Thanks to my friends Marquetta and Gregg, I have had the blessing of being introduced to Church of the savior in Washington D.C. the pastor there Gordon Cosby, and his right hand lady Elizabeth O’Conner I have been enthralled with a church who has dared to listen to the Spirit. Gordon seems to be a quiet man with a deep conviction about mission, community, and formation. before it was cool to be missional, Church of the savior was at work in the down and out areas, and the up and going places in D.C.
As I have been studying at Biblical theological seminary over the past two years we have had many conversations and discussions around different authors, pastors and theologians who have been leading the way in the missional discussion. All have enriched my life and ministry but upon the discovery of Elizabeth O’Conner’s servant leader, servant structure, what I found was not just another book about missional thought and practice although there is plenty of that in there, but I found the original artifact, a book that doesn’t even know the terms and ideologies that make up missional thought and theology. this is the guy who started it all(I am sure that there are others) but for me this is their earliest other than Wesley, Barth, and the Salvation Army. At the height of there size they asked the Spirit to speak into the organization structure, the pull was to add more staff but the Spirit moved elsewhere and God spoke and the church split into smaller churches so that people could be known as they walk in and that people would see community on a deeper level.
One of the phrases that has resonated deep within for me is the phrase “inward and outward.” Here is what the church is founded on and in my opinion is what all churches need to figure out how to do well. The church that helps people meet with Jesus through silence, prayer, meditation, journaling, corporate worship and deep community, is one that responds outward to the world. they look to Christ to give the vision and passion, He becomes the Senior pastor and the church as a whole is on staff with Him. This inward outward thing has got me thinking in many different directions I find myself thankful that God has shaped my life and ministry this way since I was young and didn’t know anything, now I am older and don’t know anything. But what I know is that what changes people is Jesus, we need to help get people into close proximity with Him.
Another thing that impresses me about the way this church is set up is the commitment they have for education for the sake of formation. this what I have had the blessing to experience at Biblical. I went to seminary and have found myself radically transformed because my education is done as an act of worship and for the purpose of the kingdom of God. The education process goes on for 2 years for those who are seeking to become members at the church, and from what the book reported most people continue to take courses after they have finished. the courses range from OT and NT survey, to Ethics, and theology, to call and Mission. again the purpose is not just for the sake of knowledge but knowledge for the sake of mission.
I am not saying that every church needs to do exactly what this church is doing! but what this book is saying… Engage the Spirit, He will lead us to the places we need to go! He will give us our mission and He will help us accomplish all that He lays on our hearts so that we can lay it at the feet of Jesus in worship and adoration to the King who is bringing the kingdom and has asked us to announce the kingdom and its Good, and Faithful King.
