This segment from Servant Leaders, Servant Structures describes the contributions of two artisans who combined their separate skills into a work of art. The story re-awakened in me a deep desire to finally do something about finding out how I might make my online community skills/knowledge available to this church which has almost singlehandedely taught me of the depths of church.

Movable Theoblogical: SLSS Ch3: Expressions of Community Flavor

After visiting with Jim (my note:the pastor of The New Community Church, one of the sister communities of the Church of the Saviour), Greg had returned to the job where he and Nicoli (my note: a recently hired hand from Russia) were working and told him about the church and the new commission he had for an iron fence and gate that would tell the story of Zacchaeus. Although Nikoli spoke little English, had never read the Bible and knew nothing of Zacchaeus, he grasped immediately the importance of what Greg was telling him. …After Nicoli read the story of Zacchaeus, he and Greg planned the iron fencc and gate and Nicoli created the design that they would together put into iron and steel.

Jim found in Greg a ready and eager artisan. “I had always tried to tell myself, ” Greg said, “that bars are useful, that bars keep people and their possessions safe, but I could not put myself into my calling. Talking to Jim that day I knew I was going to be able to express myself and my love of God through my work, and that this was the meaning of ‘calling.”‘

Later, at the close of this chapter 3 section,

One art work seems to inspire another. Some days I think that in a future time visitors will come to the communities simply to look, and to hear by chance, or so they will believe, the story of the mission groups and their institutions.

Immediately, I feel a renewal of the urge I have felt many times. I feel drawn toward the idea of helping this wonderful community of
communties tell its story.

Just recently I read of how Ray McGovern, who WAS with Servant Leadership School, is now with a Publishing (Tell the Word) effort started by COS. This may be the mission that would be most closely related to my vision of getting their story online, and introducing them to the archival, journaling, and dialogue functionality of blogs and such, and things such as the bookgarden.org that I know they would love, since they are very much a people whgo love all kinds of books, and also love passionately discussing and envisioning with them.

It’s pretty incredible, what this church has done over the years. I feel that they could see their circle of influence spread if they were to avail themselves of the tools the Internet offers and “artisans” of that Internet who have sensed a CALL to render something out of those tools that could extend their reach, and also give them a way to share more of their journeys and learnings with one another.