WHY SO MUCH EMPHASIS ABOUT LIVING IN COMMUNITY?
In a world growing secular and hostile toward Christians the only way we can thrive and fulfill THE GREAT COMMANDMENT (Matthew 22:36-40), THE GREAT COMMITMENT (Matthew 25: 34-46) and THE GREAT COMMISSION (Matthew 28:18-20) is follow the model of the early church, living in community. This is especially true for those followers of Christ that have a passion for relational evangelism, ministry to the poor and spiritual formation. With our roots in the Holiness-Pentecostal (AKA Classical Pentecostal) tradition we understand the necessity for strong Christian fraternal relationships. Like the early church, it was the familial-like bond that gave us the combined resources and energy to kindle the spiritual renewal necessary to sustain and advance the church during the last century. This same community and familial spirit has been the common foundation for all great revivals.
Nearly a thousand years ago when civilization was in need of critical introspection concerning economic, social, political, academic and cultural relevance God raised up a Christian leader, Francis of Assisi. He taught that it is spiritually necessary to have the solid experience of community as you work with Christ and your fellow community members, especially when serving the less fortunate. It is through sharing the events of your day: your prayers, your meals, your space, your strengths, your weaknesses, your struggles, your joys, your pains, your triumphs, your doubts, your successes and your failures that you and your friends will grow and stretch. It’s during this natural human “give-and-take” where you truly come face-to-face with the Son of God. You will see and hear Christ in the poor that you serve and you will see hear Him in each other. As you grow closer to your colleagues and those that you serve you will grow closer to our Lord. It’s this experience that will give you the strength to complete our difficult mission among the poor and enter into the next season of your life with joy and courage.
By living in community, you will absorb the necessary principles for success. You will learn to let go of the unimportant in order to achieve the important, to forgive and forget to build relationships that will become life alliances. You will grow into a more balanced and mature believer, able to give and take, to appreciate and be appreciated to love and be loved. You will learn how to navigate difficult issues without loosing relationships and how to be direct while remaining sensitive. You will learn how to foster and maintain unity among in a diverse atmosphere.
