Some Thoughts on Community

Hello friends!! I’m really excited about this one!!

Community is a value that Adventures in Missions wants World Racers to pursue. More importantly than that, community is a value my squad is pursuing. More importantly than THAT community is a value that God wants every single one of us to pursue. How do I know that? God gives us Truth in the bible that directs us straight to community.
In Ephesians 4:16 God speaks straight through Paul, talking about the body of Christ and says; “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

The body of Christ is not complete without you in it. There is a place and a need for each of us in the Kingdom. Building each other up in love is how we will show a more complete picture of Gods reflection in each of us.

True Gospel community can be a blurry concept for some people, myself included, and I think it is worth a truthful discussion. I asked some of my H squad friends, who I have been sharing life with, some questions about community. They are some of the best people!!! Here are their responses:

– What does “living in community” mean to you?
“To me, community is living every day life with each other and pushing each other every day towards Christ, whether that is through correction or just loving each other. It’s being servant leaders to one another, dying to self, and choosing the other person first. In these ways I believe the Lord is most glorified; and I got all of that from Acts 2. In Acts 2 they lived together, they devoted themselves daily to the apostles teaching. None had need because they were so tight that if they did have a need they would sell their stuff, they would do whatever it takes to make sure their people were taken care of. Ministry just happened because they were in community together and loved the Lord. Community living should be like that. -Tymon Aguilar

-How has living in community brought you life?

-” For me as an introvert, I don’t do well in large spaces. I’ve been extremely blessed by the community, I feel like I am being challenged again. For so long, especially these last couple months, I have been home with just my parents and I have no community there. I have found myself really grateful to have people checking in with me in a biblical spiritual way.”

-What aspects of community have you found to be difficult?

-” Large community has proven to be more difficult than I anticipated. I think something that I have been noticing consistently is that this community, while really good and enjoyable.  Can be overwhelming with so many people in one place.  And so even though I am really extroverted and crave relationships, I have been withdrawing and pulling away a lot.  Sometimes you feel like you have to fight for a place and that can be challenging.  It’s been interesting.”

-For us the World Race is only a temporary season in our lives, everyone reading this is probably in a thousand different seasons. Outside of the World Race, how could someone pursue and foster community?
“In order to pour out our cup, we must first be filled. Ultimately we need to be running after Jesus that He daily may fill us, but once we are filled , Jesus tells us to “go.” Our purpose here in this life is to build, uphold, and share the love of our Savior that has been so freely given. Seek to be surrounded by Him first. Make sure you are seeking the needs in the place that He has you. There is always a need…it could be as simple as smiling when you pass that stranger next time.” -Kelsey Corns

I think a great place to start pursuing a community is in a church. So here’s your question, you reader you; if you don’t have community with fellow believers, is there somewhere you could pursue a community? If you already do have community, how could you go deeper?