Location, location, location!

This coming Sunday we celebrate four years since our official launch as a new congregation on the 14th of December 2003. At that time we had managed to gather some 24 or 25 adults around us. That is not bad when you consider that 15 months previous we were no more than a good idea. Today, four years on, the number of adults who see themselves as connected to our worship life is now around the 70 mark. We would certainly get a shock if everyone turned up at once! Of course if you add in the kids we can put another 60 onto the list at least!

Then of course you begin to consider our ‘others’ list which sees us in contact with another 50 or 60 families through our various ministries? So, after a few years of hard work maybe we can be kind to each other on our birthday and give all concerned a well earned pat on the back. From me; well done and thank you so much for your support.

Nothing particularly ‘museish’ about the above; but it has got me thinking about how we have gone about forming this very special community of ours. My thinking is also related to our latest foray into the property market and the concern that we are being seen to be moving to the fringe of our area. You know the old Real Estate cry – LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

I believe in the location thing and make the point that we have grown precisely because of that truth. However, it has not been the location of a building that has seen us grow so well; but rather the location of our people. Growth has not come from people being attracted to a building or a particular style of worship; but by people connecting with people, and for this to happen we have had to be located with them! Of course I have made the point a hundred times before but that is how Jesus did it.

‘The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood.’ John 1:14 The Message

That’s how we went about it and continue to work this model. I have to say that for Ronnie and I this has been at some cost because among our variety of different gifts, hospitality has never rated all that high! Now, we get on with people okay (I think?), but we are not natural entertainers or hosts. So for two people – one of whom is extremely shy and the other as much an introvert as an extrovert – it has been an interesting journey. As a for instance we would have had more than double the amount of events at our home in five years here than we had in eleven and a half in our previous place.

Location, location, location is a great mission statement as long as we realize that it’s all about people. Jesus went where they were and connected with them. He did it at their workplace, their homes, at family celebrations and wakes, at religious gatherings and even took time out from his own parades to connect with people. These times of interruption stand out for me as the most impressive stuff of all. Here he connects with the unclean, the sick, blind deaf, ostracized and oppressed. It was while Jesus was just going about his daily stuff that healing, hope and life came to others. Here is the thing for me. I can see this happening today right across the different things that we do.

Location is all about being where people are at, rather than where we would like them to be. Life would be so much easier if we arrived in a district, let people know our church times and just waited for the crowds to flock right on in. Here is a news flash. That hasn’t happened for a VERY long time. So we go where they are and provide a variety of opportunities to connect. There are two things that stop our nation and neither of them is religious. Well... I guess they are a bit! ANZAC Day and Melbourne Cup are two key Australian moments and each year we provide a local place for people to reflect and celebrate these occasions.

Aberdoon House, Story Time, Playgroup, Go M.A.D, State of Origin, Ginger Bread Houses, Ladies Day, Christmas Eve, Pub Chat, Movies & Martinis are all attempts at meeting people in a non-threatening place and by stealth BEING the good news that Jesus calls us to be. We do look after ourselves by home groups, 50+, TGYH and other in house things and these are vital to our well being; but our focus has always been outward looking.

Of course in today's diverse society location is also connected to communication. I am old enough to remember when you rang someone and the first question you asked was ‘How are you?’ Nowadays you ring and the question is more likely to be ‘Where are you?’ So we have to connect with people no matter what their location. That is why we have an SMS Network on the go these days, plus these musings, plus our blog address and our website and our bulletin. Someone kindly passed on a word of encouragement about my musings last week and wondered how I found the time to do it. It is imperative that I make time for these things!

So, if you can’t make it next Sunday, let me wish you a Happy Birthday ahead of time. If you are relatively new on the block it makes no difference – you’re part of the family – what’s ours is yours. If you’ve been around from the beginning you deserve a medal. But the best I can do is say thanks and I’m sorry we don’t see as much of each other as we used to.