The Organic Church Goes Door To Door
Bob Wheeler and Dan De Lashmutt cross denominational lines and step out of the box and into their neighborhood with a creative approach to ministry. Bob writes the following of his "door to door adventures".
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"Last Sunday afternoon, Jan. 11th, I met with my friend, Dan De Lashmutt, in Tracy. We had lunch in the mall, prayed, and drove to a nearby neighborhood street. Dan attends a Pentecostal Church in the area and he said, jokingly, that he never thought he would see a "Nazarene" knocking on a door for Jesus! Well, he can't say that anymore. Dan and I approached each house as Prayer Ministers. We offered to pray for those we met and for those close to them… Our very first encounter was with a 4 year old Filipino gentleman named Rico. He was enjoying the sun in his front yard and munching on some Cheetos. I introduced Dan and I as prayer ministers and explained that we would like to pray for him and his family. Rico broke open with a big smile and said he thought this was a great idea. He and his wife are expecting their first child soon. He told us that he was Catholic, but that he could worship in any church, protestant or Catholic. He proceeded to give us a comprehensive list of his family members for us to pray for."
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"Another encounter was with a lady named Teresa. Teresa was so excited about our prayer ministry in her neighborhood. She explained that she loved the Lord and felt called to have a prayer/ Bible Study in her house. Dan and I put her on our prayer list. Next Sunday Dan and I plan to contact Teresa to see if we might be of some help in developing her ministry in the neighborhood. Perhaps we will be able to nail down a meeting day and time that we could tell her neighbors about. Also, maybe Dan and I will be able to assist her with the "Church" meeting. Dan and I don't know how this will all turn out, but God does and we trust in Him! We are both very excited about what God will do in Tracy. Please pray for us, that God would lead us in the right direction as we give him all the praise and glory."
Who said Nazarenes couldn't go "door to door". What an innovative and creative approach to reaching those in the neighborhood. Robert Wheeler and his wife, Lynn live in sunny Danville, CA and attend Christ Community Church in nearby San Ramon where Bob is an Associate Pastor. Tracy is a mission field for Bob and his friend Dan. Of this bedroom community Bob says, "Many young families are losing their homes and jobs daily in this area. Our prayer ministry is a way for Dan and I to show that through us God cares about them and there is hope.
Bob believes that he has been gently lead by the Holy Spirit to this community. He says, "As I drive over the hill to Tracy I am continually asking God for His divine guidance... I have no clear agenda, but I envision that we will be able to start small groups, grow disciples and multiply in the area for God's glory and God's Kingdom. We want to keep it simple. Sounds like organic church to me!"
This is a great picture of how the conventional church with an Organic heartbeat is sending missionaries into the surrounding communities with the hope of future churches starting.
For more info on Bob and his ministry you may contact him at whataboutbob@sbcglobal.net or visit the churches website at http://www.ccc.norcal.org.
