One of the greatest ways any group of people can impact a community, city, or nation is by serving as a catalyst for orchestrating the proclamation and tangible expression of “relational synergism” - people working together for greater purposes realized only through concerted efforts. Cities all over the world are experiencing the results of synergism. New paradigm, ministry models are being birthed by God through people. New collaborate partnerships among church, business, and civic leaders are becoming the new paradigms of the 21st Century.
The application and benefits of new paradigm, ministry models are still in development; therefore, we have only scratched the surface in postmodern, ministry expression. The life-changing, growth and transformation of any community or city are based upon seven (7) important factors:
1. The success in communicating a compelling vision for transformation that is urgent, relevant, and anchored.
2. The fertility of the culture’s environment for the planting and growing of new paradigm, ministry models.
3. The realization in creating an accepted local coalition that guides the transformation process.
4. The ability to “connect” people in solid relationships that grow in depth and maturity.
5. The level of commitment, responsibility, and accountability of the local community to common purposes and goals.
6. The flexible and functional nature of effective organic and organizational processes.
7. The willingness of Christians to focus on God’s will and bind together in “relational synergism.”
Jesus understood what “Church without Walls” was all about. He wrote John 17:20-23,
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Consider the true story about how God used a 16-year old high school student from Wichita, Kansas to spark a revival that impacted an entire city. Armed only with her Bible and her personal testimony of Christ, Sherri Howard planted the first small group Bible study on her school campus.
Little did she know that God was about to use her to ignite a huge flaming revival among young people in Wichita. Sherri’s courage and witness for Christ inspired other students to plant evangelistic cells on other school campuses in the city, resulting in thousands of young people coming to the Lord. Church and parachurch leaders partnered with parents in prayer and evangelism. The results were phenomenal.
Since that time, over 10,000 “student-led” Bible studies and prayer groups have been planted on school campuses all across the United States, and it all began with one committed Christian.
America is now beginning to experience what can happen when Christians unite in prayer, purpose, and transformation. City-reaching coalitions are being formed all across America. They are tearing down the walls that divide and building bridges that foster “relational synergism.” God is not finished with the Church in America. Now is the time to embrace renewal…revival…and reformation.
Maybe it is time for us to draw a line of demarcation in the sand and decide which side to stand, whether it be: complacency or forward progress; segregated ideologies or tangible expressions of unity of purpose; the fear of man or the fear of God; fight change or lead change.
Hundreds of thousands of Christians from all over the world have transitioned to new paradigm, ministry models. City-church initiatives are being birthed everywhere with the goal of taking their cities for Christ. Christians are now coming to realize that “Church without Walls” can actually happen!
If we can see it; then we can be it!
Mike Simon
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