What is a Church for you?

During vacation time I get to interact with the same people in a different way. It’s like their perception changes. I am still a pastor but during these three weeks my visits are considered not “on a job” but “personal.” I also find that during my vacation time funny things happen, like troubles that were dormant for months in some family suddenly come to heads and require immediate attention, or “sheep stealers” from some off-shoot movement show up at prayer meetings to see who is disgruntled to influence on the way out. I hear of families that all of a sudden are not happy with church programming provided and are considering alternatives elsewhere, in Sunday-keeping churches, either for bible classes, or scouts, or cadets, or family enrichment, instead of attending what is offered here, and partnering up to improve and grow our church family.

My first reaction is to “cut vacation short” and get back to visiting, counselling, encouraging, rebuking if need be. Yet, it is not my, but God’s church. I am simply doing my duty as the undershepherd, together with ten elders who are also overseers and undershepherds of God’s flock. I invite you to consider our purpose, as a church. Last Wednesday at the prayer meeting we focused on the designated theme for prayer for this month – spiritual gifts. Adventists all around the world are praying for revival of Spiritual gifts within each baptized believer. We all have received a deposit from the Holy Spirit into our lives as a downpayment (Eph.1:13-14) as a assurance of our salvation (Hebrews 2:3-4). Paul’s letters teach that Spiritual gifts are like body parts – given to different individuals as assignments for edification and benefit of all community (Romans 12 & 1^st Corinthians 12). God gifts at baptism every believer with a unique and specific gift. Some to function as an eye, other as an ear, another as a hand, one as a tongue, and when certain individual refuses to use and develop their gift, they make the whole body dysfunctional.

I invite you to consider yet another metaphor for the Church – the Shopping Window of God – a place where the Body of Christ is on display for the world in a walking distance to see. There must be a church, a “shopping window of God” within a walking distance in every community, where God’s Glory is revealed in everyday living, in practical terms. I believe that we are such a church, a display of the Body of Christ in Glen Cairn Community of London, Ontario. Look at this “shopping window” through the eyes of the neighbours – watching us drive in on time for the Sabbath School Bible study at 9:30 am. Staying for worship at 11, eating together at 1 pm. I remember when after VBS neighbourhood kids would run in for the free potluck. Coming to Pray together Wednesdays at 7 pm, and much more – music practices, choir rehearsals, kids Adventurers programs, youth Pathfinders training, training seminars.

My church is such a “shopping window” and those who are involved and engaged by participating, by “standing in a display,” by contributing to each function, are truly “members of the Body of Christ.” More churches need to be planted, so that every community would see and know. For now this one, at 805 Shelborne Street, the place we all call “church” - is a model.