This is the very first blog post for OKC Community Church. Every small step feels significant, so even this simple post feels important. Where to begin…what to say…who will read? These are all questions one ponders while writing into the worldwide abyss called the web.
I moved to OKC when I was thirteen years old (I am now 34…yikes). I remember the days (not too long ago) when professional basketball in this city meant the semi-pro OKC Cavs…and now we have Kevin Durant and the Thunder, come on that’s crazy. I remember the days when Spaghetti Warehouse was the crown jewel in the Bricktown area…and now, well…that area is way cooler than some spaghetti and meatballs. OKC is definitely changing—and most think in good ways. It’s developing, renewing its urban core, and climbing the ranks of relevant American cities. It’s easy to see that this city is about progress.
What a great place to be. What a great place to live.
But…there’s a little more to the story.
Downtown Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City sits at the heart of the so-called Bible belt and this church will be in the heart of Oklahoma City. So I guess we can kind of say we are at the epicenter of American Christendom. The tradition rich culture of Christian faith can be easily seen across of our cityscape in the form of neighborhood churches or mammoth sanctuaries that have stood for decades. OKC is also home to several young movements where thousands and thousands of people have come to know and love Jesus. So some could say this city has enough Jesus…has enough church.
It takes one walk (not drive) down a city street or down a back alley to see the darkness that exists in the so-called Bible belt. All it takes is a Christ follower who chooses to pay attention to what is really going on with the people (not just the brick and mortar) to recognize the deep physical and spiritual need that exists around every corner of a city…even Oklahoma City. It’s not a surprise to most of us that a small fraction of our Christian nation is actually Christian. Our city is gospel deficient and desperate for Christ followers who care about that…and choose to do something about it.
My biggest fear for my own life and the lives of those whom I share Christian community with is not that we will become bad people who don’t care about things that matter—I’m more concerned that we become ‘good people’ who don’t actually do anything that matters.
Our city matters.
The darkness matters.
The gospel matters.
Our dream is to become a church that cares about and does things that matter in and for our city. A scripture that has deeply impacted me is Philippians 2:15-16. It beautifully illustrates our role to shine light in the darkness.
“Become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like the stars of the universe as you hold out the word of life…”
May our church shine as the light of God in this city.
- Posted by Tim Mannin