Lessons from a Puerto Rican Hillbilly (Part 1)

I'm in Israel and so I'm having a guest blogger - Kevin Colon. He's one of my favorite people but, more importantly, started a church in what may be the most difficult place in the United States - Boulder, Colorado. Kevin is the real deal and we can learn a lot from him. Here's Kevin:


I thought Cool River was going to be a church in South Florida. My wife, Amy, and I spent a lot of time getting ready for that move. We raised a lot of money. We were on the verge of purchasing a house and moving ….and then God stepped in with an airplane ticket to Denver, Colorado, and everything changed. (a God story that I’ll have to fill you in on at another time)

So instead, God brought us to a place that was 95+% unchurched. He landed us in a place where 9 out of 10 people that you lock eyes with don’t have a relationship with Jesus. Imagine that! A place where (unlike the South) doesn’t hide the fact that they aren’t Christians…they’re actually proud of it…and they aren’t afraid to tell you.

I’ll never forget one of my first conversations when I arrived in Boulder County. I met this guy, we shook hands, we exchanged the usual weather-talk and then we got to the occupation thing….and I let it slip. I know…it’s my fault, but, I just flat out told him I was a pastor. His eyes widened and he shot back, “Well, hey, just want to let you know I’m not a Christian, I don’t want to be a Christian and you just should know that you don’t even need to try to evangelize me!”

Or how about the lady that found out I was a Christian and said, “Oh…that is so good….so good. It’s so nice that you’ve found such a lovely path to God.” I was excited, “So you are a Christian?”
“Oh, no…I’m a Buddhist but it’s so good for you that you are a Christian. Good for you.”

You see, in Boulder there is either this overwhelming tolerance or just a straight-up animosity toward Christianity, Christians and organized religion. (and yes…I hear you….that kind of thinking has already reached some of you in the more prominent Christian regions)

Yep…it quickly went from Len Sweet and Brian McLaren talking about it in a book to reality in my face, and needless to say, I learned some huge lessons in just a few conversations.

Here’s Lesson 1: This is going to take a lot longer than you thought

In our context there are not enough Christians to build a church fast. We have so many people that don’t want any God-stuff that it takes a year or two to build enough of a trust relationship to get them to even hear you out about Jesus.

Here’s the challenge for you: You are going to have to make a decision….a choice. You’re going to have to put a stake in the ground and say, “I’m in. As long as it takes to build the right kind of trusting relationships where people will see me as a real person who loves and follows Jesus authentically…that’s how long I’ll be here for.” I’ve learned that if you can’t make that kind of commitment in ministry these days, you’ll gather your Christians and end up in the same statistical pile with the rest of the transfer growth churches.

You see, in just five years of this church-plant I’ve seen five other churches come and go here. And you know what all of their fatal flaws were? They loved the church more than they loved the people. If the church didn’t get up and running soon enough….they bailed. If their model didn’t work, they didn’t know how to morph. They didn’t want to morph. If the people rejected their message it was their fault, it was the people’s fault. And so they came and they went and the non-Christian community said, “You see…there…it happened again. They said they cared but they didn’t. They said they were here to bring hope, but they’re hopeless. They said their God is strong, but a little adversity and they fold. The church is a weak, non-committed, powerless JOKE!” And those of us who stay…we inherit that reputation. Sadness!

So guys, let me BEG you….before you start a church or if you are already there….ask yourself, “How much do I really love these people? Do I love them more than the church? Can I stay here and continue to be a strong influence for Christ even if the church fails?” If the answer is yes…you might just be ready for actually reaching people that are far from God.

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