Hello brothers and sisters!
I (Pastor Nick) am putting together a team a team of explorers who are willing to step out on a new journey in faith, called The Neighbourhood Project. Before the team is finalized, I wanted to give all Zioners (gr.7+) one more opportunity to join, along with a little bit more info about what this will all be about.
We believe that the first places that God wants us to go are the places He’s already put us in, and trust that His power and presence are already at work there!
The Neighbourhood Project is a learning cohort that will gather once per month from January-June 2022 with the goal of learning to build relationships with people which help them to get to know who Jesus is through us.
Each month when we gather, we will:
I (Pastor Nick) am putting together a team a team of explorers who are willing to step out on a new journey in faith, called The Neighbourhood Project. Before the team is finalized, I wanted to give all Zioners (gr.7+) one more opportunity to join, along with a little bit more info about what this will all be about.
We believe that the first places that God wants us to go are the places He’s already put us in, and trust that His power and presence are already at work there!
The Neighbourhood Project is a learning cohort that will gather once per month from January-June 2022 with the goal of learning to build relationships with people which help them to get to know who Jesus is through us.
Each month when we gather, we will:
- pray with open hands
- think through some new ideas together
- listen for God through the Word and one another
- imagine and even practice some ways of entering into relationship with our neighbours to help them see the goodness and love of God.
The Neighbourhood Project is the brainchild of renowned missiologist, Alan Roxburgh, in collaboration with his nephew, Cam Roxburgh (who also happens to be the VP of Missional Initiatives for our own North American Baptist Conference), to help pastors learn to help their congregations pay attention to God's activity and respond in faith. We will work through some material prepared by Alan and Cam to help guide our discussions and engage in some practices to build relationships which help people to get to know who Jesus is through us.
My enthusiasm for this project is guided by a few important beliefs:
- I believe that God is at work in every place He has placed you.
- I believe that each neighbourhood is unique and we need to discern what God is up to there.
- I believe that we are called to make disciples, and not first to grow a church.
- I believe that disciples will be made when we learn how to discern the Spirit's presence and join in His activity.
I’m eager to see what God does when we abandon our own outcomes, and simply ask Him what He’s inviting us to be and do. I’m hoping you’ll join me.
Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 18:18-20