Dan Kimball

These are some of the notes I took when Dan Kimball spoke on the first day of the Conference. Great stuff!

My thoughts: I was not sure what I was going to hear. I don't know Dan and I haven't read any of his books yet, but after listening to him I believe Dan's heart is in the right place. He seems focused on the great commission more than most (i.e. - getting of out and modeling after Jesus the Pathological Wanderer). It is interesting that when missionaries go to other parts of the world and sub-merge themselves in a foreign culture - it is expected that they go and listen, learn and embrace the culture they are walking into before they preach the message of Jesus Christ. Why? Because they HAVE TO EARN THE TRUST of those they are trying to reach. Yet as Christians in America we don't hold ourselves to the same standard in our own country. Again why? I think it's because of our Judeo-Christian background. We think we know the culture and the truth is most don't. As a protestant evangelical it is easy to have a great deal of arrogance about "how" we reach non-Christians in our own backyard. We think they should come to us and that we don't need to sub-merge ourselves in the sub-cultures of our world around us. Instead we take the field of dreams approach (build it and they will come) when it comes to ministering to Non-Christians. The reality is the generations that are emerging are not being raised in the same world that we were raised in. If you don't believe me, then compare todays mainstream t.v., movies, magazines, tabloids, newspapers, towns, neighborhoods and schools to the ones 30 years ago.....case closed!

So Here are Dan's thoughts:

• John 10:10 and John 17:15
• There is a merging interest in Jesus in our culture. Evident by Things like THIS and THIS  and THIS or THIS website where you can Select a Jesus.
• There is a growing disinterest by non-Christian's in church and Christianity
• The historical Judeo-Christian culture is shrinking and an the emerging generations are being raised in a culture void of Christian values and truth.
• A lot of Christians have escaped to a Christian sub-culture bubble where they want to live their lives.
• For church leaders the majority of their week is spent preparing for the weekend services each week instead of spending time with people in their community.
• Non-Christians in there 20's and 30's think this about Christian churches (also in Dan's book: They like Jesus but not the church):

1. The church is an organized religion with a political agenda
2. The church is judgmental and negative
3. The church is dominated by males and oppresses females
4. The church is homophobic
5. The church arrogantly claims all other religions are wrong
6. The church is full of fundamentalists who take the whole Bible literally

WOW! Once I got past my initial defensiveness, this made a lot of sense. Again this is the opinions of non-Christians and as a Christian I can either live in denial about this or I can accept it and work to change their opinion.

• Non-Christians in there 20's and 30's wish church were like (also in Dan's book: They like Jesus but not the church):

1. I wish the church were not just a sermon or a lecture but a discussion.
2. I wish the church would respect my intelligence.
3. I wish the church weren't about the church building.
4. I wish church were less programmed and allowed time to think and pray.
5. I wish the church were a loving place.
6. I wish the church cared for the poor and for the environment
7. I wish the church taught more about Jesus

This is great insight to the mind of the non-believer. It is also humbling for any Christian who "thinks" they are viewed any differently. The people we are suppose to be caring for and teaching the good new of Jesus - actually want to hear more about Him!! "Market research" doesn't get much better than this!!  I am looking forward to reading Dan's books that I picked up at the conference. Great talk Dan! Thank you!