Fruitful Churches Proactively Engage
by Rev. Mark E. Tidsworth, Founder and Team Leader
Leaning forward, hands open and extended, slightly smiling, light in the eyes, curious expression… this is the image that rises in our hearts and souls when we are with fruitful churches. They are proactively engaging within their church body, and in their community. Rather than shrinking back, circling the wagons… fruitful churches live with open hearts and hands, engaged with the world around them. When with these churches, their proactive spiritual posture is seen, inspiring and encouraging us. Fruitful churches demonstrate a proactive and engaged spiritual posture, courageously showing up in their context.
For many, getting there takes some working through. For some churches, the losses of declining vitality and organizational strength have led them to other places. Recently I heard another person in a church expressing anxious concern about clarifying their identity, fearing that greater clarity may lead to member loss. When enough loss happens, people in churches can be easily triggered, fearing they will shrink further. Paralyzed by fear, they develop defensive and reactive spiritual postures, hesitant to engage their communities, hesitant to step out in faith.
Those churches who are not content to stay in a place of paralysis must do the work; soul work. With the right support, processes, encouragement, and commitment, churches can move through these things, becoming bodies of Christ who:
Are engaging with their communities, rather than shrinking back
Are curious about what God is doing in the world, looking for ways to join God’s mission to restore all things
Are proactive in relationship development, rather than reluctant or even withholding in relationships
Are living into a hopeful, energized, life-giving way to be in this world
Are embodying an alternative story for life here on earth
So, where’s your church in its journey? Reactive or proactive? Defensive or open? Passive or engaging? Fearful of the context or curious? Though most are a mix of all these descriptors, we want to keep moving toward the proactive engagement.
We at Pinnacle believe in the efficacy and agency within churches. Though they may have lost touch with their true selves as living bodies of Christ, we believe awakening can happen. When needing a travelling partner to move toward proactive engagement, get in touch. We love to partner with those drawn toward the life-giving, hopeful Way Of Jesus. May all churches drop the weights anchoring them in the past, living into God’s aspirations for them in the present and future.