Communitas: Praying for a New Semester

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Praying for a New Semester

I am leaving with our student leaders tomorrow for our prayer and planning retreat. School resumes January 12! Please pray for us. We will be praying and planning for 3 days.

We anticipate God doing wonderful things this semester. We are looking forward to reaching new students for Christ, to being a great influence on our campus. Our students truly have a heart to see Christ glorified on our campus-and beyond.

We will be preparing for our mission trip as well, which will take place in May. Please pray for us as we prepare our hearts for the things God has in store for us.

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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!