Posted in
Spain by Sean Smith on 5/27/2009
Category 5-Hurricane- Category 1- Portugal
Traveling to 4 countries in two weeks can make your life feel like one big hurricane. I've been around the world and back again. Now that I'm back in Spain I want share with you the joy from my experiences. It's been a continual privilege to have such opportunities and experiences. Some of my friends frequently ask, "Can you believe this is our life?" Many days I look in the mirro
r and ask myself the same question. The answer is always no. Over the course of the next week or so I'm going to share five short stories from the past two weeks.
I'll begin with Portugal. The G42- Leadership Academy took us on a "Field Trip." We spent the week in Lisbon. We attended a 3-day leadership meeting, following with a 3-day church meeting. Andrew Sherman (founder of G42-LA) has a very close friend of 20 years who's Pastoring a church in Lisbon. Three of our teachers from the G42-LA spoke during the church meetings. During the first three days I saw something that I don't think I've ever seen to such a degree.
Our first 3 days were spent in the meetings for the leaders (Pastors, Teachers, Prophets, Evangelists, and Apostolic leaders). All of which are caring for churches all over the world. Andrew along 10 or so close friends, many of which he's known for 20+ years, flew in from all over the world for one purpose, to do church together. Andrew is like a father to many of these men. They do this periodically throughout the year.
The idea or term "church" is thrown around so flippantly that what I just mentioned, I suspect, doesn't carry the weight I would hope. What I saw was not your typical "church," mainly because more than just a Pastor was represented and God showed up and had His way. A lot more happened then just talking or preaching. I hope you catch my heart in this. I say this not in judgment, but because in my own life if you would have mentioned words like Prophet or Apostle 4/5 years ago I probably would have looked at you sideways. The same for many who attend "Church." What was common and essential before has now become widely alien to many in the western church. However, it remains crucially essential and we must not omit such parts of the church body!
Andrew Sherman
We met in a small room in the downstairs of the church building. In total there was probably only 20 of us in the room. No congregation if that makes sense, we were the congregation; the leaders themselves were the congregation. We the students just happened to be there. They lead worship, they preached, but they preached to themselves. They gave 15-20 minute sermons. They gave prophetic words in turn. The sermons were potent and challenging but full of love and wisdom. Everything was done in perfect order! The greatest component of order that I saw take place was the flexibility to let God have his way. They sacrificed their agenda and flowed with whatever God was doing that day! We were done when we were done, no timetable really. I have never seen the 5 offices (pastor, evangelist, prophet, teacher, and Apostle) of the church so clearly represented, and in such order.
It seems that many people believe that the Pastor of a Church is the leader or main figure. Why is that, and how is that Biblical? After doing church with these men/women it was so clear of what so many people are missing out on. Catch my heart! A Pastor who Pastors a church is not wrong. But, I will say there's more than just that! A pastor is one piece of the body. To make a body we need all pieces!
My Joy in Portugal came from hanging with friends old and young and doing Church together, whether that was in a building or at the kitchen table.
I've learned something interesting during my studies in Spain. Did you know that the original translation for the Greek and Hebrew term for church in the Bible is "The called out ones." It's interesting that we call buildings churches- when they are nothing more than stone and wood.
