Communitas: Pancakes and Prayer

Monday, November 24, 2008

Pancakes and Prayer

Please pray for us as we reach out to many students this Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. As you might imagine-many students are "cutting" class that day to get home for their short Thanksgiving break. Many students, however, are "stuck" on campus-either due to work or because professors have scheduled tests for that day.

We are going to be out in a very public place to serve pancakes to students, faculty and staff who are still on campus the day before Thanksgiving. Our students are very excited about the service opportunity-and we anticipate this being a great way to bless students and develop new relationships.

Please pray that God uses this event to build bridges for the Gospel.

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Why Communitas?

Communitas is a word and concept I learned from reading Alan Hirsch's wonderful book: "The Forgotten Ways."

Hirsch seeks to rediscover what he calls the original "Apostolic Genius" that was a part of the early church's spiritual DNA. The early church was highly missional and grew from approximately 25,000 followers to 25 million in a short period of time. One of the core elements Hirsch fleshes out is that of "Communitas."

Hirsch writes: "Communitas not Community: The most vigorous forms of community are those that come together in the context of a shared ordeal or, communities who define themselves as a group with a mission that lies beyond themselves—thus initiating a risky journey. Over-concern with safety and security, combined with comfort and convenience, have lulled us out of our true calling and purpose. Everyone loves an adventure. Or do we?"

I pray this journal in some way stimulates our desire for authentic communitas within our families, churches and faith communities. Following Christ is and should be anything but safe and comfortable!