Making Contacts

The last week of community ministry has been pretty inspiring.  I met with a couple of pastors who have hearts for community ministry.  It was a pleasure talking with guys who are so missional but grounded in the Word as well.  Some doors are opening and I continue to pray for discernment.

I met today with a guy who would like to do a bi-racial church plant.  This man has connections in the neighborhood and this seems to be a beneficial relationship for both of us.  A difficulty is that the churches I'm working with are not so excited to share their worship space with another congregation.  I am enthused to consider preaching and teaching with this guy and starting something new that isn't being done in South Bend.  However, I have been a pastor long enough to realize how attached congregations can become to their buildings.  I pray that God will make God's will known so that this gets worked out.

In conversation with one of these ministers it was pointed out to me that I might be overextending.  I am concerned that the two churches feel a part of this ministry and I feel as if I have been focusing primarily on the more southern part of the area.  The area to the north is more affluent and I think there is less need, but I am making that assumption without speaking to folks.  My intention is to begin to invest some more time in the northern part of the territory.

I made multiple phone calls today and I'm trying to get together with the area pastors.  I don't know who would be interested in partnering up, but we will see.  I've made some appointments, but I've also left a lot of messages.

It seems to me that God is active in this ministry.  God is moving things in such a way that ministry opportunities are present.  I think this brings folks up to date and so I'm going to slow the frequency of posts to weekly now.

Oh, I got a call to discuss and interim position.  The position would be 2/3rds time in a church about an hour from Niles.  It was a temptation to accept this call, but I ended up saying no.  I don't know this sort of temptation is happening at this time.  Depending on your pneumatology, one could see this as the intervention of evil to frustrate the work of the Spirit.