Notes from Columbus: 5/6/2005 Bert Waggoner

Bert Waggoner gave the closing talk:

Urban Centers: In 1890, only 3% of the world lived in urban areas. In 1950, 29% did, and by 2000, half the population of the world lived in cities.

The early church was an urban movement. Think of Paul's journeys, but ever since the first few centuries we have been moving away from the cities in terms of missionary activity. More of our energy and efforts need to be refocused in urban centers.

The spirit of God is hovering over the cities of the world, beckoning God's peole to touch all the things represented in the city: ethnic diversity, crime, broken homes, etc.

To be on a mission with God is to be concerned with the whole land. We're going to have to become multicultural and multiethnic. We have to come to grips with what it means to embrace different cultures and ethnicities. Look at the columbus vineyard: they are releasing all the resources of the church to reach out into the community. They will be building a community center to provide medical and legal assistance to the members of the community.

We need to be full of compassion and full of love to break into the darkness. Large churches are needed to do these major projects. Small churches are also important and can team with other churches to have a bigger impact.

The gospel is a gospel of reconciliation, to break down cultural and economic and racial barriers. We need to address social justice and the great moral issues of the day.

If the Vineyard is going to be viable we need to focus our energy on building Hispanic, Asian, and African American churches.

Boise Vineyard is addressing the abuse of the environment. They've got a website called Lets Tend The Garden, based on their understanding that the Lord has called us to be stewards of our environment.

We're not going to reach the inner cities and the youth of America by adopting political agendas. The church cannot be boutht by political lobbies -- we have already been bought by the blood of Christ. The church is to be a prophetic community, an alien nation, so we can be salt and light to the world.

We need the rest of the body of Christ. We need one another. We recognize how desperately we need one another -- that's maturity. The larger and smaller churches need each other. Maturity is taking on the role of a servant. We need to choose to be servants.

As John Wimber used to say: "I'm a nickel in God's pocket -- He can spend me any way he wants". We submit ourselves to the Word. Be courageous. Be bold. In constant submission to the living Word, quickened to us by the Spirit.

We're going to be the kind of committed people who go into the land, listening to his voice, watching for what he does, and saying "Lord, we're going to follow you". Here's the way to go:

• Place yourself under the Lord
  
• Burn your bridges
  
• commit yourself
  
• Be a people of the word
  
• Preach the word
  
• Share in God's mission to the world.
  
• Be committed to the Lord, and to one another.
  

Joshua ordered the officers of the people to get ready to cross the Jordan. That goes for us too:
Get ready!
God's not through with us.
Say "yes Lord!".