Not everyone is supposed to start a nudist church. Some people are supposed to serve the textile world. Some are supposed to support the nudist pastors. And some are supposed to find their way in this world with a stiff upper lips and a frying pan sized dent in their forehead.
So, for the sake of argument, suppose all of us are ready to start a church. The first question you should be asking is where?
Where should I start this mission? The locations are numerous and the prospects of success are the same. If God wants you there, He will bless your ministry and the hard work you are about to begin will pay off. There are several points that make finding a good spot easier.
1. Is it close to home?
If you have to drive more than a few minutes to get to the mission field, you sill tire easily. There will be time when people are sick, dying, getting married, and needing to talk. Each time, you will have to travel in the area to meet these needs.
2. Is the management supportive?
If you can get the management to work with you, the battle is much easier. You will need a place to meet and most resorts have a club house. If you can use this space, you won't have to rent space. There will be not be any utilities, and the start up costs will be much lower.
3. Is there a need for your ministry?
Some places will not be open to the ministry. They won't want you to take part. This is the place God told us to shake the dust from our feet.
4. Can I make a difference in this location?
Finding a place in a community is important to your ministry. You have to be able to melt into the community and share their happiness, joy, and sorrow.
There are many other things that affect the decision as to where to locate, but these will help guide you into this process. For those wanting to take this task under their wings, let me suggest you spend a little time in Acts and Timothy and read about elders, bishops, and deacons. Know what you need to do and what your helpers need to do.
Ok, everyone have a location?
Claim them now.
I ask those of you who have people looking for a way to serve in one of these churches, but is not the person to lead, to pray and search out that leader.
From tracking this in google hits, I know we have about 75 people who read this blog. Of those, I suppose most have some resort or park they attend. If they do not, there may be one near them.
I figure every one of those 75 people have friends; let's say three, who are nudists at some other location. That means we have about 225 people who can suggest a location that coupld use a chapel and the fellowship that goes with it.
Let's see if we can come up with at least 5 valid locations where we can start to plan a church in their midst.
Now, for this to work, each person MUST respond with a comment to this blog. So, invite your friends. Research and find those locations. Make a joyful noise while you are doing it.
Or should I just sit down and shut up?
Till then.
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3 comments:
Hmmm...I propose that in addition to the straight up nudist church and textile that there is a felt need for a bridge between the two. A textile church in proximity to the nudist resort that is welcoming or at least not rejecting of the nudist and that acknowledges that the nudist resort is in their "Jerusalem". Ministry and small groups may then occur within both communities and understanding may increase. This may well be the most difficult but with God all things are possible.
There is one we are looking at, but the site itself will not allow a church there.
So how do we go about this?
Simple, start a clothed church within a mile or so of the resort and invite the resort members to that church. With enough resort members coming, you will have a clothed church that has a much higher tolerance of social nudism than otherwise.
Please pray for our CNC team on that effort. We found a church that was closed recently due to a lack of membership, and we may find a way to use it under the same name and denomination, but with a nudist friendly pastor.
Since this is still under investigation and research, we cannot name the pastor, church or location.
But God knows. Please ask God for help and a blessing towards this ministry.
Boyd
John, I agree there needs to be ties between the textile and nudist Christian worlds, but the focus here is on the nudist community. I have tried for twenty years to get the textile world to acknowledge the need for ministry in the nudist community. They refuse. Now, it is time for us to set up the ministry in the community ourselves.
The point is simple. We do not need the textile world to build a work in the nudist community. What we need is willing people to start working in the nudist world.
And I know I am speaking at the choir.
The salvation of the nudist world is in our hands, not the textiles, just as the salvation of Africa is in the hands of the Africans. Sure, they have missionaries and such, but the work is done by the people of the communities.
Boyd,
Wouldn't it be easier to let God convince the resort to open up to a bible study? Learning to work inside of a community is more important than locating near a community.
Pour yourself into that community and become so important that they can't bare to loose you and they will beg for a bible study in the resort.
Remember, you first have to establish yourself before you can minister to them. It's like feeding them first. They will learn better on a full stomach.
Great thoughts, guys. Now, we are getting some discussion.
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