Eastiew Community Church
Eastview Community Church

Today at Eastview

The Ultimate Church Tour

Delbert Enns - 2009-10-10

On the eve of August 23, a small group of Eastview members gathered together for a finding/planning meeting at the Keenleyside Community Centre. After we completed a walk around the Keenleyside housing complex we met some of the families that live among the 93 units housing 600 people.
What we heard and saw was a ‘Macedonian Call:’ please come and work with us in rebuilding our community. We experienced first hand how the ‘Alpha Program’ (led by Greg Armstrong) brought meaning and healing to the participants. Keenleyside is a macro-cosmopolitan-multicultural community. The challenge is huge and overwhelming. Crime, hopelessness, oppression, loneliness, and discrimination are just a few of the many battles that a family or an individual faces by living in this kind of community.

When the question was asked by one of the Eastview team members to one of our guests: what do you look forward to in the future? The response was: we want to move away from this place and rebuild our family. The word hope came back again and again. By the end of our meeting we concluded that this is certainly a ‘God size’ challenge. After a time of prayer we went home and that night I could not sleep. I have seen many desperate and hopeless places in this world…why would God ask us to be part of rebuilding that community when we have our own set of problems and challenges at home? 

God reminded me again that the challenges we face are not limited to wealth, education, status, belief or equality… the challenge we face lies within us. Prov. 11:25 says: “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” It was clear to me that God was asking me to extend myself beyond my comfort level and explore the potential in establishing a partnership with the families at Keenleyside.

Another observation that I learned from our meeting at Keenleyside was that the definition of the word community is no different from our own experience here at Eastview Community Church. Over the last few months I have heard people saying that ‘they don’t fit in’ or that ‘they don’t feel that they belong’ to the church community. This is a ‘God size’ challenge, too.

If you are one of those that has a ‘holy discontent’ about the lack of ‘belonging’ I would invite you to explore, share and pray with others about your feelings and perception. You are not alone. And as we move forward into the fall season I believe that God is asking us to step up to the plate, look beyond our immediate circumstances, and make a huge leap forward and claim Micah 6:8 as a core value to the life of our church.

“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8. Here are three very distinct and unique opportunities (do what is right, love mercy and walk humbly) that could change and bring renewal to the life our church.

Some of you may know me already and I have spoken up on some of these issues before…but I need to say it again. For us to move forward as a Biblical Community it will take the following:
First, a deeper walk with God as we seek him through prayer. Our battle is not against what we see with our own eyes and minds…our battle is against the principalities and powers of this world.
“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:11-12

Many of you are committed to a life of prayer and we are very thankful for it, but I believe that we have yet to experience God’s presence in the midst of changes and see how God can do a lot more than what we do alone. It is only after we confess and surrender our ideas and goals that God will come to our rescue.

Secondly, the sense of community and belonging is on the front burner of our ministry year. We have a long way to go and as ‘lead team members’ (council/staff/volunteers) we are committed to give our very best to lead you (the church) in this endeavor. It is long overdue and it is heavy on our hearts.
Starting September 13, we invite you to join us on an ‘Ultimate Church Tour’ to six key cities in the Book of Acts – cities like Jerusalem, Antioch, Athens, Philippi, Rome and Corinth. Each city will teach us something about what the church must be in the city where it is.

1. Jerusalem: 24/7 Community!

So we ask ourselves, what does it take to reproduce a community where Christians open their lives to one another, where church is more than a place to go. We want it to be a place where people belong to a GROUP, where we will laugh and cry and share our lives. Please talk to Pastor Dave who is going to lead us this fall into a renewed commitment to ‘Life Groups’ and check up with Pastor Greg about our upcoming “Life’s Healing Choices” program.

2. Antioch: Growth without Limit!

It was at Antioch that Christianity made its first move to become a world faith, and the gospel broke free and moved into the world. It was at Antioch that the church began to think and act beyond the ‘normal’ (traditional). We need to see how this happened, and ask ourselves – what does it mean for Eastview’s church to live with an ongoing evidence of a changing life and pursuit of Christ-likeness. Don’t forget to check out our upcoming Sunday XL for further growth opportunities.

3. Athens: Amazing Grace!

Without doubt, the day of our churched culture is over. Much of the language and words we use, the songs we sing in church are simply foreign to many. How do we introduce people to Jesus and present the message of the living God to our culture? That was the situation the apostle Paul found himself in one day when he was in the city of Athens. His sermon is an absolute masterpiece about communicating the grace (undeserved love) of Jesus to the people in the city of Athens. It is our desire that each one of us at Eastview would recommit this year to be active in sharing our faith with our friends and neighbours.

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.”
-Rom. 1:16

4. Philippi: Mission Impossible!

So when our community looks at the church, they should not think “there’s a bunch of people living in the past.” Rather, they should be thinking “there’s a bunch of people so far ahead of the rest of us that we wonder where they are getting their ideas from.” I believe that the church is to be an embassy of heaven that brings the ideas, the culture and the lifestyle of heaven back from the future into the present. Our vision as a church is to complete an impossible mission, by honouring God with our gifts and resources! Please check the list of service opportunities. Get plugged in and see what God will do through you.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Rom 12:1-2

Now I will stop here with the tour…since I want you to come back and check out the rest of the cities. It is going to be an incredible journey.

Thirdly, I want you to remember that a program or an initiative can’t and will not build a Biblical Community. The church belongs to God and not to a few people. I’m excited to be part of an incredible team of staff and volunteers that are committed to seek God and His will for Eastview Community Church.

One more thing! Some of you will remember our August 30th Baptism Celebration. You heard me say that Ian MacLaren who, after a service asked if he could be baptized on his birthday, prompted it. Well…not exactly. I believe it was the Holy Spirit who moved Ian to come forward and we had to make a decision to join where God is at work. We responded to it and 5 others joined in on that morning. It is within this kind of spirit that I believe that God wants to move Eastview to a greater Biblical Community.
Will you join us on this ‘Ultimate Church Tour?’ Join where God is at work. Thank you!