Last week I linked you to a news report on the church in Virginia that has a Tuesday night service every week in a bar. Here is this week's report from the pastor of that church about what went on last night.
"After the service last week this kind of big, kind of tough looking guy came up to me. I realized he had tears in his eyes. He said, "Thanks for teaching me about forgiveness." That was awesome!So check this out: Last night (week two) immediately after the service I went up to that guy and said, "Thanks for coming back." He said, "No, thank you. I would never go to church on a Sunday morning. This is perfect for me. Thanks for doing this for me." I answered, "No problem, man, I'm glad to be here." So he says, "Can I ask you a question. How much would it cost me for a service?" I was like, "Sorry, what do you mean?" He said, "How much would it cost me to have a service?" Me: "Sorry, I don't get what you mean." Him: "How much would it cost to get the guys to come out?" Me: "Do you mean our band?" Him: "Yeah." Me: "Ohhh, yeah, they play at stuff. I don't know how much it would cost. You'd have to ask Joe." Him: "Okay. See, I have a huge back yard, and I throw huge parties. Huge! So I'll buy all the food and all the drinks, and I'd like to have a service." Me: "A service?" Him: "Yeah, I'm going to invite all my friends, and then surprise them with a service. Just like what you guys did tonight. I want the sermon, the videos, the music." Me: "Wait a second. You mean that you want to have a church service in your back yard for your friends?" Him: Yeah. Just like you did tonight. How much would I have to pay?" Me: "Dude. If you invite all your friends over and let us have a church service in your back yard, you definitely don't have to pay!" Him: "Really?!?" Me: "Really!" Him: "Well, then I'll have you picked up in a limosine." Me: "Uhh, no, that's okay, I have a car." Him: "So you'd come out and do church for my friends for free." Me: "Yes!" Him: "Okay, then you can count on it, we'll do it on a Friday night."
Ed Martin comment: People really are interested in God and in His church if we dare deliver the message in a way that they can receive it. Way to go Vince.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Week 2 report from the church in a bar
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4 comments:
I know a lot of Christians would have a problem with it but I think that is a great idea! I still remember your story you told about the pastor in Hawaii celebrating the birthday of a prostitute. I'd like to know more about that story. It really is a powerful story.
I think one of the biggest obstacles stopping people from having a relationship with Jesus is other Christians. I don't know when we started to believe we were better than everyone else.
Do you have a link so we can keep up with this incredible church?
I too, remember the prostitute story. It really was powerful.
Thanks so much for being a true "church for the rest of us"!
I don't have a link to give you. I'm getting updates from the pastor after each service. All their web site offers is directions and times.
I have no fear of bars or the people inside them. In fact, when I travel for work, the bar is my seating area of choice when I go to dinner. There is a social dynamic in bars that is kind of like the world's version of fellowship. Over the years I’ve seen others or have myself had the honor of sharing the gospel and even praying with FRIENDS to accept Christ in a bar, over beers at home, or somewhere other than church. Note that I said "friends". I believe a great challenge for much of the American Christian community is to make friends with people who live their lives in the world instead of in churches. Maybe it's a fear of being around people who are different – social status, culture, even race. Maybe it’s a fear of being around those who live lives fraught with temptations we secretly desire. Maybe it’s just self righteousness. I'm sure I don't know all the reasons. The thing I do know, however, is that God is where people are and is not confined to some box. He's so much bigger than that. So in order to let people in the world know who he is shouldn’t we strive to bring the real God of the universe to them with our love? Think of Jesus walking among us today. In his day he hung with a pretty rough crowd – tax collectors, prostitutes, etc. So the thing I wonder is: if he was with us in the flesh today where would he go and who would he seek out? I suspect it would not be the church crowd, but rather the crowd so much of the church today seeks to avoid.
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