There are no small parts, only small actors. I, for one, will play whatever part the Lord assigns me. For there is no greater privilege than being given the opportunity to be a worker in the harvest.

Praise God for loving man so much that He allows us to be involved in His work!

I hope that more pastors hear what God has shown you. You are so right on I can’t stop talking about it. I know prophets who are traveling the world speaking these same words…but I think you have actually said it better than I have ever heard. You have taken great time to listen to your father and put this plan together.
Chad, I simply can’t believe what you have written.
Go for it.
Don’t let anyone turn you from your idea. I’m telling you, I know that’s from God.
The church as we know it (the institutional church) is dying. People don’t want to hear that. It’s not that is’ bad…not at all. But I think God is ready to get back to the basics….it’s time to get away from the business model church and back to what it’s really about…Jesus and His love for people.
Where do you live?
I wish it were near Springfield Oregon.
If you were I bet God would tell me to go back.
Wow.
I’m sorry that my writing is probably not the best but I get like that when excitement hits me.
God bless you for your work, for listening and for the balls to do it.

Someone recently asked me: “Why a community center?” –

The Community Center would act as a platform to serve the community. But, we’d be serving on our terms. Our goal will ultimately be, the gospel.. And.. it’s a venue that people are already accustomed to.

For instance: If we wanted to give someone a cheeseburger, and then sit down over that burger and share the gospel with them.. we wouldn’t say, “come to church on Sunday and get a cheese burger.” We’d say, “let’s go this restaraunt and eat a cheeseburger”.. – We want our community service deeds to be like that cheeseburger. These are things that will give us opportunities to build relationships and share the gospel.. but, we won’t ask people to come to a thing they perceive as being “church” to attend a workshop on budgeting.. Instead, we’ll invite them to a community center.. one that is run, behind the scenes, by a church, and is operated by the individuals who make up the church.. – but, is a real bonifide community center.. all the same..

Concerning walls… I’m not thinking so much about the physical walls of any building, but rather, the things which block our understanding of what it means to “be the church” and what it means to express that.. beyond the walls of public perception… the walls of tradition… the walls of religiosity… etc.

We are serving consistently outside the walls of the building. This past Saturday we had 18 people out collecting donated furniture and delivering it to families in need. When it’s warm out, we are down town on Friday nights doing face painting and balloon animals for the kids. This gives us the opportunity to bless mom and dad.. and many opportunities to share have resulted. This summer, I’m adding a new ministry to our down-town work. I’m calling it “2-1″… which means.. it’s a ministry that is directed “to one” person. A group of 2 or 3 will go out amongst the crowds on Friday night and ask the Lord to lead them to one specific person. It’s an open ended and mysterious ministry. They don’t know who the “one” is, and they don’t know what they’re going to do when they find him/her.. but the main goal is to show them love, lend them their ears and share the gospel.

I agree w/you about koinonia. – IN all that we do.. there needs to be “community with a purpose”. In fact, koinonia is intertwined with diakoinia by definition. One speaks mainly of service, but koinonia is validated by it’s fruits of service..

Are you saying I need to shave or sell my electric? Because you just described me, except for the “cool” part. That’s something I’m not. And the “young” is quickly fading.

All kidding aside, I appreciate all the effort and prayer you’ve put into this. I know Jon Courson has used the “church without walls” phrase for years, and I’m not sure he’s convinced he knows how to do it. I just posted on my blog about the need for “koinonia” a few days ago. It seems to me that this is the catalyst to make the church do what the church should be doing (or being). If the church body is really engaged in koinonia during the week, it will change the way they behave in society, and I believe also change society’s view of “the church.”

One question, though. You mention early in your post about the “church without walls,” but it seems that your way of doing this is by bringing all kinds of activities inside the church walls. What about equipping the people so they can engage in those same activities outside the church building walls and win people to Christ? I know theres no easy answer here. As Jim Goodman said above, its an important discussion.