creating a sense of urgency-ccda

A few years' back when I was going to Dallas for the Missional Renaissance Leadership Community, Reggie McNeal suggested that we come up with a BHAG for our congregation (big hairy audacious goal). He then said that we need to do the following things to get moving on the BHAG: 1. Create a sense of urgency 2. Form a guiding coalition 3. Create and communicate vision 4. Create short-term wins

CCDA has the goal of restoring under-resourced communities throughout our nation. That's a big, hairy, audacious goal. In the Cedar Valley, we believe we are being called to set up a model of a neighborhood practicing Christian Community Development. That too is a big, hairy, audacious goal. As I come back from the CCDA conference, I'd like to spend this week processing and blogging the conference in terms of these four things....at a ccda level and at a local level.

Creating a sense of urgency- ccda

From what I heard at this year's conference, the reality of our society today looks like a Body of Christ that is largely being held captive to culture and a world growing in fear and hate. The conference speakers didn't spend a great amount of time painting a picture of the injustices in our cities and around our globe (probably because most attendeees are working in the trenches and are well aware of the deep brokenness), but if you only open the paper, turn on the news, or explore a few topics, you will see suffering and pain of people everywhere on the increase. Broken families, broken systems, drugs, crime, poverty, racism and discrimination...far and wide is the darkness.

I heard the passion and urgency in Perkins' voice telling us to make sure Christ is our solid rock. That we workers of the Kingdom have indeed received the King's forgiveness and are hidden in Him. That Christ is our righteousness and that our lives are the "outliving of the inliving of Jesus". We are to continue on the work of Christ in the power and love of the Holy Spirit. Perkins stressed urgency in getting back to a true, Biblical Christianity and that we listen to God and seek His will, not our own.

He urged Christ's Church toward receiving Christ, discipleship, and service.

He urged Christ's Church toward love and unity.

He urged Christ's Church toward courage and suffering.

He urged Christ's Church to take the Gospel to the children.

Only as we abide in Christ will become a Justice League...loving and working with God to establish His desired will, His Kingdom, here on earth.

Perkins noted several times that the next generation has a thirst and longing to be a part of this league...to be a part of something bigger than themselves...to look and be different than the culture around us and to make a positive and lasting difference. The Church's responsibility is to disciple and equip them for Kingdom mission.

Perkins most definitely creates a sense of urgency as he admonishes Christ's people to continue the work of Christ on earth and to throw off that which is causing us to stumble.