Pure Church

Last Thursday, just in time for Thanksgiving, our church school sponsored a "healthy kids expo." (brief video here) It was a high-energy time, encouraging young and old to live more active lifestyles. Frankly, it was an encouragement I needed as well.

Big props to our P.E. Teacher, Claire Hughes, who organized the event. And many thanks to the many school staff and church members who volunteered and came out to make this a great time for the entire community!

Question: What kinds of events does your church have to serve the community in various ways?

Kevin DeYoung links to a brief thought-provoking article in Comment Magazine that outlines four responses/camps to the Gospel and culture discussion. (Link Fixed) It's an interesting categorization, a couple of which seem to lie close to one another. Take a look and let me know where you think you may fall on this tension between gospel proclamation and engaging the culture.

All of the pastors I've met in South Africa thus far. But I especially appreciated this tid-bit from Grant Retief. Roughly quoted:

Gospel preaching is the first tier of AIDS ministry in South Africa--not orphan care or hospice. And that's because AIDS is the only epidemic known to man that can be controlled by behavior. If people have their sexual behavior brought under the Lordship of Christ, it could change the impact of AIDS radically.

South Africa has the highest AIDS rate in the world. In one area, the average age has been lowered due to AIDS-related deaths from 67 to 37 in just about 20 years! Nothing I can think of has been more devastating to a society. An entire generation of adults is vanishing from existence. And one presumes a great many of them are going to hell.

I'm sobered.