the benefits and problems without being connected?    Yeah, we are connected with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.  We don’t really make a deal out of our denomination, we do receive a subsidy from them that is a finite amount…which is cool; and the support from them with what we are doing is amazing…so those are the benefits.  As for problems, the problem is just with me…as hypocritical as this is going to sound…I’m just not a huge fan of denominations.  But I am grateful for the support!

   

4.  What would you say are the two hardest things connected to planting an emerging/postmodern community of faith?    The commitment to grow organically/naturally…rather than through attractional-style ministry…it’s actually incredibly rewarding…the only hard thing about it is external expectations that a healthy American church grows fast.    The second thing would be finances…because of this commitment it seems that it will take longer to become financially “independent” as a church.

   

5.  How does your community of faith develop connections with those outside the community?    We strive for the primary way to be through relationships…looking at who we are naturally in proximity to whether that is a barista you see once a week, a neighbor, the person that sits next to you in class everyday or in the opposite cubicle.  Striking up a conversation and listening, listening, listening and sharing life.  The secondary way would be serving the city and the people in it through volunteerism.

 

6.  What do you believe are the key elements in an emerging/postmodern worship service?    This is where that idolatrizing of postmodernity can rear its ugly head…it’s really not about vibe, or atmosphere, or images, or art…Honestly, I think the key element has got to be expecting to encounter God, keeping him at the center and celebrating what he’s done in our lives over the past week, making sure to not put the emphasis on the gathering or the service.

 

7.  What two key areas of advice would you give to a person looking to plant a community of faith in your area, or any area?    Call us…we have all the answers!  Just kidding…#1 I would say pray like crazy and, #2 really focus on how to make west Omaha a better place to live in because your community of faith is there and let’s do it together.

   

Any closing thoughts you would like to share?

The final thought is really for me, but I’ll say it out loud: 

Don’t look for shortcuts, formulas, or sure-fire plans…don’t try and copy another ministry, or some other pastor who happens to have written a book, has a seminar, or something to sell.  Just say no to Christian celebrity-ism…and get away regularly to be quite, and re-fall in love with Jesus…hear his voice and obey him.

 

A few weeks ago someone spoke up and shared a quote with us on a Sunday morning that I think is worthy of being shared here.  The quote came from a Wycliffe missionary named Jim Walton as an exhortation to this person upon graduating from High School, and this is what Jim said:

 

“There is never a pauperism of the attractive, the easy, or the appealing.  Much of Christendom follows only a step behind the world’s philosophies, trends and fads.  Reach beyond the quick, easy, simple, superficial formulas for spirituality.  Don’t indulge the fads.  Carry great philosophers lightly.  Journey briefly with great theologians.  Spend your energies and your life getting to know the greatness of the Triune God.”

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