Aaron Loy's Ragamuffin Blog

Calling vs Choice in Church Planting

The first time I journeyed down the church planting road I kept coming across something I found to be quite obnoxious. Everywhere I turned – every organization, every denomination and every mentor that had been down this road before kept asking me about my “call.”

“Are you called to plant this church? When were you called? How were you called? Are you sure you’re called?”

It was obnoxious. What was this “call” that everyone was talking about and why were they making it into such a big deal? I mean, I thought I was called. I had been journeying with Christ for some time, loved people and ministry and felt like this was what I was supposed to do next.

But even so, just the idea that someone might count me as disqualified because I couldn’t recall some supernatural moment in which God said, “Therefore goeth Aaron to Toledo and planteth a church” really irked me.

Why couldn’t someone just choose to create something as beautiful and redemptive as a new Christ-centered, missional community with their lives? Wouldn’t God honor that? After all, isn’t this sort of thing precisely what he has called all of us to be a part of? Then why the insistence on something that at best seems, well, optional?

Well, I didn’t really get it back then but I think I am beginning to understand. You see, I continued down that road and low and behold things got hard. Actually, that is an understatement. The experience included some of the darkest months of my life personally, emotionally and spiritually. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to go through. And I'd say it's just been in the past 18 months that I've finally got the pieces of my soul all put back together. It was a tough road, one in which I regularly struggled with feelings of deep anxiety, insecurity, loneliness and a powerful undercurrent of doubt.

That was a few years ago.

This time, however, the journey has been completely different. Unlike the first time, my calling isn’t a fuzzy ambiguous sense but a clear and undeniable call to Lincoln at this time. (I’d love to share more about this but that will have wait until another day.) And can I tell you something? It really makes all of the difference. Although the road will no doubt be difficult, this time around I journey it without any anxiety. No fear. No hesitations. Complete security in Christ. And that undercurrent of doubt? It has been transformed into a powerful movement of hope and promise.

So I think I am beginning to understand why a specific calling is so very important to a work as trying and unpromising as church planting. There’s just too much common sense that must be completely and regularly ignored. If you do it without a clear call, then you are just crazy. If you do it with a clear call, then you are obedient…and crazy.   

Ok, so going back to our original question: do you need to be “called” in some extraordinary transcending way to plant a church? Technically, although some would disagree with me, I have to say “no.” We all make a number of choices each day to either honor Christ or deny him, to serve our own purposes or to serve God's purposes in this world. Some of those choices are small and some of those big, but more often than not it still comes down to our choosing whether we will honor or dishonor God with our actions.

But that being said, planting a church is not just one choice, but tens of thousands of hard choices, often under hard conditions. It is extraordinarily difficult. It involves lots of heartache, lots of trials, lots of failure and it can be very lonely at times. Every church planter will tell you he has days when he seriously doubts whether this thing is ever going to work. I mean, statistics show that 85% of church plants fail in the first 5 years. There are a lot of good and talented men and women represented in that 85%! But it takes far more than talent and good intentions to plant a church.

And when the going gets tough (which is often), when those you have loved and invested so many months and years in decide to up and leave to go to the church on the other side of town with the new worship center, when all funds are gone and you are trying to figure out how your family is going to survive, when you feel like there is no possible way you can succeed and that for all practical purposes you are alone most days in this thing, you had better be either clearly called or be the most faithfully stubborn S.O.B. to walk God’s green earth. (In concrete terms, this means you do not have a history of flakiness, half-hearted committment, bailing on projects/people or rarely finishing what you start, but rather, you have a history of seeing things through to completion, resiliency in face of adversity and steadfast commitment.)

If that's you and other seasoned leaders have affirmed your leadership and are encouraging you to plant, then I say go for it! But if not, wait for the calling.

