The year was 2012. I was 25 and depressed.
To most of the world, I was immensely successful in what I was doing in life. I was (and still am) a pastor. At that time, I was pastoring at the largest church in our denomination, and one of the largest in Australia. The ministry I was leading was growing exponentially. I was an international speaker, and to many I was viewed as “a big deal” and part of the cream of the next generation leadership crop.
Yet I found myself frustrated and depressed.
Why? Because I’d grown so good and so busy at playing church that I felt I’d stopped truly being the church.
I was busy attending church, counting the numbers of those at church, and promoting church, but I was struggling to simply be the church, especially to those that so desperately needed what I as the church can and should offer, an authentic invitation to a relationship with Christ.
Two years later and I find myself living in America faced with a similar challenge. How can I be the church, not just simply attend one or work for one?
However, this time I come to this conundrum with greater clarity and more tools in my belt than ever before. I’m learning so much about being the church, and I praise God for these learnings.
This book is a snapshot of the journey my wife and I have been on in learning how to be the church.
My desire through this book is simple and twofold.
Firstly, to help wake you up to the reality of who you are once again; if you are a Christian, you are the church.
Secondly, to begin to equip you to be the church.
I truly believe this book could change your world and the worlds of those around you. The contents within it have certainly changed mine.
