“Beloved brethren, we are philosophers not in words but in deeds; we exhibit our wisdom not by our dress, but by truth; we know virtues by their practice rather than through boasting of them; we do not speak great things but we live them.” -St. Cyprian (AD 256)
Thirty years have passed since I sat on the garage roof staring up at the night sky. The worries and cares of a middle schooler have been upgraded to the burdens of a father, husband and pastor living in this current moment of darkness and fear. Perhaps, this Advent, you also feel like we’re sitting collectively on a cold and icy roof, staring up at the Heavens and badly need to hear these words this Advent: “The people sitting in a pandemic have seen a great light, and to those sitting in the land and shadow of covid, a light has dawned on them” (Matt 4:16).
The average church-goer hears 12 hours of sermons ALL YEAR. Now, who’s discipling who?
Is MainStreet a worthy investment?
Almost a decade into the MainStreet journey, we have story after story of lives impacted through this ministry. The best way we can thank everyone for their support and celebrate God’s grace among us is to share these stories.
These are exciting times for the mission of the church! But to echo Jesus, the harvest is plentiful but the methods have been too few and outdated.
Her life was forever changed the night the healing and soul-cleansing water from above came looking for her in a lonely laundromat on the wrong side of the tracks at midnight in the pouring rain.
People are being shaped and “discipled” far more effectively by the secular media they consume all week long than by any Sunday sermon they might hear twice a month.
You know you’ve successfully launched a social revolution when even non-coffee drinkers like me are regularly heard saying, “Hey, wanna grab coffee this week?”
While other Jewish teachers were content to spend their time teaching in the synagogue, here is Paul sipping coffee at the ancient equivalent of a Starbucks in the ancient equivalent of Time Square in the ancient equivalent of New York City.
While most churches are trying to attract people to their Sunday services, where are the churches finding new ways to engage spiritual seekers where they are?
We don’t know how Kanye’s story will end, but we do know that the call of every follower of Jesus is to let love flow out toward every soul-in-process.