Belong Before Believe (part 2)

Creating a culture where people can belong before they believe is a practical application of our first core value: Mission is why the church exists. At first glance this might not seem like a big deal. After all, many Christians would nod their head in agreement with this statement. The mind of the seasoned Christ follower might even jump to relevant passages like the Great Commission in Matthew 28 or Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9. However, it is in praxis that this core value often becomes problematic.

Every church has got to decide which voices they are going to listen to. In most churches, it is the loudest, most persuasive, most powerful, or sometimes just the most deliberate Christian voices that get listened to. But the conversation is essentially the same: everyone vouching for their own preferred brand of Christianity. Mosaic essentially ignores these voices of religion in order to better hear the voices of humanity.

There are always any number of conversations going on throughout Christendom that church people consider to be of immense importance. The details of these conversations are always in flux - traditional/contemporary, emergent/emerging, modern/postmodern/post-postmodern, and a never ending plethora of theological asterisks. But as a movement whose very purpose for existing resides outside of its four walls, Mosaic just isn't all that interested in engaging in such "internal" conversations. We want to spend the best of our time, energy, passion and creativity on connecting people to God who wouldn't normally associate themselves with church.

This doesn't always involve a choice. After all, we are not a divided humanity. At our core we all desire, need and long for the same things. Mosaic speaks into those things that are true of us all. However, in those times when we must choose, we will always choose to ignore the voices of religion and internal religious conversation in order to begin new conversations with those who do not know Jesus.

Belong Before Believe

Mosaic puts great emphasis on being a community where people can belong long before they believe. This is really just a reflection of our value for those who don’t normally associate themselves with church. Have you ever walked into an environment and felt totally out of place?

I remember a rather memorable evening spent at a local gay bar. A friend of ours was performing that night and we decided to get a crew together to come out and support him. We had a really good time, but as a straight, church-going, rural Midwestern married man, suffice to say that it was a little out of my element. I had never been to an event MC’d by a drag queen, had never seen so many fashionable men under one roof, and I’m pretty sure there were a number of brilliant puns used seamlessly throughout the night that just didn’t register for me. I was out of my element. And as hard as I tried to fully immerse myself in the experience, and as wonderful as the company really was, I still felt like an outsider.   

I think that church can often feel the same way to those who aren’t familiar with it. Often times it is just assumed that people know all of the ins and outs. But sometimes what we don’t realize is that over the years, we’ve developed a highly complex (and often bizarre) subculture. This subculture has its own language, norms, values and rules – most all of which are unwritten. To someone on the outside looking in, it can look really strange at best, and uninteresting and alienating at worst.

Mosaic is a community that desires to deconstruct this sort of “insider” culture by creating an inclusive space where people don’t need to know the secret handshake or subscribe to a set of beliefs to be a part of the community. Everyone who wants in is already in. There’s no process. No membership. Just a community of people from all walks of life that recognizes and respects the unique journey of each individual, and who embraces that individual regardless of where they fall on the spiritual spectrum.

What this means practically is that at all times there are a number of people throughout the Mosaic community – people who serve on various creative teams, who are a part of small groups, who travel with us overseas and serve with us locally in humanitarian projects, who attend Sunday gatherings and who consider Mosaic their home – who are not professing Christians. And that is not just okay, but it is precisely what we desire to see happen.     

Our hope is that Mosaic will be a place where all can encounter God and pursue what He might desire for them on their time, when they are ready.

Epic Mistakes in Ministry

You ever think back to something you did and wonder to yourself, What was I thinking?! Perhaps it was your first ministry gig or one of the first times you were trusted with significant responsibility and you did something of such epic stupidity that it still makes your face hot to think about it?

When I was in my early twenties, I was hired as the part time worship pastor for a church plant in Lincoln, NE. I had previously sworn to never work for a church. As a wounded pastor's kid, I had spent most of my young adult life avoiding church people. So when I took the job, I did so with more than a little hesitation and with a big church-person-sized chip on my shoulder.

