Before I could write another blog, I had to write this one. This has been on my mind for a while.
The fact of the matter is this: I hadn’t taken any type of ownership towards Issachar Fellowship, the church plant, at all. It hadn’t really concerned me all that much until I really thought about it:
Issachar Fellowship is actually going to be a real church, in a real city, dealing with the lives of real people! Now, you may be thinking like, “Duh Damon, we know that.” But, do we really? I know I hadn’t. Truly I hadn’t. Yes, I’m excited about going to Atlanta, and being ‘salt’ and being used by God, but the reality of it hadn’t gripped me by the throat, threw me on the ground and made me shout ‘uncle”-- until now. I had no ownership of Issachar. It was some awesome plan in the distant future that was going to happen sooner or later and I would become more involved later. Besides, I still have another year in school and a wedding to plan...
However, the time is now. This isn’t a game of hot potato, where I can continue to pass the potato around to others because I don’t want to deal with the consequences and obligations of it being in my hand. No, everything matters now. From the planning, to the prayers, to the advertising, to the blogging, to the whatever, EVERYTHING matters NOW. Issachar Fellowship is my church now. And it’s time I started acting like it. So, on one hand I want to apologize to everyone involved because I haven’t given my all. I haven’t put all my effort and time into this church plant. On the other hand, I challenge myself and everyone, who is as pumped about this opportunity as I am, to not be idly thinking “in due time”. Rather, to be diligent now...constantly going before the Lord asking for His hand, continually investing into “our” church financially and collectively encouraging and spurring on one another to strive in excellence in all that we do to prepare ourselves for the chance to be used by God. Therefore, I guess the question now isn’t how am I going to get this hot potato quickly out of my lap, but how am I going to effectively use this potato for the sake of Christ?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
From "Me to We"
We live in a culture that has been built around independence. The country was started by the Declaration of Independence. This declaration has continued to be the driving motivation for us as a country and as individuals. Where success is measured by the amount you can live your life financially and socially independent. When we can truly say we don’t need anyone. This idea of success has caused Americans to be in an unhealthy state of anxiety, trying to return to a place in which God has not intended us to be. The only man that was alone with God was Adam and “...the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
This brings me to the point of this blog, I want to make a bold assertion. It is not enough for me to manifest the person and work of Christ. While this is a great goal, I must recognize that this is an incomplete and impossible goal. Colossians 1:19 states, “For in Him (Christ) all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell...” meaning in Christ we have both Man’s Ideal God and God’s ideal Man. While Christ is able to embody all the holy attributes of God, I can not. While the fullness of the Spirits gifting is manifested in Christ, It is not fully manifested in any one man. Therefore if we are to get a true and full picture of the person and work of Christ in our day, we must go to the community of God where the Spirit abides and has chosen to sprinkle His gifting amongst the entire community (1 Cor. 12:4-7).
But what God has chosen to do to bring us together as a body in order to accomplish His will has actually divided us and driven us farther apart from one another. Individuals have traded in the concept of working together for “His agenda” for an individualistic approach only aligning ourselves with those who can help me accomplish “my agenda.” (for His sake of course). This is why I bleed local church because the local church is a place where unity and diversity should be manifested. A place where ethnic (from white and black), generational (from young to old), socioeconomic (from poor to rich) educational (from not so intelligent to “the know it all’s”) diversity is to be celebrated. A place where Christ is the Chief Shepherd and we are all His under-shepherds. With Christ at the helm, we simply find our place and do all that we can to build up His body.
Paul draws the same conclusion in Colossians 1:28, when he states...“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
So, may I suggest that it is not wrong but incomplete for me alone to strive for Christ-likeness because if We are His body then we must labor to present every one complete in Christ.
