Peeps

Let's continue this discussion about impact and people. A focused recreation ministry should attract people. This week we are hosting our adult basketball league team meetings. It's the time when we gather all those playing and introduce each other and go over our mission and purpose of the league, along with league rules. We want to establish early on our desire to connect with them and play with them.

After the meeting was over a friend of mine came to the office and jokingly said, "this place is like a zoo out there." As we both laughed, I simply responded, "that's third culture baby!" As I thought about his statement and my response, I passionately was reminded that's what I want people to say. Because inside of a zoo are all kinds of creatures with all shapes., sizes, and shades of color. And in fact my friend was right. The rec center was full of people that didn't look alike, act alike, and think alike.

But what they all have in common is that they are our neighbors - our peeps living around us. You see the concept of neighbor is misunderstood. A neighbor is often thought to be someone who thinks like us, acts like us, and talks likes us. But that is not who are neighbors are or who Jesus defined our neighbors to be. In the culture we live, neighbors are becoming more different than ever and we need to learn to connect with them in a variety of ways. It is said in Luke 10, "Love God and love your neighbor." A recreation ministry/facility that is open to this command, will be a recreation ministry/facility that will be open to their neighbors. And that's third culture baby!