It takes
awhile sometimes to get settled in to a house.
For a while it seemed like everyday we found something new, something
that needed repaired, something that was different or quirky or weird. First it was the lack of furnace and the use
of only electric heaters that was surprising.
We had never heated this way so we promptly removed those old heaters
and installed a gas furnace. Then it was
a dripping sound from the tub, then the need for more space, the slightly damp
foundation, the missing window, the odd gardens, the rusted mailbox whose door
decided to fall clean off. After a while
you become numb to the constant drip, the ever present need for the next repair
becomes your focus and as you hurry and scrape to ‘do’ and ‘improve’ and ‘fix’ you
lose sight of what is really important.
A home isn’t four walls and a faucet that is shiny and new, or a new
dishwasher, or a hardwood floors – a home is the people who live with you, who
you share your space with, who you commune with daily, this is what makes a
home special.
As I
think about this, I find it very easy to draw some parallels to our co-op. A lot has changed at co-op since
last year. The building is different,
the space we share is different and as such some of the rules of that space are
different – but the mission – the heart of who we are – that has not
changed. Co-op might have a different look,
a different feel, but the goals are the same.
As a
member, as you start to get involved, what does that look like? Some have said “this doesn’t look like other
co-ops” and they are correct, we don’t look like other co-ops, we have even
been accused of being a private school at one point (we aren’t). We don’t look like other co-ops, but we do
look like what this co-op is supposed to look like. For those who might say ‘you have changed’
again, I must agree, yes, we have changed and those changes from year to year
have been according to God’s blessings for our group, each year we have grown
God has ultimately provided for that growth both within our co-op with
leadership and financially. But all this
isn’t the purpose of co-op – a larger building does not a community make – so what
is our mission and purpose here – what makes us different, unique, called and
blessed?
Our
mission statement reads “We are a home school community of students and families who desire to glorify God by
uplifting, encouraging, equipping and supporting home educating families to
disciple young men and women of character, influencing the world for Jesus
Christ.”
There really are 3 parts to this
statement
1 – “We
are a homeschool community of
students and families who desire to glorify
God …”- Community, commune, communion, all from
the same root comun which
means “to make common, shared by all”
And this outlines our first and most important mission. We want families to have comun – communion with God, and community with each other. While we are not a church, as a body of
believers, we are the Church, and as such our highest calling is to encourage
people to connect with, to commune with, God and ultimately to experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
A very close second to that is our desire that they connect with and
have community with each other.
2 – “…by uplifting, encouraging, equipping and supporting
home educating families to disciple
young men and women of character…” – “Disciples
comes from the words dicipul
and discern. A dicipul
– in English a disciple – is a pupil, a student, or a follower and to discern
means to learn, to grasp intellectually, to take hold of. We desire our members to ‘take hold of’ the education of their students (disciples). Many home educating families would refer to
homeschooling as their “calling” and they desire for their students to discover
their callings, gifts and purpose in life. This process of discipleship is what
co-op is here to uplift, encourage, equip and support!
3 – “…influencing the world
for Jesus Christ.” - This might seem like a vague statement, how
does one influence the world? Influence comes from the Latin influere which means “to flow
into, stream in, pour in” a secondary
meaning of this word is “having the capacity for producing effects by insensible
or invisible means” We desire that our families
“pour in” their lives in a way that will produce results by “insensible or
invisible means” That our steaming into
each other – our service to each other – and our streaming into the world – our
integration into our local communities (be it work, or friendships, or other
co-op groups, or neighborhoods) would produce a wonderful, albeit at times
bewilderingly beautiful effect through the (invisible) power of Jesus Christ lived
out in our lives. And that this pouring in and outpouring of ourselves would
result in a continual cycle which builds up the body of Christ.
The purpose of co-op, the root of who we are, does not change with
a building. We aren’t better because we have a bigger space! Our focus must
remain creating community, supporting discipleship and an outpouring of
ourselves.
As with any group there are certain things
that members should expect. We think these are
offering a safe (physically, emotionally, spiritually) place for connections, offering tools to help families discover your giftings and purpose, and offering support for families and students.
As a
community we expect that our members will participate in the three areas we
have outlined. It is our goal that they
will understand is not a tiered program where one must complete one level to move on to the next. For example:
· everyone enjoys a
community
· only some enjoy
community and discipleship
· still fewer
participate in community, discipleship and outpouring
Rather our members should understand
that ALL THREE are experienced together, and that this can become a cycle, a
habit of living every day that will empower parents and students to achieve
their very best, discover their potential, to discern both spiritual and
physical gifts, and to encourage a healthy participation and expectations of
our group.
This way of living, this continual community, communion, this continual discipleship, this continual outpouring of self - this isn't just for Sunday, or for co-op day, or for any day in particular, but it is instead the best, blessed way to live. It is living worship, this outpouring. It is the attitude that says "He must become greater and I must become less" that allows us to be emptied and filled, refilled, and filled again with the good and pure communion that comes from the Lord. It is this communion that makes me long for home, not four walls and dirty laundry, and leaking sinks and busted dishwashers, but the people I share, I commune with, and the heavenly home we will someday join.
Blessings,
Amanda
