This, not “not that”
As we are in the midst of launching Soul City Church we are often asked, “So what is your church all about?” – Good Question. Bad Answer - “Well, we’re not like this, that, or the other…”.
One of the easiest ways to establish your identity as a Church, Organization, Company, Brand, whatever is to compare and contrast yourself to others like you or those that came before you.
This is not a new response. Our country was founded on no less of a sentiment (“we’re not going to be a part of a white wig wearing, religiously oppressive Empire…ok, maybe we’ll keep the wigs, but that’s it!) 230 years later, not much has changed. Many churches, in fact, some of the most influential churches we know came to be quite simply as a response or reaction to the church that they came out of.
In a culture overun with countless churches, denominations, and church models it’s difficult to establish yourself as unique and distinctive. The easiest way – Tell ‘em what you’re not.
We get it. We just feel there’s another way. A better way – Tell ‘em what you are. Tell ‘em what you are about. Tell ‘em what you are for. Tell ‘em who you are. We follow a far too creative God (God never had to tell the angels that Earth is so not Mars and humans are totally not badgers). We come from far to great a heritage. We have far too many great ideas and great churches to have to start with what we are not.
We have far too much work to do to worry about what we’re not ever gonna do, or what we won’t ever be about. We have far too much work to do to dismiss our brothers and sisters who do it differently than we do. Jesus got this. In Mark 9:39-40 he said, “No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut me down. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally. Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side.” I think that pretty much sums it up for us.
So if you want to know who we are, check out SoulCityChurch.com. We’d love to know what you think.
And if you still want to know what we’re not…well…we’re not badgers.
Online Giving is Live, Everybody Dance Now
We are very excited to announce that On-Line Giving for Soul City Church is LIVE! It’s Simple, Secure, Tax Deductible and incredibly Easy To Use. In fact, within a few hours of our account being active we already hard our first gift. We can’t tell you how incredibly humbled, honored, and grateful we are.
We chose to partner with Easy Tithe, because of it’s simple interface, robust platform, and rock solid security. We highly recommend them. (btw – mention us and we win a free toaster!)
So, now that you can support Soul City Church and give to our BE Campaign simply, consistently, and securely online, we expect every gift to be given…just…like…this…
…and…this…(watch out little girl!)
everybody dance now.
The Turning
Jesus had a beautiful way of taking ordinary items and turning them into the extraordinary. At a wedding he took some ordinary water and quickly turned it into wine. While on a hillside he took a young boys lunch of a couple fish & loaves and turned it into a complete all-you-can-eat buffet for the masses that were gathered to hear him teach. We have been experiencing this kind of “Turning” throughout the process of launching Soul City Church. God is taking the things that have become ordinary in our lives and is turning them into extraordinary growth.
We have walked with Jesus for many years and we have devoted ourselves to ministry – but just like every other human being we often find ourselves having fear about the future – leaning into our propensity to want to control life – and clinging to our selfish desires for comfort. It has almost become a daily experience where God will take our developed and far to ordinary skills of fear, control, and comfort and invite us into an opportunity for him to turn it into extraordinary growth.
God has been taking our fear about the future, finances, and finding a facility and He consistently has invited us to allow Him to turn it into faith.
God has been taking our desire to control the housing market, the details in our team building, the timing of how it all comes together, and He consistently has invited us to allow Him to turn it into trust.
God has been taking our desire for comfort as we leave our home, say good-bye to dear friends, and move to the unknown – God has invited us to allow Him to turn it into joyful sacrifice.
God loves to turn things around…
Where does God need to…
- Turn your Fear into faith
- Turn your desire to Control into Trust
- Turn addiction to Comfort into Sacrifice?
…will you let him?
A Different Kind of Free
We continue to be amazed by the incredible generoity and support of those who have come around the vision of Soul City Church. We are experiencing a different kind of FREE. See what we mean…
Discussion :: What was the last “Start Up” that you gave to, supported, or enabled to…Start Up? What was that experience like for you? Where is God inviting you to give FREEly all over again?
For an audio copy of Chris Anderson’s book “Free“, click HERE
For information on how you can BE creative in giving to Soul City Church click HERE
The Value of Transformation
(part of a series of posts about the Values of Soul City Church)
At Soul City church everyone is accepted, but everyone is expected. In other words, you are accepted right where you are at, but you are expected not to stay there. We believe that God created everyone of us to transform – TO BECOME EXACTLY WHO GOD CREATED US TO BE.
It is God’s desire and by God’s power that He changes every element of our lives from the inside out. We believe that as we are transformed into our true identity we experience freedom that liberates us to love our community in a way that promotes peace and health that can bring transformation to our neighborhoods, city, and the world.
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We want to make that incredibly Spiritual process as practical (helpful) and normal (expected) as possible.
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“You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness-righteous, holy and true.”
Ephesians 4:24
Discussion :: How does a church take something as avoided and yet as critical as Growth and make practical as possible? Who is doing this well?
We Should, We Can, We Must
The process of following God to start Soul City Church has been transformational. For many years we would find ourselves in dreamy conversations wondering what it would be like to start a church – those conversations always ended with – “I wonder if we should do that?”
As the years passed the dreamy conversations moved to tangible questions like – “Did God design us with the gift mix to do this? Do we have the kind of abilities that would lend to leading what we sense God is planting in our hearts?” – those conversations always ended with – “Can we really do that?”
But when God spoke into our hearts this past year the question of “Should we do this & I think we can do this – became a resounding We MUST do this!” It was a matter of obedience – and I am so glad that it is.
This journey has caused us to hunger for more and more obedience in our lives. We don’t want to give ourselves to things that we should do which often can turn into routine and obligation… We don’t want to give ourselves to things that we can do which often can get clouded with arrogance and pride – We want to give ourselves whole heartedly to the things of God – the things we must do because it is an act of obedience.
What is something that God is lovingly asking you to do in your life that moves you from SHOULD to CAN to MUST?
And on the second day…they rested.
It’s the second day here at SoulCityBlog.com…and we’re unplugging. It’s ok. It’s just for a day. Part of the rhythm of our family is to Sabbath on Saturdays. It’s a day for us to Rest, Reflect, Unplug, Unwind, and simply BE with our family and with God. This is not a new idea, it’s an ancient one. And it’s not just a personal habit, it’s one we’re trying to incorporate into the life of Soul City Church.
How does a Church…rest? How does a church position itself to depend on God? To stop? To Sabbath.
You won’t hear from Soul City Church today. No tweets, no emails, no texting, and no blogging (BTW – this piece was written yesterday). Today, we sabbath.
Tomorrow, we’re back at it again. We can’t wait to continue this amazing journey with you.
Soul City Launch Party
Thursday Night, July 23 Soul City Church gave a sneak peak to friends, supporters, and partners of this blog, SoulCityChurch.com, and the BE campaign. It was an incredible party and an incredible night.
We shared our story of how God invited us into this season of faith, vision, dependence, and sacrifice. We share the Vision of Soul City Church. We talked about what God is doing at Soul City right now as well as what we sense God is inviting us into next. We also spent time praying, thanking God, and dreaming about what’s next for our lives and for this church. It was the perfect way to make this little dream we’ve had for years become a full fledged reality.
We are so grateful for this incredible group of friends (and the many more who couldn’t be there). While some of them may never regularly attend Soul City Church, EACH of them is already a part of it.
You can experience some of the night HERE.
((Big Ups to LosWhit for playing paparazzi. The pictures look amazing.))
