Thursday, August 30, 2007

ibc : refreshing

A year and a half ago, I met with Pantego Bible Church leaders and put a root beer in each of their hands. I urged them to continue making PBC an IBC culture--a church of "Irresistible Biblical Community." Fortunately, the foundation had been carefully laid before I ever arrived and godly men and women have endured in their commitment to make our church more than just a Sunday experience. So many people are experiencing genuine community.

I confess that in the months since, immersed in ministry, I had been unable to see the forest for the trees. Today, at our weekly leadership meeting, I asked Phil Anderson to offer his most significant observation of PBC. Phil, an out of town pastor, has been visiting with our staff during the last two weeks to learn more about our Connecting Church model of ministry. He paused for a moment and then commented that our picture of community is what stood out the most. People really do love one another. Hearts are really being knit together. It's authentic. Not just a paradigm. God is at work in our church in the most extraordinary way enabling people to share their lives with one another. I'm glad Phil noticed. I'm more glad I get to be a part of it. Irresistible Biblical Community. Refreshing!

2 comments:

Susan said...

The whole reason we're at PBC...just wanted to assure you that others see/feel it too...if you can't see the forest for the trees - it's because the trees right in front of you are growing branches so fast reaching out to the tree next to it and so on and so on...hence and very dense forest of godly trees!

David Daniels said...

Right you are Susan! The roots and reach of community in our church are providing incredible to lots of people. Glad you're a part of it!