On Sunday I found out that a friend of one of the SRCers was killed in a car accident over the weekend. It was a girl that he had taken to the prom, and was friends with. She was a passenger in the car and both she and the driver were killed.
Of course my heart hurt for this guy, for his loss of a friend.
This morning my heart hurt again because I found out that the girl was named Amanda Blackett. Amanda was on the mailing list of The Quake Youth Ministry at Pasadena A/G. I don't know how many times I saw her name. She was always at the top of the mailing list for alphabetical reasons. She regularly attended the Quake for a while.
My former secretary Carol French sent an e-mail today that said, " THE GIRL IN THE ARTICLE WAS AMANDA BLACKETT. SHE CAME FAIRLY REGULARLY TO THE QUAKE A WHILE BACK.
I PRAY THAT SHE LET THE LORD TOUCH HER LIFE THROUGH QUAKE MINISTRY. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING AT THE QUAKE HAS ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES. "
All ministry in any church through any of the people attending/ministering in that church affect the spiritual destiny of all they touch.
--Ben
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Core Christology (What we believe about Christ)
Clarence Bauman once asked the following:
"Do you believe somethng about Jesus -- do you believe in Jesus -- do you believe Jesus -- or do you believe what Jesus said?"
This has been a question I've been thinking about lately. The way you answer this question digs right to the root of your Christianity. The way you answer it will determine perspectives of self, others, faith, and knowlege. It even has meaning if you never answer the question.
What's your answer?
--Ben
"Do you believe somethng about Jesus -- do you believe in Jesus -- do you believe Jesus -- or do you believe what Jesus said?"
This has been a question I've been thinking about lately. The way you answer this question digs right to the root of your Christianity. The way you answer it will determine perspectives of self, others, faith, and knowlege. It even has meaning if you never answer the question.
What's your answer?
--Ben
Friday, September 15, 2006
Article reposted with comments throughout
Strip District building morphs from nightclub to church each weekend
Prayer and parties
Wednesday, September 13, 2006By Diana Nelson Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Martha Rial, Post-GazetteDamian Williams in the Altar Bar nightclub in the Strip District where on Sunday evenings he will bring people together in a non-traditional way[That's for sure] to discuss faith. Mr. Williams has named his congregation Steel City Church. [I like the name]Click photo for larger image.
Between Saturday night and Sunday evening, the former St. Elizabeth Church in the Strip District transforms like a theater set between acts -- from The Altar Bar nightclub to the Steel City Church. It's the mission of a 31-year-old pastor who offers a new take on what the Christian life, and nightlife, can be.
The Steel City Church held its first service Sunday for about 250 people. Earlier in the day, the pastor, Damian Williams, and his wife, Anne Williams, carried sofas and chairs from the wings and configured them around an empty dance floor for the 6 p.m. service. It was a cross between coffee house and talk show, with a rolling video presentation and food. [I really like this idea. If we ever pursue a building, I see us purchasing like an old supermarket or something. That way you benefit from the logistical benefit of the architect. Parking is always plentious at commercial properties like that. They are built to be easily accessable by main roads. I really like the idea of setting the room in the round with the pastor in the center. I imagine a comedy clublike decor. (start lisp) In either mauve or Chartruse...with little pillows with those adorable puff balls on the corners...to match..(clear throat, become masculine) ]
As offbeat as the setting is, the message is grounded in Christian orthodoxy, said Mr. Williams, who resists the title reverend.
"I think of myself as a 'pastor-preneur,'<-- [Nice One]" he said.
A native of New Castle in Lawrence County and a graduate of Geneva College in Beaver Falls, he grew up working in his father's plastic factory and returned to Western Pennsylvania a year ago to plant this church.
"People have asked me why I chose a name from the past for a progressive church," he said, "but I like the values from those days. The name 'Steel City' felt right to me."
Of five churches he has planted nationwide, this is the first urban, multicultural setting and the least recognizable as a house of worship, its stained-glass windows dwarfed by a giant sound system. The church rents the space on Sunday and will open early for congregants to watch Steelers games. <--[Church and football...it's a national movement, BTW my SRC fantasy team is in first place right now.]
