Oak Mountain and La Quemada in the news

Oak Mountain Church is part of a larger community of people seeking to bring the light of the gospel into a world darkened by drugs, gangs, prostitution and abject poverty. And one of the coolest parts? This is not simply a one-time event motivated by a particular populations appeasement of their "affluent guilt" complex. There are a group of passionate, long-term committed, relational, sold-out-for-the-sake-of-the-nations type of people who are down here on a regular basis meeting the needs, not of "poor, helpless people" but of individuals created in the image of God, fellow image bearers.

Check out local news coverage of one recent event here.

Loving Well

Scott and Alison Herron are friends that Susie and I got to know during our time in St. Louis. The Herron's currently live in Bentonville, Arkansas where Scott teaches high school. They have jobs, kids, responsibilities, in short, they have a full plate.

Not too long ago, Alison felt the Lord leading her to invite Marie, a young woman having a tough time, into their home and to provide her with stability, mentoring, friendship, a shoulder to cry on (and with). In short, Scott and Alison decided to love well.

This is a snapshot of the story from Marie's point of view.

Art House America

Begun by Andi Ashworth and Charlie Peacock in Nashville, TN, Art House America seeks to "cultivate creative community for the common good". The following quote from Charlie's article Creative Community for the Common Good sums up their vision fairly nicely.

Like a farm that nurtures good health, Art House America is in the business of cultivating creative people who bring good health to people and planet. Sometimes these creative people are artists in the most traditional sense — makers of music, theater, films, dance, paintings, and metalwork. You know the kind. With the word “art” in our name you know we take this seriously. Just as important, though, is our work of encouraging everyone, in everything, to live imaginative and meaningful lives. We really do believe that every human being is made to be a creative contributor, to play his or her role in the artful, meaningful life of caring for people and planet. We really do believe, along with C.S. Lewis, that the imagination is the “organ of meaning,” and that its fruit is creativity of every kind.

This is also similar to what many here at Oak Mountain Church have begun to see manifested within our local context with The REnaissance Project. It is encouraging to see a broader movement throughout the church at large towards such a movement where beauty and creativity are not only accepted, but purposefully developed and encouraged to flourish. May God continue to bring glory to himself through the continued expansion of such a movement.

The REnaissance Project part 4

part 1 A Transitional Movement
part 2 A Revival of Classical Influence
part 3 A Flowering of the Arts and Literature

So how will The Renaissance Project seek to practically carry out this vision?

II. Structural framework (borrowing from Redeemer PCA's Center for Faith and Work)

The REnaissance Project seeks to:

• Build communities of artists where they can know and be known by God and by one another (Seeking GRACE from God)

• Provide opportunities for artists to create in a safe, nurturing and grace-centered community, for the benefit of the church and the city of Birmingham
  (Sharing GRACE in community)

• Lead the community of faith at Oak Mountain Church to engage with the art and artistic communities in and around Birmingham
  (Showing GRACE to all)