Wednesday, April 14, 2004
After the break...some good news!
It’s been a bit of a long break with no posting...so here’s a slightly longer blog to make up for it.
First up, God has obviously not quite got hold of the message that He is supposed to be dead, and only the diehards still take any notice. Churches (even traditional) in Australia and New Zealand were packed during Easter services.
Some Australian churches felt that maybe Mel Gibson’s movie had something to do with it, but others in New Zealand felt there was a general interest in things spiritual.
Even research companies are beginning to chart something going on.
Colmar Brunton, one of the largest in New Zealand and Australia, has been carrying out a 10-year project tracking social changes in the two countries. Gabrielle Zerafa, who’s heading it, says we’re heading into a swing back towards social conservatism. There’s a large article on the topic in the National Business Review.
One of the features of the new mood is that religion should be effective in the marketplace. News from the city of Boulder, Colorado (USA) gives an insight into the sort of thing that’s happening. I received the following in a regular email newsletter:
Transformation in Boulder? Who could have imagined... "…that a city could experience such a social and spiritual change in such a short time?" asks Jack Dennison of Citireach. Boulder is known for its liberal politics and lifestyle, and an outspoken anti-Christian attitude in the media, and is considered a bastion of occultism.
Today, the church in Boulder is called a "friend of the city.“ At Christmas 2000, the newspapers wrote 'Keep your religion to yourself!', and attacked churches for their evangelical convictions. Now, they report positively about Christians' commitment in society. The relationship between the churches and the local authorities has improved dramatically. In the past two years, 2,000 more people have been involved in community projects than before. Christian churches support the City's social initiatives with volunteers, recommendations and finance, help in school projects and assist socially deprived youths or families struggling with AIDS.
What happened? Three years ago, the city's Christian leaders gathered for a conference about spiritual and social transformation in the city. During a prayer summit, God spoke to them very directly through Jeremiah 29:7: "Seek the peace and prosperity of the city..." A growing number of pastors recognised that they were much too caught up in their own work to even know what was happening around them. Ten people formed a "Transformation Initiative"; their first action was to organise meetings in the city's social problem areas, which were both informative and shocking for many Christian leaders. Many church leaders then decided to not compete with existing agencies and initiatives, but to support them as long as they fulfilled certain minimum criteria, such as being morally positive and spiritually neutral. That included the local homeless initiative, but not the abortion clinics. One pastor immediately produced a video about the city's social initiatives, which was shown in many churches, raising awareness of the problems.
A growing number of pastors preached about the necessity for Christians to get out of the churches and involve themselves actively and creatively in city interests. The motto is "externally focused and community based.�
An influential Christian businessman invited leaders in the twelve most important areas of society to meet the pastors - the President of the University, the Mayor, the Chief of Police, the Attorney General, newspaper publishers, the Chief of the Fire Department, the School Superintendent and others. They met monthly for lunch, and asked each of them three questions:
1: "What is your vision for our city, and what can you influence?" This laid the foundation for a common vision and cooperation between churches and key areas of society. The answers also revealed that many public figures wanted exactly the same things as the pastors: security for their children, economic opportunities, a fair judicial system and good education for all.
2: "Which three problems within your area of responsibility have no earthly solution?" Not only did this question open the door for intensive prayer, it also motivated the pastors to do something about it.
3: "With which three things do you personally have most problems, for which Christian fellowships can pray and support you?" This question created a very personal contact with the key figures, with life-changing potential. Some of them wept openly when the pastors showed interest in their personal affairs and prayed for them.
A desperate and passionate report about youth crime by the Attorney General prompted many churches to spontaneously work with him to help prevent youth criminals from falling further into crime - a programme which had great success in the County. Parallel to the Biblical parable of the Talents, pastors called on church members to do something practical for the Kingdom of God. Each of the 280 people who volunteered was given a new US$100 bill, donated by an anonymous businessman. Their task: multiply the $100 in 90 days, and then report to the churches, as in the film “Pay it Forward.� The result was a total of $250,000, which was donated to Boulder's social institutions. A 10-year-old boy took only $1, and printed a poster advertising lawn mowing services. He earned $273, which was donated to Sudanese orphans living in Boulder. A married couple bought soap and a bucket, and washed dogs for a donation, collecting a total of $13,000. In Fall, three churches started another project, calling on their members to sell something of their own for at least $100; the result was another $250,000. One man sold his large television, saying “a smaller one is big enough.� Several Christians sold their luxury cars, replacing them with standard models, others sold unnecessary status symbols. Another challenge was that church members should perform at least 90 minutes of voluntary work in 90 days. At Christmas, one church even decided to cancel their Christmas concert, and take the church to the people, performing "1,000 practical helps" in December instead of inviting the people into the church. City officials say that the churches have become the main supporters of the county's social projects, both financially and in manpower.
