Checking in with our new starts-1

I'm thinking it might be fun and helpful in encouraging "missional-mindedness" in 2015 if I were to every once-in-a-while put a spot-light on one of our newer LCMC church starts.

Let's start with Waterside, a missional community based out of Rockport, Texas, but its influence is spreading to other states and even other countries!  Waterside is pastored by Jonathon and Cheryl Kosec.  What I love about the Kosec's and Waterside is the boldness to be experimental--- understanding that to reach the cracks and crevices of culture, church cannot not be "one-size-fits-all."

For the sake of time, I will explain Waterside in a basic manner...and maybe that's the joy of this particular ministry!  It's simple, but it's so different from most people's view of "church" that it's often misunderstood and too quickly dismissed.  The proof, however, is in the multiplication pudding!

Example: Think of circles that are multiplying themselves--- like healthy cells in your body.  They don't break off, they are born out and become separate circles, yet still connected by family DNA.  It's kind of like the familiar mega church statement of "one church, many campuses," except Waterside is not about a single campus, but smaller groupings of people meeting "as church" in circles that begin rolling into their respective cities as a daily church-on-wheels.  That's Waterside in a nutshell!  The movement starts in Rockport, but the circles of people are now in Jones County, Iowa, with Los Angeles, New Orleans and southern Florida on the radar.  It's all about thinking kingdom even if it's just one day at a time!

So....each circle group is started because of some kind of relationship.  I think of it this way:  If I were to start a missional community in my home city of Prior Lake, MN, and then begin influencing, training and encouraging all my life-long friends that are living in other areas of the country (men and women I've known since high school through adulthood) to take on my missional communities' DNA of making disciples---- I could birth missional communities from the Atlantic to the Pacific!  Wow!  Simple, but powerful.

Reflect for a second.  Could this be a ministry means that God is currently placing upon your heart, but you have failed to hear the call because it's not fitting your previous notion of "church"?  Many folks have told me they've given up on the modern-day methods of what is church...but they don't want to ever give up on being the church of Jesus.  If that's you, or someone else you know, Waterside's blueprint might be what you are suppose to do--- starting in your community!

Besides the U.S., Waterside is also adopting the same methodology with relationally-based circles in Haiti (with 7 churches) and the Dominican Republic (with 3 churches).  The Kosec's will travel to these areas a few times a year to make personal, discipleship training visits.  Otherwise, much of the contact (including sermons) is done through the website or other social media.

According to the Kosec's own words, "...each missional community is encouraged to have a specific focus or area of service that might help define its mission.  In Rockport, the community works within the government and Chamber of Commerce to find new ways to bless the Rockport area.  In the Jones County Community, there is a great emphasis on workplace ministry, so gospel presentations are conducted all over the map--- in restaurants, realtor agencies, even a body shop.  In Haiti and the DR, we see more neighborhood house churches being established who draw people into relationship with Jesus (through the relationship of other believers)."

While each Waterside circle is different, each holds the DNA of prayer, worship, Bible study, fellowship and sharing/showing the good news of Jesus.  They focus on relationships in order to build trust to more effectively share the faith.

If you would like to learn more about Waterside Missional Community, or bless it with your financial gifts and prayers, see it's website:  www.waterside-church.org.