"We want to create a new form to break down barriers that have kept people from connecting with God," he said. "We chose the Strip because every kind of person goes there and relates to it." [ This statement rings along with our value of creating community connection. It's in the middle of the marketplace where people already are; not making them come to you.]
The setting -- with its disco lights and alcohol, neither of which is activated on Sundays -- belies the commitment of a year's worth of outreach to create "cells" of neighborhood apostles. [ nieghborhood apostles...ok I can diggit. We call them small group leaders, but they sound much more biblical and creative.]
"The real church is what we do through the week," said Mr. Williams. He runs a cell group in Mount Washington, where he and his wife live with two children.
"We discuss ways to apply questions we raise. If the sermon's about loving one's neighbor as oneself, we might ask 'What does that look like?' 'How am I living that I can make that happen?' "
The church has six cells so far: two in Mount Washington and one each in the South Side, the North Side, East Pittsburgh and Homestead. The guiding principle of each is to practice the message in the neighborhood and nurture more cells to do the same. <--[our values Healthy Homes and To grow larger we must grow smaller.]
Andy Holm leads the South Side cell of about 10 regulars.
"We're looking to have a person from our group lead a new group," he said. "It can be at people's homes, in a park, in a coffee shop, anywhere." [I can diggit, she can diggit, they can diggit diggit]
He spent the day after the church debut sitting in Market Square with people who smell bad, who ask for handouts, who sell drugs and sex -- people he said a traditional church would consider "the unwanted harvest."<--[I would love to know who's quote that is. God forbid that we would have an "unwanted harvest" on the broadneck.] One of the street people he befriended showed up at the church service, he said.
Mr. Holm is studying to be a minister at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, "but I liked my summer here so much, I took the fall semester off." [Interns are so cool. I can't wait till we start partnering with interns.]
Mr. Williams was an intern at Mr. Holm's church in North Dakota 10 years ago, which is also where he met his wife, Anne, who runs the multimedia part of the Steel City Church service.
It isn't the only nontraditional presentation of worship locally.
Four years ago, the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community established in the third-floor cafeteria of the Goodwill Industries building in the South Side. The service, at 11 a.m. Sunday, presents the teachings of the gospel in the form of a play, which the two founding pastors write.
"It makes it more real-life for people, and it's set in current times," said Renee Stanton, a spokesman. Otherwise, "we have all the elements of a traditional church service." [what are the elements of a traditional church service, with a play as the message?]
She said the congregation has grown to about 300 regular attendees.
"I think [alternative services] can attract a lot of Gen-Xers," said Jason Sinagra, who runs the Steel City Church's North Side cell. "Our style is going to appeal most to those who are unchurched, people not familiar with liturgy or theology. They want to be part of it but don't know how." [ Matt has been talking to me a lot about keeping focused on the first-timer. The unchurched and dechurched. He's right. We need to always look to help them. We get used to doing things a certain way, but they don't have a clue. Something I want to improve in.]
A graduate of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Mr. Sinagra said that, as a student, he and a friend shocked people coming out of nightclubs in the Strip by handing them bottled water. [what a great idea...handing out bottled water...I think the Bible says something about that...Matt. 10:42]
"I felt there was a need for a place for people to worship in the Strip at night. Then through some networking I met Damian," who had exactly the same idea.
Alternative churches are as old as religious history, but Mr. Williams said the political right wing may have spurred a trend among seekers and skeptics who want a tolerant spiritual life and a return to broad-based community. [ This is an issue to watch. The "Religious Right" have an agenda very similar to Constantine. Make the nation Christian. However that was not a good move for the church then, neither would it be now. I don't want a Christian Nation, I wouldn't mind a nation of Christians. And unfortunately the Moral Majority and a number of other political agendas have skewed Christians views on this issue.]
