Dear Church,

Recently I read this quote from NT scholar, Dr. Darrell L. Bock,

“To ‘manifest’ the Kingdom’s presence is not to build buildings or pass laws, but to honor God with a quality of life that is directed powerfully in the transforming work of his Spirit. If God’s people have any priority, it should be the commitment to live, relate and serve in a way that honors him.”

Certainly there is a place for the ministry tools we call “buildings” and for “laws” that are right and just. But the primary work of the Kingdom is in us (individually and collectively), transforming us more and more into the image of Christ, so that we might “live, relate and serve in a way that honors him.” That’s called “being the church.”

Praying that God will manifest his Kingdom’s presence in me (and us),

Joel

Dear Church,

Many of you know Dennis Cussen -- one of our highly accomplished drummers – the tall one. Well Dennis moved in next door to an “aspiring drummer” and drumming instantly became a connection point for them – a connection point that has spawned a friendship.

Along the way in this friendship, as you might imagine (since Christ is the center of Dennis’ life), spiritual matters have sometimes surfaced as a topic of discussion. And though those discussions have not born immediate, obvious fruit, there’s no way they can be falling on deaf ears because 1 John 3:18 is being lived out.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”

Here’s an excerpt from an email Dennis sent me recently in which he was bragging on the people in his Grow Group.

I LOVE my group - friends who've been there through thick and thin.  People I love like I love my family, and who've loved me like I was family.  I've shared updates about my friend from time to time and they've been interested and prayed … Anyway, my friend was going with a current girlfriend and she got pregnant.  I shared with the group about these latest developments.  As the pregnancy got further along we talked about doing something for their family as a group.  We decided to pool some money together and get stuff.  Was really touching to me how everyone wanted to be involved in this, and contribute to showing love to this man they didn't even know.  We got a card signed by everyone, and Kim Gustafson took all the money and bought a whole bunch of baby stuff.  How wonderful it was to take a huge sack of baby goods over there, with a card signed by the whole group!  I'm talking about a freakin' big boy sack of goods; it meant business.  By now the baby had been born and is extremely cute.  My friend thanked me for all the stuff … What a blessing it is to have God set before us opportunities, and that we have the privilege to respond.  I will continue to give my group updates … so nice to know others are in the trenches with this!!  And God knows there are countless people out there who are withering away that need to be reached out to.

Ok, say it with me, to Dennis and his Grow Group – “Thanks for not just going to church, but for genuinely being the church!”

Inspired by your tangible love,

Joel

Dear Church,

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times and ways I heard of and saw the church “being the church” during this Christmas season.

Together we adopted families from our community -- purchasing gifts for adults and children. We cared for the elderly in nursing facilities through visits, caroling and gift blankets. We blessed a neighboring pastor’s family with a love offering of $1,000. One Grow Group collected items for the homeless persons to whom the KC Rescue Mission ministers. One group of individuals help set a single lady up in her apartment by providing nearly a full slate of kitchen supplies -- pots, pans, dishes, etc. Some provided meals and support for one of our grieving families. A few gave extra-generous, year-end financial gifts to support the ministry of GC. Some volunteered at Harvesters food warehouse (helping provide food for needy families). Many volunteered in ministry here at GC as we gathered for worship and carried out other ministries.

In other words, over the past few weeks, by God’s grace at work in us, we beautifully proclaimed Christ with our actions, but we also had opportunities to proclaim Christ with our words – through preaching and through personal conversations – resulting in a few persons coming to faith and many being encouraged in their faith. I also saw (and experienced) genuine love and fellowship taking place between brothers and sisters in Christ – small groups, ministry teams, pastors and people, etc. -- celebrating together and blessing one another’s lives.

So, I suppose the challenge is, here on the front end of 2012, to let the (S)pirit of Christmas remain in us and continue to compel us to declare the Good News of the Savior in both word and deed – and not just during this season of the year, but every day.

Encouraged by your living out of the Gospel,

Joel

Dear church,

It was a great privilege to gather for worship with many of you over the Christmas holiday. I expected the Christmas Eve service to be the bigger of the two (between that and the Christmas morning option), but I didn’t expect the disparity to be quite as big as it was – 395 on Christmas Eve and 97 on Christmas morning. However, both services were enjoyable and meaningful to me. I hope they were to you as well.

