Mission

It is called Fort Worth Dish Out, but I call it church

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About a year ago I was fortunate to be a part of the first ever Fort Worth Dish Out (website, facebook, twitter). It was crazy fun to be associated with such an event and I am blown away at where the board is taking it these days. Frankly, it is a  source of great personal pride. 

For those who do not know what the Fort Worth Dish Out is, it works like this:
  1. Everyone puts in $20 to get access, a meal, booze, fellowship and the ability to hear about 3 local non-profits.
  2. Everyone hears the non-profits speak for 5-7 minutes to tell what they do.
  3. Everyone votes on the non-profit they would like to support.
  4. The winner of the vote gets 60% of the funds, the other two split the remaining 40%.
We can talk about this as an event or a function or a fundraiser or even as a non-profit in its own right. 

But I call it an expression of Church I want to be apart of. 

When we gather for a common cause, break bread, learn, share, have fun, fellowship, encounter new people and new ideas, give, grow and support those around us - I call that Church.

So for those of us who want the Church to continue into the future and ensure that it remains relevant, I would submit that we look at the essence of what is done on a Sunday morning, take those core elements and see what expression of church you will get. 

What can you create with some combination of these elements:
  • Learning new things
  • Meal
  • Meeting people (old and new)
  • Giving of resources
  • Celebration
  • Sharing
  • Group participation
  • Music
  • Dance
  • Wine
Sounds like a recipe for Church to me.


The next Fort Worth Dish Out will be held on November 4th at 809 @ Vickery (809 W. Vickery Blvd., Fort Worth, 76104) from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Fort Worth Dish Out

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A little project I have had the honor of working on is the Fort Worth Dish Out.  Which is not a huge thing in the world of micro-finance and micro-granting, but it is a huge thing in my little world.  

If you were not there, we had 162 people in attendance on a Sunday evening who each gave at least $20 to break bread, meet new people, share ideas, and participated by voting to support different mission/service projects/ministries in the Fort Worth community.  

People were there for 2 hours.  Which by most accounts, is 100% longer than most worship services.  

And not a single person said to me, "hey, this thing ran long".  

Not one.  In fact, the opposite was true.  People asked when could we do it again and even offered up their time and resources to help the FwDo in the future.  It really was remarkable.  

But more than that.  It was Church.  

Too often we think of Church as what we do in worship.  And while worship is important to Church, worship is just one expression of Church.
And the worship expression has become the dominate, and seemingly only acceptable expression, of Church.  

Recently I was asked by a respected clergy friend if there was any fall out from church members or from my bishop about putting on an expression of Church that had wine.  (The UMC has a stance that does not jibe with alcohol consumption.)


Frankly, while I respect my bishop and will do as I am asked to do I would have to respectfully disagree with him if he decided to take issue with the FwDo.  However, based upon a recent blog post he wrote, I do not think that will be a problem.  


Here is the last paragraph of the linked post which I think expresses an incarnational theology beautifully (emphasis added):


"Wesley took the commanding mission (and commission!) to spread the gospel through making disciples way beyond radical hospitality.  He went where the people were out of love of Christ and love of those who have no relationship with the living God as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.  What is the equivalent of the New Room and field preaching for us this day?  I believe the same living Lord who called Wesley and early Methodists calls us today."


It seems to me that the UMC has at least one bishop who understands mission and service to a world in need and might be willing to support some ministries that move the Church into other expressions of Church that are not just worship.  


I am thankful that there were many people at the FwDo who also caught a glimpse of what Church can look like in addition to Sunday morning worship.  


Let us hope that vision does not fade in time.

What is the difference between "mission trips" and "service hours"

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A Sunday school class asked that I come and share with them what the youth do for missions and how that class could help and support. The conversation began with a foundational discussion as to why do mission work at all. Matthew 25's Parable of the sheep and goats was the text that rooted the discussion.

Eventually the question was asked to the class, "Why should Christians do mission work?"

"To help people."
"It is a good thing."
"Make the world better."
"It is good for my soul."

These were some of the responses that were given. The next question was asked, "What is the difference between these answers and answers given by an atheist? Surely an atheist could say the same things we have already stated and they do not affirm a deity. So what makes the work of the atheist and the work of the Christian any different?"

The only response came in the form of a question, "Because Jesus tells us to?"

Again, even an atheist has a model for their behavior. So the question remains, what makes our work in the world "Christian"?

I am not sure of the answer, but I would submit in my understanding the work of the Christian in any service/mission/volunteer is to help usher in the Kingdom of God (KoG). I am assuming that the KoG looks different from a world that an atheist would look to help create. Not that they are in competition or at odds with each other, but they are not the same. Perhaps they are complementary, like colors on a color wheel, but they are not the same.

So I guess, what I am proposing is the work of the Christian is not rooted in helping people but restoring creation. Not because it is good, but because it is very good. Not to make the world a better place, but making the world God's place. And not because it is good for our soul, but because it is the reason for our soul.