"For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you,
not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every
place your faith toward God has gone forth..."
- I Thessalonians 1:8 (NASB)
"Did you see anybody you know?"
"Yes, I saw so and so, and ..."
My 'yes' answer to Tina's question, upon my return from a meeting or running errands, is becoming more common.
Thirteen years this August; that's how long we have been here in Coatesville, an hour west of Philly. We have lived here longer than in any other place. And our hope is that, as with the Thessalonians, through our lives and familiar interactions the word of the Lord will go forth in "this place."
I have been meeting informally with a group of pastors and ministry workers whose focus is the city of Coatesville. Some of these faithful saints have been praying for this community and laboring here for decades. As we have gotten involved locally, this is the first time for us that we have defined our ministry focus geographically.
[click photo to enlarge]
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| Informal weekly breakfast gathering of local pastors and ministry workers earlier this year. It took a visit by a friend from California (next to me) to capture this group with a photo op. I am fourth on the right, the one with the big slab of scrapple on my plate. (When I am out I like to order things that I would never get served at home.) |
Until recently our ministry strategy has been based on the people we connect with: military, 20s, singles, couples scattered throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. I have been challenged in my "theology of place", to think in geographic rather than demographic (people) terms. The learning curve has been high for me in this new initiative. Having previously viewed ministry as it relates to people, I am currently going through the Bible taking note of how different places are dealt with, and how God deals with the people who live in those places. *
Please pray with us that as we engage locally that God would guide our intersections and interactions with those in whom He is working.
Thanks ~
P.S. For more information related to this aspect of our ministry with The Navigators, please check out www.navneighbors.org
*I started in Genesis and am now in Leviticus. Progress would be faster if there weren't so many fascinating rabbit trails! I'd be happy to talk with you about what I am learning.
