Wild Goose Chase - part 1

I thought I would do a lot of reading on my sabbatical.  And although I have read several books over the last eight weeks - it isn't as many as I expected.  But this morning I finished a book called "Wild Goose Chase" by Mark Batterson.  I've followed Mark's ministry for a couple of years.  I had heard about him starting a church in Washington DC (not the suburbs, but inside the beltway).  DC is my favorite city - so I took even more interest.  I have heard that land can cost $1,000,000 per acre inside the DC beltway - so planting a church creates unique challenges.  So National Community Church decided to not build a building, but instead to become an early adapter of the multi-site movement.  They now meet in four locations (3 inside the beltway). One is in Union Station (a place I love). They meet inside the movie theater at Union Station. Another is in Georgetown (known as a place "where church plants go to die").

You can read the history of the church here (if interested).  But in 2004 they took a very different approach and built a coffee house not far from Union Station (it opened in 2006).  So in the fall of 2006, when Sue and I were driving through DC on the way to the Outer Banks, we decided to stop and see two churches that I have come to admire.  First, we stopped at Capital Hill Bapitst Church, which is pastored by Mark Dever. I truly appreciate Mark and Capital Hill.  I love his bilblical insights and his love for the Gospel!  It is a very old, traditional building on Capital Hill.  Later in the day, we walked to Ebenezers Coffee House - built by National Community Church.  We bought coffee and talked to one of the workers about National Community Church for a while. They have a meeting room downstairs used for church services and all the profits of the coffee house go to outreach in the community.  I LOVE that!!

I love Mark Batterson's thinking about loving people and introducing them to Jesus Christ.  He challenges my thinking constantly. I haven't recommended a lot of books via my blog, but this one is worth recommending.  You can buy it at any website (although I like amazon.com for the free shipping with a $25 purchase)... 

Tomorrow I plan to write just a little bit about the book...  You could also look at a website based on the book.

Comments

[Terri Mackmer]

You are the second person to recommend this book so I might have to add it to my books to read list. Hey can you tour Phoenix for your next church recommendations (ha ha-only half kidding). We have found at least 3 really good ones. I was hoping it would be a no brainer but the cool thing is that God is speaking to us at each place we go. I think we're starting out at one called North Phoenix Baptist church. Turns out presidential candidate John McCain attends sometimes. I remember back a few years ago you had suggested a few ways to keep from being distracted during worship and I had to incorporate the closed eye singing to avoid my mind/eyes focusing on the 'celebrity' and all his secret service entourage strategically placed in the worship service. Hope your sabbatical is going well! I am glad I can keep up with North on your blog!