The first session of the church planting class was held tonight and 19 people showed up. What's cool is that they opened this class up beyond the Bible College registered students, who numbered 8. Everyone was delighted to see 11 people from the church who want to learn more about church planting. It's a very multi-generational group. There is even a guy older than me!
There was an energy in the room tonight that could only be possible because people were praying. Engagement is everything in teaching and to experience the level of engagement that we had in the first session was a God-thing! I had a fairly rough day -- didn't sleep well and even had to take a nap this afternoon. But wow! I was able to engage so fully and then to see the class respond with their engagement -- that's like a teacher's dream moment.
I was thinking about why I do so well over here. Part of it is that when you are this far from home people really do think you are an expert! Plus I really do like Russians -- not that I don't like people from every country in the world with the exception of... But that's another story!
It also helps that I have an excellent translater and she did an incredible job matching my passion and humor. That in itself is a God-thing! Just think how hard that must be... Well, don't think too hard... (:
At one point in the class I was talking about how new churches reflect the reality Jesus talked about in Matthew 9 how new wine needs new wineskins. I pulled a chair and sat directly in front of this 62 year old physicist and said the problem with growing old is that we have been stretched so much that we don't have much stretch left in us! But new wine needs skins that can stretch. I talked about leading a multigenerational church and how if some of us older saints aren't feeling at least a little uncomfortable we are probably not doing what we need to do to reach the culture that is constantly changing. I often tell the over 50 crowd at CCCC that we are the kind of church for people who want to go to a church that their children and grandchildren also want to attend.
Unfortunately it's easy for older saints and established churches to go the way of old stretched out wineskins. There are some days I feel like I'm losing some of my "stretch." But there are other days that I can honestly say that I want God to keep stretching me. There is something about staying in the game for the new wine that seems worth the discomfort and the hassle that come with multigenerational leadership.
When I asked the 62 year old Russian physicist why he's taking a class on church planting, he told me that he has established a missional team that is reaching young people in the city. Connecting them with established churches isn't working so he is convinced that the only way to reach them is by starting new churches. Then he stuck a handful of the Hershey chocolate bars I was giving out at break into his pocket with a smile. "The kids we are reaching will love this chocolate!" I think my new Russian friend wants to stay in the game for the new wine too!
To all of you who praying for me, thank you! Keep praying & keep stretching!
Blair
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment