I’m in Vail this week for the Acts 29 Retreat. 200 church-planters from around the world are here to share what God has been doing in their families, churches, and cities. Normally at a pastors’ gathering like this, you’ll hear lots of stories about how much attendance and budgets and staff have grown, and what practical strategies pastors followed to get there. But I haven’t heard a single story like that yet.
Instead, I keep hearing guys talk about how much grace God has lavished on them and their churches in spite of their shortcomings, and how that’s led them to be radically generous in response. Generously giving their time and money to serve people in their community who would never be able to offer them anything in return. Generously serving other churches that had been hostile to the young church-planter who was “invading their territory.” Generously mentoring other pastors in their area or across an ocean who needed encouragement and support.
My dream is that Harbor would be known for that kind of radical grace-driven generosity. The residents at Old Stadium Park and Kakaako Shelter, and the patients at the Waikiki Health Clinic have already experienced God’s grace through Harborites. Factory workers in Southeast Asia have experienced it through our short-term teams and the local church-planters we have sent. Hopefully the families at Liholiho School will experience it too when we begin to mentor kids this fall through the Common Grace ministry.
What new opportunities will God give us to display his grace through our generosity?