A future for Meeting Point Community

(Anyone inquiring of the LORD would

go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. Ex. 33:7.)
by Endre Sámson Kiss

What is the gospel?

In my definition the gospel is: The love of the Father incarnated in Jesus Christ, through whom, the
Kingdom of God came near and brings healing, deliverance and salvation by the power of the Holy
Spirit to those wounded, lost, broken and sinful people, who accept this love by faith. The church’s
task is to incarnate this love through words and deeds with courage and wisdom.

What is the gospel here and now?

This above mentioned gospel is something that never existed in a cultural vacuum. It must be
translated in every context. In our context this means that we would like to translate the good news
to young professionals in Budapest in their 20s and 30s. I see three things to focus on when
communicating the gospel: community, hope, and guidance.

The opportunity of belonging. Many people are lonely and segregated in the city. People who move
in from other parts of the country find it especially hard to connect with others. The community of
God’s people can offer a place where one can connect to people and even to God. God invites
everyone into a group of broken people in order to find something real together.

The gospel gives Hope not only eternally, but in this world too. Many people do not see a future for
themselves. A loving community of believers can point to God. God gives second chance and He can
heal the broken heart.

Spiritual guidance. People are spiritually hungry. They are looking for reasons to live and look
everywhere but the church. They have big problems and decisions to make, and are open to any kind
of spiritual practice. We have to reintroduce Christianity to the new generations and show that there
is spiritual deepness in our tradition. God is real and He can lead us.

Many in their 20s and 30s work long hours and are exhausted. They do not have much time for
church programs. That is why I think that a relational model for evangelism works better among
them.
Meeting Point
Meeting Point is a small group of believers. There are about 20 people on the worship services. Many
found a second home in this community. Right now the community is more inward focused, but
hopefully this will change. This is a pretty diverse group in professions as well as in musical taste or
theological view. Yet, they represent unity in diversity. There are very good leadership qualities
within the core group, partly because of their experience in the student organization called MEKDSZ
(Intervarsity in the US). There is big potential in it’s members.

Meeting Point is open to experimenting and to try out new things. It’s most important value is the
community. People are committed and meet several times a week just to hang out with one another.
The challenge in Meeting Point is to broaden this community to unbelievers and welcome them
among us.

Personal Calling
I envision this inner-city church as a place for urban dwellers, artists, “liberals,” and all whom the
church cannot reach right now. I would like to see people with no church background transform in
the presence of the living God. I think this can only be achieved if the whole community is
intentionally missional. I will try to cultivate a missional imagination so that church members
recognize opportunities to build genuine relationships and expand God’s kingdom. I see the worship-
time as both empowerment of God’s missional people and a safe place where seekers can
experience God. My hope is that this church will be a place for people to discover Jesus by meeting
Him in a community that cares not only for its members, but for the whole neighborhood. I am
looking forward to see the impact of God’s people in the broader community.
Church planting “Arrow”
Deeper meaning and my theology of the name Meeting Point:

God meets His people → God’s people meet with one another → God’s people meet with seekers →
God meets His people and seekers → Seekers meet God.

Be → Be blessed → Belong → Believe → Behave

Empowering worship,
encouraging
encounter with God
and one another, call
to seekers

Believers

Social
gatherings,
work-place
relationships,
Seekers God
presence,
patient
evangelism

Exploring
Christianity,
Conversion,
commitment,
discipleship
Open public worship,
everything explained,
space for experience
Core Values:
1. Listening to God’s voice and know Him more and more through the Bible.
2. Live in a community that is intimate and open for others. (Incarnational)
3. Being intentionally missional. Joining God on His mission as ambassadors of the kingdom of
God.
4. Organic growth. Being light and salt where life happens.
5. Prayer, prayer, prayer. Acknowledging that we cannot do anything without Him.

OR more simply:

1. Spirituality (Bible, prayer, worship, discipleship)

2. Community (worship, house groups, discipleship, incarnational)
3. Mission (organic, intentional, worship)

One-year Action Plan:

Phase I – Preparations (06/09-08/09)

1. Get to know the neighborhood
2. Get to know the community
3. Raise financial suport
4. Look for Prayer partners
5. Find a mentor
6. Deal with administration
7. Move and settle in

Phase II – Transitional time (09/09-12/09)

1. Six-week church planting course
2. Communicating the vision
3. Build relationships (seekers, non-profits, other church planters…)
4. 30 into vision/prayer groups

Phase III – Growth (01/10-06/10)

1. Cultivating missional thinking
2. Discipling
3. Train leaders
4. Prepare people for personal evangelism
5. Set up leaders for the major ministry areas
6. Meet leaders monthly
7. Start discovery groups for seekers
8. Evaluation of the first year