Mission and Community

Dear Oaks,

So as we journey through my thoughts on what I truly value for Oak Tree we get to the third value that I mentioned in my AGM talk. Number 3 is mission and community.

Now on the face of it those two may not appear to go together but I want to argue that we must live in both the tension of these two and the creative dynamic that each brings to the other.  An emphasis on community can sound rather inward looking but if true authentic relationships are what people really long for then community in it self can become missional.

Jesus said “By this shall all people know that you are my disciples that you love one another”.

As we build community I am desperately keen that we increasingly mirror the diversity of Acton.  Now if you are white, balding, slightly chubby, in your fifties and male then you might think you are not very representative of Acton. So would such a gem of a person be at home in Oak Tree?  But if that did describe you then rejoice, we each have something to bring to the party!  But at the same time just as there is only room for one person like me, or you, so too we must be accessible to as many different people as possible, no matter what their colour, creed at the moment, gender, socio-economic situation or even their sexuality!  All are welcome to this transforming community.

God loves all of us so much that he is not willing that any of us stay the same as we are now!

As I have already stated such community is missional. But if mission to the so called “last, lost, least and lonely” is not made an absolute priority then it usually falls off the priority list all together.  As we move in to our own building we must re-double our commitment to get “out there”.

To quote the New Wine values “we want to see the church become a missionary movement to love and reach the lost, to care for the poor and to bring justice to our homes, neighbourhoods, workplaces and nations, while also being a grace filled community in which people can find relationship, healing, faith, hope and love”.

Every blessing,

Mark

Tomorrow (Wednesday) evening is Church Central held at Acton Green Church in Cunnington Street, W4.  We continue our sozo training as we develop teams to share the faith through ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. You will hear of testimonies of team members who went all the way to Ealing and of opportunities to travel continents in Jesus name.  Every single one of you is welcome