His message this Sunday will be "There is no 'me' without 'we'," he said, citing Paul's letter admonishing the Corinthians to each treat each other as wholly essential and citing the body as a metaphor for the church.
"Just as an arm can't walk down the street," said Mr. Williams, "we want to build a community in which none of us can do it on our own."
Good Article. I like this format of blogging. Do you enjoy reading it this way? Let me know.
Prayer and parties
Wednesday, September 13, 2006By Diana Nelson Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Martha Rial, Post-GazetteDamian Williams in the Altar Bar nightclub in the Strip District where on Sunday evenings he will bring people together in a non-traditional way[That's for sure] to discuss faith. Mr. Williams has named his congregation Steel City Church. [I like the name]Click photo for larger image.
Between Saturday night and Sunday evening, the former St. Elizabeth Church in the Strip District transforms like a theater set between acts -- from The Altar Bar nightclub to the Steel City Church. It's the mission of a 31-year-old pastor who offers a new take on what the Christian life, and nightlife, can be.
The Steel City Church held its first service Sunday for about 250 people. Earlier in the day, the pastor, Damian Williams, and his wife, Anne Williams, carried sofas and chairs from the wings and configured them around an empty dance floor for the 6 p.m. service. It was a cross between coffee house and talk show, with a rolling video presentation and food. [I really like this idea. If we ever pursue a building, I see us purchasing like an old supermarket or something. That way you benefit from the logistical benefit of the architect. Parking is always plentious at commercial properties like that. They are built to be easily accessable by main roads. I really like the idea of setting the room in the round with the pastor in the center. I imagine a comedy clublike decor. (start lisp) In either mauve or Chartruse...with little pillows with those adorable puff balls on the corners...to match..(clear throat, become masculine) ]
As offbeat as the setting is, the message is grounded in Christian orthodoxy, said Mr. Williams, who resists the title reverend.
"I think of myself as a 'pastor-preneur,'<-- [Nice One]" he said.
A native of New Castle in Lawrence County and a graduate of Geneva College in Beaver Falls, he grew up working in his father's plastic factory and returned to Western Pennsylvania a year ago to plant this church.
"People have asked me why I chose a name from the past for a progressive church," he said, "but I like the values from those days. The name 'Steel City' felt right to me."
Of five churches he has planted nationwide, this is the first urban, multicultural setting and the least recognizable as a house of worship, its stained-glass windows dwarfed by a giant sound system. The church rents the space on Sunday and will open early for congregants to watch Steelers games. <--[Church and football...it's a national movement, BTW my SRC fantasy team is in first place right now.]
"We want to create a new form to break down barriers that have kept people from connecting with God," he said. "We chose the Strip because every kind of person goes there and relates to it." [ This statement rings along with our value of creating community connection. It's in the middle of the marketplace where people already are; not making them come to you.]
The setting -- with its disco lights and alcohol, neither of which is activated on Sundays -- belies the commitment of a year's worth of outreach to create "cells" of neighborhood apostles. [ nieghborhood apostles...ok I can diggit. We call them small group leaders, but they sound much more biblical and creative.]
"The real church is what we do through the week," said Mr. Williams. He runs a cell group in Mount Washington, where he and his wife live with two children.
"We discuss ways to apply questions we raise. If the sermon's about loving one's neighbor as oneself, we might ask 'What does that look like?' 'How am I living that I can make that happen?' "
The church has six cells so far: two in Mount Washington and one each in the South Side, the North Side, East Pittsburgh and Homestead. The guiding principle of each is to practice the message in the neighborhood and nurture more cells to do the same. <--[our values Healthy Homes and To grow larger we must grow smaller.]
Andy Holm leads the South Side cell of about 10 regulars.
"We're looking to have a person from our group lead a new group," he said. "It can be at people's homes, in a park, in a coffee shop, anywhere." [I can diggit, she can diggit, they can diggit diggit]
He spent the day after the church debut sitting in Market Square with people who smell bad, who ask for handouts, who sell drugs and sex -- people he said a traditional church would consider "the unwanted harvest."<--[I would love to know who's quote that is. God forbid that we would have an "unwanted harvest" on the broadneck.] One of the street people he befriended showed up at the church service, he said.
