The More Things Change

Most of us are so tied up in the present, we forget to look to the past for insights, ideas, warnings, or even mistakes we need to avoid repeating. I am showing my own prejudices, but I love history, and I think there are things we can look at as we dash into the postmodern era. One of the current issues for churches is building community. It isn't really new, we just call it by a new name. Cell groups, small groups, fellowship groups, assimilation groups, now become community groups. The purpose is all the same. How do you help the members of the church develop deeper friendships? While the groups have different names, and a some what different focus, the real reason is to help churches fulfill their mission to make disciples. So why did I feel the need to share this? I was just reading about Baptists in the 18th century, that would be the 1700's. One of the things they felt the need to do to build their churches was to create more fellowship among members and outsiders. They began meeting in fellowship groups in coffeehouses which were popular in England at the time. Before Starbucks, Einsteins, or Beans and Brew, Baptists were already finding places to fellowship in the gathering places of the day. Anybody for meeting for fellowship at Starbucks in the morning?