My Unconventional Dream

Hi friend,

Today I want to share with you an unconventional dream…

Since high school, I’ve repeatedly sought an elusive destination.

How can we equip God’s people to embrace God’s mission in every part of their lives?

I’ve found many faithful paths that go in this direction. Local churches, parachurch ministries, and seminaries, to name a few.

While I’m involved in all of these, I’ve felt there might be new opportunities in today’s world.

For most of this year, I’ve prayed, studied, sought guidance, and allowed myself to imagine new possibilities.

So as I promised… here’s my dream:

Every month, tens of thousands of spiritually curious image-bearers ask Google the questions that are leading them to God — and find trustworthy answers in our online community.

They first feel relieved to see that others — just like them — have the same problems.

They are astonished that a global community is humbly willing to provide credible answers. Some create an account to ask new questions, experience belonging, and grow in their faith. 

Meanwhile, hundreds of disciples from many countries are intentionally pursuing life transformation together in the private member forums.

They encounter God as their First Love, enjoy the Scriptures, study apologetics, develop leadership capabilities, and are motivated to serve in their local communities. They share prayer requests and encourage one another.

A monthly international Bible study hosted on Zoom is full of worship, growth, and fun. Some gather into teams of digital missionaries to reach out to image bearers on Quora and in prayerfully selected subreddits of Reddit.com. 

As global participants provide feedback, the training curriculum is regularly revised. The ministry publishes the improved versions as small group curriculum, which members use to serve others locally. 

A few dozen participants have established themselves as qualified servant leaders. They model the destination of maturity in Christ, teach the Scriptures with wisdom, humbly mentor members, and even help moderate the discussions.

The prayerful, faithful leadership of the community ensures pastors trust the community.

A Spirit-filled fruitfulness permeates the culture of discussion. And every conversation honors the Lausanne Movement's Cape Town Commitment and the orthodox faith entrusted to us in the Nicene Creed. 

Though many parts of the internet are a toxic wasteland, the Uncommon Pursuit community shows a distinctive imagination, courage, and hopefulness for how God's people can redeem these tools for his glory.

For instance, the community is "read-only" and unavailable for new posts every weekend and major holidays. This practice gives rest to the community's leaders and sends participants to serve in their local communities.

We regularly plan to demonstrate the kingdom of God in our communities — and we celebrate when we see God at work.

High standards for participation, upheld by consistent moderation, inspire every member to challenge themselves to be respectful, truthful, and helpful with every post.

As brothers and sisters in Christ from many nations love God and one another, they steadily grow to maturity in Christ. We experience God's grace, embrace our identity in Christ, and align our lives with God's uncommon pursuit.

Prepared and encouraged, community members are a blessing to their church homes, families and friends, their work environments, neighborhoods, the poor, and those far from God. 

Here’s my question: is this your dream too?

C.S. Lewis spoke about friendship in The Four Loves. He said:

It is when two such persons discover one another, when, whether with immense difficulties and semi-articulate fumblings or with what would seem to us amazing and elliptical speed, they share their vision—it is then that Friendship is born. And instantly they stand together in an immense solitude…

All who share it will be our companions; but one or two or three who share something more will be our Friends. In this kind of love, as Emerson said, Do you love me? means Do you see the same truth?—Or at least, ‘Do you care about the same truth?’ The man who agrees with us that some question, little regarded by others, is of great importance, can be our Friend. He need not agree with us about the answer…

Friendship, I have said, is born at the moment when one man says to another ‘What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .’