The Wesleyan Church « jxgomez.com | Your message matters.

25 May 2011

Church Planting Path

Courtesy of the Evangelism & Church Growth Department of The Wesleyan Church One of the great privileges I have already enjoyed in life is being involved in church planting, most recently as co-planter of The Bridge. Though my family and I are transitioning into a new season and place of ministry, church planting will remain an important part of how we serve the Kingdom of Christ. I am especially glad to serve in a district within The Wesleyan Church that places such priority on church planting–not because it’s a hot new fad, but because they passionately want to see people come to know the hope and life of Jesus. We recently posted the above photo (you can download the .pdf version here) at theydidwewill.blogspot.com — it’s a different way of looking at the church planting process within The Wesleyan Church and serves as a good reminder that seeing new churches come to fruition is a continuous journey and an adventure. (more…)

10 Oct 2010

Why I Love The Wesleyan Church: Apprenticeship

“He says he’s a pastor, but he hasn’t got any kind of education.” I was amazed at the disgust in my friend’s voice, himself an ordained Wesleyan pastor. It was clear not just by what he said but how he said it that a ‘real’ minister is defined by the organized schooling he or she has endured. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy learning and am indebted to the kind of education I’ve received in organized environments in the pursuits of diplomas and degrees. I’m looking forward to continuing my education and hold institutions of higher learning in high regard–especially those operating out of a passion to equip men and women for ministry. But the attitude that our value or function as ministers is directly related to our (organized) education stands in stark contrast to the way Jesus developed his own followers and the history of The Wesleyan Church. Jesus utilized an apprenticeship* process whereby he allowed his followers (more…)

Tags: church, church planting, Discipleship, Joshua, Leadership, The Wesleyan Church
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04 Oct 2010

Why I Love The Wesleyan Church: Freedom

There is something about the notion of “freedom” which, for those of us brought up in America, brings with it the idea of Founding Fathers breaking away from the tyranny of British rule; “freedom” is an ideal—a philosophical concept which crescendos in our national anthem as we sing of “The Land of the Free/and the home of the brave.” But, for me, it is easy for ‘freedom’ to remain a mere concept because I have never known the cruelty of actual slavery. For what would become The Wesleyan Church, the concept of freedom meant something much more than fireworks on the Fourth of July; it meant bringing people out of the very real, very harsh, very evil clutches of physical slavery—where men, women, and children are bought, sold, traded, and handled as things owned by another person. The Wesleyan Church’s history in North America is intimately intertwined with the abolitionist movement; the fight for freedom is a very identifiable part of (more…)

Tags: church, history, Leadership, slavery, The Wesleyan Church
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23 Sep 2010

Why I Love The Wesleyan Church: Equality

As we get ready to welcome our daughter, Jubilee, into the world, I love being part of a church that won’t disqualify her from ministry leadership just because she will be a girl. I’ve often told my wife that I love the fact she would not be denied the chance to lead in a local church just because God gave her two X instead of an XY chromosonaI combination. I won’t use this post to defend the Wesleyan stance on women in ministry—there are enough resources dealing with the issue and I don’t really have anything to add that might change your mind if you disagree with the idea. The Wesleyan Church’s history of being deeply involved in the women’s suffrage movement (even hosting the Seneca Falls Convention) is awesome. Our push for equality in the era of Jim Crow is something to be proud of. It seems we really hold to the idea that in the Jesus Kingdom (more…)

Tags: church, history, Leadership, The Wesleyan Church
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21 Sep 2010

Why I Love The Wesleyan Church: Holiness

“Holiness” is a funny word: it can bring to mind strange rules and fiery preachers… and sometimes things are done in the name of ‘holiness’ that make it appear the antithesis of love. So, please don’t let the topic of this post keep you from going any further. I freely admit that some of our definitions of holiness are misguided and potentially hurtful; I also admit we’ve been distracted by conversations related to but not central to holiness. Discussion about the Wesleyan stance on alcohol is best left to another post (or ginormous tome). No, we’re not perfect in how we approach the outward look of holiness… neither am I perfect in how I live, believe, or do life. But our passion is the truth that the work of Jesus who lived, died, rose again ascended into heaven and even now pleads for us really does make us new. The impossible call of God’s Spirit to be holy is met (more…)

