by Bruce Wilcox
When Jesus was on this earth as a man, He was known as a friend of sinners. He made contact with people where they were, and as they were – not to judge them, but as He said in John 3:17, that they might be saved through Him. Jesus carries this on today through His continuing incarnated presence on the earth through His Body, the church. The Coffeehouse outreach at the Old Age Pensioners Organization Pioneer Centre in Lac La Hache is one such example of missional, incarnational ministry. Sponsored by the Cariboo Presbyterian Church in Lac la Hache, it provides an opportunity for people not connected with the church to enter an environment where they can rub shoulders with Christians on their own turf, in a venue familiar to them and a way that is not intimidating, but God willing, inviting and comfortable. Even some of the singers and players themselves may not be following Christ, but are still welcome to perform. The only stipulation is that the lyrics are “clean”.
Missional ministry is not really for the church, but for the world outside the church. But having said that, when Christians are participating in “the good works that the Lord has prepared beforehand for us to walk in” (Ephesians 2:10), then we get to personally experience and know the Lord in sometimes new and unexpected ways right in the midst of those works, whatever they may be, because they are also His. So by getting prayerfully involved, being missional and just trusting Him for the results, we become blessed in knowing the Lord in ways that simply cannot happen in any other way!
At Coffeehouse we experience a good variety of local area talent, poetry and musical genres, while still making sure that the folks are exposed to the the message of Christ through at least some of the songs. At our Coffeehouse in November, there was a very encouraging turnout, especially of local folks. A few who showed up had definitely seen better days, and were somewhat “in their cups”. In observing them it was interesting to notice that their response went from at times quietly sitting and listening, to clapping and cheering loudly and then getting up and dancing a bit. Then at the end of the evening one raised his hands in the air at the conclusion of one of the Gospel songs and hollered “Praise the Lord!” After we were finished he even made a point of coming to the front to shake my hand and offer a sincere thank you to all of us.
I mention this because we know the Lord can powerfully use even mustard-seed faith once it has been planted (Luke 17:5,6). I strongly suspect that many of these folks have never darkened the door of a church building, and that events like this are the closest thing to any kind of intentional interaction with Christians that they’ve ever had. Someone once said that the only Bible many people have ever read is through their observations of us Christians. Let’s be encouraged in trusting Christ in us to continue to make us the people we need to be, as He uses all of us in fulfilling His great commission wherever we are.
