Soma Communities
Posted by Blake | Posted in Ministry | Posted on 20-09-2011
This video moves me in many ways. First of all, it’s beautifully filmed. It makes me think living in Tacoma, WA is desirable. Maybe it is. I don’t know. But the subject is Soma Communities in Tacoma.
But the subject of the video is beautiful as well. It moves me. Now this sort of missional community really IS desirable. Sure, it takes effort and intention and vulnerability. But hearing about it. Watching it. Something deep within me resonates with it as well. Is it just me?
Take a watch and then answer me two questions:
1. Would you be willing to engage life with others in this sort of community?
2. What would be your biggest hesitations about being a part of a missional community like Soma?
Wow-this really moved me. This is what we attempt in our lifegroups, but are never able to achieve for many reasons. The scariest thing about this, for me, from experience, is that life isn't a beautifully shot film. The scenes in that looked picture perfect, but I know that people's lives are messy, and some people's lack of boundaries can be uncomfortable and overwhelming. Also, a church community has a hard time functioning like this because not everyone is devoted to doing this 100%. It seems like you'd have to be "all the way in" in order to be a part of a community like this. So-I love this, yet I am pessimistic that it can happen. I have experienced this in many small ways at our church though, and even though it's messy sometimes, it is a beautiful thing. God changes lives through relationships. We are called to be brave enough to jump in.
Great points, Jenn. I'm not calling Tacoma ugly or anything, but this video made me want to visit there soon. And I know as well that life isn't as perfect and clean as this video made it out to be. I don't think "perfection" was the image they meant to portray, but I see what you mean.
And, yes, these guys are "all in". And it can happen and does happen. But I think these sorts of communities actually start there rather than a church decides to place some friends and friends of friends in a home together, shake them all up and perfect missional communities fall in place. It takes lots of intention, prayer, and buy in from all the people.
Good to hear from you. Hope yall are doing well.
Fog, rain & cold would prevent me from doing anything but briefly visiting that area.