Crossing, Peacemaking, Infusion
By Tim Franklin, Pastor, Congregational Church of Bridport, CT
Participation in the introductory workshop called CROSSING is the first step to learn more about the CCCC LifeFlow Church Development process. The foundational concepts of LifeFlow, including the Irreducible Core of loving God, loving others, and making disciples are presented. Participants explore the New Testament church paradigm and are challenged to consider how their church is like or unlike the church of the book of Acts. Investigating how Jesus taught and made disciples often leads to the discovery that Jesus’ methods and priorities are different than ours, and we are challenged to consider ways in which we need to change.
After a Crossing workshop, many pastors and churches have questions and a growing dissatisfaction with the current state of their lives and ministry. When that is the case, the next step in the process is the Vista Assessment. A church development coach meets with the pastor and church leaders to develop a picture of the current state of the church through the Natural Church Development survey taken by the pastor and congregation. In separate instances, the pastor and Church leaders and influencers sit down with the coach for a wide-ranging interview. The coach compiles survey and interview information into a summary document which is then presented to the pastor and church leaders. The assessment identifies areas of strength and weakness and points to ways in which engaging in LifeFlow can help a church move forward in spiritual vitality, relational priority, and ministry fruitfulness. At this point the church is invited to officially enter into LifeFlow, committing themselves to a three to five year process of focused engagement with the Church Development Team with the goal of becoming a healthy, reproducing church.
As the Holy Spirit works in a church to bring health and wholeness, changes will be necessary. Changes are uncomfortable and can lead to conflict stemming from miscommunication, fear, or clashing values and priorities. Whatever the source, conflict from change is inevitable. As a result, the first module of LifeFlow is the PEACEMAKER SEMINAR. The entire congregation is encouraged to attend so that each member can be equipped to handle the everyday conflicts of their own lives as well as conflicts that arise in the church. Participants learn about the nature of conflict and are introduced to the principles of Biblical peacemaking. Churches are encouraged to continue to learn more about peacemaking and to develop their own peacemaker’s covenant.
Once a culture of Biblical peacemaking begins to take root in the church, the next module is INFUSION. At this point the Church Development Coach helps the pastor and church leaders to start digging deeper into some of the ideas that were introduced in Crossing. Together they rediscover and dig into core New Testament concepts including church, disciple, community, kingdom, and gospel. Coming to a shared understanding of these terms lays the foundation for pastors, leaders, and church members to put these concepts into practice as the LifeFlow teaching begins to inform the way we live and love together.
