The Edge Community Church

Many moons ago, I was a part of a church plant in Oviedo, FL where we met on Sundays at a high school auditorium. It was a great learning experience, but the church never grew and we shut the doors after a year and a half. Well.....Our latest church visit in Greenville, The Edge Community Church, is a church plant. It was started about 5 months ago and is currently meeting at a high school auditorium. So I was very curious to see how things were going for this newly planted church.

There were about 60-70 people total including children, so with me being a visitor, I was standing out like a sore thumb. That being said, I was warmly welcomed by folks as I came in which was quite refreshing. Even more so, I was very surprised to see the makeup of the congregation racially diverse. Growing up in Panama and Miami, diverse churches were very common. However, after moving to the "southeast" U.S., I have come to realize that the churches here are some of the most racially divided institutions around. So I was encouraged that even in this small number, there were blacks, hispanics, and whites, all fellowshipping together. I walked into the auditorium and the house lights were dark with the stage lights on and the band taking their place. The worship started and the band sounded great.

The pastor was also the lead guitarist in the band…. COOL!!! He preached a good message that was very sincere and challenging. The church had spent a good part of that Saturday doing an outreach in a poor section of town. I was encouraged that even though this church is new and small, they don’t neglect their responsibility to reach out to those less fortunate.

One of the things I noticed in the bulletin and during the announcement time, was a plea from the church..… “Are you ready to take the next step and start making a positive spiritual impact on people’s lives? Then we are ready to find your perfect place to serve. To get plugged in here, please contact….” I guess you expect that with a church plant as manpower is probably at a minimum and they need more warm bodies to help accomplish the things God has called them to do. I have visited a few churches recently that echoed that plea with the request of “Come learn what gifts you have so you can get plugged into ministry here.”

It seems to make sense…..but at the same time it also seems wrong. Why do churches assume that the best place for a person to serve is to join up with a ministry at that church? To be successful in ministry, do you have to be a greeter, a musician, children’s worker, small group leader, Sunday school teacher, or an usher? Churches need these positions filled in order to do be successful with their different programs and activities. So they offer gift and talent surveys where you can find out what you’re good at and then they plug you into serving in that area. Call me crazy, but that kind of sounds like the military to me.

Consider this …. The average family connects and participates in spheres of influence throughout their daily lives. They usually live in a neighborhood with neighbors and participate in activities with other families such as kids’ sports, PTA, hobbies, or school activities. And on top of that, one or both of the parents spend a minimum of 40 hours a week at their work with co-workers. I call these activities “spheres of influence” because they are opportunities to influence the people around them. The problem is that the church model for serving takes people out of their spheres of influence by requiring them to go to the church building and serve the needs there. Of course most of the church’s ministries are centered around the Sunday service, so rehearsals, team meetings, trainings, and teachings occupy much of the active Christian’s time and keeps them mostly around other Christians and not in the real world that is happening each and every day. Is the church really interested in raising up leaders or having people serve as instruments in their machines of ministry?

Have you ever considered the church coming alongside a family and seeing how they can help support that family in their spheres of influence they are already a part of. For example, if the Smith family was very involved in the local soccer league with their kids, how could the local church help that family to be a light in the darkness to the other families in that soccer league? Are there resources and creative ideas that the church could employ to support the Smith family in sharing the gospel with their sphere of influence in that soccer league? Or would that church look to limit the Smith’s time in their mission field to assume a particular role that will help them be more successful with their Sunday service?

Now, before you get upset at me….. I am a musician and have always served on the worship teams at the churches we’ve attended. I’m not saying to neglect any type of service at your church. The difference is that church ministry is not my main outlet for serving. It is only a part of it….a BALANCED part of it. I make sure I have time to stay connected to many of the wonderful relationships that God has given me in the different spheres of influence of my life. I refuse to allow the church and its activities to consume my life. This may sound harsh, but I’ve seen too many people get taken advantage of and burned out by church service and ministry.

I am still praying for the day when a church will come behind a family and specifically ask how they can help that family be a light in the darkness in their community. Where the leadership of that church will commit creativity, support, and most importantly resources to helping that family reach those around them.