So you can about imagine how well I handled it when anonymous comment cards started coming in attacking myself and the worship team for (of all things) wearing hats on stage. All of the bad pk memories came flooding back as I remembered the people who had caused me to tuck tale and run from religion so many years ago. Adding to the fire was the fact that these comment cards represented a direct contradiction to the vision of our church (the reason I was there in the first place). I was primed and ready to flip.

Then one week I received a particularly scathing comment card. Its author took cheap shots at various members of the worship team for their unacceptable attire on Sunday mornings - particularly their wearing of hats - and what they believed that reflected about their character. And in true coward form, it was once again anonymous. I was livid. But ya know, it probably wouldn't have been that big of a deal if I hadn't been on deck to preach one of my first sermons that coming Sunday.

Church in Three Movements: A Model

"...I believe we have failed to embrace our God-given freedom to use our creativity in the task to which we have been called. Although Christ’s calling on our lives to spread the gospel is clearly communicated in the Scriptures, the methods by which we are to do that are not. Like the disciples after Pentecost, we, too, have been given the freedom to take the gospel and run. (When everyone needs the gospel, there is no wrong direction.) One would doubtfully assume this to be true, however, if they were to survey the landscape of Christianity in America. Sadly, many churches have come to look eerily similar in form and expression. In some cases, creative expressions have been mocked and ridiculed for nothing else than their unwillingness to conform. The church must reclaim its freedom to creatively express itself in whatever ways are necessary to reach those in unique local contexts. The following proposal is an effort to do exactly that..."

(read the rest here)

Mosaic launches Wide Awake

Sunday we launched into our new Wide Awake series at Mosaic - based on Erwin's new book. I gotta say that I am proud to be a part of a church that puts so much effort and energy into creative strategic missionality. Sunday really was a culmination of everything that is the heartbeat of Mosaic - creatively engaging humanity in order to introduce them to Christ and call them to live the life that they were created for. I realize that few people have the awesome opportunity of being a part of a church like Mosaic, so I thought I would shoot a little video and share some specifics for anyone who might be curious as to what we're doing.

This video was shot just before we opened the doors Sunday morning at the Pasadena campus. The guy doing spoken word was off the hook! (You can check him out at www.myspace.com/propagee):

This is a short walking tour of Mosaic's Pasadena campus that I shot on Sunday. Ever wonder what it looks like to walk in late to a Mosaic gathering? Not anymore...

Book Clubs. As part of the series, Mosaic is launching book clubs all over L.A. as a way to help those that are a part of Mosaic build relationships with those outside of Mosaic - more specifically, those who do not yet know Christ. Although the book contains scripture and will certainly catalyze spiritual conversations, it is not overtly Christian. Instead, it focuses an issue that many who come to L.A. hold dear: dreams. The hope is that the book clubs will be a starting point for meaningful relationships to develop, where meaningful conversations can take place. 

People hosting book clubs sport a blue wrist band to eliminate the middle man.

Free Books. All of Mosaic's volunteer staff were given two tickets for free copies of the book that are to be given to people who do not yet know Christ. The free book can be redeemed at the resource tent of any Mosaic gathering where they will also fill out a guest card. This encourages our people to invite friends, gives those friends an extra incentive to visit Mosaic, gets a book in their hands, and gives us their contact information. It is a win-win-win-win!

Free Songs. All of the books in the first printing come with a coupon for ten free songs from itunes! All the person has to do is submit a short piece telling of how they are living their life Wide Awake. The cool thing about this is that it not only gives us contact information for people completely removed from Mosaic, but it also encourages readers to further interact with the material on a more personal level. (And I'm sure Erwin will love all of the free stories.)

Creative Blitz. One of Mosaic's greatest assets is the amount of creative talent we have and in turn, attract. Mosaic gladly embraces people that do not yet know Christ and puts their gifts to work. Many of Mosaic's finest came to Christ after serving with Mosaic for some time - pretty cool, if you ask me! We strive to help people belong regardless of their beliefs. That is one of the reasons we don't have membership. We tell people, "You want to be a member? Great, you're a member!"

