BY NOEL BECCHETTI
Fresh Expressions of the Church
For many of us, church (the Greek word is Ekklesia) can mean a building, a paid pastor, and set programs, located in a bucolic setting. It can be peaceful, heartwarming, and safe—but is it connected with the grit and grime of real life? Are there other ways that church can be realized and experienced?
I heard an answer to that question as I sat and listened to a morning devotional shared at the A3 Philippines Third Batch cohort. Co-National Director Herman Moldez was sharing on “What are some fresh expressions of Ekklesia—examples where God’s church goes beyond the four walls of a building?” His answer? The example of Pastor Lopez (not his real name), one of the participants in Third Batch.
A Real-Life Example
Pastor Lopez lives and ministers in Metro Manila, a sprawling megapolis of 20+ million people. Like all megacities, Metro Manila struggles with paralyzing traffic, supervised by squadrons of traffic police.
If you have spent time in different parts of the world, you are likely aware that in many countries, government employees like traffic police are deliberately paid salaries too low to cover their needs. It is expected that they will make ends meet through extortion—soliciting small bribes from drivers to avoid traffic fines, real or imagined.
In the Philippines, Jeepney drivers are especially vulnerable. Jeepneys are a unique, affordable means of mass transportation developed after World War II, when enterprising Filipinos welded the front ends of surplus US Army Jeeps to long, bus-like trailers. Long since developed into impressive, lavishly-decorated vehicles, riders hop in and out of Jeepneys as they transport residents all over the far-flung metro area.
Jeepney drivers work long, hard hours to eke out a survivable wage. They are easy prey for corrupt traffic police looking to supplement their incomes. Don’t want to pay a bribe? Then pay a larger fine—and struggle to feed your family.
My Brothers’ Keeper Program
So how do Jeepneys, predatory traffic police, and Pastor Lopez all come together? Some years ago, to combat the rising corruption among its ranks, the Philippine government established the My Brothers’ Keeper program. Police caught in corruption were assigned to this program in an attempt to rebuild their character. Community leaders could then apply to have the opportunity to meet regularly with a small group of such police to try to build into their lives.
Five years ago, Pastor Lopez volunteered to be one of those leaders. Since then, he has met regularly with his small group of officers. Using Jesus’ examples and other biblically-based values, Pastor Lopez conducts regular character-formation times with these officers.
Actually, it’s church—and these officers acknowledge that.
“Our work shifts make it impossible for us to be able to attend a regular church,” the officers told him. “This is our church.”
Real-Life Transformation in a Real-Life Church
And Ekklesia in a traffic circle has generated transformational results. One day, Pastor Lopez hopped on a local Jeepney to make his way home. As he settled in, the driver asked him, “What are you doing with those police officers?” Pastor Lopez explained. The driver’s response?
“Oh—that must be why the police offers are no longer demanding bribes from us!”
That is real-life transformation in a real-life church…an amazing example of the fresh expressions of Ekklesia that God is raising up all over the world. We are honored that leaders like Pastor Lopez have committed themselves to the A3 leader development program. They make the A3 program what it is.
THANK YOU for your friendship, support, and financial contributions that make it possible for leaders like Pastor Lopez to benefit from--and contribute to--the work of A3.
Noel Becchetti
Noel Becchetti has been serving as A3's VP for Leader Development since 2012. Noel and his wife Kyle currently reside in El Cajon, California. You can see his staff profile here...
More Information
- More on ekklesia here...
- Header image credit: photo of green jeepney by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
- Photo of blue jeepney by John Mukiibi Elijah on Unsplash
