The River Church Community

As some of you know, I am not what some call “edumacated” in the technological arena.  In fact, I am somewhat resistant to our technocratic society.  But in the interests of River storytelling, I am picking up my cross and beginning a bLoG.  To some, this may seem hyperbolic or exaggerated.  To others, who know me well, they know the extent of my gesture—however, the minimal the risk may seem…

And so the experiment begins.  I have never written a bLoG and I am not sure what a “real” bLoG contains.  So, I guess this gives me a certain freedom.  I will write what I feel necessary, fun, and Spirit-led—or more simply, in the words of Emerson, I shall feel free to write “whim on the lentil of the doorway.” 

bLoG1: If you are reading this, I can assume that you know me or the River to some extent.  Either way, you already know that I am the new pastor of mission mobilization at the River Church Community.  Since we have never employed a “pastor of mission mobilization,” I guess I am not really the “new” mission mobilization pastor.  More accurately, I am the only mission mobilization pastor.  But that is beside the point.  The point is that I am trying to engage our neighborhood with people who call the River home. 

I thought I might take bLoG1 to share with you a few things that I am currently doing around the ministry center.  About a week into working at the office, I realized the deep irony of my pastoral position and sitting in an office—an immobile mobilization pastor!  Convicted, I asked Kwok (a.k.a. Dave Kwok) to meet our ministry center neighbors with me.  He agreed.  And off we went. 

First, we went to the large apartment complex next door to us and received a friendly reception from the assistant manager.  During our interaction, we offered to serve free coffee to the residents in the future and he seemed open to the possibility—an encouraging beginning.  {I am pleased to also add that Brad and Dave are following up with the assistant manager to set up a time to serve coffee and meet residents there!!  And so we begin to share God’s love in practical ways to our neighbors!} 

Encouraged, we walked south on First Street introducing ourselves to every business until IHOP (if you know the area, this is about a block).  Though some of the introductions were warmer than others, walking back it just felt good to have met some of our neighbors. 

In an age and area in which isolation reigns, the Spirit convicted me that I cannot claim to be mobilizing us in the downtown area if I do not know the people who live and work next door to me (and to us as a church).  I realized that if ministry is going to have a beginning it should be with those who live next door to us.   In an age defined by telephone friendships, IM communication and text messaging, the church can be good news by shaking hands with its neighbor.  It is a small way that we can follow Jesus’ lead—the one who became embodied to love us.