I’m sitting in my Urban Ministries class here @ Emory listening to Dr. Marvin Thomas. For 12 years he served as a pastor in inner city Chicago and he just told a powerful story of a moment in life that pierced his heart and changed the trajectory of his church.
Sitting on the front steps of the large church building to cool down late one evening (the church had no air conditioning), a woman walked up to him, and, with a puzzled look on her face, asked him,
“Sir. Is this church still open?”
The church was so inactive and stationary, so quiet and isolated, so focused on being a refuge from the community instead of a refuge for the world, so focus on maintaining the status quo that this resident wasn’t even sure if the church was still open any more!
How do people in your community know that your church is still open?
Are you just loud on Sunday morning (and sometimes on Wednesday evening)?
If the church is the representative of God on the Earth…my rhetorical question to you is…is Our God just alive a few hours per week or is He Alive all of the time?
How does your church prove this?
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Hi Pastor Shaun, I really appreciate this blog because it really speaks to where I am right now as a myself, as a Pastor.
I really want my church to reach our city like it has never been reached before. I am so proud of what the Spirit of God is doing through You, and Courageous Church, in Atlanta and beyond. Can you help us with our Church outreach model, and help us breath life into what God wants to do in our city?
Shaun, from my perspective, even though there are a ton of churches, no one church is really standing out for Jesus to reach the lost and unchurched people in this city in order for them to really take notice of Jesus and reach out to Him for change.
Shaun, I need help to prove to this city that Jesus LOVES THEM, and He will prove it through us. Is there a outreach model that you can help me with? What are some the things you did to start impacting your city? How can I create the same impact through social networking and the internet, like you and Courageous church have done? I REALLY DO WANT PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE OPEN FOR KINGDOM BUSINESS. I don't have a whole lot of experience in building, and creating impacting websites as I see that You and Courageous Church has done. I would love the assistance and guidance from you and your staff, that could help us go from, Is this church still open? To proving to this community that we are Open, that Jesus really does love and care about them.
Can you help us?
WOW say it isn't so . . . you may be writing to vent on this blog but the spirit is all over this stuff AMEN!!!!
. . . not a spirit, the Holy Spirit. (I had to correct myself quick)
Haha! Thanks a ton!
Would love to help Ron! Email me directly @ shaunking@courageous.tv
Hello Shaun, I was searching the internet trying to find out information on Walls Memorial CME Church in Chicago and I ran across you comment. I just wanted to let you know that Dr. Thomas' story is real and the church is still open. Dr. Thomas did an outstanding job at Walls. I'm currently the pastor of Walls and Dr. Thomas' shoes are nearly impossible to fill. God Bless
I know this is late…But Dr. Thomas did many things for us at Walls that are still in place. I his son is like my little brother.