Have you ever said something that was completely misunderstood? This was happening to me on a regular basis when I decided to work with the Inspire Movement. You know how small talk goes with people you haven't seen for a while in America... So what are you doing these days?
Side rant: We place way too much emphasis on what we do, as if this is what defines our life. Paul reminds us in Galatians, "For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." Our identity first is as a child of God, not what job, degrees, etc. we have or hold in our lifetime! For those who follow Jesus, we need to get better at asking each other what the Spirit is doing in and through our lives, and how we're joining His mission. Rant over...
I usually explain how I'm working with a discipleship movement, which seeks to cultivate missional disciples. Missional disciples are those who abide deeply with the Father and live in step with the Spirit in their day-to-day lives. After I explain the movement I'll tell people we help cultivate missional disciples by getting them in bands. At this point I usually get interrupted... That's cool, what instrument do you play? Racing thoughts begin to populate my mind, "Did they not hear everything I just said?", "I wonder if can develop disciples by playing in a musical band?", "Shoot, I'm terrible at explaining things...!"
This happened to me on a regular basis as I tried to describe the ministry we work alongside. Yes, it was completely my fault in how I described bands. Though I would never change its name, since it can have great evangelistic opportunities, the language we use really matters. After all, how can someone be expected to understand something they themselves do not even have the language for? Now I explain...
We help people get into small groups of three to four people who help each other grow closer to Jesus. They do this by having conversation around their journey with Him. We call these groups, "bands"!
Bands are at the core of what we're helping develop in Wilmore, KY. Part of our responsibility is to help start, mentor, and oversee those who are in bands around Wilmore, and specifically Asbury Seminary. Right now, I'm in four bands and Kylie is in three.
For those who want to deepen their walk with Jesus, I'm convinced that joining a band can be one of the most life changing experiences. Bands can be a sacred meeting place with other close friends who help carry you to Jesus, just like the friends of the paralyzed man in Luke's gospel. We need friends who know us completely and yet still love us.
If you're curious... I play guitar!
(If you want to read more about bands go here: https://inspirewilmore.org/rhythm/fellowship-bands/)
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