So, we must begin to go from “ME” to “WE”
This brings me to the point of this blog, I want to make a bold assertion. It is not enough for me to manifest the person and work of Christ. While this is a great goal, I must recognize that this is an incomplete and impossible goal. Colossians 1:19 states, “For in Him (Christ) all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell...” meaning in Christ we have both Man’s Ideal God and God’s ideal Man. While Christ is able to embody all the holy attributes of God, I can not. While the fullness of the Spirits gifting is manifested in Christ, It is not fully manifested in any one man. Therefore if we are to get a true and full picture of the person and work of Christ in our day, we must go to the community of God where the Spirit abides and has chosen to sprinkle His gifting amongst the entire community (1 Cor. 12:4-7).
But what God has chosen to do to bring us together as a body in order to accomplish His will has actually divided us and driven us farther apart from one another. Individuals have traded in the concept of working together for “His agenda” for an individualistic approach only aligning ourselves with those who can help me accomplish “my agenda.” (for His sake of course). This is why I bleed local church because the local church is a place where unity and diversity should be manifested. A place where ethnic (from white and black), generational (from young to old), socioeconomic (from poor to rich) educational (from not so intelligent to “the know it all’s”) diversity is to be celebrated. A place where Christ is the Chief Shepherd and we are all His under-shepherds. With Christ at the helm, we simply find our place and do all that we can to build up His body.
Paul draws the same conclusion in Colossians 1:28, when he states...“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
So, may I suggest that it is not wrong but incomplete for me alone to strive for Christ-likeness because if We are His body then we must labor to present every one complete in Christ.
So, we must begin to go from “ME” to “WE”
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Beginning
I remember when I first heard that there was a possibility of a church plant taking place in Atlanta, GA. I was like, “man please. There no way in the world that Dhati is leaving Denton!” However, I was wrong. It’s hilarious because now I’m one of the committed...ready to embark on another phase of my life and I have no idea as to how it’s going to look. Exciting right? Or petrifying? I guess it depends on how you look at it.
There’s one thing that really stuck with me after our first Atlanta interest meeting that I really chewed on and it has continued to keep me encouraged. Dhati said that “we are dumb enough to think that God can change the world through us.” I wondered if maybe that was true. Maybe God could actually use us as vessels to change the world. Ever since then I’ve felt that way. As if we could possibly be “dumb” enough to think that. Yes, I don’t know Atlanta, the lingo, what stores sell the best fried chicken, or what streets to avoid when it’s dark. I don’t know where I’m going to work, how I’m going to pay bills or any of that, but what has really been keeping me is the possibility of what God do and His capabilities to do so. How amazing would it be if we had a chance to be a part of a revolutionary movement for the sake of Christ? I wonder, sometimes, if that is enough to allow me to dive into uncertainty? I don’t know, but for now that’s all I need. No clue as to what I’m getting myself into, but that Christ is sovereign, that he is enough comfort, or it could just be that I’m dumb enough to believe it?
Damon Sumner
There’s one thing that really stuck with me after our first Atlanta interest meeting that I really chewed on and it has continued to keep me encouraged. Dhati said that “we are dumb enough to think that God can change the world through us.” I wondered if maybe that was true. Maybe God could actually use us as vessels to change the world. Ever since then I’ve felt that way. As if we could possibly be “dumb” enough to think that. Yes, I don’t know Atlanta, the lingo, what stores sell the best fried chicken, or what streets to avoid when it’s dark. I don’t know where I’m going to work, how I’m going to pay bills or any of that, but what has really been keeping me is the possibility of what God do and His capabilities to do so. How amazing would it be if we had a chance to be a part of a revolutionary movement for the sake of Christ? I wonder, sometimes, if that is enough to allow me to dive into uncertainty? I don’t know, but for now that’s all I need. No clue as to what I’m getting myself into, but that Christ is sovereign, that he is enough comfort, or it could just be that I’m dumb enough to believe it?
Damon Sumner
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
What Could Be...
“Visions are born in the soul of a man or woman who is consumed with the tension between what is and what could be...Unlike many passing concerns, these will stick with you. You will find yourself thinking about them in your free time.”-Andy Stanley’s book, “Visioneering”
Today I began reading this book by Andy Stanley about developing and maintaining vision. After reading the first couple of chapters, I was compelled to reflect on what burdens me and what I wish could be. There are things that I feel compelled to do so that I might do my part in this Christian mission. So I decided to share my raw thoughts about the these convictions over the years...
