Posted 231 days ago

Imagining New Partnerships

Andy Wade


Change is coming. So what? It can be overwhelming to hear about all that’s coming our way. What can I do, after all? Here is one creative example of how two churches in Seattle collaborated to both grow a younger multicultural congregation and expand God’s compassion to the growing numbers of our poorest neighbors at home and around the world that are still struggling with the devastating impact of the global recession.

It all began with an aging mainline church releasing its grip on property, power, and even their own destiny so that a new, multicultural generation of leaders could merge with them and dance together into God’s future. Though this creative merger actually occurred in 2007, it’s the kind of imaginative thinking that will lead us well into the next decade. Interbay Covenant Church didn’t just merge with Quest Church; they voted to hand over their debt-free land and building, worth an estimated 6 million dollars! In making this move, the 54 year-old church also chose to operate under Quest’s name, constitution, and leadership structure.¹ This was a courageous leap of faith that recognized how God was moving in new ways among a new generation.

But it was not just a courageous move on the part of the established church; it was also a courageous move on the part of Quest Church. How would the merger affect the programs, plans, and even spiritual climate of the church. Would assumptions be brought into the new structure about what “church” is and how we relate to one another? Fear is what most often keeps us from responding creatively to the future. But as Eugene Cho, pastor of Quest Church, observed, “Their stories, wisdom, and gifts will be a great blessing not only to Quest, but in our shared commitment to be a missional presence to Seattle and the larger world.”² April of this year will mark three years since this imaginative merger took place. How is it going? Pastor Cho says, “Things are going well. It’s now an afterthought. We value so much of their history and they’ve come along for the journey. We are ONE church.”

Pastor Cho and the Quest kingdom collaborators certainly aren’t lacking in courage or vision. In addition to leading a vibrant church, coffee house (which donates 10% of its proceeds to local and global NGOs) and community center, Pastor Cho together with his wife, Minhee, and children were moved to give up a year’s wages to help relieve extreme global poverty. The voice of a child responding to one of those TV ads of hungry children was the final impetus to take the leap into a “completely-trust-in-God” kind of year while touching the lives of the global poor. This adventure led to the formation of One Day’s Wages in October 2009, a non-profit organization which challenges people to forgo one day’s wages and donate the money to a cause.

Although the organization only officially launched on October 20th, it’s already attracted nearly 800,000 Facebook Fans, raised over $140,000, and distributed over $125,000 to grassroots relief efforts which match the values of ODW and have been fully vetted.³ How have they accomplished this? By encouraging people to forgo one day’s wages monthly, quarterly, or annually on their birthdays or when they choose to work for a day for a cause. Learn about the vision here

1. What are creative ways your congregation could become more missional to respond to the growing needs of our poorest neighbors?

2. What are creative ways your church might partner with multi-cultural, ethnic or immigrant churches as we race into a new majority future?

Please share your creative ideas or examples below. Imaginative Mustard Seed plantings help inspire us and others to greater participation in the Garden of God!

ReNew Partnerships, is a creative example of educating and collaborating for a healthy multi-ethnic future. Functioning on the “Seven Principles of a New Culture”, ReNew Partnerships are “…creating high quality, affordable e-learning sessions to help Christians to build and sustain biblical, multi-ethnic community”.⁴ Although the e-learning aspect of the organization is still in the works they already have written and collected numerous resources to help your church or organization begin to more effectively move into our emerging majority future. A great place to begin is by watching their three-part (short segments) video series, Is the Church Ready for a Multi-ethnic Future?

• Are you a Millennial? What creative things are you and your friends doing to collaborate with God’s purposes in the world?
  
  

• No matter your age, what imaginative responses to these future trends have you seen or are you involved with?

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