from the pastors at nvcf

i am writing you all from starbucks, which has developed the stigma of my “second” office… probably largely promoted by my twitter community.

i was meeting with a cool friend, mario, who until recently was the regional young life director guy around these parts. he’s moving back to texas, and he and i were having a cool conversation about the relationship between young life and the local churches, and essentially, how we could do a better job. then we were talking about the larger relationship of the “local church” and it’s isolation. and how many para-church organizations were having the same problem.

working under the good dr. dan griffiths, i have learned the value of “kingdom” ministries versus “church” ministries. he has really pioneered the idea of “kid’s club” in local public schools, and one of his big passions is united pastors in milpitas.

all this to say, i was faced with a question, as mario left me and my mac in starbucks… why can’t the church play well with others? why are we so intent on promoting ourselves, building our numbers, focusing on our sheep… when we clearly can be a help to other organizations or other churches. mario and i were talking about the incredible possibilities of the north valley partnering up with young life in milpitas and how awesome of an impact we can have.

why have we never done this before? should this really be “new territory” for young life, or for churches?

now i understand many para-church organizations and churches are doing great works, and maybe even building great relationships beyond their walls. to them i say: “kudos”. to all the others i say: “are you crazy?”

there are too many people we are not reaching by staying inside our walls. there are too many lives at risk, too many missed opportunities, too many hurt people, waiting for someone to com along side them and present them with the idea of hope, embodied in our Christ.

there is hope. hallelujah!

we miss that. we miss the fact that Jesus did not heal n the name of NORTH VALLEY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP or in the name of YOUNG LIFE or in the name ALL BAPTISTS CHURCHES OUT THERE… he healed, saved, redeemed, gave hope, set free in the name of the father.

when we, as believers, are baptized, we are baptized in the name “of the father, the son, and of the holy spirit.” so why do we minister differently?

i want to be known as someone who ministers in the name of “the father, the son and of the holy spirit,” not of one particular church.

the local church is important. but when the local church becomes the only avenue to our savior, and no one can find him through any other way, we begin to tread on 15th century church territory.

while there is one way to salvation, through Jesus Christ, people meet up with Jesus for the very first time through churches, through young life, though kid’s club, through a friend, through family, through a crusade, through a healing encounter, and through a jr. high summer camp… like me. there are so many ways people encounter Jesus for the first time, let’s team and reach our area for Jesus… together.

don’t miss your opportunity.

be prepared to partner with the most unlikely characters to win people to Jesus.

-A