Where Jesus Goes to Worship.

by Reba Collins

They were just the kind of people Jesus liked to be with – a small group of men from the local homeless shelter.

Under Pastor Carrie Jena’s founding charge in 2008, this most unlikely bunch – much like Jesus’ disciples – became the founding members of The United Methodist Gathering in Middletown, Ohio. And why not? They had so much to gain and nothing to lose – a group God had picked to build his church in a decaying downtown.

Five years later, The Gathering’s permanent place sits in between two high rise buildings where former homeless men and women now live.  It’s an intimate urban environment, and word gets around. Now almost 120 men, women, and children are finding The Gathering to be their spiritual home as well.

Some come at the invitation of a neighbor. Others come for the recovery groups and Bible studies during the week. Most participate in a free community meal every Sunday after the second worship service. Everyone comes to experience the mercy, love, and compassion of Jesus Christ.  In each gathering throughout the week, Jesus is present in the love, care, and healing of The Gathering’s members.

Pastor Carrie’s flock literally lives on the edges, and they joyfully minister to their neighbors’ needs for physical, spiritual, and emotional healing – just like Jesus did. Each Sunday, they meet as did the men and women of the First Century described in Acts 2:42-44: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.

This contemporary community of Jesus followers gathers on Sundays in their “Temple” for pure worship. Not for the music, though it is good. Not for the fellowship, though it is abundant. Not for the comfort, though it always is offered. But, for the opportunity to praise a God who is fully present in their midst, and who shows up on a regular basis through miracles of transformation and restoration. On the Sunday I visited, Pastor Carrie told the group that, “Miracles are happening literally every day in the lives of the people here.”

They worship as Jesus did – trusting and believing in the promises of God.The Gathering community also soaks in the Scripture. Between two services every Sunday, The Gathering does a community Bible study on the day’s sermon passages. God’s word is examined, explained, held up as a standard for Christ followers, and prayed through. The mind, body, and soul absorb the living God. Jesus’ prayer for all his disciples to be one in him as he was in the Father* is answered at The Gathering.

During the week, The Gathering dispenses God’s grace and love through recovery groups, Bible studies, a community garden in the downtown “food desert,” and one-on-one counseling. More than common beliefs, common conditions and uncommon love draw people into the presence of Jesus at The Gathering.

The Gathering’s vision is to be a group of people who are partnering with God for the purpose of: Changing Lives, Healing the Community, Building the Kingdom of God One Precious Life at a Time. Isn’t that how Jesus spent his time on Earth? That, too, is how The Gathering has chosen to carry on his work in their community!

Jesus spends a great deal of time with this faith community, feeding the poor, healing the broken, telling of a better way of life through Him, and empowering them to go and make more disciples. How do I know? I was with Him there.

______________________________________________

*(John 17:20-21, NIV)

The United Methodist Gathering’s compelling story is told brilliantly in a 7-minute video on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeBO5AkvokM).

For more information on The Gathering, check out their Website and Facebook page: http://umgathering.org/