How I Got Here

Through a desire to evangelize and severe isolation, I discovered my God-given need as a human for belonging to a communal church. Working as a waiter in the subculture of the food business has shown me the importance of church members living in community for sharing the gospel. Furthermore, our postmodern culture does not want facts nor words but to actually experience the gospel. Now the gospel is the message people hear from us, but they also examine the messenger. There is no better witness to the world than a whole host of messengers/witnesses who not only meet on Sunday but also live close enough together to gather all week for all sorts of practical reasons. Indeed, they will know us by our love for one another.
Secondly, once I found out how hard it is to support a family of three and go to school at the same time, I desperately needed a solid church body. We found one of the best ones in Fort Worth but even they do not live near one another. So I cannot do life with them as needed, and we cannot showcase each other off easily to our lost friends as examples of Christ’s grace in our lives.

Communal Christianity: In the World but not of it

Christians living in community does not mean walls or fences. It does not mean escaping to the countryside. In fact, it means the opposite of all these things. It means going into the heart of societies, but going in together. The idea is for families and singles to live near each other on the same block and in the same neighborhoods. This is what constitutes Christian community.
The most God-glorifying, soul-satisfying, gospel-proclaiming thing on the whole earth is the Church Jesus Christ instituted. However, even the local church has been drawn and quartered; members of the church live so far apart that the body of Christ cannot fulfill His purposes. We’ve got to come together.
Due to consumerism, materialism, and individualism, American Christians have forsaken the church and looked for happiness in their families, entertainment, and all manner of sinful things. We all want to be happy, to be satisfied. What Christ tells us is that satisfaction comes from a commitment to Him as Lord and Leader and to His Church, which is His lasting Presence on earth. But churches do not function biblically without their members living within close proximity (within a few blocks of each other). Living so far apart from other members changes a church’s focus from daily worship and discipleship to once a week “numbers rallies.” Living 15-30 minutes away from other members strips the body of all its gathered praise for God, corporate prayer, vibrancy, teaching, community, sharing, caring, and benefits to onlookers.
God wants us to be happy, to have joy in Him. Our satisfaction is found in Christ and in His body, the Church. God has created us for community, but our culture has told us to go it alone. While there are many biblical churches, they will not enjoy life to the fullest until they give up worldly desires and worries and live in community. I’m asking people around the world for their input, and I’m hoping that along the way they realize that joining us here or starting their own true community church is the only option for their lives.