Endorsements

Several months after that initial conversation, we began to attend CG meetings and found ourselves drawn to and challenged by the presentations. We’ve always found excellence in Denny’s messages, and we enjoyed the music, drama, and creative video presentations a great deal. We met Greg for the first time during that period, and he was more than happy to answer our many questions. We were very impressed with his knowledge of the Bible and understanding of history as it relates to Christianity. Two things he discussed with us really caught my attention: first, the number of people who profess faith in Christ but are unwilling or unable to function in a traditional church environment, and secondly, the inappropriate distinctions most modern churches make between the “sacred” and the so-called “secular” world.

Personally, I was intrigued, but not sold at the time. My hesitancy had little to do with Greg or Denny or the content of the CG meetings, but more to do with a reaction borne out of my own Christian experience. I have been involved with churches for 42 of my 49 years, first as a pastor’s kid, then, after years of questioning, searching, and finally becoming a Christian, I eventually went on to train in youth ministry at Lutheran Bible Institute with a minor in Biblical theology. I’ve taught Bible classes for many years, led small groups, and have even been a church elder. I have seen church leaders come and go under various circumstances, and with them, their ideas and plans. Many of the “new” ideas they introduced had some merit, but in the end, most met with an unpleasant demise, along with the credibility of those who perpetuated them. One leader was followed by another, each with a new “fix” for whatever was currently ailing the congregation. In their wake were left those who belong to Christ, but could no longer tolerate that so-called “contemporary” church environment. So after many years, I found myself as one of those people – thus, my hesitancy…

Kathy and I began to attend the evening services of Common Ground, not fully knowing what to expect, but curiously excited and expectant—feelings we had not experienced in years. We have participated in “alternative” services before that did not reflect that God had much to do with their planning or execution. This, however, was something different. I was struck by the depth of impact these services were having on me. I would walk in, feeling like a battle-weary soldier, and then the service would start, and my soul and spirit would be captivated in the moment and could not be distracted from the moving of God’s Spirit amongst all of us in attendance. I found it difficult to contain my tears, not from sorrow, but from a sense that my life at every level was being touched by God. Kathy also found this to be her experience as well.

The use of multi-media to convey a spiritual message in the church at large is not a new concept and has been around for a long time. However, most multi-media presentations I have experienced do not come near to the level of those of Common Ground. While the ministry is still in its infancy, the presentations exude spiritual sensitivity and substance and show a mastery at combining many types of artistic expression to convey God’s Word to mankind.

Many of us have been taught that God will only be found within the confines of the church. To believe this is to blind ourselves to the fact that God can be found everywhere. The lines many Christians have drawn between the “secular” and the “sacred” have created a chasm between churched and unchurched people that is extremely difficult to cross. I believe God has given Greg and Denny, and those who work with them, the ability to bridge that gap. This is not accomplished by secularizing the Gospel, but by letting people know that God is closer to them than they might think, that He is in the everyday circumstances of their lives.

Common Ground has a great future. I fully believe it has been birthed in response to something God is wanting to do right now.