The signs of the times...
My wife and I have raised our kids in the domestic mission field while Lisa carried them in her womb. They grew up cross-culturally sharing Jesus’ message of love and redemption in projects, on the streets, in trailer parks, and the suburbs.
I have been in countries with road pirates and radical Muslim terrorists. My friends have been jailed and tortured for spreading the Gospel. Some have had churches burned down, wives assaulted, guns to their heads... yet they never sought retaliation. I went to seminary with may students who lived in the lands you pray for along with Voices of The Martyrs. They came from Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya, The Middle East and many other hostile and closed nations. They taught and formed me on how to live as “peculiar people”
They were witness to the Gospel, as are we. The Greek word for “witness” is μάρτυρας (mártyras). Christians are called to live the life of Jesus so that the world will see our oounter-cultral life.
To that end, as churches more and more turn to armed church members fearing attacks, we follow the historical evidence of the Christian Church and God’s Word that tells us to turn cheeks and not live by the sword, to not fear those who can kill only the body but fear only him who can kill the soul.
As an “ancient Church”, our Holy Space is declared a gun-free zone. We honor and respect your right to carry, but not hear. You are welcome to join us, but please do not bring your side arm. Please respect our applied ethic of Scriptures command to not live by the sword. We understand and respect those who legally have carry permits. You are welcome to join us, but leave your weapon at home. God’s house is no place for a side arm. We are, and have been a safe-haven on the street for almost 10 years. As a friend taught me, we are the “redeemed community”, a “pocket of Peace” in the midst of a hurting and broken world.
Pray for our nation. Never in my life would I have imagined that we would have to issue notices on weapons in church. God is our strength and our strong tower. The righteous run into him and we are safe.
Thank you,
Bryan, and the Street Church Board of Directors.