Brad Abare, Director of Communications for The Foursquare Church and Founder of Church Marketing Sucks met with us in Los Angeles to discuss several topics in the church. Brad has been in ministry all over the US, and we asked him about how the church culture on the West Coast differs from the rest of the country…
Brad Abare - “Ministry On The West Coast”
Catalyts Voices - Brad Abare on West Coast Church from Catalyst on Vimeo.
As a 26 year old LA transplant, i wanted to share my thoughts on Abare’s ideas of ministry in SoCal.
1. I am a mid-western transplant. I moved out here seeking community. I would say that community isn’t the issue. There is authentic community everywhere, even authentic spiritual community all around us out here. People are open to people out here. I have found that you can strike up random conversations with people in pubs or coffee shops and have them not get all awkward like it does back home.
I have had some of the most amazing spiritual conversations with people on the streets of Hollywood. The same people who are there every weekend (in community) at clubs, bars, cafes, etc. Peoople are so open to Jesus here, people are willing to talk and discuss and learn.
Christians (in general) have a fear of really getting to know, becoming friends with, and loving those outside of the church. We stick together in groups of other Christians and use these kinds of words.
We TALK about reaching people in LA, but we never do. Why? Because we would have to change and let our fear go.
2. The problem, is that we carbon-copy christian spirituality from the mid-west and try to make it work out here. We sing the same Chris Tomlin covers, preach the same topical BS sermons and then wonder why only other Kansas transplants are attending the services.
3. Guys like Abare have no clue on how to reach true angelinos because he is wrapped up in the world of Church Ministry. If the dude left his ikea filled offices in Echo and spent some time with those who are truly from here, listened to where they are at, and actually cared and loved them, an learned the culture in which he lives. (Acts 17)
Instead he throws words like “organic, authentic-community, microcosm” around because they are the cool words coming out of Atlanta and Dallas by people who are leaders of ministry.
Why don’t you talk to guys like Erwin McManus - ones who are actually leading the way for ministry to happen here in LA?
Comment by Patrick Fore - Jan 19, 2009 @ 11:55 AM