But the WAY bigger news than “how many” showed up for services was what happened while we were gathered. Here are few things worth celebrating:

• $939 was received as a love offering for Jay Preston (pastor of My Father’s House in Paola) and his family. Because of your generosity we were able to cut him a check for $1,000 this week and will be sending to him right away.
• MANY guests were introduced to GC. I have no idea how many of the folks here were new to us, but a good number of them were. Hopefully their initial introduction to us will result in an eventual introduction to a genuine relationship with Jesus and a vital connection with his church.
• About a half dozen or so individuals responded to an invitation to open their hearts to the Christ of Christmas and we’re praying that will result in their entering a journey of lifelong discipleship – with which we would be honored to help.

So, on Jay’s behalf allow me to say, “Thank you for giving.” On behalf of our many guests let me say, “Thank you for being inviting and welcoming.” You never know what your gentle invitation or your warm and welcoming attitude to help a person come to know Jesus and connect to his church. And, finally on behalf of those who prayed to receive Christ, “Thank you for pouring your time and energy and money into a ministry so that we might come to know this Jesus who came ‘to save his people from their sins.’”

In other words, “Thanks for being the church!”

Deeply grateful,

Joel

Dear Church,

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … pretty much everywhere you go. (You’re welcome – for getting that song stuck in your head for the rest of the day.)

Speaking of Christmas, I’m so excited about what our teens are doing this coming Sunday afternoon. Their annual tradition is to go Christmas caroling at the Nursing Home and the Assisted Living Facility in Spring Hill and then return to the building where the church meets (often mistakenly called “the church”) for a Christmas party complete with white elephant gift exchange. However, this year they wanted to up the “ministry to others” factor in this annual event, so, instead of simply caroling they’re making (tying) and giving blankets to each resident.

The idea was inspired by one of the young couples who serve as volunteers in our youth ministry. They offered to buy, out of their own pocket, the 100 blankets needed and then they followed through. Then our teens (and sponsors) spent several hours cutting and tying the blankets so they’re ready to deliver on Sunday.

So, to all involved in this very gracious ministry to our elderly friends living in care facilities – thank you for being the church. May the blankets that cover them be reminders of the abundant, extravagant love of Christ that covers each of us.

Appropriately proud of each of you,

Joel

Dear church,
 
As we reach the halfway point of this 2011 Advent season I would encourage you to seize the opportunity to not simply “go to church,” but to genuinely “be the church.” Take a risk and share the love of Christ in tangible ways. Give to someone(s) in need. Be more “neighborly” than usual. Bake cookies. Give gifts. Demonstrate the servant’s heart of Christ at work – and with your family. Give a sacrificial year-end gift to support ministry through GC and/or some other ministry. Have a loving, respectful, authentic, spiritual conversation with someone about how the Christ of Christmas has changed your heart and life. Invite some friends and/or family members to attend a Sunday service with you. Volunteer to serve in the nursery on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day -- not because it’s convenient or your favorite thing to do, but simply as a way of serving others in your church family and those who will be our guests during these weeks. Visit someone who is homebound or lonely. You name it!
 
There are a million ways to “be the church.” Be bold. Be creative. But just do it!
 
And then, when this Advent season has past, remember that the Christ of Christmas is the Christ of every day and he has called us to “be the church,” not just during the Christmas season, but every day and everywhere.
 
Grateful to “be the church” with you,
 
Joel

Dear church,

A little over a year ago a man stopped by GC looking for a little help. His story was that he had recently been released from prison and was trying to get his life back on track. His two requests were:

1. 1.A little gas money. He had a friend who was willing to drive him around to look for work, but he didn’t have gas money.
2. 2.Did I know of anyone who might be able to help him find a cheap car?

As you might guess, we get people who stop to ask for help right along. No doubt, some of them are legit and others … well … let’s say their stories are harder to believe, but most of the time we help a little if we can. We figure, for the most part (with a few exceptions), it’s not our job to decide if they’re telling the truth or not. They will be accountable for that someday. Our job is to help when and where we can.

