St John

Today and tomorrow I will be in the choir, singing Bach’s Passion of St John with Aarhus Symphony Orchestra. The music is wonderful and rehearsals have gone well – with the very inspiring Paul Goodwin conducting – so I believe we are in for something special. Tonight’s concert is in the new Symphonic Hall of the recently expanded Concert Hall Aarhus. Tomorrow is in the gorgeous 12^th century Aarhus Cathedral.

I love these experiences. During my time in the Jutland Academic Choir I have had the privilege of singing with the symphony on numerous occasions, including the Passion of St Matthew (Bach) Christmas Oratorio (Bach), Dream of Gerontius (Elgar), Requiem (Hindemith) and The Creation (Haydn). It is extraordinary to be a part of music performances on this level, and I look forward to adding another memory to the list tonight.

Don’t Look Back

One of the queerer Bible stories is that of the destruction of Sodom and flight of Lot and his family. They were told to leave behind that city of evil and venture forth in faith. Only, Lot’s wife lingered back – the text reads: “But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26) This text is often used in sermon-making for convincing people to move forward, trusting God. As such, it was influential in my decision to be baptised almost 10 years ago. It’s still a good point: don’t look back.

I will not look back on the things I now leave behind, questioning whether my old life was better. I will cherish the memories, sure, but not linger with pointless nostalgia. I will think fondly of my time in Aarhus (not in the least comparable to Sodom), the people I have met here, the many many good experiences, and the church I have helped build during my 9 years in Denmark’s 2^nd largest city. But I will look forward, not back.

I will look forward to leaving my home country, travelling to Sydney in the middle of May. I will look forward to calling Australia home for at least the remainder of 2008. I will look forward to meeting old and new friends in Sydney and elsewhere, introducing them to Katrine, experiencing everyday life down under, and to living with my parents again for the first time since 1997. I will look forward to eventually living in Copenhagen when we return to Denmark sometime in 2009. I will look forward to not knowing exactly what the future brings but hoping for grand experiences and new challenges in the months and years to come.

How to Keep a Church Alive

Last weekend, Århus Café Church was away together on a spiritual retreat for the first—but definitely not last—time in our history as a church. We had lots of fun, enjoyed good music, prayer, inspiring teaching, and just hanging out together.

Regina and Juris Rekis—good friends, and founders of the church plant “Korinta” in Riga—provided awesome inspiration and challenged the group to go out and do something for God and make a difference for Århus. The reaction is overwhelming; a great number of people have indicated willingness to be more committed, and lots of good ideas have surfaced. So the big question now is: how do we as leaders keep this flame burning?

The obvious answer—which a friend gave me today—is that it’s not our responsibility, but God’s. As leaders we are called to do the tasks we are charged with. But so is everybody in the church. We are responsible to God, and committing ourselves to Him as leaders should be our foremost priority.

Even so, it can seem daunting. In the parable of the talents, Jesus says: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21 NIV) I feel in some ways that God is telling us: “OK, well done so far. Now let’s go to the next level.” Which is going to be fun, but challenging.

Church growth comes from the grass roots, and we have a strong and committed core of people with a passion for turning Århus Café Church into something really big. Our job as leaders will be not to stifle that passion; but to facilitate initiative, ministry, responsibility, and growth in every member. And to inspire them to continue to grow as disciples.

A great responsibility, indeed, if it were ours alone. Fortunately, it is not we as leaders who create growth, but the Holy Spirit. Paul writes: “I planted the seed. Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7 NIV)

In or Out

Århus Café Church has been growing steadily since our beginnings 6-7 years ago. People I meet often ask me how the church is going, and I tell them my version of the story: things are going GREAT; we’ve just had our first baptism, we finally have an employed ‘pastor’ who I’m sure will be the perfect match, people are committed, and attendance is still growing. But then comes another question: how many of these people are “from the outside”? And I usually cringe at the question. For even though it is asked by supporters and critics alike, it unsubtly reveals an understanding that if we don’t attract the really lost (the heathens, if you will), then what is the point? This is missing the point.

