Saturday, June 23, 2007

Threads - It's All Connected Part II

"Thanks for the link! I think this is some of the most crucial work that the church is about today. We have to realize that what we've been doing isn't working in reaching this generation and we've failed to help twenty- & thirty-somethings realize that church, their church is relevant. I'm excited to be a part of the solution in helping churches and leaders do just that."

Chris Ediger
Threads Internet Producer
June 23, 2007 7:27 AM

The above was a comment left on the Threads - It's All Connected post. I didn't want you to miss what Chris had to say. Didn't want it to get lost in a sea of other posts.

Recently I took a survey in my class. The results of that pierced my heart. The girls/women knew that I was going to be using that to help not only our church but others churches as well. At first I wasn't really sure they would be willing to fill out the extensive survey. They answered each and every question because they understand the importance of sharing their stories so that those who minister to them and others like them would have a clearer picture. We would gain valuable insight in what had been done right and wrong. We could make changes and hopefully move forward to a healthier, real way of impacting lives.

These girls/women had grown up in the church. Not all in ours. When they reached the age of 16 to 18 - they lost interest in the church. They spent the next few years wandering. This is not new of course. But why? Why does this happen more often than not? In so many churches - there are things for preschoolers, children, teens and married couples. What about those that don't fit into these categories?? What about them?

As Chris stated, "I think this is some of the most crucial work that the church is about today." Amen Chris. We've got to get out of the mode of what we've always done before. It doesn't work. Time to move on. This generation is needing the best we can offer them. Not something leftover from 20 or 30 years ago. The best we can offer them is Jesus. Alive. The real connector of each and every thread in life. Not someone who died to never rise again.

They want accountability. They want the freedom to share their stories and know that grace, mercy, compassion and etc will meet them. They don't want to be told that they do not belong until they look like we want them to. That they have to get all cleaned up first.

I ask you again to check out http://threadsmedia.com/

What I'm really asking is more than that..... I'm asking you to get uncomfortable for the sake of others... For the power of the cross. For Jesus Alive! Be a part of the solution. Be a thread in another person's life and help make something beautiful from what others might see as scrap. Let your space become a part of theirs.

And more about the survey to come. More stories and testimonies.......

1 comment:

karen said...

"get uncomfortable for the sake of others" isn't that what Jesus did for me? How could I not follow his lead? I could never be more uncomfortable than He was on the cross... for the sake of others, for the sake of me...
I so love him for that and getting a little uncomfortable is so little to ask.