Catalytic Service- Season at a Time
I had the opportunity to join a session lead by Kevin Palau this week at Lifeserve 2009 held in Loveland, CO. Kevin shared about the collaborative approach being used in Portland though Season of Service. The news about this effort has been frequent in both regional and national press, and one of the things that makes it remarkable is the dramatic connection that is happening between hundreds of churches, civic leaders and the corporate world.
My Story–In visiting with Kevin I shared that I spent some of my growing up years in the Portland area, pretty close to the Palau headquarters– he asked if I was a believer when I lived there, and I shared that my experience was to have never met a Christian or church person while I lived in Portland– I didn’t know there were Christians at all. Of course since those days I have met and know lots of great churches and leaders in the city, but its reputation of a city that is something less than faith friendly has been well known.
What is happening in Portland is a good sign that not only is a city changing, but the church is changing too– we are getting the message that following Jesus’ Mission must take us outside of ourselves.
What are some of the lessons that we can learn from what has happened? Let me summarize some of the things that I heard Kevin share:
1) Season of service is really a collection of the efforts of many smaller collaboratives across the city working at various time and places to address local needs, coordinated and celebrated metro wide. It has created a way to foster the work of groups of churches across the city as they focus on specific needs and then work to make a difference with projects that they probably could never achieve on their own. It is not an attempt to direct or funnel the work of churches in the city, rather it serves those “mini-movements” by connecting them together and creating a broad sense of openness among city leaders.
2) Service is connected to meaningful outreach. The presence of the well respected and Gospel focused Luis Palau as part of the celebration that occurs within this effort is helping to win churches who want to see an evangelism strategy that goes along with the service. A purely social gospel is not a question with Luis Palau involved. They have been unashamed to let city and corporate leaders know that sharing about the motive behind the service is a part of their effort.
3) Churches are getting it. They are discovering that instead of being relegated to “that group” of ant-everything religionists, they are joining community members for service that is meaningful to all. The process is changing their hearts toward the city and the changing the perspective about community members towards churches and their people.
4) Season of Service expresses the lessons of externally focused church on a grand scale. Its a no strings attached effort that will now move onto to San Diego, Little Rock and Phoenix and no doubt a city near you.
What’s the long term impact? No doubt Portland will never be the same– and this is really a good signal that the effort to re-instill an external perspective is taking hold in cities and churches across the nation. To quote Reggie McNeal from the same Lifeserve Conference, “hang on for the ride.” Missional is here to stay.
You can learn more about what is happening by contacting the Palau Association or view the dozens of news articles and videos on line.
Next Steps for Churches that Complete Service Events. Compassion by Design’s approach for church planters and existing churches is a great next step for churches in Portland or anywhere that complete a “season of service.” An intentional process of learning about community needs through needs assessment can prepare a church for future and sustained serve– learn more. Needs assessment when done using the compassion by design approach creates insight about what kind of long term service is the best fit for both community needs and the unique gift package of the church.