Back to the previous story. We helped the guy. First (thanks to those of you who give a little extra on the first Sunday of each month to replenish our benevolence fund) we took him and his friend to Casey’s and put some gas in their car. Then I called Burk Barnett (owner of Integrity Auto in Paola), told him the situation, assured him there was no obligation, but asked if he’d be interested and able to do anything to help our friend get into a very inexpensive car – which he did!

Roll the clock (actually the calendar) forward. A year went by and we never heard from our friend in need, but then something very unusual happened. An envelope with $50 was delivered to me. And guess who it was from? You guess it! He gave it to Burk and said, “Please give this to GC. You guys helped me when I needed it. Now I’m on my feet and working and I want to repay the gas money you gave me to go looking for a job.”

How cool is that?

And of course I tell you that simply to say, “Thanks for being the church!” I don’t know if our friend will ever become a follower of Jesus, but at least he has tasted in some small way the kindness and generosity of our God through his people. Thanks to those who give to the benevolence fund, above and beyond your tithe, so we can help people out in tangible ways now and then. Thanks to Burk for going way out of his way to “be the church” to a man who needs to experience the redemptive love of Jesus. And thanks to our friend for paying back the $50. Now we’ll get to use it to help somebody else.

Glad to be a part of a people who are discovering what it means to be the church!

Joel

Dear Church,

Please see the message below for two reasons:

1. For one illustration of what it looks like to “be the church.”
2. For one opportunity to participate in “being the church.”

With Christmas decorations going up earlier and earlier every year, Thanksgiving is sometimes known as the forgotten Holiday.  But how can we forget Thanksgiving with all of the yummy traditional foods, over eating, parades, and of course football.  But, as we all know there are a lot of people still struggling financially in our own back yard, and may have a hard time providing that traditional ham or turkey and all of the delicious sides and desserts that we all love.  Well, last year a Grow Group in the church came together with some coordination from the Spring Hill Multi Service Center and provided a full meal for a local needy family.  Helping one family was great last year, but why stop at just one?  Why not go a little bigger and help several families?  With the help of a private donation, we are going to expand on the idea and provide a meal for 25 local families this year!! 

Money has been pledged to cover the cost of a Honey Baked Ham for 25 families, so now the challenge of the church is to “be the church” and help complete the meals by donating the ingredients for some of our favorite side dishes or if you prefer, throw on your apron and cook up some of the other needed items.  Starting this coming Sunday, there will be a bulletin board in the back of the church with a sign-up sheet and sticky notes of items needed (similar to the VBS sign up this summer). 

The menu we are working to provide is as follows:

Honey Baked Ham

Bread/Rolls

Drinks

Green Bean Casserole (provide ingredients for family to make)

Corn Casserole (provide ingredients for family to make)

Box of Stuffing

Mashed Potatoes (pre-cooked and packaged in re-heatable, disposable container)

Pumpkin Pie (baked in disposable pan)

Cookies (packaged in batches of 2 dozen)

We will want to keep all meals consistent, so more specific instructions will be noted on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.  GC will be a staging area on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving so the families can come by and pick up the meal.  Help will be needed to package the meals for pick up (and maybe even deliver some of the meals).  The Multi Service Center is again helping us find the 25 families that they work with that could use the help this year.

More details to come, but in the meantime if you have any questions please contact Bob Henderson at 913-645-3544 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Leigh Hobson at 913-634-3154 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

 Thank you Bob (and Leigh) for taking this initiative and helping us “be the church.”

Joel

 PS – another great opportunity to “be the church” is to join us for 2^nd Saturday this Saturday at 8:00 a.m. at GC – and, if you have one, bring your leaf rake and work gloves!

Dear church,

I’ve heard from numerous ladies over the past couple weeks concerning the impact of GC’s recent women’s retreat. Not only did a few of our ladies serve as kind of “key note speakers” and share their stories of woundedness and God’s redemption and restoration in their lives, but then other ladies were invited (not mandated) to share their stories in smaller groups – which many of them did with great openness and vulnerability. And the two things I keep hearing are: (1) God really does redeem and restore. In spite of all kinds of sin and brokenness and rebellion and victimization, God really does save and heal. There is hope! (2) You never really have any idea what’s gone on in the lives of the people sitting around you on any given Sunday. Sometimes Satan successfully sells his lie that “You don’t belong. All these people around you have and always have had everything together and you are way out of place!” But God used our women’s retreat to say to some of our ladies, “You do belong. The church is a collection of folks who are being redeemed and restored by God. No perfect people allowed – because there aren’t any!”

