ryan russell

this is a re-post from Seth Godin. He is not a believer, but he has this thing right on the spot.

Too much data leads to not enough belief

Business plans with too much detail, books with too much proof, politicians with too much granularity… it seems as though more data is a good thing, because data proves the case.

In my experience, data crowds out faith. And without faith, it’s hard to believe in the data enough to make a leap. Big mergers, big VC investments, big political movements, large congregations… they don’t usually turn out for a spreadsheet.

The problem is this: no spreadsheet, no bibliography and no list of resources is sufficient proof to someone who chooses not to believe. The skeptic will always find a reason, even if it’s one the rest of us don’t think is a good one. Relying too much on proof distracts you from the real mission–which is emotional connection.

-Seth Godin-

This was an incredible project. The best part about it has to be the ongoing relationships that Jessica is building on behalf of the ministry and Christ. Many people struggled with the concept leading up to the project cause they couldn’t wrap their minds around the idea of loving prostitutes through giving a huge gift that makes their ever day lives better. From first hand experience I can tell you that the gift was received as tangible expression of how great God’s love is for them and for all of us.

For the better part of 6 months or more I have been mulling* over what it takes to meet and have friendships w/ new kinds of people. This processing really began some time after having lunch w/ Ron Jeremy & Craig. I am sure this sounds rather basic or maybe even odd, but to be honest, I am getting bored with having the same kinds of people in my circles of friendship. A better way of saying this perhaps is that most of my friends see the world the same way and I would like to get some more diversity of perspective and conversations. So with that in the forefront of my mind I have been endeavoring to strike up more conversations at random times with people I don’t know and who I did not meet at a place that would assume a unifying background or set of beliefs. I could elaborate more on the types of people I have met, but I don’t think it would make for engaging reading. Except maybe for the group of travelers I met in Sedona last spring while there with Rich & Ernie mountain biking — for that particularly unique evening I lack the creative ability to put the account down in type. Just ask me about it the next time we see each other in person.

This desire coupled with things I have learned from Craig and also experiences gained through StripChurch has begun to form some new ideas for what I plan to do here in Seattle. Rich (Nichol) and I have been batting around what God’s grace really could mean to those most in need of it and just how to go about dispensing that grace without the normal constructs or limitations associated with doing a brand new church launch in a city. What comes next will be rough when I first present it (October-ish) but I do think with some more thought-help and prayer that what we end up doing here in the city of Seattle (and other places as well) will be mostly unique and have a very powerful impact. More to come…

* “who uses that word?” – Jen

I am in Las Vegas this week launching some new efforts for StripChurch. We have 2 new interns on board PLUS a brand new coordinator for the local ministry efforts. Here is a quick link related to our work in the strip clubs. Here is a quick link related to our first Las Vegas strip outreach. What is very fascinating to me is how easy it has been to go into new areas with the Gospel. People who are hurting the most and who are in the darkest areas are actually the most receptive. Interesting isn’t it… people don’t want Jesus until people really need Jesus. Pray for our team of gals… they are out at a brothel today & tomorrow.

Everyone wants to be relevant in ministry, but no body asks “are we IRRELEVANT?” If you were, how would you know? Who would you ask? By what measure would you be satisfactorily convinced that the ministry you are working in is not really connecting with those who are in need of God’s grace. If some people show up Sunday, does that make you relevant? If a newspaper writes about your church, does that count? What about if you hold a concert or a conference? 

How about this…. What if the neighborhood or city in which your church exists doesn’t know that you exist? There was a church within walking distance from where I lived and the only thing I knew about them was that they had preschool registration open — evidently that was the most important sign they felt compelled to put out on a very busy street.

Here is my commitment – I am not going to just ‘do ministry’. What I do for Christ needs to have traction in every day life… and not just on the preschool open registration level.

How about your church; are you making a difference in the different cross sectors of your community?