Of course we want to grow as a church and help people everywhere to meet Jesus and experience his love. People who have never done so deserve the chance. And we do, in fact, work with a target group, as most (smaller, at least) churches should. I’m not talking about proselytizing, either – that was the way of a now bygone era.

The point is that defining Christians, or any people, as “in or out” is flawed, at best, or downright rude. Whether you have a previous Christian connection is not necessarily the deciding factor in your journey with Jesus right now. Sowing the seeds and harvesting was never reserved for the same person or church. People are meeting God in Århus Café Church. They may have Christian parents, or they may not. We don’t ask. We just try to be a force of good in this city and lead people to become followers of Christ.

Doing church should not be about counting sheep – even less about discerning between black and white sheep.

The Kingdom of God is Like a Jazz Band

Last night, I went to hear Klüver’s Big Band and Cecilie Norby, performing as part of Aarhus International Jazz Festival. The concert was awesome, as I’m sure the live recording will be.

On my way back, I came to wonder if the image of jazz music could be applied to how church should be.

A feature that is more prominent in jazz than in most other genres is the celebration of the improvised solo. Isn’t this selfish, some might rightfully ask? No, I don’t believe it is. No jazz musician can do without a band, and however great the solo or the soloist, it is always best if backed by a strong band. Also, every soloist knows his place; in a jam-session it is perceived as rude if anybody abuses his position or not stands down in due time. When he does finish his solo, applause follows, and it’s time for the next solo, or back to full band.

With talented musicians, this amounts to great jazz in the art of improvisation. Knowing your place in the band, playing your solos, playing up to the other’s solos, and all the time being more interested in the end result than your own position. It’s all about making music and having a good time.

I love classical music, too, but I think I envision a church that is more like a jazz band than a choir. A church that allows for improvisation, for many different soloists, and for being happy about each others’ achievements. A church that comes together for jam session because they are passionate about the end result—living for God. And last, but not least, a church that has a good time doing it.

Casting Crowns

One of the hottest names in praise music these days is Casting Crowns, from Atlanta, GA. Tonight, they visited Århus, and I had the privilege of bringing one of my best friends to a wonderful “concert”.

And I put concert in quotation marks, for seldom do you experience prayer and preaching from the big stage at Århus Music Hall. Seldom do people give their lives to Jesus in that spot, which is the city’s main venue for classical music and entertainment (which means that I have now performed in the same venue as CC . But this happened tonight, and I’m guessing also the night before – the concert was an extra, since the first one sold out in almost no time.

Not to say that the music wasn’t great. Casting Crowns are known for hits such as Lifesong and Who Am I, the latter played in an acoustic version that gave the audience ample opportunity to hear each other. Their music is mostly hard rock, with resemblances to Third Day and Nickelback (both personal favorites). Tonight’s set was wonderfully played; I love the feeling of being surrounded by music (this requires a volume that my neighbors usually wouldn’t appreciate). The heavy-rock, up-tempo rendering of Hillsong classic My Redeemer Lives was interesting in a good way, but for me especially “Praise You In This Storm” from Casting Crown’s self-titled first album was chilling.

What really tied the night together, though, were the heart-felt comments by band leader (and youth pastor) Mark Hall. There are no rock stars, he said, we’re here to praise Jesus. And amazingly, I believe the humility is honest. Casting Crowns are an awesome band, but they also came to Århus with a purpose – and delivered.

Vibrant Aarhus

I am proud of my city.

Aarhus (Århus) is Denmark’s second largest city, but small-ish at just below 300,000 people. That doesn’t seem to limit us, though, even if it may have in the past.

This week, plans were unveiled for the development of the old harbour area. During the next couple of years a new neighbourhood will rise – literally – on the water, close to the old centre. The centrepiece will be Denmark’s tallest building at 142 metres, all designed by development consortium Keops Light House. It would be awesome to live there.

Aarhus has many strengths; one of its greatest is its world-class university, and especially the growing IT City of Katrinebjerg, with its very own Google R&D. Incidentally, this campus is where I do my studying.

You could also mention the thriving cultural scene, abundance of both classical and rhythmical music, and Aarhus Café Church

Bot most importantly, it’s just a great place to live.

