Necessity of Community

Experiences the past two days have reminded me again the necessity of community. Understood that community can be defined with a number of terms, phrases, expectations, etc. However one might define community with a set of words, we all must agree to its necessity.

I was in the city Wednesday with some men from the presbytery and with a new found friend from World Harvest. The conversation floated around ministry and our investment as pastors in the lives of our congregants. We talked about Sonship, gospel-centered living and ministry, curriculum, and other stuff. Then the  conversation got personal and our lunch host challenged us, “Who are the men in your life that know you, that ask you hard questions, that pray for you, that minister to you?” He talked about men with whom he made a covenant to meet and pray for, for ten years. He and other men agreed to meet and minister to one another for ten years, trekking to a retreat in Canada to recharge, refuel and remind each other of the gospel.

As the sharing went on, we were reminded of the moral failures within our community, the ministry burnout, the jaded hearts of men in vocational ministry. I was in that dialog reminded of why I need men in my life to know me and to pray for me. I was reminded why I meet my friend and co-laborer for coffee each Friday, why I go ice climbing with my brothers every winter, and why pint-nights are essential to my health and growth not just as a man, but as a husband, father, coach, friend, and pastor.

In reading Nouwen’s book, Advent and Christmas, I am reminded in today’s reading (Day 6) to be in community. Sadly, I have been out of true community for a while. My life has gotten busy, my world has changed, other men in my world are strained and beaten, … what better time to be part of a mens’ community? It is NOW, that I need men that can hear my desperation, my sin, my heart for the gospel, the joy and love that I have for my wife, and my ever need for Jesus.

We must create community: we must talk about it, we must foster it, cultivate it, seek it, offer it to others, and confront all enemies that challenge it.

~ by Nate on December 5, 2008.