about pioneers and settlers.

The terms pioneers and settlers were used to describe new church developments a few months ago. I like that language. It is descriptive and helpful for a church growing into being missional (a church vision of being sent into the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ; helping the world reconcile itself to Jesus).

Pioneers are always on the move. They need to be flexible to the situations around them (entering hostile territory, weather, sickness, frustrations with being on the road for what seems like forever, excitement and opportunity of new surroundings every day, setting up camp and tearing it down, and always sharing hospitality with other families). Community convictions and family ties in this time of pioneering became the backbone of the towns and cities they settled, and most certainly shaped who we are as a nation. Many people in America today still have a desire to pack up everything in a u-haul and move to either a city where there is more opportunity, or to the country where there is peace and quiet. Certainly in Las Vegas, we experience thousands of these pioneers every month. The kinship and unity created by simply being on the road together, and the deepest of trusts binding these families in support and help, along with their dream and hope of something new, something better, something more, encouraged and inspired them to keep on keepin’ on, even in the bleakest of times and the hardest of situations.

For seven years SPC has been pioneering as a church. We set up camp and tear down every week. Several times a month we visit other family wagons for meetings and conversations and prayer, as we keep our dreams and hopes before us. We move along week after week spending time talking about what this wagon train of pioneers called SPC needs to be doing, and how we can get other families to join with us as we follow God. The trust we are developing as a congregation needs to be in God who has called us on this journey together, and with each other as we reach out and invite people in. God is shaping us and molding us into a community of faith who will eventually settle, and then open our front doors, offering the same hospitality we share now, for other settlers to move in and stay awhile.

Like any pioneer, we long for the day when we can build up and create a village of settling Christians with programs and a vibrant campus. For now, as we move ahead with God’s will of being a community of faith, the ties and community being created will be the back bone of our settled faith community; of this we can be assured. What a joy and a struggle to be pioneers together. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Just a thought,

Pastor Tom