At my ordination interview back in April I was asked to define what my ministry was about. Faced with four people whose formal theological training was way ahead of mine, I was a little unsure of how to respond; or more accurately perhaps, what kind of answer they were after. Figuring that the truth is always a good way forward I began to talk about making space for people to discover God and making sacred the spaces and places that we inhabit.

When I first began this journey evangelism was much more easily defined. I can recall being the guest speaker at a Youth for Christ rally in Victoria and after my message I gave an invitation to the more than 600 kids present to come to the front of the auditorium if they wanted to give their lives to Christ. It was most gratifying that night to see so many young people accept that invitation. During those early days it was relatively easy to monitor the progress of your ministry in terms of numbers ‘saved’.

Times change and so do we and in my case it has been exciting to see my ministry of evangelism develop in ways that I would never have considered way back when. I am still a great believer in the power to be found in preaching a Christian message; but now see just as much value in a variety of other facets of the Christian journey. For me the most important evolution of my ministry has been in the discovery of the importance of making sacred space and place. It is the main focus of my ministry here in North West Sydney.

In these days of incessant pace and pressure I have found great value in providing people with space to simply be. As a local congregation we do this in any number of different ways.

Melbourne Cup Day is all about space. So are our Church Camp, the Women’s Conference, Pub Chat and Movie’s and Martini’s. No, we don’t go into these ventures with New Testaments at the ready, all set to bring people to their knees so that we can pray the magic prayer over them. We do provide a space where just maybe we provide room for God to be discovered among us.

Years ago a town would be built around public places. In Australia the most common two places were Pubs and churches. In the recent past new development was created by the ‘politically correct’ without the necessity of religious buildings (We always find room for a Pub or Club!) as a part of new community. Interestingly these days Town Planners and community gurus have now discovered again the importance of a sacred space or place; but most of these are quite sterile because we can’t mention God!!

I have this strange theory that whenever followers of Jesus Christ inhabit a place they are part of the process of making a place sacred. It doesn’t need a building – just people. Remember that bit in Matthew 28 where Jesus says: ‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ Well, I think he meant it!

Where we go He goes and where He goes makes a difference!

Cheers - John