[This first appeared at LifeChurchNC.com]
April 17, 2015
So, you may have noticed in recent weeks that we finally have a sign on our building. It’s almost humorous as I think back over the last 9 months and seeing this small banner above the main entrance doors with the Life Church logo and the web address (which, by the way, could only be read if you were in the parking lot), almost as if to subtly and quietly announce to the community that there is a church that meets in this building off of Jake Alexander Blvd. each week. I mean, when you think about it, there’s really been nothing to attract people to our church from the outside of the building over the last 9 months, has there? Each time I would pull into the parking lot or drive by the building and see this white banner that had been up long enough to become discolored, I would just shake my head and thinking to myself:
What in the world is going on here that would consistently draw hundreds of people to this building throughout the week and nearly 700 people for worship services on the weekend? Because whatever it is, it obviously has nothing to do with outside of the building.
But herein lies the beauty. Because when you’re a church in a community, aren’t you supposed to do everything possible to make sure everyone knows who you are and where you are – even if it is in a temporary location? Now, please don’t misunderstand me here: I’m not against Life Church or any other church doing everything possible make sure there is something welcoming and inviting about where we gather. If we truly believe our church is a gathering where everyone belongs, where you are invited to come as you are, reflecting the heart of our God who has invited us to come to Him just as we are, then wouldn’t we want to do everything possible to make at least that much clear? However, if these last 9 months have solidified anything for us, it’s that buildings don’t attract people as much as people attract people. Although things like signs and buildings with an inviting appearance are important, a church being church (rather than doing church) is far more essential.
When the banner was put up in August of 2014, it was simply to let people know where we were meeting. At the time, there were still lots of questions about the future of our current meeting location – questions and details we’ve consistently been working on ever since and will be providing more information about soon!. On top of that, we really didn’t want to (nor could we afford to) put up a big, fancy sign to draw attention to ourselves, primarily because we were (and have remained) committed to being a financially responsible and generously giving church. So, we decided to wait on a sign until we had more certainly with our location and until we could actually afford it, and not doing so at the expense of our financial obligations and commitments to local and international ministry partners.
And so, the week before Easter weekend, a sign finally appeared on our building to more clearly identify where Life Church gathers each weekend – although we are far from being limited to a location, because the church is made-up of people on mission and relationships, and where those people and relationships go, Life Church goes.
What’s incredibly ironic and beautiful here is that our sign went up on the heels of one of our most generous months as a church, resulting in over $6,500 being contributed to local, regional and international ministry partners! (To see a list of current partners, CLICK HERE.) That’s incredible. But it should be of no surprise to us, because when God’s people are committed to being generous, we will always have everything we need and plenty left over to share with others. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
We believe this and take it literally. What an encouragement to know that this is what we are part of together as Life Church!
Oh, and by the way, the sign is paid for.
A Contemplative Life 