May 24, 2024
Dear Radiant,
If you follow Jesus and are a part of a church you are a becoming more and more “unique” in our culture.
While in the year 2000 about 70% of Americans were a part of a religious organization, by 2020 it was only 47% (Gallup).
This is radical and rapid social change. In 20 years time, a quarter of the US population lost religion.
For followers of Jesus who’ve stuck around or found faith in Christ, this is a time of disequilibrium. You are more and more out of step with the worldview of mainstream culture.
In other words, you might be feeling a little weird.
If you are a youngish adult following Jesus, you are probably feeling super weird.
However, I think the weirdness is something we should embrace. I do not mean unnecessary, awkward weirdness, I mean “different weird” — like Jesus was different.
Salt is weird in blandness. Light is weird in darkness. Color is weird in a sea of gray. Like selfless love is weird is an age of self-seeking.
In short, this time of extraordinary change provides a unique opportunity to (re)discover Jesus beyond the crowds and back in the wilderness.
The wilderness is a great place to meet God.
I’ve found an unexpected guide for this weird time with Elijah the Tishbite. Elijah prophesied in a time of great spiritual drought in Israel about 2900 years ago.
He was definitely weird. And he shows us a path of renewal in the midst of hostility, challenge, and idolatry.
Be warned — his path wasn’t and ours won’t be easy. Yet, deep in our bones, I believe the renewal we long for is on the other side of this journey.
So all you weird ones — and those longing to be weirder in Jesus, this is new teaching series is for you.
We start this Sunday at 5PM!
EVENTS CALENDAR
5/27 – Memorial Day
5/29 – Women’s Gathering 6-7AM at ELC
6/2 – Children’s Ministry Volunteers Meeting 3:30-4:30PM at ELC
6/4 – Home Church Leaders Think Tank 6:30-8:30PM at ELC
POSTPONED 6/9 – Church at Enslen Park
6/11 – Emotionally Healthy Relationships course begins
WOMEN’S GATHERING THIS WEDNESDAY – 6-7AM ELC
All women welcome! See you there.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY VOLUNTEER MEETING – 6/2
We are pulling together Children’s ministry volunteers and teachers on Sunday, 6/2 from 3 3:30-4:30 at ELC. This is an important meeting for safety, best practices, and encouragement. If you are interested in volunteering you are MOST WELCOME!!! to attend.
HOME CHURCH THINK TANK – 6/4 – 6:30-8:30PM ELC
This meeting is for Home Church leaders and prospective leaders as we move into our summer rhythm. All who are interested are welcome. This is a chance to share ideas, best practices, celebrations, and challenges as we seek to create a network of communities of formation and mission in the way of Jesus.
POSTPONED – CHURCH AT ENSLEN PARK
Sorry for the snafu here — but many of our families will be gone on 6/9 due to Frontier Ranch camp (we really do love Frontier Ranch!!!). We’ve decided to postpone to a future date TBD.
EMOTIONALLY HEALTH RELATIONSHIPS COURSE
TUESDAYS, 6:30-8:30PM JUNE 11 – JULY 28 (8 SESSIONS)
*if you plan on traveling this summer — there a video streaming options for independently completing sessions you miss.
This powerful 8-week Course will equip you with practical tools to really love people in difficult situations and mature into an adult follower of Jesus.
The Emotionally Healthy (EH) Relationships Course has been developed over a 21-year period to directly address core biblical principles to guide you and others into an experience of discipleship that will deeply change your life. In the EH Relationships Course, everyone will learn 8 practical relationship skills to develop mature, loving relationships with others such as:
Stop Mind Reading and Clarify Expectations
Incarnational Listening
Climb the Ladder of Integrity
Clean Fighting
This will be a paradigm shifting course — sign up here.
BAND APP One way to connect at Radiant is to join our BAND APP group. Think of this as a sort of Radiant message board — our own little social media space. People can extend invites, share about needs and opportunities.
GIVING
Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Radiant’s ministry!
Here’s the link to online giving.
Grace and Peace!
Zach
