Ekklesia is an Incarnational Church

Jesus came to us to show us how to live and to bless the people on this earth. During his time on earth Jesus didn't expect people to come to him, although many did. He actually called his disciples to come follow him during his journey among the villages and dirt roads of Judea. This type of ministry is called an "incarnational" ministry. John wrote in his gospel about Jesus that, "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." When someone connects with people "in the flesh" it is said to be "in carnate." When we sit in our own place and hope people will come to us in our churches, we are being "attractional." Most churches fall into this later category. Incarnational churches put on many events and worship gatherings inside their building hoping that people will come and receive the blessing of learning and knowing about Jesus. 

Jesus, however, didn't follow this pattern. He didn't spend three years with his disciples holding discipleship training classes in a Jerusalem upper room. He told his followers to come along with him as he engaged people in their towns, homes, market places and worship locations like the temple and many synagogues. When he arrived in new places he looked for good things to do like healing the sick and feeding people. He also took those teachable moments when he gained people's attention to teach them many new things about the Kingdom of God. This is how Jesus carried out his own "incarnational" ministry. He didn't typically have a regular place to sleep at night and not a regular food coordinator. He just had many women and men seeing to his needs and the needs of his closest followers. 

When Jesus established his church he didn't intend for it to be a sedentary, isolative group of people who avoided contact with the outside world. He expected us to get out and engage the world in every corner of society where people get together. He wanted us to be the catalysts for good in our communities and to spread the message of the Kingdom with Jesus as our leader. 

So, this is the message and method of the Ekklesia church. We are a mission church with no headquarters other than Jesus Christ. We only desire to love and serve others in order to bring them closer to the One who saved them. This is how we make disciples. We are an incarnational group of people committed to living like Jesus lived and serving like Jesus served. 

Ekklesia's next Service Sunday will be on February 25th. Get ready to serve and to bless others!

Prayer Needs

• Mack Smith requests prayers for his mother Louise Smith who underwent heart surgery several weeks ago. Louise is now in recovery and doing much better. They ask for continued prayers for Louise. 

• Craig Thomas - praises to God for a very productive visit with his mother in San Ramon, CA. Also a praise for Craig's new job at Morrison Gravel. 

• Ekklesia members with new jobs! Lori White, Jon Powless & Craig Thomas

• Melissa Bell's step-dad, David Latham and his wife LaDonna as David struggles with health issues. 

• James & Angela Goodman and family as they minister at the Sound View Christian Camp. Also for Heath Goodman as he recovers from surgery. 

• The selection of a site for the Tiny Cottage Village-  A new site will now need to be found! We need prayers that churches or private property owners will step forward to allow us to use their land. 

• Direction is needed as Ekklesia builders are designing the new bath house for the Tiny Cottage Village. 

• The Parry family and Joe- as he has been deployed to San Diego for a few months.