leaving the building

The fish have left the aquarium. That was yesterday's trauma.

Now, today - The church has left the building.

A worrying trend, some would think!

But, of course, the church hasn't quite literally left the building. At least, not judging by the volume of cables and lights and tables and chairs and all sorts of techie equipment which has been set up in our buildings for the conference being held here by that name.

The church has left the building.

It's run by one of the Vineyard fellowships, Causeway Coast Vineyard, from Coleraine in Northern Ireland. And the conference aim is ... well, I suppose to get folk out of the building: "..to learn how to live a life of extreme risk, unleashing the potential of your church to fulfil her mission."

That's what the handout says, at any rate. "Imagine healing, signs and wonders OUT THERE among the people as you impact your community with Kingdom power and authority. If you can imagine this .. then you are ready to discover just what happens when the church leaves the building."

Except, of course, they need a building to hold and host this conference.

Now you may not agree with the way that it's put, but the burden that lies on their hearts is one that we certainly share. There's not a million miles of difference between the challenge of this conference and what we've said ourselves as part of our 'vision statement'.

sharing good news: we see God growing a church here where his boundless love for the world is embodied in the lives of his people. We aim thus to bring and be good news to our families, friends and neighbours, submitted to the Spirit’s leading and prepared to think outside the box, move outside our walls, and step outside our comfort zones.

The burden is the same.

Good news happens out there, in the homes and hearts of all of the thousands of people with whom we interact.

And there are all sorts of ways that that happens.

Sometimes it's set in the context of death and bereavement: which is what it's been today for me.

What does that 'good news' look like in the homes of those bereaved?

Well, it surely means, first of all, our seeking to bring nothing less than the presence of Christ to the homes to which we go. Because when he's there, literally anything can happen.

Comfort is given. Healing takes place. Hope is inspired. Lives are transformed.

People meet with the Lord. Their perspective on life is changed. A whole new dimension of living can open up.

There's nothing automatic, though, in this. It only ever happens as we learn to live in conscious recognition of the leading and empowering the Spirit of the Lord affords.

But when we go in the power of the Spirit of God .. well, things happen. Out there.

Remember "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him."

That's the thing in a nutshell.

Empowered by the Spirit, we get around. Out there.

So be warned!

The fish have left the aquarium. The church has left the building.

We're learning to "live a life of extreme risk, unleashing the potential of your church to fulfil her mission."

What Jesus once did, he continues to do. Through us.

And it needn't be quite the disaster that my pioneering fish all proved the move to be!