Posted on 2/14/2012 by Greg Ligon in the Learnings Blog Multi-Site Blog
It is always a joy to share the success of great Christian leaders! As is the case with Jorge Acevedo, Lead Pastor of Grace Church, a multisite in Cape Coral/Ft. Myers, FL area, and Alumni of Leadership Network’s Recovery Church Leadership Community. The story of Grace Church was most recently highlighted in Bridges to Grace, part of the Leadership Network Innovation Series.
As one of the largest recovery ministries in American, Jorge and the staff of Grace Church wanted to reach out to other ministries who sought to empower the poor and marginalized. “Grace In Action Weekends” were developed “for pastors, staff and leaders who desire to see and learn about developing a transformational ministry culture in the local church.” A three-day event, “Grace In Action Weekends” enables teams to experience and learn about the vision and strategy of Grace Church. There is much focus on recovery (Celebrate Recovery) and compassion outreach (Third Saturday Outreach), with attendees witnessing and participating in each of the recovery programs. How better to understand the gravity of the impact of a recovery and compassion ministry then to worship and walk side-by-side with the people it reaches weekly. The next “Grace In Action Weekend” is scheduled for April 20-22, 2012.
For additional information, visit their website.
By Greg Ligon
Comments
Thanks so much for your insights, Jimi Sue. I cotmlepely agree that we can’t totally duplicate God’s grace as mere humans, but I don’t think that should keep us from trying. My point and I believe Christ’s point is that we as the Church are to show grace to those who make terrible mistakes and return to Jesus with a heart of repentance. We are not to have a heart that looks down on the sinner, or a heart that secretly despises those whom God has restored. Christ’s heart was one that prioritized restoring the repentant sinner over protecting the religious masses against sin. He saw the individual as more important than the institution. He left the ninety-nine to go after the one. I agree with you that most people in the church don’t necessarily want to make people feel rejected or unloved, but I know that many isolate the sinner in their attempts to make sure sin isn’t tolerated. The question is whether or not our priorities are Christ’s priorities.I also agree with you that dealing with certain sins CAN be difficult in particular those sins that become addictions. Chemical dependence and other addictions are no longer a matter of simply choosing to repent. There is more at work (physiologically, psychologically, emotionally, etc.) that must be dealt with before even restoration as a person can take place. Leaving the pigsty becomes more difficult when you’re chained in. Here’s what I know: No matter what you have been through as parents, your deep love for your kids remains. Your decision to not continue to enable them was made because of that love, because you felt that was the best way to show favor to your sons. If you had the assurance that taking them in again would be the best way to help them Would you do it? I believe you would. And, that’s the heart of Christ.Believe me, Jimi Sue, I am humbled by and thankful for EVERYTHING Jesus is teaching me through my own failures. That’s why I’m writing. I’m still a part of the Church, and I’m putting it on myself, not others. My role has been that of the older brother more often than not. That’s why I shared my thoughts about Luke 15. It’s interesting how much you learn when you become the prodigal.Thanks, again. I love the discussion!