By Jonathan Kindberg
Of late I have been quite desirous for something equivalent to a
spiritual miracle-gro: something you could give people that promised
easy, fast, and healthy growth in discipleship. And aren’t there a
hundred small group resources kits, discipleship how-to manuals, and
self-help books that promise just that?
In the evangelical sub-culture we love to highlight Damascus Road
type conversions (quick and dramatic), but rarely the slow, gradual,
often hidden and yet just as radical transformations and conversions
that happen for many ( or most?) in people’s lives.
At Iglesia we haven’t had any of the former and only a
couple of the latter. Some times I loose heart and patience. “Are people
ever going to change?’ I think. ”I’ve been preaching the gospel to
(fill in the blank) for 8 months now and they still don’t get it!?”
Sometimes it feels like I sow some seeds and water and pull out weeds
and some more seeds and water some more and still no sprout. But even
just typing that makes me realize my impatience. I know of missionaries
in the Middle East that have been doing ministry for decades without visible fruit.
There is no such thing as spiritual miracle-gro. God brings the
growth, in his time. Meanwhile, all we are called to do is to be
faithful and obedient…and to pray for patience.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9: 5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is
Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good
News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The
one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same
purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Church planting: the funny, ironic and absurd
By Jonathan Kindberg
Some funny, head scratching, and bizarre recent anecdotes and factoids that confirm, in the words of one of my friends, that there aren’t any easy answers and models to base my ministry on:
-One of the kids has started bringing his Muslim Eritrean refugee neighbor to our primarily 1st and 2nd generation Mexican church. One of the youth has started bringing his caucasian, unbaptized, unchurched girlfriend to church with him.
-In one week I spend half of my conversations with parishioners explaining the dangers of Jehovah Witnesses and the next performing services at key rites of passage: quinceanos, vow renewals, first communions, house blessings.
-Of the adults in my congregation I am the youngest and the most pale of skin. Of the whole congregation, the children outnumber the adults (a great blessing) and yet often threaten mass chaos.
-Somehow we try to blend the catholic, charismatic, evangelical and social action streams of the church: the same week we have a (liturgical) healing prayer service followed by a workshop on the rights of immigrants.
All in all, you never know what to expect from one day to the next and there are no clear steps to follow! Lead us Holy Spirit!
Some funny, head scratching, and bizarre recent anecdotes and factoids that confirm, in the words of one of my friends, that there aren’t any easy answers and models to base my ministry on:
-One of the kids has started bringing his Muslim Eritrean refugee neighbor to our primarily 1st and 2nd generation Mexican church. One of the youth has started bringing his caucasian, unbaptized, unchurched girlfriend to church with him.
-In one week I spend half of my conversations with parishioners explaining the dangers of Jehovah Witnesses and the next performing services at key rites of passage: quinceanos, vow renewals, first communions, house blessings.
-Of the adults in my congregation I am the youngest and the most pale of skin. Of the whole congregation, the children outnumber the adults (a great blessing) and yet often threaten mass chaos.
-Somehow we try to blend the catholic, charismatic, evangelical and social action streams of the church: the same week we have a (liturgical) healing prayer service followed by a workshop on the rights of immigrants.
All in all, you never know what to expect from one day to the next and there are no clear steps to follow! Lead us Holy Spirit!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
¡Caminemos Juntos! A Consultation on Hispanic / Latino Ministry in North America
By Jonathan Kindberg
August 12-13, 2011 the Greenhouse Regional Church Movement will be hosting a special Anglican 1000 consultation on Hispanic/Latino Ministry in North America. The event will be in the Chicago area. Speakers include Archbishop Robert Duncan, Gabe Garcia, Pdre. Alvaro Jinete, Dr. Roberto Miranda, and more. Cost is $50. Scholarships are available. Contact Jonathan Kindberg of the Greenhouse Regional Church Movement for more information.
Did you know that by 2050 Hispanics will constitute 30% of the population of the United States? En el año 2050 Estados Unidos será compuesto por 30% de Hispanos/Latinos.
It’s time to begin to walk together. Ya es tiempo de caminar juntos. This gathering is aimed at bringing together Anglican ministry leaders working among Hispanics/Latinos in Mexico, The United States and Canada and those hoping to begin new ministries. Through building relationships with one another, conversation and presentations we hope to consider different ministry models on both the evangelical (“cristiano”) and catholic (“católico”) sides of the spectrum and to together create a unified vision for Anglican Hispanic/Latino ministry and church planting in North America. Esta consultación tiene como propósito crear una visión unida de misión Anglicana hacia la comunidad Latina/Hispana. A través de conversación y presentaciones queremos considerar diferentes formas de ministrar a esta comunidad, tanto “cristianas” como “católicas.”
August 12-13, 2011 the Greenhouse Regional Church Movement will be hosting a special Anglican 1000 consultation on Hispanic/Latino Ministry in North America. The event will be in the Chicago area. Speakers include Archbishop Robert Duncan, Gabe Garcia, Pdre. Alvaro Jinete, Dr. Roberto Miranda, and more. Cost is $50. Scholarships are available. Contact Jonathan Kindberg of the Greenhouse Regional Church Movement for more information.
Did you know that by 2050 Hispanics will constitute 30% of the population of the United States? En el año 2050 Estados Unidos será compuesto por 30% de Hispanos/Latinos.
It’s time to begin to walk together. Ya es tiempo de caminar juntos. This gathering is aimed at bringing together Anglican ministry leaders working among Hispanics/Latinos in Mexico, The United States and Canada and those hoping to begin new ministries. Through building relationships with one another, conversation and presentations we hope to consider different ministry models on both the evangelical (“cristiano”) and catholic (“católico”) sides of the spectrum and to together create a unified vision for Anglican Hispanic/Latino ministry and church planting in North America. Esta consultación tiene como propósito crear una visión unida de misión Anglicana hacia la comunidad Latina/Hispana. A través de conversación y presentaciones queremos considerar diferentes formas de ministrar a esta comunidad, tanto “cristianas” como “católicas.”
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