AND....

Got an advance copy of AND (the gathered AND the scattered church) yesterday from one of it's authors, Hugh Halter. He is also one of the authors of The Tangible Kingdom.

I don't have time this week to read it, but find myself compelled to read. I think it is going to be a very helpful book in navigating the waters we currently face as the church in America and the waters we face at Community of Joy! So much helpful and thought provoking material. I hope our area one ministers group will study it next, after we finish The Tangible Kingdom. And I think it will also be the book I use for our District Wide Book Conversation, that our DE asked me to facilitate in the future. I also hope that perhaps the Leadership Team at Community of Joy will read it.

Here is long quote from the Intro that I think is helpful.

"It's time for us to stop asking the same old questions about how to do church, and instead ask what every church must be doing to honor God's biblical mandates. We'd like to introduce you to the subtle power of the AND.

The power of the AND is seen in churches of all sizes where...

+ there is a balance between gathering a community together AND scattering them into the world.

+ the right things are centralized AND the right things can be decentralized.

+ resources of people and money find a blessed balance between maintenance AND mission, survival AND sending, tradition AND innovation.

+ fans are turned into followers, disciples are made into apprentices, AND consumers become missionaries.

+ leaders influence according to the design of God instead of the whims of people or the pride associated with production.

+ old skills still matter AND new habits of mission take center stage.

+ you can have huge vision for thousands of people AND live life in deep community and communal witness.

+ your church learns to live a fluid organic Christianity AND has enough structure to provide for any level of growth God wants (remember it is God who builds the church.)

+ you'll have to work hard, give up your life, AND have a blast!

As any church develops these ANDs, you'll be better positioned to influence those inside the ranks AND those outside; your church will make sense in the burbs AND in the city, during financial recession AND bull markets..... Welcome to the opportunities of the AND!"