So, “Yea God!” for our women’s retreat and for what he has done and is doing in the lives of many of our ladies. Opening your lives to one another, sharing your stories, revealing your hearts, confessing sin, praying for one another, etc. is absolutely part of what it means to “be the church!”

And, “Yea God!” for the fact that the same God who heals the female gender from the inside-out (if they allow him) also has a long track record of healing rough and tumble men as well! Being the church absolutely is not for ladies only, but we men would do well to listen to the lessons they learned on their retreat:

(1)   God really does redeem and restore. There is hope!

(2)   You’re not the exception to the rule. You do belong!

Thanks, ladies, for helping us see a little more clearly what it looks like to not simply “go to church,” but to genuinely “be the church.”

Challenged by your openness,

Joel

Dear church,

Someone asked, and perhaps others of you were wondering, if yesterday’s “I Quit Going to Church” was prompted by some particular person or situation that was “rocking the boat.” The answer is “no – not at all.” It was simply an encouragement to each of us to spend our energies “rowing,” not ”rocking.”

Have a great day – with two hands on the oar!

Joel

Dear church,

In response to one of my “I Quit Going to Church” articles a few weeks ago my brother-in-law sent me this quote:

"Those who are not helping row the boat seem to have a lot of energy left to rock the boat."

As followers of Jesus who refuse to simply “go to church,” but truly desire to “be the church,” let’s be sure to use our energy “rowing” and not “rocking” this boat we call “the church.” There’s way too much at stake to be taking on water. Agreed?

With both hands on an oar,

Joel

Dear church,

As I read Scripture one of the things that continually challenges me about the lives of those who lived in authentic relationship with God is their (sometimes hesitant, but eventual) willingness to have their lives interrupted. There are numerous examples, but I’ll name just a few: Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Joseph and Mary, Simon Peter, Paul, Lydia … and the list goes on. So, it strikes me, if we’re to “be the church” the way God intends, we too must live “interruptible” lives (individually and collectively) – lives that are open to the whisper of the Holy Spirit to direct and (when necessary) redirect us. That was true of God’s people in biblical times and it’s to be true of us today.

That’s why I am so encouraged by Brandon Cluff’s story. For anyone who doesn’t know, Brandon is a pastor’s kid from the Big Red state of Nebraska. (Yes, another Husker! Sheeesh! I’m a glutton for punishment! He’s also Pastor Doug’s cousin -- and Brooke and Brittany’s brother.) Brandon came to us a little over four years ago as a freshman at Mid-America Nazarene University (MNU). He came on a full-ride academic scholarship as a “biology major” headed into dentistry.

As you know, if you’ve been around GC the past few years, Brandon has always had a heart for ministry. Not only has he blessed our congregation as a gifted guitarist, vocalist and worship leader, but he has also been involved as a youth ministry sponsor. And, because of his “heart for ministry,” he has always entertained the idea of serving in at least a part-time, volunteer capacity as maybe a worship leader in addition to his desired vocation as a dentist. However, as an authentic follower of Jesus – evidenced in part by his “interruptibility” (that’s probably not a word, but we’ll pretend it is) – he’s recently come to the conclusion that perhaps God has different plans for him. He’s thinking more and more (although he’s still kind of feeling the whole thing out) that God is pressing into his heart a call to full-time, vocational ministry and so has begun the process of trying to figure out what that might need to look like.

Consequently -- long story short – Brandon has just joined our pastoral team as a part-time (15ish hours per week), temporary (one year commitment), youth ministry intern for two reasons: 1) because we believe in him and want to give him a chance to explore God’s call on his life, and 2) because we desperately need some help in that area of ministry.

Anyway, here’s the point(s):

1.As you think of it, pray for Brandon – that God would lead him as he explores a call to vocational ministry and that God will use him as he helps out in our youth ministry.

2.Follow Brandon’s example – not that God wants to call everyone into vocational ministry (although you might not want to totally rule that out for yourself), but he does want to use every one of us in ministry (service for the sake of his Kingdom) – so be sure your life remains “interruptible.”

That’s, in part, what it means to “be the church.”