So Here it goes...
I desire to be apart of a close knit team of individuals committed to help people mature into fully devoted followers of Christ.
I desire to raise up African-American Male leadership (or people who resonate with the culture) through a committed discipleship intensive program
I desire to recruit these men from across the nation training them for a period of time, then sending them back to strengthen the local church in that area.
I desire to have a church that is experiencing True, Biblical, Authentic and Purposeful community.
I desire to plant a church that manifest the unity and diversity of the body of Christ. (via. gifting, socio-economically, racially, and generationally)
I desire to model to other African-American churches the importance of missions. By being proactive in church planting, supporting missionaries & pouring out sacrificially for the common good of the city.
I desire to have a strong college movement that equips the next generation of urban professionals to be able to spark a movement for Christ in whatever context God may put them in, after graduation. That if all they had was a bible and they were parachuted into a place amongst all unbelievers they would be able to spark a movement for Christ.
I desire to equip people to grow a passion to do ministry where life exist by developing a deeper grasp of the Gospel.
I desire to begin to help others think strategically about ways to create environments that are both culturally relevant and doctrinally sound.
I desire to be apart of the long-term solution in our inner-cities, that have been left to fend for themselves. And to inspire Christians to move back into these communities for the long haul, that we might be salt and light.
Today I began reading this book by Andy Stanley about developing and maintaining vision. After reading the first couple of chapters, I was compelled to reflect on what burdens me and what I wish could be. There are things that I feel compelled to do so that I might do my part in this Christian mission. So I decided to share my raw thoughts about the these convictions over the years...
So Here it goes...
I desire to be apart of a close knit team of individuals committed to help people mature into fully devoted followers of Christ.
I desire to raise up African-American Male leadership (or people who resonate with the culture) through a committed discipleship intensive program
I desire to recruit these men from across the nation training them for a period of time, then sending them back to strengthen the local church in that area.
I desire to have a church that is experiencing True, Biblical, Authentic and Purposeful community.
I desire to plant a church that manifest the unity and diversity of the body of Christ. (via. gifting, socio-economically, racially, and generationally)
I desire to model to other African-American churches the importance of missions. By being proactive in church planting, supporting missionaries & pouring out sacrificially for the common good of the city.
I desire to have a strong college movement that equips the next generation of urban professionals to be able to spark a movement for Christ in whatever context God may put them in, after graduation. That if all they had was a bible and they were parachuted into a place amongst all unbelievers they would be able to spark a movement for Christ.
I desire to equip people to grow a passion to do ministry where life exist by developing a deeper grasp of the Gospel.
I desire to begin to help others think strategically about ways to create environments that are both culturally relevant and doctrinally sound.
I desire to be apart of the long-term solution in our inner-cities, that have been left to fend for themselves. And to inspire Christians to move back into these communities for the long haul, that we might be salt and light.
Monday, April 7, 2008
God's Will?
How can we determine God’s will for our life?
This has been a question in my heart over the last couple of months? In my quest to determine whether or not I should plant another church, or which city I should plant in? And now that we have decided to plant in Atlanta, what part of the city should we plant and who should be our target audience? I know, I know I should just preach the gospel and allow God to bring the people. The problem is I’m a believer in the significance of contextualization,that God has called us to be both students of our culture as well as the scriptures. And these statements over simplify which makes being missional in the states more complicated. “Just preach Jesus” would not be the strategy if we were going on a mission trip to a foreign land, like China. Instead we would be trying to identify biblical principles and apply them to the context in the most appropriate way. Therefore, I have wrestled with this idea of God’s will specifically for me and the family of Issachar Fellowship. Because the answer to this question will shape us for the years to come.
