Impressions of Ecclesia

Several months ago, I received a message from J.R. Briggs asking if I had heard of the Ecclesia Network. He went on to inform me they were a relational network of churches who are missionally-oriented, gospel-driven, and theologically centrist. All things that describe me and Project Church.

J.R., picking up on that, thought we’d be a good fit for the network. After further dialogue with him, I was intrigued to discover more about this young church network.

Then a conversation with Chris Backert (Director of Ecclesia and all-around great guy) and JR Woodward, prompted me to consider connecting with them and the rest of the Ecclesia gang at their National Gathering in mid February. In fact, Chris made it impossible for me to say no to the invitation to join them in DC (thanks Chris).

I went…and I’m so glad I did.

Here are some impressions from my time with Ecclesia.

They are hospitable
When I arrived at the conference it was clear that many of these folks knew each other well, like a small church. I wondered if I would be viewed as an outsider or if the collective arm of Ecclesia pastors would welcome me in.

It didn’t take long before they extended their kindness to me and welcomed me in like family. Over the course of several days, many new friendships were created.

They are curious
When they found out I was from South Dakota, curiosity arose about my homeland.  Apparently, they had never met one of my kind before.  :)   I answered many questions about my city, my church, and my story.

Their collective curiosity carried over into our sessions where we learned from people such as Dallas Willard, Bob & Mary Hopkins, and one another.  They were teachable, humble, and ready to learn.

Questions-asked outweighed answers-given which is a mark of an ideal learning environment. We learned from some amazing guest speakers but the best part was learning from one another.  There is a lot of wisdom, knowledge, and experience within this tribe and the free exchange of information, stories, and best practices was priceless.

They are genuine
Unlike most church conferences, most weren’t peacocking around talking about how they have it all figured out.  Actually, most were honest about their struggles in church planting, applying what we were learning to their context, and keeping heart to press on.

I had a number of conversations with folks who told me of failed attempts, broken relationships, and insecurities.  At the same time, I heard humble stories of changed lives, personal and corporate renewal, and total dependence on Jesus.

This level of sincerity is rare in church planting circles and was a refreshing drink of water for me.

They love God
What most impressed me was that missiology and ecclesiology was never divorced from Christology.  Jesus was always front and center and held up as the source of all that a church is and what she does.

There was much talk of dependence on the Spirit of God to fulfill the mission of God.  As Dallas Willard reminded us, “We are not in charge of the outcomes…God is.”   Our role is to listen to our Father, do our very best, and let God do what God does.

I needed to be reminded of that.

They know how to enjoy
While Ecclesia pastors take God seriously, they don’t take themselves too seriously.   They are whimsical and enjoy a good laugh.  A trait that I truly cherish.

They know how to enjoy a good cigar, pipe, and drink as well.  Each night, many of us went out to a cigar bar where we let loose, shared stories, discussed theology, and laughed heartily. These were perhaps the most meaningful times and truly enriched the experience.

All in all, I was greatly blessed and encouraged by my time with Ecclesia.  These men and women have a heart for God and his mission in the world.

If you’re a church planter and considering a network, you should seriously look into the Ecclesia Network. They are gospel-driven, missional-minded, and theologically-centrist (meaning they major on the majors).

Thank you for making me feel at home Ecclesia.

Here’s to what’s to come…