Jesus: Here and Now
Nov4 by justhappeneduponthis
Echoes of Azusa Street
Sam and Dave had a zany idea. Or was it really so far-fetched? Both widowers, retired in their late sixties. Children all grown. Homesteads sold for modest apartments. They had been friends for a lifetime. School chums. Members and elders in the same church. And they certainly didn’t want to be shelved now.
An auto-service property had remained vacant and for sale for over a year. Doubtless no cash was being generated for the present owner. The property was at a key intersection in town just opposite the train station. It would be an easy renovation for a form of drop-in centre with a faith focus.
Sam would take charge of the simple renovations. He had been a foreman in commercial building construction. He would be the “here” in the formula. Dave had been a high school department head with much experience in generating interesting program. He would be the “now”.
No less than three associate pastors had expressed an interest in volunteering presentations and sharing times and prayer for a drop-in crowd. Announcements would be posted at various community forums and seniors’ centres.
The property could be taken up on lease with a two year stated option to purchase. So with the space and time available, what would Jesus do with the facility “here and now”? And that was the way they looked at it. No panic to create attractive programs. No immedite worry about responding numbers. Just an opportunity perhaps for some unchurched people to become acquainted with the King of Kings and to share some of their challenges and victories.
So, with the project now three months old and some preparatory prayer and brain-storming sessions accomplished with church and neighbourhood friends, “Jesus: Here and Now” was opening its doors for the first Friday and Saturday night sessions.
Oh yeah, there had been some hassles with City Zoning and the Building and Fire Departments, but this was no news to Sam. The place was clean, freshly painted and insulated. The power service fairly up to date. The washrooms totally renovated. A small snack counter installed. The lighting, seating and fire exits most adequate.
Dan Bremner from Grace Congregational Church was going to be on hand with a stirring message and short video. Slowly things might roll into question and answer and eventually prayer with those interested. The flavour would be that of investigation rather than any denominational form of worship.
This was not to be a replacement of the churches down the street; some quite large. (There was also a chance of partnering with the churches in staffing their “in from the cold programs” in winter months.)
A bus had even been arranged for some seniors who had shown an interest from one of the apartment complexes nearby.
The two men were banking on a lesson they had recently heard from a television preacher of interest: “It’s not so much your ability that Jesus is looking for. It’s your AVAILABILITY.”
Nov4 by justhappeneduponthis
Echoes of Azusa StreetSam and Dave had a zany idea. Or was it really so far-fetched? Both widowers, retired in their late sixties. Children all grown. Homesteads sold for modest apartments. They had been friends for a lifetime. School chums. Members and elders in the same church. And they certainly didn’t want to be shelved now.
An auto-service property had remained vacant and for sale for over a year. Doubtless no cash was being generated for the present owner. The property was at a key intersection in town just opposite the train station. It would be an easy renovation for a form of drop-in centre with a faith focus.
Sam would take charge of the simple renovations. He had been a foreman in commercial building construction. He would be the “here” in the formula. Dave had been a high school department head with much experience in generating interesting program. He would be the “now”.
No less than three associate pastors had expressed an interest in volunteering presentations and sharing times and prayer for a drop-in crowd. Announcements would be posted at various community forums and seniors’ centres.
The property could be taken up on lease with a two year stated option to purchase. So with the space and time available, what would Jesus do with the facility “here and now”? And that was the way they looked at it. No panic to create attractive programs. No immedite worry about responding numbers. Just an opportunity perhaps for some unchurched people to become acquainted with the King of Kings and to share some of their challenges and victories.
So, with the project now three months old and some preparatory prayer and brain-storming sessions accomplished with church and neighbourhood friends, “Jesus: Here and Now” was opening its doors for the first Friday and Saturday night sessions.
Oh yeah, there had been some hassles with City Zoning and the Building and Fire Departments, but this was no news to Sam. The place was clean, freshly painted and insulated. The power service fairly up to date. The washrooms totally renovated. A small snack counter installed. The lighting, seating and fire exits most adequate.
Dan Bremner from Grace Congregational Church was going to be on hand with a stirring message and short video. Slowly things might roll into question and answer and eventually prayer with those interested. The flavour would be that of investigation rather than any denominational form of worship.
This was not to be a replacement of the churches down the street; some quite large. (There was also a chance of partnering with the churches in staffing their “in from the cold programs” in winter months.)
A bus had even been arranged for some seniors who had shown an interest from one of the apartment complexes nearby.
The two men were banking on a lesson they had recently heard from a television preacher of interest: “It’s not so much your ability that Jesus is looking for. It’s your AVAILABILITY.”
