The "unchurchables"

Dear friends:

Last week Tina and I took a mini-vacation to Lake George. I went with
the purpose to seek the Lord regarding our next ministry step. Along
the way, I got in some motorcycling, hiking, canoeing and swimming as
well as a heart pumping trip to the Lake George car show "cruise"
night. And a man, who had come to Lake George to cheat on his wife.
He came over to my motorcycle and began to pour his heart out to me
about coming to meet an old girlfriend, sending his daughter off to
college, etc.. You get the picture. In the end he did not cheat. God
found him and my heart ached for the man. We talked and we prayed. I
hope God allowed me to serve His need. Why do people come to me? I
have to believe that it is God using me. And He is trying to reach
the unchurched.

Only the night before we left I had felt the Lord as we were praying
describe a group of people called the "unchurchables." I was not sure
where the Lord was taking me that night. I think He is telling me
many things, some of which I am not sure about. What if a group of
people who do not fit anywhere else, break out of the box? What if it
speaks of people who are not willing to be churched as we understand
it? I asked a friend to develop a logo from it. Right now it is a
cross rising up out of a church that has exploded. Exploits that only
the unchurchables can do. Years ago I was taken to task for
developing a website called "Messiah's Misfits." Probably happen
again. Men and women and children laying down their life to serve Him
as He served.

What is an unchurchable?
Someone not confined by the walls of a church.
Not held in bondage by stale teaching or outdated religion.
Caring first about Him and only then self.
A life not defined by culture but a life, defining culture.
A willingness to reach the unchurched.

I am sure more will come to me as time carries on. And to others.
Things like "rogue...not God...illegitimate...(BTW-I have heard all these.)"

My wife, she throws things out. Anything that does not appear to have
a purpose or a place is history. Me, I am a collector. I always end
up with a few items every time I go to clean up. One time she threw
out my plaid bell bottoms, my Aztec Indian shirt and my purple
paisley shirt, all carry overs from a past life. She did not see the
value. We did not talk for a long time. Yet, when it comes to old
church, I can instantly tell if it is in need of being trashed. I am
not talking about old music or those kind of things, but what I speak
of is things that do not add value to one's outlook on life. Some
look at as rebellion. I thank God for rebels like David and John the
Baptist. I was throwaway in some respects.

I do not want my life to be defined by the church but that it would
be examined and defined by my following of Christ. If that makes me
unchurchable, then I want to buy into it.

While I was away I met a lot of people who had lives in
non-charismatic circles. UCC, Presbyterian, Lutheran, etc. It is
always kind of interesting to me where I end up. (I often think of
having a church in downtown Lake George that operates how I do, as
there is not one single pentecostal or charismatic church that I can
find. And I know it would be tough. Lakes, mountains, trees, big
skies. Kind of like earth's little version of heaven. Add in the
bikers and hot rodders, the shops and glitter...Lake George Village
is a little like a small Las Vegas. Oh yeah-I found a great seafood
restaurant, so I am all set.) Lives that are so different than mine.
And I sit at meals with them and love them to pieces. And where else
can you hear them talk about vespers.(For my charismatic friends, it
is not an Italian scooter...but a night time prayer.) I love their
liturgy. Their dedication to peace and tranquility. I could easily
see myself sitting on the lake just writing away in between
volleyball and boating. To them I seem a little unchurchable. They
find it hard to believe sometimes. But we all embrace community. (I
think they struggled that Tina and I would leave tranquility and
quiet, until 200 au pairs showed up, and drive into town; to listen
to the thundering of race cars, being awed by wheelie popping
vehicles and walk among thousands of people all just trying to have
fun. And the tattoos and colorful shirts and all that are pretty
cool, too.) We love each other and we help each other. And in the
midst, I think about an outdoor meeting with thousands of people who
do not know the church. That my friends, will unlikely happen in a
church nearby.

An explosion of God's presence in coming. We all know it. We all
place our "bets" on it. I think the rawness of God is about to be
displayed. Comfort zones will explode, repentance will come and the
lives of those who are here will be forever altered. I admit, I am
taking a chance not just in saying it, but embracing it.

As we memorialize the lives of many who gave freely here in this
country only 6 short years ago, it is clear that something is getting
ready to shift. What it will be , no one knows. Many will say
afterwards, that is what I saw, but what if we begin to walk out what
we have been trained for and we see now. Many died tragically in NYC.
I was on my way to see my dying mother, driving just a little north
of the city. Life changed for us, for this nation. I think we are
sitting on one of those times right now, even today. Something, that
is not just shifting in the spiritual, but is taking place in the
earth today. Maybe it is the breaking out of the church or the box.
God certainly knows. And it records He tells His prophets first.

For those in the US, let us remember bravery is not always defined by
a win, but an attitude.

Blessings,
Lee

Prayer requests.
-Our new businessministry would bear fruit

Lee Johndrow
88 WCFR Drive
Springfield, VT 05156
802-885-2885