Bar or No Bar...That is the Question

We are just finishing the Alpha program at Leathertown Tavern in Acton. There have been ups and downs with the venue. Now on the cusp of our next course, we are wondering.....bar or no bar. Do we stay the course or find a new location? We offered this question up to our participants last week during our "What About the Church" discussion.
Here are some thoughts.

Negative: The setting is distractive for the participants. The cracking of billiard balls, the voice rumble of the bar, the foul language all serve to detract from the participants full enjoyment of the course. In a sense, the course is for the participants and we should offer the course in a location that is condusive for learning and discussion. In that sense, this is a bad location. Every Wednesday I go away wishing that the environment could have been better for the participants.

Positive: Presence! When we hold the course in this location, the patrons see us very visibly. We have noticed that some will sit on the fringes and lend half an ear to the course. We have had people come and join us. While their drunkeness was a distraction, they were welcomed and I feel our presence had an impact on their lives. We have had opportunity to fellowship with people we would not normally associate with. We have had patrons publically decare amongst their freinds that we are doing a good thing. We have noticed patrons trying to limit their ang govern their actions while in our presense. They know exactly what we are doing and what we are talking about. The tavern owner is supportive and welcomes our presense in his establishement. The food is awesome and we have been treated like gold.

When we discuss this amongst ourselves, the initial reaction focusses on the negative of the distraction. However, when we discuss the overall impact, everyone is quick to note that our presense has been very positive to those who need to hear the good news. When we weigh this out amomgst ourselves, we find an attitude of selflessness and sacrifice. Though the distractions were great, people tended to see their presense as an outreach.

I am so proud of these people. They expressed that the outreach to the patrons was more important than their own full undivided enjoyment of the course. We see missionary, outreaching, caring and loving hearts that have sacrificed for the sake of others.

We discussed how we are the church. We discussed our desires to be very bold and purposeful. We talked about how the good news is not necessarily best served by hiding it in our hearts, in our homes and in our places of worship. We discussed how holding Alpha in this location was one way we could be bold about the Gospel.

Then came the obvious question. What Would Jesus Do? As we considered the the impact we have had on others, we became warm with love. We began to think that this is what Jesus would have done. Thoughts of negativity were lost and thoughts of a positive nature were replaced.

Dear God
Thank you for the strength, courage and boldness you have given us.
Lord we think of how you have guarded and protected us
while in this uncomfortable place.
Dear God, I pray that you will move in the hearts of those people
who desparately need you.
Father I pray for Marni and Thelma.
Lord I pray for the man who asked for a bible.
Lord I pray for the lady who listened on the outskirts
and then put money in our offering plate.
Lord I pray for all those people whop have heard about
Your goodness, mercy, and love
Lord would you speak to their hearts
and give them the peace or the strength that they need
to come to know you as their Lord and Saviour.
Lord You alone are God, with strength and wisdom beyond measure.
I pray Lord that You will speak to our hearts
and make it very clear to us how You would like us to proceed.
I am grateful, yet unworthy of Your Faithfulness.
I come to You lord with Jesus as my guide and saviour
and I offer You my praise and worship.
In Jesus name
amen