All hands are on deck for the Wide Awake series - painters, dancers, sculptors, graphic designers, actors, producers - you name it. Various film teams are busy making bumpers and shorts for each week. That is not to mention the hosting of an entire film festival. We have already received a number of submissions from all over the world! The dance teams also will likely be performing each week and they, too, are launching free dance classes that are open to anyone. These classes also serve as a great way for dancers to build relationships with other dancers, independent of Mosaic. 

More. There is more, of course. With Mosaic, there is always more going on than any one person knows about. It is highly decentralized and I think that is one of the things that makes it work so well. Everything is about creative collaboration and people are really given permission to run. I am thankful to be able to be a part of such a beautiful and unique community during this season life.

(A brief disclaimer: Everything that Mosaic does is done with the person furthest from Christ in mind. The first core value of Mosaic is: "Mission is why the church exists." This shapes everything that Mosaic does. That being said, Christians that are accustomed to being catered to or who are steeped in tradition generally have a really tough time with Mosaic because it fundamentally challenges many of the things that they hold dear. If you are one of those people, feel free to ask questions and disagree with us, but don't hate on your westcoast brother of another mother. Remember, we're on the same team!)

 

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

I just got off the phone with a gal named Renae a couple minutes ago. In trying to dial a local crisis line she somehow got the Mission. Being the great Christian that I am, I offered to find the right number for her so I could get on with my work. To this she replied, "Well, can you help me?" I'm not really much of a counselor, but given the the circumstances, I felt more than a little obligated. "I can try," I said.

I asked her what was going on. She told me that she was on her way to Crete, NE to kill herself. We talked for about a forty five minutes. I (very poorly) shared the gospel with her. I prayed for her. I invited her to church. I told her she could call me anytime. But it sounded like she is still on her way to Crete right now to throw herself from a bridge. Please pray for her.

tiffany

It is 4:30am. I just got done listening to Tiffany, a single mom, share with me over the last hour her desperate struggle to survive while trying to care for her two beautiful little girls. She wept as she spoke about the choices she has made, the things she has done, and the deep shame she feels for having to live with her girls at a homeless shelter. I watched this tough, independent, survivor of a woman break before my very eyes.

She has no one. Her family won't take her in because of her past. She is being sued by a local day care because her income last year ended up being slightly over the limit for receiving the federal aid she was signed up for. She limped into town just several months ago from Michigan after her boyfriend beat her and threatened to kill her again in front of her girls. And the bruises on her face and neck tell me her current relationship isn't going any better. To make matters worse, she is suspended from receiving any housing aid for another six months for abruptly skipping town a few years ago while on the program. A pending financial dispute is preventing her from getting food stamps. Her car was totaled in a car accident about a month ago. And despite being utterly exhausted, she has an interview Monday for a 3rd job.

She absolutely loves her girls. She lives for them. Fights for them. And they are gorgeous. But Tiffany is alone.

Please pray for her. No, seriously, now. later. both. PLEASE. Pray that God would sustain her, draw her to himself, provide for her needs and the needs of her girls, and rain his love and grace down on her. Tiffany is tough. Really tough. And by her own admission, she is a loner. She has lived her entire life believing that she doesn't need anyone. Until now. If there is a rock bottom, she is pretty much there. Please pray that our conversations will continue to point her to the Father. Pray that she would feel his arms wrapped around her. And that she would trust his love. Tonight she confessed that she needs God in her life and that she desires for her girls to grow up as part of a church.

Tonight my heart is broken. I am worshipfully, hungrily, desperately listening to "Our God Reigns" over and over, shouting it from my soul, affirming it to be true, crying out for him to mercifully care for the destitute and the orphans among us.

Father, shake me and my brothers and sisters from our complacency.

Painting by Francine Turk at www.francineturk.com

debbie

Over the past few nights I've spent several hours talking with a guest at the Mission named Debbie. Debbie is a crack addict whom I fell in love with shortly after starting my job at the Mission, but who I hadn't seen since she was kicked out months ago. Debbie is one of the most intriguing people I have ever met. And she has experienced more pain in her life than one could imagine. As she puts it:

"I've been through hell, man. I've been through pure fucking hell."

