There is a group of leaders of charities and churches who meet together weekly in the centre of Reading to pray for blessing on the various communities the region is made up of. There are in excess of 40 people who pray and support each other. Behind us is the integrity of knowing that we are actively involved in helping provide care and support in these communities.

 

From time to time some of the key leaders from services, politics and the council come along to share their vision for Reading. Recently the prospective Conservative candidate for Reading West, Alok Sharma joined us to share his vision and passion. Alok clearly endorsed the work done by the many faith groups who work together to provide an incredible amount of voluntary help.

 

In our church at Brookside we have long been affirming and supporting our people who are involved in demonstrating God’s love through working and serving in the communities. It was encouraging to hear Alok say that he believes that family life and marriage are crucial to building strong communities and so we can be confident that our first Mission Community (MC) is on track with a major need in society.

 

As we move forward in establishing MC’s we are also planning to run a monthly “conversation” aimed at looking how we can cultivate more of a missional culture in the very DNA of who we are as a church. “ENGAGE” is the name of the ‘course’ to which we hope everyone with any kind of leadership responsibility will join. It will also be open to those who would just like to join the adventure (please speak with a member of the Brookside Leadership Team). You will need to register using the link to this article. Our hope in embarking on a fresh kind of learning together is that we will understand the kind of ‘churchy’ things that actually present obstacles to us being missional in heart and practice. We will be using a book to help us in the process. The The Present Future by Reggie McNeal provides a challenging insight and questions that will help us focus on the issues.

 

If we understand culture as being the attitudes and behaviour that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization – born out of all the knowledge and values shared by that group, we can examine what is good (and biblical) AND what might currently work against the direction God is calling us to walk in. Put simply, if our culture is not consistent with the structures we operate within, we will end up frustrated and disappointed by another change in emphasis. We are taking a step back whilst simultaneously moving forward! This process will lead us to a number of challenges. It could be that some of the main things we ‘do’ and prioritise need to be dismantled and changed. This is not to be confused with change for changes sake but rather being prepared to do whatever it takes to be lovers and followers of Jesus, and to share the love we have known and appreciated from God, with others.

 

We can be certain that God will help us. He still loves His world and the church is still His plan to show His love. It’s a tragedy that the church has so often been viewed as irrelevant, judgemental, fractured and isolated, and this not without justification. To experience change we must shed the idea we are members of ‘club church’ and actually be partners in a global body of people who live as and for Jesus.

 

In the Reading area we are living in historic times in respect on unity. I somehow doubt there has EVER been a time when there has been such a strong sense of relational oneness and purpose. We must guard it. If the ground is the values that provide the environment for vision and purpose to grow in, the value we are experiencing are conducive to providing fertile soil for effective mission.