Vision casting (Part 1: Midtown East)

For a little over a year, I have been a part of Trinity Grace Church. In that year, my church has grown TREMENDOUSLY, and I have developed relationships with lots of people in numerous circles! The vision and heart for my church though is to really serve locally and have a strong impact and connection with our neighbors. My church is also about enabling whatever spiritual gifts you have to be used to the full wherever you've been planted!

This past week, I had two opportunities with friends in other TGC communities, the Midtown East group and the East Village group. I went just to share life with my friends, but out of those experiences I did some vision casting for The Bronx. I really want to chronicle this for the future and put it into practice with folks in The Bronx. What I learned was very good stuff! So, from Midtown East, I give you a weekly rhythm to share life with others on a monthly basis.

Week 1 of each month (In): Community dinner - These are great opportunities for us to grow as a community, get to know one another, share stories of God’s work in our lives, and invite our nonbelieving friends to a home-cooked meal.

Week 2 of each month (Up): Missional Community - If we are going to learn what it looks like to have a fully-functioning group of 30-50 individuals loving God, pursuing the character of Christ, loving one another, and serving our neighbors, then it is important that we participate in an already-existing, full-size group already doing just this. Thus, every second (day of the week to be picked later) of the month we will join our neighbors at their missional community. Again, please invite your nonbelieving friends to this event.

Week 3 of each month (Inside): Pointed Discussion dinner - While sharing a meal together, we will have a pointed discussion as a group on a relevant Christian topic (faith and work, Christian ethics, etc.), a short video, an article, a Scripture, or some other contemporary issue and how it relates to our faith and our lives. This will be a great way for us to enter into in each other’s walks and refine our hearts and minds into those of Christ. Friends are also welcome!

Week 4 of each month (Outside): Serving our community - It is important that we serve our neighbors and invite our friends into the Body of Christ through such acts of service. This is not simply about service but also about building strong, deep relationships. Thus, we will have as a group an ongoing relationship with an organization and a group of people that we serve alongside once (or more) each month.

Week 5 of each month (Celebration): Celebration time - If there is a fifth (day of the week to be picked later) in a month then, we will do something fun as a group (a Knicks game, going out for drinks, watching a movie, going to a museum, etc.). This is also a great way to bring nonbelieving friends into our community!