#7: A Missional Community of "Being With"
The Next Sign of a Thriving Congregation
Today, we are unpacking the seventh sign of a thriving congregation with our friend and colleague, Jonathan “Pastah J” Brooks.
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Brooks is a lifelong resident of Chicago, IL and currently serves as Lead Pastor at Lawndale Christian Community Church and the Chief Inspiration Officer for Lawndale Christian Ministries which includes Lawndale Christian Health Center, Lawndale Christian Development Corporation and Lawndale Christian Legal Center.
Pastah J, as he is affectionately called, is a sought-after speaker, writer, artist, organizer and community developer. He has contributed to numerous blogs, articles and books and is the author of the book Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods, published by Intervarsity Press.
Jonathan has a Bachelor of Architecture from Tuskegee University, Master of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University, as well as a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Northern Seminary with an emphasis in Christian Community Development. He is married to Micheál Newman-Brooks, has two beautiful children, and lives in the North Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago.
Today’s post from Pastah J is the final post we have planned in this series for the time being. If you missed the previous posts, here’s where you can catch up:
The most recent post, from our team member Lisa Rodriguez-Watson:
And the introduction to the series (now updated with links to all seven signs):
With no further ado, here’s Pastah J:
Not everyone is ready for a savior. Maybe they just need a good neighbor?
While a church being present with its neighbors sounds simple, it may be one of the most countercultural and transformative commitments a church can make. In a world obsessed with efficiency, programs, and measurable outcomes, churches can easily become organizations that do things for people rather than communities that choose to be with people. Yet throughout scripture, God’s mission has always been rooted in presence. Before God delivered Israel, God dwelt among them. Before Jesus preached sermons or performed miracles, he moved into the neighborhood. As John writes, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. —John 1:6-14
The incarnation is fundamentally about God choosing to be with us. If we are going to participate in God’s mission, then we must learn to do the same. Let’s look at 5 essential truths that packed into this sign.
1. Jesus was with people before he did things for them.
When we examine the ministry of Jesus, we discover that much of his transformative work happened not in formal settings but in ordinary spaces. He walked roads with disciples. He shared meals with tax collectors. He attended weddings. He visited homes. He lingered in conversations. He noticed people others overlooked. Jesus did not simply parachute into communities to solve problems. He entered into the rhythms of people’s lives.
In Mark 3:14, Jesus appointed the twelve disciples “that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.” Before ministry came presence. Before mission came relationship. This order matters.
Too often churches are eager to send people out before teaching them how to be present. We develop ministries, events, and outreach programs, yet sometimes struggle to know the names of the people who live next door to our buildings. We can become experts at serving communities we do not truly know.
Being with neighbors requires a different posture. It calls us to slow down enough to listen, learn, and love.
2. Presence is a form of ministry.
One of the greatest temptations facing churches today is the belief that our value comes from what we produce. We often measure success by attendance, budgets, programs, and buildings. While those things can be useful, they are not the primary indicators of faithfulness.
Faithfulness begins with presence.
When Job suffered, his friends were actually at their best during the first seven days when they simply sat with him in silence (Job 2:13). Their ministry became problematic when they felt compelled to explain everything. Sometimes people do not need answers as much as they need accompaniment. I have seen this repeatedly in Lawndale.
Many years ago, when Lawndale Christian Community Church was continuing to grow deeper roots in the neighborhood, some of our most important ministry moments did not happen during Sunday worship. They happened on front porches, at community meetings, in local schools, and while walking the streets. We learned that transformation often begins when people know you are not just visiting, but staying. There is a profound difference between helping a neighborhood and belonging to a neighborhood. Neighbors can tell the difference. One approach asks, “What can we do for you?” The other asks, “How can we live life together?” The second question opens the door to genuine community.
3. Being with builds trust.
The prophet Jeremiah instructed God’s people in exile to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city” where they lived (Jeremiah 29:7). Notice he did not tell them to remain detached observers. He called them to invest themselves in the flourishing of their neighbors. That kind of investment takes time. Trust is not built through occasional appearances. It grows through consistent presence.
I’ve experienced countless conversations with residents in Lawndale who are understandably skeptical of outsiders promising change. Many organizations have come and gone. Many leaders have arrived with good intentions but little commitment. What has changed hearts is not a strategic plan. It has been years of showing up.
Showing up to block club meetings.
Showing up at funerals.
Showing up when families are celebrating and when they are grieving.
Showing up when there is no obvious benefit to the church.
Over time, relationships develop. Trust emerges. And through those trusting relationships, God opens opportunities for ministry that no program can manufacture. The church has become more than an institution in the neighborhood. It has become part of the neighborhood.
4. Being with changes us, too.
Many churches avoid deep engagement with neighbors because genuine presence is not one-sided. When we truly enter into relationships, we are changed as well. Often, churches approach communities believing they have all the answers. Yet scripture teaches that every person bears the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This means our neighbors are not simply recipients of ministry; they are people from whom we can learn.
At Lawndale, some of the greatest lessons about perseverance, faith, generosity, and resilience have come from neighbors facing tremendous challenges. Their stories shaped our church as much as our church shaped the community. This mutuality reflects the nature of the Body of Christ. The Apostle Paul reminds us that every member possesses gifts necessary for the flourishing of the whole (1 Corinthians 12). The same principle applies to neighborhoods. Communities thrive when people recognize everyone has something valuable to contribute.
Being with neighbors helps us discover those gifts.
5. The future of the church depends on presence.
As churches navigate changing cultural realities, we may sense a temptation to search for the next innovative strategy. Yet the future may depend less on innovation and more on incarnation. People love for authentic relationships, belonging, and communities where they are known and loved. The church has an opportunity to offer exactly that, but we cannot do it from a distance. We must move beyond merely hosting events and begin cultivating relationships. We must move beyond serving communities occasionally and begin sharing life consistently. We must move beyond asking how people can participate in our ministries and begin asking how we can participate in the life of the neighborhood.
The call to be a missional community oriented toward being with neighbors is ultimately a call to reflect the heart of God.
God has always chosen presence over distance.
God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden.
God traveled with Israel through the wilderness.
God became flesh in Jesus Christ.
God now dwells within His people through the Holy Spirit.
The story of Scripture is the story of a God who is with us.
If we are going to faithfully embody the mission of Christ in our neighborhoods, then we must become people who are with others as well. Not merely visiting. Not merely serving. Not merely helping. But truly being with.
It is often in that simple act of presence that God cultivates flourishing communities.
We’re grateful to Pastah J for sharing his thoughts with us and grateful to have him on our Cultivating Communities team. Learn more about Lawndale Christian Community Church here, and learn more about Pastah J’s book here.1
In Case You Missed It:
Click here to see all the posts in our Seven Signs of a Thriving Congregation series.
C. Christopher Smith recently shared a variety of resources for churches looking to thoughtfully reflect and discern together about Artificial Intelligence, its uses, and its impacts.
Our friend Andrew Morrell shared a valuable post about suffering, privilege, idolatry, and faithfulness. Check it out!
As mentioned above, this is the final post we have planned in this series about seven signs of thriving congregations. But of course, we recognize that these are not the only signs that indicate flourishing, health, and a love for God and neighbor.
We’d love to hear from you about this below:
What signs of thriving do you see in your own congregation or in the communities around you?
Up next, we’ve got more to share in our series about Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age. See you then!
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