Good communication brings healthy progress: Every year at Connect we have two huis, where instead of a sermon, we gather to look back and look forward, and together share our opinions, desires, and ideas on our common shared church life. I love the diversity, honesty, new thought, and common threads revealed in our huis. Once our Carey student pastors are back from their inter-semester break, a copy of the collated results will be sent to you via email. It is now the elders, ministry leaders, and my job to put feet to some of your suggestions.
Some people may feel uncomfortable either having shared, or heard, comments that appear “negative.” However, I see it as “positive” in helping map out a unified way forward, which respects and honours all people within a progressive church culture. One thing I love about Connect is that we are open to change. We have laid down many ministries over the past few years, which were once humming, but then ceased to produce fruit. I think of the “Bread Run” in Keri Anne Place, the “Car Boot Sale,” and our “Breaking Strongholds” ministry. And here we are today beginning a new ministry across the road at Aronia Park. There is so much more we could do there and will do there. One common theme that may seem to some too focussed on ourselves, is the need for pastoral care and spending time together. But this too is important, as COVID has taken much from many people.
If you think about Christ’s ministry on earth, and the disciples’ ministry outlined in the Book of Acts, they stayed relevant to the times. To stay relevant to people’s lives we must always be open to new ways of doing church life. This need not water down the gospel or the Truth. In fact, change must happen, because our world is rapidly changing.
So, let’s embrace new ideas. We won’t be “throwing the baby out with the bath water.” Some things will need to be addressed quickly, while others may need many smaller huis to take flight. So, let’s be kind, be ready to listen, and be ready to help where we can.
God bless you church family. Christ is with us by His Spirit, and he will guide us in everything (John 14:26). He will keep us unified (1 Co 12:13; Eph 4: 3-4).
About Pastor Julie
I’m passionate about the church – building believers up in their faith, to be all God intended them to be; and I’m passionate about sharing the love and hope of Jesus with people who don’t know Him yet.