Mr. Holm is studying to be a minister at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, "but I liked my summer here so much, I took the fall semester off." [Interns are so cool. I can't wait till we start partnering with interns.]
Mr. Williams was an intern at Mr. Holm's church in North Dakota 10 years ago, which is also where he met his wife, Anne, who runs the multimedia part of the Steel City Church service.
It isn't the only nontraditional presentation of worship locally.
Four years ago, the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community established in the third-floor cafeteria of the Goodwill Industries building in the South Side. The service, at 11 a.m. Sunday, presents the teachings of the gospel in the form of a play, which the two founding pastors write.
"It makes it more real-life for people, and it's set in current times," said Renee Stanton, a spokesman. Otherwise, "we have all the elements of a traditional church service." [what are the elements of a traditional church service, with a play as the message?]
She said the congregation has grown to about 300 regular attendees.
"I think [alternative services] can attract a lot of Gen-Xers," said Jason Sinagra, who runs the Steel City Church's North Side cell. "Our style is going to appeal most to those who are unchurched, people not familiar with liturgy or theology. They want to be part of it but don't know how." [ Matt has been talking to me a lot about keeping focused on the first-timer. The unchurched and dechurched. He's right. We need to always look to help them. We get used to doing things a certain way, but they don't have a clue. Something I want to improve in.]
A graduate of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Mr. Sinagra said that, as a student, he and a friend shocked people coming out of nightclubs in the Strip by handing them bottled water. [what a great idea...handing out bottled water...I think the Bible says something about that...Matt. 10:42]
"I felt there was a need for a place for people to worship in the Strip at night. Then through some networking I met Damian," who had exactly the same idea.
Alternative churches are as old as religious history, but Mr. Williams said the political right wing may have spurred a trend among seekers and skeptics who want a tolerant spiritual life and a return to broad-based community. [ This is an issue to watch. The "Religious Right" have an agenda very similar to Constantine. Make the nation Christian. However that was not a good move for the church then, neither would it be now. I don't want a Christian Nation, I wouldn't mind a nation of Christians. And unfortunately the Moral Majority and a number of other political agendas have skewed Christians views on this issue.]
His message this Sunday will be "There is no 'me' without 'we'," he said, citing Paul's letter admonishing the Corinthians to each treat each other as wholly essential and citing the body as a metaphor for the church.
"Just as an arm can't walk down the street," said Mr. Williams, "we want to build a community in which none of us can do it on our own."
Good Article. I like this format of blogging. Do you enjoy reading it this way? Let me know.
Monday, September 11, 2006
My thoughts on yesterday
Everywhere I go, smiling and supportive people ask, "how did it go yesterday?" I tell them the same generic answer..."It was great. Very exciting but rough. Not rough like hard, just not smooth." But I think if I take time to look deeper I can come up with a better answer.
For one thing. I was really nervous, and I'm sure that it showed as I stumbled through my message and the instructions I gave. I'm sure that people probably snickered in their heads when I repeated the obvious, or didn't know an answer. Probably the best way to sum it up was in a conversation I had with a new friend and first time visitor. She told me that her husband didn't really want to get involved in any organized religion. I laughed and said, "Well, the good news is that you can go home today and let him know we're anything but organized."
Another thing was the response of the River Peeps. They showed up early, and stayed till it was all packed up. They worked hard, and took notes on how to make it better. I was very impressed with the Launch Team. Kudos to You! They followed it up with a stellar appearance of cullinary excellence as we provided refreshments for the multi-church prayer meeting last night in Annapolis.
One of our guests with no prior connection to SRC said she's definately be back, and joined a small group...At a service that wasn't even advertised. I expect more visitors in the future, and more stories like this. Which brings me to my most important thought after yesterday.
