tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post6931882628031264292..comments2024-01-07T04:57:21.347-07:00Comments on Pithless Thoughts: The Whole Story of St. John's Church in One PlaceSteve Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04319784922747041297noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-18731412009516508802010-11-22T14:19:03.553-07:002010-11-22T14:19:03.553-07:00Thanks Jamey. Unfortunately the owner sold the pro...Thanks Jamey. Unfortunately the owner sold the property to Quik Trip, we had to move out and it looks like the Church will get bulldozed Jan 1, 2011. We had hoped to be there for 4-5 years and possibly buy the property but oh well. God works in mysterious ways as they say.Steve Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04319784922747041297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-41901939184457038822010-11-22T13:55:23.963-07:002010-11-22T13:55:23.963-07:00This is wonderful! I only wish I had seen this pag...This is wonderful! I only wish I had seen this page before I visited. What wonderful work you guys have done!justjameyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08601375072882363595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-62684563659514789142009-05-03T19:32:00.000-07:002009-05-03T19:32:00.000-07:00Juvenaly, Looking forward to having you join us. K...Juvenaly, Looking forward to having you join us. Keep us posted!Steve Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04319784922747041297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-81503219039673837522009-05-02T22:47:00.000-07:002009-05-02T22:47:00.000-07:00Thank you for this. I have been keeping track of y...Thank you for this. I have been keeping track of your little mission for some time now. We have spent the last 2 yrs in Fresno, CA and it looks like we will be heading out your way within a year. It has been a great journey for you all and I am glad that I could witness this, as it has given me strength in times of adversity. I plan on emailing Fr. Damian in a day or two and I will keep coming back to see how things progress. Looking forward to moving day when we can relocate back "home" to AZ and become a part of this little community. Glory to God for all things!Juvenaly Martinkahttp://www.martinka-family.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-1272823246480937112009-04-22T22:59:00.000-07:002009-04-22T22:59:00.000-07:00When we were looking at buying property in our are...When we were looking at buying property in our area for a Mission, we were about to "bite" on a small house, with about 800 square feet, and 800 down.<br /> But, right before we comitted, The city called and told us there was a commercial property available. It had 2500 square feet on one level, and a vacant lot next to it. The owner offered it to us at a set price, and it appraised $16,000 higher.<br /> It has been a blessing. We opened it a year ago, and a few months a go we hadn't "grown" at all. Since Pascha, we have one Inquirer, soon to be catachumen, driving in from over 2 hrs away. One young Orthodox lady moving to a small town just north of us in June. Another Orthodox lady and her child, perhaps moving here to be a Teacher. And another Inquirer moving in from Buffalo NY. And I almost forgot about our on again off agin catechumen, who has seemed to make a firm commitment, and perhaps will be baptized in June.<br /> I can tell you, without a doubt, that we have done hardly anything to encourage such growth. And it has come all so unexpectadly. Praise God!<br /> I'Rangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15025551431965418126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-65822165185657269622009-04-22T07:45:00.000-07:002009-04-22T07:45:00.000-07:00Thanks. Growth can be a wrong focus, and a corrupt...Thanks. Growth can be a wrong focus, and a corrupting motivator. But it is also part of the story, and - where there is health - a real result of worship.<br /><br />I like your emphasis on hospitality as evangelism.Bill Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-2821280884935129692009-04-22T07:18:00.000-07:002009-04-22T07:18:00.000-07:00Hi Bill M, LOL! Yeah, the Mission has been keeping...Hi Bill M, LOL! Yeah, the Mission has been keeping us busy lately. Being on Parish Council and being Subdeacon and Reader (husband, father, employed, etc.) its a lot of stuff to attend to in only 24 hours sometimes. I love Mission work, its all I've known since becoming Orthodox (this is the 4th Mission I've been involved with establishing). Its not for everyone, but I think I'd go crazy in a large established parish. Anyway, growth is a real issue, HOW you grow is a real issue too, not to be taken lightly. If I recall, I don't think we had any real inquirers or baptisms until well into our second year. We baptized about 5-6 the next year and we've had 12 baptisms since Theophany. Several of those this time were people who live in northern Arizona who commuted for catechism and services etc. We probably have 20 active "family units" now. A couple years ago we lost almost half our congregation with people moving due to family, school and work and were virtually back to square one. We don't advertise, we don't door knock, we have a website and a Yellow Pages listing and we have people find us. One recent convert heard Bill and I on our local radio program 6 years ago in the parking lot of Target and finally decided to visit an Orthodox Church. So, you never know what seed is planted and how long it takes to sprout. Some visitors stick and some don't for various reasons. Some people were really turned off by the "slum store front", and some hung in with us because they liked the people. As Fr. Peter Gillquist says, "There are pioneers who blaze the trails and there are settlers who come after the town in built." Neither is more "holy" than the other, just different talents. So far our involvement in the community has been through the Christian Resource Center and various charitable activities. Now that we are close to ASU we'll probably do some OCF related work and possibly some advertising and activities on campus next fall. My personal take on evangelism is it happens as we live and if we are faithful in the small things, as Acts 2 says "The Lord added..." Programs can work, but personally I'm not a big fan. After ten years and a couple dozen "converts" I've found hospitality is the best "program"...just invite people into your home and life and genuinely fall in love with them.Steve Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04319784922747041297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-77478962826203529322009-04-22T06:14:00.000-07:002009-04-22T06:14:00.000-07:00So... what, you and Bill have been too busy to do ...So... what, you and Bill have been too busy to do a new "Our Life in Christ" program? :)<br /><br />It's been fun to watch the process from afar. I confess to some envy that I'm not able to be a part of something like that here. But who knows, perhaps our time will come some day.<br /><br />Not trying to be all "Church-Growth" on you with this, but I'm curious about how many are now in your church. What has your growth experience been like over four years?<br /><br />May you and the St. John church enjoy many years of blessing in that place!Bill Mnoreply@blogger.com