There are many things I dream for my children. I dream for them to have meaningful lives in God and to bring about some measure of (more) human flourishing and (better) creation-care in their time. I would love for them to impact their generation, find what they are good at (hopefully earlier in life than later), mature in their gifting and talents and discover the joy of serving others with those gifts. But… but the chances of these things happening will depend heavily upon the culture and the care they experience at home first. A safe and nurturing Home is the first and primary mission. Doing this well takes care of all sorts of other dreams and aspirations. To train up a child in the way she should go (Proverbs 22: 6) one must first build a house where she feels rooted, safe, and nurtured.
“Don’t start with a big program. Don’t suddenly think you can add to your church budget and begin. Start personally and start in your home. I dare you. I dare you in the name of Jesus Christ. Do what I am going to suggest. Begin by opening your home for community… It’s a costly business to have a sense of community.”
Ekko, we must be nurtured in the house of God. Or should I say, let’s continue to make it our aim to build a nurturing house together. Remember, all beautiful and worthwhile endeavors are infused with intent and imagination. We must be intentional and daringly imaginative about the culture and the place... this place, our home. So that we can proudly host God's Presence and eagerly nurture one another, and The Other.
“Make love your aim”
We are growing (in numbers, as you saw on Sunday, it was packed to the back wall). Therefore, we must be ever more intentional about creating and building this “home”. A home that is safe, full of love, where mistakes can be made, and covenant established and practiced. We can't just grow, we must mature in love.
We must continue to be a place where conflicts can be handled with grace and respect, where reconciliation practices are a norm. Not all will want this - many just want a “service” to attend and to be left alone. We are not that kind of church, even with growth and the blessings and the “issues” that come with it, we need to stick to the mission; transformation via home.
Ekko's First Gathering at our apartment in Fullerton, California | November 2008
Some Values and Practices that Create a Great Home/Church
- A great home is where individuals can become differentiated persons; formed and identifiable.
- A great home does not require you to lose yourself or your sense of self.
- A great home is where individuals can contribute willingly; their gifts, their resources, and their talents.
- A great home invites a growing/maturing child into more responsibilities and discipline for the sake of the larger and greater good of both their own home with the intent of being a blessing to others; via hospitality.
- A great home is where its culture and principles are felt, practiced and eventually can be verbalized and described by the child without the parents aid.
- A great home is where family disciplines are practiced.
- A great home is where reconciliation is practiced.
- A great home is where communication occurs frequently about big and small things.
- A great home is where meals are shared, often.
- A great home has parents (servant-leaders) who talk often, enjoy each other’s company, and are friends (key to lasting marriage - friendship). Where they don’t simply run together towards the heavenly prize but they enjoy walking together in this earthly journey.
Of course there are so many other practices that make a home great, but let’s continue with these and many others that you are already practicing. I’m so proud of you Ekko. Remember, dysfunction is often the result of family-networks, but I also know and believe that transformation is often initiated and sustained by God through his “New Creation/Covenant” Family-Network... the Church.
““You don’t need a big program. All you have to do is open your home and begin. And there is no place in God’s world where there are no people who will come and share a home as long as it is a real home.” ”
Let us continue to build this home with joy and gratitude… for the sake of others.
Yours,
Bryan H. Kim
Books I Recommend that will better serve your imagination if you are wanting a bigger "picture" of Ekko’s Philosophy of Mission & Transformation & Discipleship via The New Family Network, aka The Church. Enjoy!