More specifically about my journey and how I answered this question! Over these last few weeks, I continue to spy out the Land in the ATL. I began to see a tremendous need for Christ-centered families in the city of ATL. There is a huge vacuum, like most inner-cities of positive Christian examples, specifically of African-American Males leading their families. I was talking with a guy who works at a boys and girls club and I asked a simple question. “How many of these kids do you believe have both a mom and a dad at home?” His response simply was, “What’s that?” He continued to explain, although they service hundreds of kids each week, he would guess there are less than 10 kids with both parents in the home, and there are more examples of two lesbian women raising kids than the traditional mom and dad. Well, call me old fashion because this, as well as many other problems that are typical of inner cities, broke my heart.
Then I began to wonder about “my calling”, even though I don’t feel like my life is one that has prepared me for life in the inner city nor do I want to put my family in harms way. I see a huge need and I believe that Issachar Fellowship can begin to fill a small part of this neglected void that has been left by those who hold to a reformed theology.
So I go back to the question that started this rant, “How can we determine God’s will for our life?” Is NEED enough to feel the call of God in your life? because if you ask me what I rather do, or if I determined God’s will by the things that are traditionally used, such as my STRENGTHS, HEART, ABILITIES, PERSONALITY, EXPERIENCE, I will give you a much different answer. Therefore is it enough to say we are filling a void that needs to be met and we need to do all that we can to incarnate the gospel in a context that has many examples that are not of God. How do we die to ourselves begin to learn how to depend upon the strengths, heart, abilities, character and experience of God and not our own.
So I believe the answer is yes, need is enough, it’s not the only factor but if God’s wants it to be can. The real problem that I must face is how much of my personal comfort plays into God’s calling.
Pastor Dhati
This has been a question in my heart over the last couple of months? In my quest to determine whether or not I should plant another church, or which city I should plant in? And now that we have decided to plant in Atlanta, what part of the city should we plant and who should be our target audience? I know, I know I should just preach the gospel and allow God to bring the people. The problem is I’m a believer in the significance of contextualization,that God has called us to be both students of our culture as well as the scriptures. And these statements over simplify which makes being missional in the states more complicated. “Just preach Jesus” would not be the strategy if we were going on a mission trip to a foreign land, like China. Instead we would be trying to identify biblical principles and apply them to the context in the most appropriate way. Therefore, I have wrestled with this idea of God’s will specifically for me and the family of Issachar Fellowship. Because the answer to this question will shape us for the years to come.
More specifically about my journey and how I answered this question! Over these last few weeks, I continue to spy out the Land in the ATL. I began to see a tremendous need for Christ-centered families in the city of ATL. There is a huge vacuum, like most inner-cities of positive Christian examples, specifically of African-American Males leading their families. I was talking with a guy who works at a boys and girls club and I asked a simple question. “How many of these kids do you believe have both a mom and a dad at home?” His response simply was, “What’s that?” He continued to explain, although they service hundreds of kids each week, he would guess there are less than 10 kids with both parents in the home, and there are more examples of two lesbian women raising kids than the traditional mom and dad. Well, call me old fashion because this, as well as many other problems that are typical of inner cities, broke my heart.
Then I began to wonder about “my calling”, even though I don’t feel like my life is one that has prepared me for life in the inner city nor do I want to put my family in harms way. I see a huge need and I believe that Issachar Fellowship can begin to fill a small part of this neglected void that has been left by those who hold to a reformed theology.
So I go back to the question that started this rant, “How can we determine God’s will for our life?” Is NEED enough to feel the call of God in your life? because if you ask me what I rather do, or if I determined God’s will by the things that are traditionally used, such as my STRENGTHS, HEART, ABILITIES, PERSONALITY, EXPERIENCE, I will give you a much different answer. Therefore is it enough to say we are filling a void that needs to be met and we need to do all that we can to incarnate the gospel in a context that has many examples that are not of God. How do we die to ourselves begin to learn how to depend upon the strengths, heart, abilities, character and experience of God and not our own.
So I believe the answer is yes, need is enough, it’s not the only factor but if God’s wants it to be can. The real problem that I must face is how much of my personal comfort plays into God’s calling.
Pastor Dhati
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