The Southside Church was pleased to host Tod Vogt. Along with lots of German food and fellowship, Tod came to talk with our church about God’s mission in Milwaukee.
Like many urban centers, Milwaukee is a city of diverse people, with a great culture to enjoy and the challenges common to metropolitan areas. And like many Churches of Christ congregations, Southside Church has a wonderful legacy but faces questions about its future and continued participation in God’s mission. So Tod spent time unpacking the cultural circumstances confronting Christianity in the United States and where a congregation like ours begins with recommitted resolve to serve as witnesses of the gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God—in our community.
Like many Churches of Christ, the Southside Church has a life that is very building-centric and didactic. That is, many of our activities take place in our building, and we hope that visitors will come so that we can teach them the gospel. But we know that even though the gospel is proclaimed in both word and deed, Christianity in America has largely lost the capital to begin with words. We also know that most people don’t wake up in the morning with plans of “going to church.” So the challenge is to go out into the community and lead with deeds, tangible acts that serve the well-being of the community as a demonstration of God’s love.
However, we dare not go out relying on our own strength and ingenuity. Our continued participation in God’s mission must rely on the power of God’s Spirit as we follow Jesus Christ. So we begin by turning to God in prayer and scripture, discerning what he is asking us to do for the sake of his kingdom in Milwaukee.
-K. Rex Butts, Lead Minister of Southside Church of Christ