Here are seven principles for catalyzing community whether you are trying to start a small group, ministry, a non-profit organization, or a church:
Principle #1: Cause creates community.
Our cause = moving people to become the person God created them to be.
Principle #2: Meet the needs of those around us.
We need to seek to meet the physical, emotional, economic, and spiritual needs of those around us. We should pursue helping to change the environment and change the individual who is looking for change.
Principle #3: Reach out to Xenos
Hospitality means loving strangers. A similar word, “hospice,” means “a safe place.” Our homes, our businesses, and our churches should become safe places for strangers to experience kindness and love.
Principle #4: Develop authentic friendships with those you know.
Are we loving, serving, and influencing our family, neighbors, co-workers, and friends?
Jesus was willing to ruin His reputation to reach out to others who were far from God.
Principle #5: Allow people to belong before they believe.
We should never allow our convictions to become a litmus test for friendship. In fact, we should actively pursue friendships with people – even people with whom we may disagree. Go to www.mosaic.org/faq for more on the staff process at Mosaic.
Come as you are, and you don’t have to stay that way! (see www.gatewaychurch.com/podcast)
Principle #6: Raise up a team of leaders to replace you
MPAC = Ministry through a pastor, assimilator, and catalyst
We need to make decisions based on who is not yet here rather than who has been here the longest.
Principle #7: Start Over
For the rest of the notes, e-mail me at eric.bryant@gatewaychurch.com with “Catalyzing Community” in the subject, or you can listen to the conference call at my site’s audio messages at Catalyzing Community – 2nd audio from the bottom. You will also find interviews with Dan Kimball, Kevin Harney, Erwin McManus, and many others.
What have you seen bring people together?
