Church Planting

So, how does one plant a church? Ah, the million dollar question... It actually should be asked like this: "How does one tell someone about the Good News of the Kingdom of God and have it transform his or her life?" This is a contextual question, with no one way to answer it. Still, from what I have been reading, it seems that a church planter should use the simplest methods available. I've recently been reading Fr. Vincent Donovan's "Christianity Rediscovered" and his account of evangelizing the Masai people of Africa for the Roman Catholic Church. Now, I have to be honest, I've had a problem with missionary work because of its distinct ties to colonial imperialism and the utter destruction of indigenous culture and community. However, this is not the approach Fr. Vincent uses; instead he simply tells each community he visits the story of Jesus Christ in as simple and as culturally relevant terms as possible. From there he allows these people to form their own understanding of what church is by allowing their culture to inform what church looks like. Fr. Vincent allowed for an authentic response from these communities and by allowing this to happen, the Masai "got it" without loosing their way of life, their dignity or their humanity. What Fr. Vincent did was let go of all that he had come to understand as church: the priesthood, and the sacraments. He did this ot to lose these things, but to enhance them--to become more thus allowing the individuals engaging in them to also become more. What he presented them with was the essential good news of the Bible--he did not spend time trying to explain doctrine or church history, he simply told them the Story. And it was enough.

Church is not about conforming to a particular doctrine, set of values, or type of people: church is an authentic response to the presence of God among us, and the good news she has shared with us. It is experiencing tranformation, participating in it, and inviting others to share the mystery of God with us. God isn't asking us to go to church, she is asking us to BE THE CHURCH.

So, I've been running into a lot of people lately who, unlike the Masai, have had an experience of Christianity and Jesus. I would love for my non-readers to share with me their understanding of Jesus--good or bad.