Brethren in Christ Church, fruits of 2009 video, self-application?
Mar 5, 2010 church planting, missional, reflecting
Some of you may have heard me share some parts of my family story before. I love to share the stories that make me a walking contradiction as a individual, that contradiction being half of my family (my Father’s side) is from a long line of inherited Scottish blood that runs through our veins, which is full of a violent pursuit for freedom and of individuals that run deep with pride. Though, on my Mother’s side, my family history is rich with over sixteen generations of Anabaptist heritage – a confession of the Christian faith that is humble, peaceful and full of simplicity. Yet, the contradictions don’t stop there, my first name, Jeffrey, means “God’s Gift of Peace” and my last name, “McLain”, stems from the Gaelic name “MacLaine of Lochbuie” which means “Son of Gillian the Battle Axe“. From a Scottish Clan, that hosts a slogan “Vincere Vel Mori” (Conquor or Die) I find myself progressive but influenced by the Anabaptist side of calm simplicity.
There are also many beautiful stories of history that have been passed down generation to generation on both sides of my family, and through my genealogical research I have come across many more interesting stories from both my Scottish side and my Anabaptist family. Perhaps one of the most compelling and one that speaks the most of God’s provision, is that of my relation to Jacob Engle and the instrument he was to be used in God’s orchestra to announce a new aspect of the Kingdom of Heaven to this earth. Jacob Engle, was the founding Pastor of a community of followers of Jesus called the “River Brethren” meeting in Marietta, Pennsylvania along the Susquehanna River; which would give way and become the Evangelical Anabaptist denomination we call the Brethren In Christ Church.
Tags: 2009 Cooperative Ministries Thank You, Anna Engel, B.I.C, brethren in christ, Brethren In Christ Thanks, Brethren In Christ Video, Catch His Vision, Catholic Oppression, Cooperative Ministries, Jacob Engel, Jacob Engle, Jeffrey "God's Peace", MacLaine of Lochbuie, Marietta Pennsylvania, Mennonite World Conference, River Brethren, Susquehanna River, Swiss Alps, Swiss Brethren, True Church, Ulrich Engel, Vincere Vel Mori, Yokeli
Thoughts on Tithing in the Church…
Dec 27, 2009 church planting, reflecting
A friend of mine, in his blog, proposed questions on the topic of tithe in his recent post that is looking at the apparent un-sever-able tie between the need of tithe and the costs of operating as a church.
I made a few comments on his blog, how the american church needs to learn to work with less. However, I have been chewing on this topic, all week. As someone who studies to someday Church Plant a “simple church” in “megaland” “Southern California”; I continued to ask my self questions on this topic this week and come to some of reasoning for me on how not only are American Churches needing to work with less, but they need to figure out how to do MORE (then we are now) with LESS (then we are getting and demanding, now). Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Church, discussion on tithe, how should tithing look in a church plant, importance of tithing, reflections on church, should i tithe, thoughts on church, tithing
