I'M USED TO THINKING ABOUT A CHURCH IN TERMS OF ITS PROGRAMS
Think ‘personal’ instead of ‘program’. A healthy family delights in new
additions to the family, regards every family member as special and makes a
place for them. A family’s focus is primarily on the individuals who make up the
family while an organization tends to focus on recruiting people to maintain its
program.
Why is it that some people are committed church ‘goers’ but never seem to become
spiritual ‘growers’? People can sit in a crowd without engaging on a personal
level.
Four essential steps lead to spiritual growth, and these represent the heart of our concept of ministry. They are summarized in these terms represented by the acronym (C.A.R.E):
CONNECT, ACTIVATE, RELATE and
ENJOY
CONNECT
Our world is becoming increasingly fast-paced and mobile. As a result, relationships tend to be increasingly fragmented. The first step in establishing the spiritual life starts at the point of connecting with the three main relationships that compose our lives; God, Others and Self.
Think of it by the acronym Jesus, Others, You (J.O.Y.) Many people experience a hollow outward form of these relationships without engaging the reality and substance of them. To connect in relationship means more than just being in contact with people. It means we become intentionally aware of the presence and value of someone and open up to receiving what that relationship has to offer us.
ACTIVATE
This means we become a spiritual participant instead of a spectator. The Spiritual Journey Track (SJT) helps us activate in the 5 major levels of life: Individual / Family / Spiritual Community / Marketplace / World View.
RELATE
We work at identifying the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships and encourage one another in our quest for balanced relationships in all of life.
ENJOY
When the spiritual life is in balance, this will be manifested by increasingly positive instead of negative consequences or 'fruit'. There will be a general experience of joy in the flow of life, even when life is difficult. We believe that God wants us to enjoy Him, enjoy living with ourselves and with those around us. When this isn’t the case, it’s a signal that we need to revisit the first three steps and find the needed correction.
WHAT IS THE
CONNEXION GROWING INTO?
We measure our progress by the number of people who are committed to and
actively working a Spiritual Journey Track, not by the number “attending” (spectating
at) a congregational meeting. Our goal is to see people individually awaken to
the need for a personal Spiritual Journey Track, and in doing so to become
active in home fellowship group. Our home fellowship groups will multiply
as they grow so we stay small while growing large.
WHO IS
ON YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM?
Bud Fox is pastor of our fellowship. He is married to Debbie and they have four
girls between the ages of 7 and 15 who are all home-schooled. Bud is a graduate
of Dallas Theological Seminary. Debbie served on the staff of Campus Crusade for
Christ for a number of years.
Mark Jessen is a local surgeon who comes from a pastoral family and has
extensive experience in Christian leadership. Mark is married to Lauren, a
registered nurse, who home schools their two children, Lydia and Joshua.
WHAT IS YOUR DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION?
We are a congregation of the Christian & Missionary Alliance
(C&MA)
We like to say that C&MA also stands for Connection & Maximum Activation!
Another C&MA congregation also exists in Bowling Green.
Hope
In Messiah is a Messianic Jewish fellowship led by Jonathan Sacks.
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
Our facility, office & mailing address is 824 Parkland Way in Bowling Green, Kentucky
42101.
This is where we hold our coffeehouses and other special events. For
directions see here.
Our phone number is (270) 779-3934.
Our home fellowship meeting takes place in different homes each week. We keep
people informed of the rotating location via email or phone. To get on that
list, send an email to theconneXion@bellsouth.net or call the office.