What Jesus built...and some friends

Today was it-- the first day of worship for our young church in our first-ever, brand-new building. It was a powerful experience for me (I was lost in prayer during the opening worship set, and I started choking & tearing up during Communion). But what I'm remembering most is the countless hugs & high-fives I shared in--with friends & co-workers in the Gospel whom I've labored beside for as many as five years. Tears in my eyes, tears in their eyes, Holy Spirit in the air (it was Pentecost, after all...).

But the comment that's stayed with me the most about the gorgeous new building wasn't from a ministry leader, core team veteran, or new worshipper. It was from my youngest son, a verbally advanced but not very socially-conscious 3rd grader. He looked for me in the lobby, slung his arm around my waist, and said "Dad, this church you and your friends built really rocks." Interesting wording-- but that's exactly what he said.

That he thinks his church's new building rocks is no surprise. There's a basketball/volleyball court, a cafe that serves hot chocolate, and a 2-story children's playland that can keep 50 children busy & sweaty and away from parents for several cupsworth of coffee. My teammate German uses the word 'rocktastic' to describe it, in fact.

That he thinks any of us 'built' it is a bit more remarkable. A building that complex isn't like finishing a basement or installing a washing machine. So, no, in no way did any of us amateurs build much of anything (other than a few stage platforms and some storage carts!)

But what he said that struck me so: no one (that I can remember) has ever come up to me and pointed out that the church God has privileged me to lead is full of my friends. I've been praying about that all day, and my son is right:

The Kaw Prairiers with whom I do ministry aren't just my 'church.' Sure, the teams they lead, the bands they play in, the bible studies they lead, and the crews they volunteer to do grunt work in-- that's part of our story. But the love I feel from and for them in that big new room-- that's not a tertiary by-product of ministry, nor a professional obligation to be managed. That's the love among friends--and the friendship among God-lovers.

It's been a long time since I felt so surrounded by friends (sometimes ministry can be a pretty lonely calling). But thanks to my one son who has to work hard to make friends and loves time alone, I was reminded of how deeply I have been blessed--with real friends. People who love Jesus so much they're willing to love me, too. And thus, in a very intimate way, how much my life has been changed with Jesus' love!

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. John 15:12-15

PS. Check out a review of our first Sunday at 'the Daily Bailey' by Kaw Prairer Bailey Brewer, barista extrordinaire.