It doesn't matter what I think. DID WE ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION? Months ago I began asking the question what is a one word win for our services. I abstained from answering so as not to taint the thought process of our Launch Team. But if we had agreed on my one word win, then we WON yesterday.
Some questions that we'll face weekly in answering the question did we win...
1. Did we have a first-time and returning visitor?
2. Did we have a convert to Christ?
3. Did we baptize a disciple of Christ?
4. Did we give more away?
-- Great day. I'm hungry for next week. Ben
For one thing. I was really nervous, and I'm sure that it showed as I stumbled through my message and the instructions I gave. I'm sure that people probably snickered in their heads when I repeated the obvious, or didn't know an answer. Probably the best way to sum it up was in a conversation I had with a new friend and first time visitor. She told me that her husband didn't really want to get involved in any organized religion. I laughed and said, "Well, the good news is that you can go home today and let him know we're anything but organized."
Another thing was the response of the River Peeps. They showed up early, and stayed till it was all packed up. They worked hard, and took notes on how to make it better. I was very impressed with the Launch Team. Kudos to You! They followed it up with a stellar appearance of cullinary excellence as we provided refreshments for the multi-church prayer meeting last night in Annapolis.
One of our guests with no prior connection to SRC said she's definately be back, and joined a small group...At a service that wasn't even advertised. I expect more visitors in the future, and more stories like this. Which brings me to my most important thought after yesterday.
It doesn't matter what I think. DID WE ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION? Months ago I began asking the question what is a one word win for our services. I abstained from answering so as not to taint the thought process of our Launch Team. But if we had agreed on my one word win, then we WON yesterday.
Some questions that we'll face weekly in answering the question did we win...
1. Did we have a first-time and returning visitor?
2. Did we have a convert to Christ?
3. Did we baptize a disciple of Christ?
4. Did we give more away?
-- Great day. I'm hungry for next week. Ben
Saturday, September 09, 2006
What time is it...(Never believe the time it says its posted below)
It's 8:41 p.m. on Saturday September 9, and it's just about bed time. I'm not a night owl. I never really have been. When I was a child my parents gave me a bedtime of 9 p.m. I abided that time until I was about 14. Then I was free free to go to bed when I wanted, but most nights I was still in bed before 10. Friends would come over after our Sunday evening service and I would look at my dad and ask what time it was. 9:16 or whatever, and I would excuse myself to go to bed. I've heard some pastors name their bed, "the Word", so that if you call him his wife can say, "I'm sorry but he's in the Word right now, I'll have him call you later." I will never name my bed "the Word", but you can be sure that I make good use of my bed.
In college when I was an RA, and in charge of the Coed lounge (open till Midnight) I would stroll out into the lobby, and say goodnight to everyone. One night a freshman said, "going to bed Ben Rainey?" (scratching his belly) I thought it odd that he did that scratching thing. I asked him about it and as I asked I noticed I was doing it. He said that everytime I came out at night that way, I said the same thing and scratched my belly the same way. He later went on to mimic me by wearing a white undershirt and making rounds before me scratching his belly and saying goodnight to everyone. I would go to sleep at midnight and wake up at 8:00 a.m. on the nose with no alarm. That was the most beautiful sleep schedule of my life. Beautiful.
Now its the night before our first service. Tomorrow is going to be exciting and uplifting and challenging, but we'll likely not forget days like tomorrow. In some tangible ways we become us tomorrow. We'll look right into the mirror of ourselves as a church and determine whether we will sacrifice to become significant or whether we will wallow slavishly to survival. The difference is a matter of our choice. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to empower us with boldness toward the mission, will we take Him along, or will we allow Him to take us along...That will make the difference.
Well, before I give away too much of tomorrow's message...(Scratchy, Scratchy) I'm headed to bed. Good night.
