Acts 29

In Acts 29 we read that the apostles were traveling through Rome on their way to Spain when...actually, Acts 29 does not exist. At least not in the Bible. Acts 29 is a church planting organization dedicated to spreading the gospel through church plants around the globe. Acts 29 was hosting a 'Boot Camp' on church planting here in the Phoenix area and I was able to attend last week. God has provided for us here an awesome church that we have connected with, East Valley Bible Church in Gilbert Arizona has become the place where we are fed, known and encouraged and it was through this church and its pastor that we heard about the Acts 29 Boot Camp on church planting here in the Phoenix area. This conference was not on my 'to do' list when we came to Phoenix, but was one of those wonderful surprises God has for us when we're not looking. This was a conference I needed to be at, it helped tie some ideas together for me...for example: when we attended the CCDA in Chicago I left a little disappointed--I felt that much of the teaching and focus was on justice issues, racial issues and social issues and the gospel was secondary. When I went to Washington, I had the reverse experience where the Gospel and a clear understanding of church governance was top, but issues that related to humanity (justice, social issues etc.) weren't even on the map. Driving from Washington to Phoenix, Shonet and I have talked often about this polarity and the confusion of it--both seem good but out of joint. I've seen this tension in churches and para-church organizations in Canada, and here in the US, there just seems to be two sides to the discussion. Acts 29 is not the answer, but provided a challenging picture of an answer at least. Here were young pastors who were deeply convinced that the Gospel and the church were the answers to a hurting and broken world; they were armed with faith and had the courage to put their careers on the line and move into tough neighborhoods with the purpose to plant a small church. Their ultimate goal was not of relieving poverty, but of reconciling mankind to God--and in that gaining a foothold of which to climb out of social injustices. The focus was clear--A committed Biblical understanding of God and mankind. From there, passion, courage and vision were tied together to challenge us to boldly reach into the world as men and women who are called to give their lives for the sake of the gospel. God first, man's need second--as we know God and love him, we will know man's need clearer and learn ways to love him holistically. I'm thankful that God teaches us what we need, when we need it. Sometimes the side roads on the journey have the clearest views.
Ken