Joe, Grace is a very special church. I have never felt like I have to be “on” all the time. Of course, I am always preaching/teaching/leading, but that is what God has called me to do, and I love it. There are no unbiblical or extrabiblical standards I am expected to meet, so I have never felt as if living in a fishbowl – at least not in a negative sense. And I strongly believe in equipping members to do the work of ministry, so I do not shoulder it all alone.

What a great reflection. Not only is it a great witness to how companionship amongst the Body of Christ is something important to our life as Christians (and thus our mission), but I love the fact that you recognized that this isn’t something that can be reduced to some sort of program or scheme (“…There is no plan to start a new program, or new ministry structured by program..”) And if only more pastors, priests, etc., were as welcoming of their congregation being formed so as to be capable of forming others (versus arbitrarily assigning that to be the “minister’s job”).

Much of what you have written reminds me of the insights that the lay movement in the Catholic Church that I participate in (Communion and Liberation) also emphasizes. When John and Andrew first encountered Christ and were asked what they were seeking, they responded that they wanted to know where he was staying and the Lord invited them to “come and see”. I think we sometimes assume we are different than the Apostles, that we too don’t long (consciously or unconciously) for His presence. Or we assume that it isn’t available to us, that somehow Christ presented one Way to the Apostles and a different one to us. It’s refreshing to see and be told that, as the body of Christ, the Church continues Christ’s presence and that, yes, each of us can be the means by which another can encounter Christ as a living Person and not an idea or historical image. And it isn’t suprising that both the Great Commission in Matthew and the description of the Church in Acts intertwines mission and His presence.