Once upon a time there was a beautiful church building filled with beautiful people who loved to come together. Fellowship was wonderful, music was brilliant, and small groups were meaningful and helpful for living peaceful lives. People loved to come to the building, see each other, smile and make friendly talk, and pray.
But one day something happened. Everyone came to the building on a Sunday morning and the door was locked. This was quite confusing, but the people thought about it and said, “We can still meet right here just outside the building.” So they did. They still had music and fellowship and discussions about why they were locked out of the building. But not much changed as they continued their activities outside the walls of the beautiful building.
Until one day. Someone wondered what it would be like to experience their faith-walk in a new way. This person went out and took ‘church’ into the streets and into the homes of people who did not know God. This person sought out those who had not gone to church yet and those who had become disillusioned with God. Shortly, though this person missed his church-building experiences, he began to experience something richer, and deeper, and even more meaningful.
With excitement, this person returned to the folks-outside-the-building church and began to share what he had experienced. Sadly, he found few that were interested. Instead, they insisted that the building would open again and all would be like it once was.
But the person who went out realized that for him it would never be the same. He had found something new that he would never give up. Sometimes lonely, but never with regret, he has discovered a new way to ‘be church’ in the world where the adventure of faith has come alive.
Surely, though perhaps only a small army, there are those who have come alive to a Jesus-adventure during this past year who will never go back to how life was before.