It’s been a bit of a long break with no posting...so here’s a slightly longer blog to make up for it.
First up, God has obviously not quite got hold of the message that He is supposed to be dead, and only the diehards still take any notice. Churches (even traditional) in Australia and New Zealand were packed during Easter services.
Some Australian churches felt that maybe Mel Gibson’s movie had something to do with it, but others in New Zealand felt there was a general interest in things spiritual.
Even research companies are beginning to chart something going on.
Colmar Brunton, one of the largest in New Zealand and Australia, has been carrying out a 10-year project tracking social changes in the two countries. Gabrielle Zerafa, who’s heading it, says we’re heading into a swing back towards social conservatism. There’s a large article on the topic in the National Business Review.
One of the features of the new mood is that religion should be effective in the marketplace. News from the city of Boulder, Colorado (USA) gives an insight into the sort of thing that’s happening. I received the following in a regular email newsletter:
Transformation in Boulder? Who could have imagined... "…that a city could experience such a social and spiritual change in such a short time?" asks Jack Dennison of Citireach. Boulder is known for its liberal politics and lifestyle, and an outspoken anti-Christian attitude in the media, and is considered a bastion of occultism.
Today, the church in Boulder is called a "friend of the city.“ At Christmas 2000, the newspapers wrote 'Keep your religion to yourself!', and attacked churches for their evangelical convictions. Now, they report positively about Christians' commitment in society. The relationship between the churches and the local authorities has improved dramatically. In the past two years, 2,000 more people have been involved in community projects than before. Christian churches support the City's social initiatives with volunteers, recommendations and finance, help in school projects and assist socially deprived youths or families struggling with AIDS.
What happened? Three years ago, the city's Christian leaders gathered for a conference about spiritual and social transformation in the city. During a prayer summit, God spoke to them very directly through Jeremiah 29:7: "Seek the peace and prosperity of the city..." A growing number of pastors recognised that they were much too caught up in their own work to even know what was happening around them. Ten people formed a "Transformation Initiative"; their first action was to organise meetings in the city's social problem areas, which were both informative and shocking for many Christian leaders. Many church leaders then decided to not compete with existing agencies and initiatives, but to support them as long as they fulfilled certain minimum criteria, such as being morally positive and spiritually neutral. That included the local homeless initiative, but not the abortion clinics. One pastor immediately produced a video about the city's social initiatives, which was shown in many churches, raising awareness of the problems.
A growing number of pastors preached about the necessity for Christians to get out of the churches and involve themselves actively and creatively in city interests. The motto is "externally focused and community based.�
An influential Christian businessman invited leaders in the twelve most important areas of society to meet the pastors - the President of the University, the Mayor, the Chief of Police, the Attorney General, newspaper publishers, the Chief of the Fire Department, the School Superintendent and others. They met monthly for lunch, and asked each of them three questions:
1: "What is your vision for our city, and what can you influence?" This laid the foundation for a common vision and cooperation between churches and key areas of society. The answers also revealed that many public figures wanted exactly the same things as the pastors: security for their children, economic opportunities, a fair judicial system and good education for all.
2: "Which three problems within your area of responsibility have no earthly solution?" Not only did this question open the door for intensive prayer, it also motivated the pastors to do something about it.
3: "With which three things do you personally have most problems, for which Christian fellowships can pray and support you?" This question created a very personal contact with the key figures, with life-changing potential. Some of them wept openly when the pastors showed interest in their personal affairs and prayed for them.
A desperate and passionate report about youth crime by the Attorney General prompted many churches to spontaneously work with him to help prevent youth criminals from falling further into crime - a programme which had great success in the County. Parallel to the Biblical parable of the Talents, pastors called on church members to do something practical for the Kingdom of God. Each of the 280 people who volunteered was given a new US$100 bill, donated by an anonymous businessman. Their task: multiply the $100 in 90 days, and then report to the churches, as in the film “Pay it Forward.� The result was a total of $250,000, which was donated to Boulder's social institutions. A 10-year-old boy took only $1, and printed a poster advertising lawn mowing services. He earned $273, which was donated to Sudanese orphans living in Boulder. A married couple bought soap and a bucket, and washed dogs for a donation, collecting a total of $13,000. In Fall, three churches started another project, calling on their members to sell something of their own for at least $100; the result was another $250,000. One man sold his large television, saying “a smaller one is big enough.� Several Christians sold their luxury cars, replacing them with standard models, others sold unnecessary status symbols. Another challenge was that church members should perform at least 90 minutes of voluntary work in 90 days. At Christmas, one church even decided to cancel their Christmas concert, and take the church to the people, performing "1,000 practical helps" in December instead of inviting the people into the church. City officials say that the churches have become the main supporters of the county's social projects, both financially and in manpower.
