Well here is something you don’t see everyday. Reality TV has taken up the challenge of turning a local church in Britain around. Actually the vicar took up the challenge and called a young man from America to the UK
James McCaskill, Priest Idol
for the challenge. James McCaskill was followed by camaras for days in the past year as he went about the mission of re-establishing Christian witness in a place where only 1 in 10 persons attended church. So, its going to be on TV. I can’t belive it. They call it Priest Idol. I’m very interested. As a leader in our association of churches we are regularly faced with the lifecycle of church life that sometimes includes death or “shutting the doors.” I picked up the story from Christianity Today. The best article I read was in The Observer.

I must say that having been a part of 3 congregations that were “turning it around” this is a very difficult task. I’m very appreciative of James’ confession about having to increase his discipline in prayer and seeking God (see the article in Christianity Today.) There are a host of challenges that require movement: movement from survival to “laying your life down;” movement into the community and out of the buildings; movement into the language and culture of people; movement from come and see to let’s share life and community together; and ultimately the courage and conviction to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invite response. I am intrigued to see what the response in Britain will be. Furthermore I am interested in knowing what James’ vision of a disciple is and how that process of building up a people of faith in Christ is going. In the history of the church attracting crowds has not been difficult, creating disciples of Jesus Christ, though, is another thing.

Nonetheless, the Church of Jesus Christ will prevail. Thanks James for letting people in on your life.