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We were a little bit nervous at first, unsure about how the community would respond to us, but it ended up being a blast. Twelve of us went out for an hour on Sunday evening, going door to door and handing out bags of candy with a little card telling folks about our church. Most of the people we encountered were surprised but thrilled at the gift. Some tried to give us money. Others were curious and asked questions about who we were an why we were doing this to which we were able to respond that this was just our small way of showing God's love to our neighbors. Yes, a few were skeptical, and a couple of people wouldn't open their doors, but mainly it was a great experience both for our neighbors and us!

USA Today ran a story a couple of weeks ago based on the findings of the Barna Research group. Here is an excerpt:

Majorities of young people in America describe modern-day Christianity as judgmental, hypocritical and anti-gay. What's more, many Christians don't even want to call themselves "Christian" because of the baggage that accompanies the label.

A new book based on research by the California-based research firm The Barna Group found that church attitudes about people in general and gays in particular are driving a negative image of the Christian faith among people ages 16-29.

"The Christian community's ability to take the high road and help to deal with some of the challenges that this (anti-gay) perception represents may be the ... defining response of the Christian church in the next decade," said David Kinnaman, Barna Group president and author of the book,

UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity

.

"The anti-homosexual perception has now become sort of the Geiger counter of Christians' ability to love and work with people."

As new generations come of age, the opportunity--the necessity--for a renewed understanding of Christianity as a source of love and grace and acceptance grows.

Tom Bandy, a consultant with Easum, Bandy, and Associates has written an excellent piece on the synergy that takes place in thriving churches. By excellent, of course, I mean that he agrees with my ideas. Not only does he talk about the importance of process from worship to discipleship to mission, he takes a stab at quantifying, with percentages, how that should take place.

I was able to spend the day Saturday with four of our church members at an all day seminar by Paul Nickerson, a church growth and vitality consultant. I think it was an incredibly positive experience for all of us. Much of what was shared is what I have been sharing with the church. Much of what was shared our church has already been doing long before my arrival. It is exciting to see our denomination embrace the idea of vitality and growth.

Some ideas that were fresh for me:

* "Taste and See" Events (events hosted for the community) should always have a "hand-off" event-- "If you liked this you might be interested
in..."

* People born before 1950 come to worship to be soothed. For Baby Boomers and later, often suffering from at least low-grade depression, the
desire is for exciting worship to inspire and energize. This is why blended worship is never completely successful.

* Nickerson's encouragement to bathe the entire process in prayer was an inspiring reminder. Prayer is essential at every step of the process,
from the prayer team to prayer walks in the neighborhood, to prayer triads that listen to the community.

I had the opportunity to hear a fantastic musician Friday night at a house concert sponsored by a friend. His name is Erik Balkey and bills himself as a "traveling house painter and poet." I can't attest to his house painting skills, but he is a fantastic poet. Each of his songs are a short story, drawn from observation and what must be a vivid imagination. He tackles social issues not by railing against them, but by sharing stories.

He introduces characters that one wants to meet and creates worlds that draw one in.