Århus Café Church: A Company of Believers

Yesterday was a big milestone for our church plant. The story so far.

A day of new beginnings

At some point in the latter part of 2000 a handful of young Adventists in Århus began meeting every Sabbath afternoon to pray, sing, study, and talk together. Little did we know at that stage what it would eventually become.

Our weekly gatherings continued, but over the following years a vision evolved of planting a new church for postmoderns in Århus. Inspired greatly especially by seminars with Peter Roennfeldt and by the Café Church in Copenhagen, and in accord with the vision of the church in Denmark, the committed members (a coalition of the willing) formed a core group. After 18 months of prayer, study, discussion, and hard work, this group had established the vision and fundamental strategy for the church we felt a calling to build. Based on the documents resulting from this work, the project was launched in 2003 as Århus Café Church.

Leadership

We had bought new furniture and turned the room we were meeting in into a café. Our weekly meetings were not just meetings anymore but actual church services. Our music team evolved. Small groups were formed. And from the onset the leadership of this aspiring church did their best to prayerfully stay focused on the vision.

None of us were employed. Which is why we were very grateful for a large gift from an unknown donor which opened the door for many of us to receive valuable leadership training. Our structure is somewhat ‘flat’ and democratic, and at no time has the project rested solely on one person’s shoulders. We see this as a strength; every person is useful, but no one is irreplaceable, and all of our work takes place in teams.

Any church planting project will meet its share of challenges. We have had several discussions with the mother church with which we still share a building. Sometimes fruitful, sometimes excruciating. Fortunately our relations are better now than they have been, and the backing of the Union has been an important source of support.

Where it got us

Currently weekly attendance ranges between 20 and 40 people, and a lot of these are committed to bringing the Gospel to Århus and showing the world the love of Jesus. Small groups, worship nights, public discussions, homeless project, are just some of the things going on. We are trying out a new leadership structure which will hopefully give us more time to focus on spiritual leadership.

Recognition

And now, it is with great joy that we can call ourselves a Company of Believers, organized under the Danish Union of Churches. At the church service yesterday, church planting coordinator Thomas Müller and president Ole Kendel conducted the formal recognition of Århus Café Church with 15 founding members.

The status as Company of Believers is the stepping stone to be a formally integrated church in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The road ahead

At this occasion, yours truly received ordination as elder in this newly formed group. This is a humbling responsibility, for who am I to do the work of the almighty God? A great task still lies ahead of us. But the recognition from the Seventh-day Adventist Church – as a group, and for me personally – confirms that we are on the right track. That what we are doing is God’s vision for this city. I pray that we will continue to grow under His guidance.

www.aarhuscafekirke.dk (in Danish)

The Da Vinci Code Revealed

The hype about Dan Brown has somewhat diminished since the movie of his novel turned about to be a disaster. The sometimes vehement opposition from certain religious groups has, fortunately, ceded somewhat. In a post little over a year ago I argued that the big fuss is misplaced, since the book is fiction – nothing more, nothing less.

The debate is not dead, though. And some of the questions that the book posed may be valid and interesting. Starting tomorrow, my church, Århus Café Church, will do a series of talks about the book and the theories related to it (as Tvesok has also mentioned). Questions such as the validity of the Bible, the nature of Jesus, and Christianity itself will be the basis for four evenings with a presentation by Lars Dorland and rich opportunity for debate.

It will be interesting to see how many people show up. And hopefully also interesting to listen to the discussions. If you live in Århus, feel free to drop by.

Good Riddance

I moved recently, and although my new flat is a little bit smaller than my old, I have been very happy with my decision. For several reasons: It’s cheaper. It’s a nicer neighbourhood (previously I lived next to Gellerup one of the few real ghettos in Denmark). It’s walking distance to several friends, to church, to the uni.

Add to that another reason: Apparently my old building is now in such a bad shape that they’re considering tearing it down. When it was built in the 60’s they used salt in the concrete, which is now tarred with rust. Experts assure us there’s no danger it will fall by itself, but fixing it would cost almost as much as razing it and building a new one.

I have many good memories from that place, but all things must come to an end. Time to look forward, not back.