I want to live in a place of heart-felt community

Daily writing promptIf you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?View all responses

I want to live in a place of heart-felt community where people caring deeply about each other is more important than people comparing themselves with each other and competing with one another. Those kinds of places are hard to find, but they do exist and can be created. For me those types of places are far more important than my geographical location.

The first time I found a place like that was at the University of Tennessee Martin. There I encountered a group of Jesus Freaks who were connected heart-to-heart with one another and with Jesus Christ. The time I spent there was amazing and life-transforming. Many decades later Jesus and those Christ-followers still have my heart. A group of us just had a beautiful, Spirit-led reunion a few days ago.

Ever since I left college, I’ve searched for and found (or helped create) places of Spirit-led community. I’ve never been contented with nominal, institutionalized Christianity when God has so much more for us than Sunday songs and a one-man sermon.

I love to tell the stories of the places I’ve connected heart-to-heart with Jesus and with people. I have two books about them: Beyond Church Ekklesia and The Joy Of Early Christianity. They can help guide you to my favorite places in the world.