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aaron
norwood
the
bridge
tempe,
az
1.
we will ask this of everyone, what is your
understanding of a pomo ministry?
I
see “postmodern” basically as a worldview without
absolutes; for ministry that begins with the lack of
absolute Truth (in our case, the Bible, Jesus, etc.).
Therefore, in order to relate the person of Christ to
our world, our “ministry” requires us to share our
lives: our love, our stories, our serving the world, our
passion, our emotion, our faults, and our experience
coupled with the Truth of scripture. Through selfless
giving, loving, and accepting, “ministry” in the
postmodern world becomes so much more of a “life”
than a programmed event.
2.
what makes the bridge different from the others
churches in the area?
The
most obvious differences are that we meet in a
nightclub, have our primary worship on Sunday night, and
have a great, loud worship band. But that’s so
surface. The real difference, in my mind, is that we
really aren’t trying to be a “cool” church, but to
be authentic. (our music, setting, style just happen to
be “cool” this year). We want to shape culture from
within, not copy it from the outside. We strongly
encourage our people to volunteer regularly in existing
service organizations, to do simple things like getting
to know their neighbors, to pick up trash in our
community, to serve, to value conversation, and to share
their stories. to follow the person of Jesus and inject
the world with love and let people ask “why” we do
what we do. I guess my hope is that that is not
different at all from other churches.
3.
what are some of the ways the bridge helps build
community?
From
day one we’ve gone to eat Sunday nights after worship
(for the last year, it’s been the Taco Bell across the
street). This sounds so simple, but it has been the most
effective. From this, groups regularly leave there to go
do things, great discussions almost always come up, and
most importantly, people act like themselves. It’s
been our true community event!
We
also have community groups that meet weekly (or small
groups, discipleship, etc.), we have church picnics
every so often, and we have started a weekly lunch on
campus (Arizona State). I think we have a softball team
now, too.
4.
how did the bridge develop its "style"
of ministry? what was it's driving force?
The
driving force of our church is our worship. No doubt
about that. Our style of ministry comes from Matthew 22
– love God, love others. Ministry must be the
“overflow” of our love for others, the result of
being so in love with Jesus that he pours out of us. I
guess our “style” would be to encourage people to
meet needs in love.
5.
being mission oriented is important to a pomo-gen,
how does the bridge see missions and how does it get
people hooked in?
Our
best example is a trial run we’re in right now. It’s
called “catalyst”. We accepted applications, and we
currently have 7 people involved. We rented a house, and
the catalysts (all from the Bridge) spend the summer
serving. They volunteer, they work part-time, they walk
the neighborhood weekly, they plan ministry events as a
team, etc. it’s a mission journey in the city.
But,
we also encourage our people to “go”. I think in
addition to the seven above, we sent out about 11 more
for summer mission opportunities (through Campus
Crusade, International Mission Board, and other
organizations). We give them all a notebook, and tell
them to bring their stories back to us – we’ll
celebrate our missionaries. Hook them in? I think a pomo
generation is SEEKING to give energy for a cause (and
Jesus is a pretty good cause).
6.
i like the "worship one, love all"
idea, can you unpack that for
us?
That’s
it, simply. All
of our “worship”, the focus of our lives, the fame
that we spread is to be about One. God. He deserves
every ounce of worship we have. We aspire to “love
all” – this isn’t so popular in many modern
churches. I believe that loving people that are morally,
socially, physically, and spiritually different is a
command, not a neat idea. I guess we figure that if we
err, we want it to be on the side of “too much
worshiping God” and “loving too much”, if that’s
possible.
7.
how do you see small groups fitting into the
future of pomo churches?
Let
me get back to you on this. In theory, I think they’re
essential. In practice, ours struggle. And die. And
re-start. And struggle.
It
seems they are necessary to foster discipleship and
community. My hunch is that in the future small groups
will accomplish those 2 things, if they are based upon service
(or ministry). I
think the trend in churches will be groups that meet
weekly to “adopt-a-highway”, or clean up a forest,
or serve lunch in a soup kitchen, or do yard work in the
neighborhood. These groups will obviously minister, but
in those times, precious discipleship will be taking
place by example and conversation, not lecture. And
community is a given here.
any
closing thoughts?
we
are really not very good at the above ideas, concepts,
and examples. I don’t want to try to pretend that we
are. But, it’s what our leadership is trying to build
into the culture of the Bridge.
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