pioneering

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.  Philippians 1:26

REAL Church is relevant, equipping, alive, and loving. Simply stated this church looks like acts. We reach the lost at all cost, hang with them until they can stand on their own, and then let them go. REAL Church is growing, I should say spreading. You see, we don’t fall into any category because we don’t pick a category to fall into. Neither do we claim that we don’t belong in any category. People categorize us, and that is ok. REAL Church is an idea. It is an idea about how life should be lived. Fighting for community and not claiming we have it all figured out. Acts isn’t over, and we don’t need a label, sound, building, new book, thought, or next big thing. We just love and stop at nothing to reach the lost. We have a volunteer staff and spend more time outside the building being REAL than inside. We are a voice simply saying, "There is yet hope."

REAL Church was born in me on a back porch 4 years ago. I sat around wide eyed thinking about the words of a pioneer, with a challenge:

In such ways I have trailblazed a preaching of the Message of Jesus all
the way from Jerusalem far into northwestern Greece. This has all been
pioneer work, bringing the Message only into those places where Jesus
was not yet known and worshiped. My text has been,

   Those who were never told of him—they’ll see him!
   Those who’ve never heard of him— they’ll get the message!  Rom 15

                                 And again in another way.

"In order to move forward, we must rediscover our pioneer spirit. Our first love. Our creativeness. So that those who were never told of him will see him! Those who’ve never heard of him will get the message."

Tonight, I sit with anticipation of, well, many things. REAL Church is spreading, this simple message built on the Rock of Christ and true Christian love is echoing across the word through hugs in hamtramck, Bible studies in belfast,  and podcasts near the pope, in Rome.

Next saturday REAL Church expands, darkwing duck better get ready, NIGHT Light is coming to town.
If you haven’t heard about night light check out www.1realchurch.com. If you have heard about it, plan to be there.

So what does all of this have to do with Philippians 1:26?

Paul was sitting under house arrest in Rome stating that he would continue on with the philippians for their progress and joy in the faith. You see, for Paul he wasn’t picking up and moving on, his life was a continuation of His message with continual support to every place he went. REAL Church is not a stepping stone in life for me.  I want to be a part of this and see God build REAL Church throughout Detroit and into the rest of the world.

Has REAL Church been born in you?
Have you joined us yet?
What are you waiting for?

This is a good work.

God called. I answered. I continue to answer.

Andy