I just finished reading a life changing book that I want to recommend to everyone. John Burke, pastor of Gateway Community Church in Austin, TX and president of Emerging Leadership Initiative, wrote this book about reaching out to a post-Christian America.
The book is directed to the church and how we are called to become the healing Body of Christ in the world. John says, "If you are going to minister to emerging generations, you must create a culture where broken people are welcome and healing happens". He goes on to say that "in a postmodern culture, the messenger is the message. How we are perceived is every bit as important as the truth we espouse....The attitude of the church culture will either convey the person of Christ and his attitude, which was outrageously accepting of and attractive to the 'sinners' of his day, or our attitudes toward others will reinforce a stereotype that does a disservice to Jesus. Christ-followers must remember that people are not our enemy...."
This book emphasises the importance of connecting people in church and reinforces the value of small groups. At Living Hope, we call our small groups, "Life Groups". They are a place where we can be real and transparent. A place where LIFE happens!
I want to encourage you to read this book, especially if you are a Life Group facilitator at Living Hope and/or involved in any area of ministry.
One word of warning! It will be hard to put this book down. I had it in the deer stand with me. That might be why I was skunked.
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