Personally striving to live an interruptible life,

Joel

Dear church,

One of the things we’ve been called to be and to do, individually and collectively, as Christ’s church is bear “witness” to his love and grace. The primary way we do that is by living lives that honor and glorify God – lives that are being transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ. St. Francis of Assisi said it this way, “Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words.”

Intentionally bearing witness to Christ in the world is often called “evangelism” – perhaps the scariest word in all of Christendom. So often when people think of evangelism they think they either have to be something/someone great that they could never be (I.E. Billy Graham) or something/someone obnoxious that they would never want to be (I.E. Robert Tilton). Neither is the case. Evangelism is simply “you being you in Christ, lovingly bearing witness to Christ’s presence in your life (in action and word) and helping people take a step – or two or three or ten – closer toward relationship with Christ.”

That’s why we’ve (“we’ve” meaning Pastor Doug) been teaching a class we’ve called “3:15” (from 1 Peter 3:15) for the past six weeks on Wednesday nights – to un-stereotype evangelism and to encourage people to intentionally, lovingly bear witness to Christ among their friends, neighbors, family members, work associates, etc. Of course the hardest part about teaching a class on a subject that people fear is getting people to sign up for a class on a subject they fear (funny how that works). However, in spite of their trepidation, about 18 people did sign up and have been showing up (for the most part). And I can’t believe how many positive comments I’ve been hearing from them.

When people really begin to understand that evangelism is primarily “loving people in Jesus’ name and pointing people to his life-giving grace as opportunity arises” -- not assaulting people or intruding into their lives or pushing them to “make a decision” -- evangelism becomes appealing and adventuresome.

So, go ahead. Be an “evangelist!” Love people and by your life and your words point them to Him!

That’s called “being the church!”

Praying that we’ll all be faithful witnesses for Him,

Joel

Dear church,

If you’re a part of the GCC family you have a good friend named Brian Nagel (whether you know it or not). For several years now Brian, and his lovely wife Vicki, have been a vital part of the ministry of GC as lay persons – generously investing their time, talent and treasure in the work of the Kingdom of God through GC.

Unfortunately, during the past year Brian (not quite at, but not terribly far from “retirement age”) fell victim to what has become a common refrain in the current marketplace – “corporate down-sizing” – and lost a substantial portion of his income. Consequently, he had some important decisions to make:

1.  Turn angry and bitter at God and everyone else and shrivel up and die (at least on the inside).

2.  Scramble like mad to find more work at any cost in order to maintain (or improve) their current standard of living.

3.  Or, seek the Lord for direction concerning “what, where and how” to do now and follow his lead – even if it meant modifying their standard of living a bit.

Fortunately, for all of us, Brian (and Vicki) chose the latter. And again, fortunately, he has followed the Lord’s lead to not (at this current time) completely fill his calendar with “money-making” endeavors, but to give more of his time and energy to ministry in a volunteer capacity. One of those ministries is serving as a Bible study leader/ mentor to inner city kids on Thursday nights. Another of those ministries is serving part-time as GC’s “business manager” – bringing his years of experience to the table to help administrate various aspects of our ministry -- buildings/grounds, policy/procedure, finances, etc. He’s also helping us explore the possibility of developing a longer-term “missions ministry partnership” with a church/ministry in an under-resourced part of the world.

So, if you’re walking down the hallway of GC and you get to the second office on the right (where Doug was, before he moved upstairs) and you see Brian’s desk, you can whisper a prayer of thanksgiving to God for Brian, Vicki and many, many more like them who understand that “church” is not a “place we go to attend services” – it’s who we are – the body of Christ and partners in His redemptive work in the world!

Thanks Brian (and Vicki) for your partnership in the Gospel!

Dear church,

This weekend we have a group of 20+ high schoolers and some sponsors headed to Joplin to “be the church” by aiding in the ongoing recovery effort of those victimized by the tragic, deadly, spring tornado. And you can “be the church” both by praying for our team as well as continuing to pray for those in Joplin, and across our country, and around the world, who are suffering the effects of natural disasters, human violence and injustice, poverty, disease, etc.

May Christ’s church always be among the first (and the last) to pray and give and go for the sake of others’ physical and spiritual well-being.

We’re proud of you and we’re praying for you this weekend teens!

Thanks for “being the church.”

Joel