In college when I was an RA, and in charge of the Coed lounge (open till Midnight) I would stroll out into the lobby, and say goodnight to everyone. One night a freshman said, "going to bed Ben Rainey?" (scratching his belly) I thought it odd that he did that scratching thing. I asked him about it and as I asked I noticed I was doing it. He said that everytime I came out at night that way, I said the same thing and scratched my belly the same way. He later went on to mimic me by wearing a white undershirt and making rounds before me scratching his belly and saying goodnight to everyone. I would go to sleep at midnight and wake up at 8:00 a.m. on the nose with no alarm. That was the most beautiful sleep schedule of my life. Beautiful.
Now its the night before our first service. Tomorrow is going to be exciting and uplifting and challenging, but we'll likely not forget days like tomorrow. In some tangible ways we become us tomorrow. We'll look right into the mirror of ourselves as a church and determine whether we will sacrifice to become significant or whether we will wallow slavishly to survival. The difference is a matter of our choice. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to empower us with boldness toward the mission, will we take Him along, or will we allow Him to take us along...That will make the difference.
Well, before I give away too much of tomorrow's message...(Scratchy, Scratchy) I'm headed to bed. Good night.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Valued Missionaries
We value missions at SRC, and this morning I had the privilege of having breakfast with 2 missionaries who are close friends. Many SRCers know them, because they were sent out of our former church Pasadena A/G.
Dan and Sue Maksim serve at the U.S. Center for World Missions, in Pasadena, California. The USCWM makes its primary task the mobiliztion of missions to new frontiers around the world. They are a resource organization that produces training material for multiple denominations and missions organizations around the world.
They met to share what was happening at the Center, to inform us of resources available to churches, and to offer themselves as a resource for SRC in helping us value missions. Since they know many of our launch team, they were very interested in learning about our church, and how things were going. They are available to pray for us, and are going to be signed up on our prayer partner list.
I told them how excited I would be to add them to our partnership with missionaries, and that in just a few months, we'll be supporting them monthly. I recently met with a pastor who said that his church wasn't growing financially, so he couldn't give anymore to missions. To me that is faulty logic for any church. Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” When you have to sacrifice in order to give is exactly when you should give. It opens the way for God to bless you.
--Ben
Dan and Sue Maksim serve at the U.S. Center for World Missions, in Pasadena, California. The USCWM makes its primary task the mobiliztion of missions to new frontiers around the world. They are a resource organization that produces training material for multiple denominations and missions organizations around the world.
They met to share what was happening at the Center, to inform us of resources available to churches, and to offer themselves as a resource for SRC in helping us value missions. Since they know many of our launch team, they were very interested in learning about our church, and how things were going. They are available to pray for us, and are going to be signed up on our prayer partner list.
I told them how excited I would be to add them to our partnership with missionaries, and that in just a few months, we'll be supporting them monthly. I recently met with a pastor who said that his church wasn't growing financially, so he couldn't give anymore to missions. To me that is faulty logic for any church. Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” When you have to sacrifice in order to give is exactly when you should give. It opens the way for God to bless you.
--Ben
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
First day
This is an update on the happenings of Severn River Church (SRC). I'm thankful that for as much rain as we've had this long weekend, that God gave us a break on Sunday. We met at the campus for a time of prayer and had a good time. Fifteen people from our launch team were there (9 of our team were away on vacation). We met for a few minutes leaning on Ps. 127 as our guide in prayer. We asked God to "build the house", and reflected on prayer as being not about changing God, but rather focusing on allowing prayer to change us.
After our time of prayer we went to the Grace's house, and had a brunch. It was terrific, thanks Michelle.
The big news around SRC seems to be the Fantasy Football League. Seven SRCers are participating in the league and the draft is tonight. (Go Ben's Bullets) Much thanks goes out to Kevin Duerling for being commissioner of the league and helping me finally get into a Fantasy Football league.
--Ben
After our time of prayer we went to the Grace's house, and had a brunch. It was terrific, thanks Michelle.
The big news around SRC seems to be the Fantasy Football League. Seven SRCers are participating in the league and the draft is tonight. (Go Ben's Bullets) Much thanks goes out to Kevin Duerling for being commissioner of the league and helping me finally get into a Fantasy Football league.
--Ben
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