The compelling vision of our church is to create a “faith village,” in which the primary model of family is the intergenerational collective. Here we can all benefit from the complex diversity of age, stage, ethnicity, and class. While it is daunting to overcome the prevailing influences of individualism and the focus on the biological family, we have managed to move over half of our congregation into parish-based “Neighborhood Sedaqah Groups.” There they are encouraged to practice our core values of hope, humility, and hospitality. Some of these groups are little more than Bible studies, but many others have gone deeper in exploring spiritual disciplines and sharing real needs and concerns.
We also try to embody this communal spirit in our worship services, from the more conversational mode of preaching to the enticement of our gospel-flavored music. We are in the process of remodeling and expanding our church campus so that even the structures and spaces feel more like a “faith village.” The children are moving to a more central location, and an intimate garden and prayer labyrinth are being installed. We are also adding affordable daycare facility and a teen drop-in center to foster greater closeness with those in our surrounding community.
Even though we’re not a megachurch, it’s still a challenge to break down the barriers, whether social or physical, that prevent us from being the body of Christ. But because we are convinced that this is God’s vision, we will continue to press on in this direction.
