8:30AM - LV & Jesse Entering TN!!!

9:30AM - Breakfast with Tony & Rebekah Buchanan (Lord of the Rings???)
Donnie and Christy Slade were more than kind to let us stay at their house last night, but Ty was the one who had to give up his room for two total strangers - thanks Ty!!! We left early this morning (around 6:30AM) and made the 2 1/2 hour trek to Manchester, TN to see Tony Buchanan, senior pastor of Christian Life Church. Did you know the average Sunday morning attendance for churches across America is less than 100 people? This is a chance for you to hear from a man who is walking the leadership journey so many pastors face every day. As we talked with Tony about his experience as a "small church pastor" we touched on the issue of authentic community. The question question was posed, "How do you move your congregation from 'sharing space' to 'experiencing authentic community?'" Hear his response inspired by the "Fellowship of the Ring"...

LV - "How do you move your congregation from "sharing space" to "experiencing authentic communty?"
Tony - "It's not about commonality; it's about coming together to accomplish something greater than yourself."

As Tony so clearly reminded us, The Fellowship of the Ring, paints a painful and perservering picture of authentic community - amidst great opposition the hearts of men fused together to accomplish a goal greater than any one individual. The same is true in the church. Sharing space under a church roof invites a facade of community but it is a shared vision full of great risk that invites authentic community. Tony is leading his congregation into vision greater than their own congregation and they are experiencing true community in the process. Tony helped expose the truth that if you want to avoid risk, remain anonymous. Authentic community comes when trials and tribulations are embraced together.