Skylines & Silhouettes | Worcester, MA + Phoenix, AZ

Worcester, Massachusetts

In Phoenix, AZ: The Gospel shapes everything and everyone

My wife and I recently spent a week together at Soma School with Missio Dei Communities in Phoenix, Arizona (see Soma School Notes 1 thru 6). It was as powerful, refreshing, and humbling as we expected, if not more so. 

We spent a week living with a family of six, serving and interacting with the homeless people involved with Missio Dei, connecting with more than 20 church planting pastors and people from British Columbia, Los Angeles, Denver, San Antonio, etc., and gaining wonderful wisdom about the depths of the gospel from sages like Jeff Vanderstelt and Mike Goheen, while also hanging out with them at a pub or having them serve us food in their home.

Before the end of 2013, I will be providing multiple posts reflecting on what we experienced and learned with new loved ones, friends, and family with Soma in that southwestern city. It's too good not to share though my written posts won't be nearly as impactful as actually enjoying life with the people God connected us with in Phoenix. 

However, maybe our connections there will help us make new connections in Worcester.

Phoenix, Arizona

 

The Surge Network

One thing I want to highlight about our time in Phoenix is something that I pray will happen in Worcester someday. I would love a Surge School in our city. Basically, this is their story.

"Surge was developed in 2006 when pastors from four churches in Phoenix got together monthly for lunch. They discussed theology, church planting, and all sorts of practical ministry questions. This was the genesis of the Surge Network.  

In 2008, those same pastors began asking the question, “How can we work together to train the men and women in our churches so that they are equipped to be a display of the gospel in our rapidly changing city?” The Surge School emerged (watch the video).

Today, we have over 50 pastors attending the monthly lunches and over 150 students from 10 churches participating in the Surge School each year." 

Julie and I were able to attend the Surge Seminar taught by Jeff Vanderstelt about our identity in the gospel. It was awesome to see people of all ages, ethnicities, and histories from more than 12 churches – young and old, suburban and urban, denominational and nondenominational – sitting in the church sanctuary listening to and chewing on what the gospel of Jesus – found in the Scriptures and discovered by the Spirit – transforms us to be together in the family of God.

As the Kingdom Network of Worcester continues to help churches connect with each other, I wonder if one of the fruits that will blossom from such endeavors will be providing a place where people can continue to learn together how to display the gospel in Worcester. 

Needless to say, I'm all for it. What do you think? 

Next Skylines and Silhouettes: Part 4 | Worcester, MA and Montreal, QC.

– Sully

If your curiosity is piqued, or something inside you is being stirred, feel free to connect.