One of the great things about this group is that they are so clear-eyed about this project. They know that risk is there, but intend to be very intentional about bringing “the next generation along” from the very beginning.

And also about “sticking to their knitting” in terms of each of the three communities being very intentional about ministry to their own community, as well as joint efforts, so that the temple, church, and mosque carry out their unique roles for each community in a healthy way.

No guarantees, of course, but I was impressed with their realism as well as their vision!

here in the wilderness of orange county, california, we have these little “religion areas” where city planners have plopped down a few religious buildings. it’s all the rage. each orange county city of recent vintage has this, perhaps three or four little areas, each with a series of churches/synagogues/kingdom halls/whatevers. it feels so much like they have sequestered religion carefully away from the commerce and the government, which each also have their own separate little areas.

in theory, this arrangement might mean that groups encounter eachother. in practice, it just means they can annoy each other by wanting to park at the same times in the same limited spots. (not a problem in the case you describe!)

so it’s really delightful to see this not as the urban planners trying to “organize” things in disastrous ways, but instead, as a spirit-filled opportunity of the relevant leaders to make something new. i always wonder about such things whether it will last into the next and the next and the next leader of these communities, but that is no strike against it now. it just sounds wonderful.