  Debbie is 51 years old. As a young girl, she was molested by various family members including her stepfather. She was blowing up cars by the time she was 5. She's lived on the streets most all of her life. She is a fighter. She knows everything there is to know about making, smoking and distributing dope. She's been in jail several times - her longest stint being 25 years for shooting and killing a police officer in Grand Island. (That's not the only person she's killed.) She has 16 kids - 5 of which are results of involuntary incest. She has survived a number of life-threatening attacks, including one in which she was stabbed nearly 30 times. She's been shot. She was raped back in '79 (one of many times) -the damage was so extensive that she has to wear diapers for the rest of her life.

She is an artist. She speaks several languages - all of which she has learned over the years from people she's met on the streets. She is incredibly perceptive. Prostitutes don't like her because she usually only charges a couple dollars for smokes. Debbie proudly claims that she's the most honest crack addict you'll ever meet. And I believe her. She's always looking out for others, especially those who seem to need it most. Her nickname is fittingly "wild thing." She can lay carpet, install tile, frame houses, pick locks, fix cars, and hack a bank safe, among other things. And she is one of the most talented poets I've ever had the privilege to know. She writes about her experiences and the people she's known along the way. Like Debbie, her poetry is unfiltered and heartfelt. And through it, she brings depth and beauty into the unforgiving world of the streets. 

Although her life has been one filled with tremendous pain, one without any sort of closure or foreseen happy ending, Debbie is an inspiration to me. And although all evidence might suggest otherwise, Debbie is incredibly wise. When she speaks, her words are pure gold. You might never meet someone so honest in a lifetime. Every time I am around Debbie I can't help but think of Hebrews 13:2 which suggests we be careful in how we treat strangers for we might unknowingly be entertaining angels.

The more I get to know Debbie, the more captivated I am by her and her story. And in mulling over who she is and some of the things she has said, I can't help but think that more people need to hear Debbie's voice. So I am really excited to share that Debbie has agreed to let me tell her story. I am unsure exactly what form it will take but I am hoping the end product will be a sort of gritty and artistic biography including photographs, sketches, poems, reflections and stories from Debbie's life. You can definitely keep that in prayer as there are definitely some unique challenges to this project. Also, please pray for Debbie.

a homeless christmas

There was a neat story in the paper this morning about the spontaneous collaborative effort of some of the homeless guys here at The Mission to decorate one of the trees outside with whatever they could scrounge up.  Unlike a traditional tree adorned with meaningless tinsel or shiny glass bulbs, theirs is a part of who they are - adorned with worn cigarette packs, dirty socks, and an empty vodka bottle. If you ask me, there is something very beautiful about that. The story has been sort of resonating with me ever since.

My favorite quote: "We've got the best damn Christmas tree in town."

I've got to agree with them.

There is something profoundly troubling (and very American) about purchasing a tree that has been chopped down only to spend a couple weeks in our living rooms before being tossed to the garbage heap; and something equally troubling about spending $200 on its manufactured counterpart.

I am always amused to talk to some of our foreign guests about American Christmas customs. They can never wrap their minds around why we do what we do. "So, why do you put trees in your house?"

I can never seem to come up with a good answer for them.

So I have to admit that I don't really know why we do some of the things we do. And, yes, I too sport a shiny tree in my house that I paid way too much for. And admittedly, it sits there purely for nostalgic reasons if for nothing else.

In reality, the tree doesn't really mean much of anything to me. But to this group of homeless ragamuffins, their tree means a lot to them. It is a reflection of their reality - a visible symbol of the life that they live. And perhaps more importantly, it is something that they did together - a connection these men rarely experience in their Darwinian struggle to survive day to day. And through it, they somehow managed to take a meaningless tradition and turn it into something beautiful.