a collection of odd people

I had a priceless conversation with one of our up-and-coming church planters today. He was tired after an outreach, and sort of dowloading with me.

"It seems like our small group is made up of odd people, those with crazy fears, and everybody who was kicked out (for good reason!) from everywhere else." He went to to say that none of his small group of people seemed smart, or talented, or even good looking!

In Luke 5, church people complained about that with Jesus. "Why do you hang out with such scummy people, Jesus?" they asked him. He was hanging out wioth the social outcasts and the ones nobody else wanted. He earliest small group seemed to be made up of at least some people who were unwanted everywhere else.

Maybe that is why church planting is so powerful. It tends to connect with the people that have not yet connected anywhere else. It gives us another chance to connect, to be loved, to be coached to another level, and to have close friends.

I love God's church. She believes in people, helps people find forgiveness, healing, grace, and hope. She provides another chance, a fresh start, people who love you, and lots of people around you when you are in crisis.

Nice.