Tags: church, faith, Holiness, Holy Spirit, The Wesleyan Church, victory
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20 Sep 2010

New Blog Series this Week:

I wasn’t introduced to The Wesleyan Church until I ended up attending a Wesleyan school, but my time at Bethany Bible College exposed me to some things of Christ that I saw in The Wesleyan Church which made me want to be part. Sure, there are things I might change and I know the denomination is looking at a number of creative solutions to a number of issues, but over the next few days I’ll be sharing what I see as some deep-in-our-DNA aspects of The Wesleyan Church I don’t think we can ever lose without fundamentally altering who we are. Keep in mind, these are just my opinions, and I hope you feel free to chime in. I also hope none of this comes across as though I think the Wesleyans are ‘better’ than others or the only ones invited into heaven–I know there really is only one Church and I love Jesus much more than denomination–but I love (more…)

Tags: church, history, Leadership, The Wesleyan Church
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20 Feb 2010

What’s In a Name?

It’s been far too long since Joy in the Journey has had an update. A good friend of mine, Stevan Sheets, expressed frustration about ministries that don’t let some light in on the process they’re using/journey they’re on. So, for Stevan, I’m going to do a better job at updating our process/journey as church planters in Pittsburgh. It seems fitting to begin by sharing that what we have been calling “The Pittsburgh Church Plant” now has a name. We are: The Bridge. Now, I know this may not seem the most unique name for a missional community of believers you’ve ever heard of (we were thinking of something heretofore unheard of like “Faith Community Church” or “First Baptist” or “Second Wesleyan” or “St. Luke’s”, but, alas, we found out those names had already been taken, too…) but “The Bridge” really does fit our passion and mission in Pittsburgh. We are driven to see people cross from death to life in (more…)

Tags: church, church planting, Pittsburgh, The Wesleyan Church
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20 Feb 2010

What's In a Name?

Tags: church, church planting, Pittsburgh, The Wesleyan Church
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13 Dec 2009

JourneyNote #3

55.5 Square Miles Within an area of 55.5 square miles, not very far from where I write these words, is a community which is home to fortune 500 companies, seats of commerce, houses of industry and institutions of innovation and education. Within those 55.5 square miles, hundreds of thousands work, live, and build relationships. Millions more live just outside the area. The community found within that tract of land is known for an uncanny ability to reinvent itself; so resilient are these people that the recent G-20 Summit was hosted there to showcase one city’s ability to not only weather but grow stronger through economic crises and global storms. Within those 55.5 square miles, you will find incredible fusions of old and new, stayed and untried. You will also find 455 bridges, 712 public stairways, 8 tunnels, 90 distinctive neighborhoods, and 140 separately identifiable ethnic groups. But you won’t find a single Wesleyan Church. In fact, you won’t find a (more…)

Tags: church, church planting, JourneyNotes, personal, Pittsburgh, The Wesleyan Church
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01 Sep 2009

Today…

…I’ll be spending the day with a great group of people who are dedicated to creating a movement of church multiplication in what many would say is an unlikely place. I’ll be meeting with the Church Multiplication Task Force for the Western Pennsylvania District of The Wesleyan Church or TOOMANYLETTERS if you’re making an acronym. Say what you will about our penchant for too-long names, but the fact is the people I serve with are passionate about seeing new churches planted. Now, you may find yourself wondering why Western Pennsylvania needs new churches, anyway. If you were to take an even cursory glance at many of the communities in this area, it would seem most of them need yet another church like most communities need yet another abandoned storefront. But here’s the deal: just because you may see a lot of churches, that doesn’t mean there all that many who are connected with a local church. More than ever before (more…)

Tags: church, church planting, The Wesleyan Church
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