What does Church look like?

 "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it"

Tuesday 25|06|13
18:17 GMT +2:00
Cala Gracia
San Antonio
Ibiza
Cup of Tea, UHT milk.

At the most simple historical level, 'church' is a gathering of people who assemble to declare that 'Jesus is Lord'. In the 1st Century people risked the torture and death of themselves and their family by doing this, and refusing to go to the public assemblies where people affirmed that 'Caesar is Lord'. They affirmed that one way of life was better than the other, that love was better than power, that submission was better than the sword, that serving was better than being served.

At the most profound theological level, 'church' is the body of Christ. Which is remarkable really. Though the people stumble along, God uses these feeble efforts to change lives and transform cultures - to continue Jesus' work of reconciling all things to God - in such a way that the people can be said to be Christ's body.

And so we gathered in the middle of San Antonio's West End, renowned for its clubs and bars, drugs and alcohol, strip shows and celebrated promiscuity. In this place where it seems that hedonism is king, we gathered to declare that Jesus (and no one else) is Lord.

We are young people who have come to the island hoping for a working holiday, but find ourselves living in cramped conditions, working ridiculous hours, and wondering where our next meal is coming from.

We come to declare that Jesus is Lord.

We are bar workers.

We are brand new Christians.

We are interns who have taken a year of our lives to learn how praying and serving can change our world.

We just dropped in on our way past.

We declare that Jesus is Lord.

We have lived in Ibiza all our life and speak no English.

We are here to party, to celebrate and enjoy all the beauty and experience this place has to offer.

We just want to go home

We are just married, here to learn how to do life with each other in the middle of Christian community.

We all declare that Jesus is Lord.

Servants and served.

Clubbers and workers.

Joy and pain.

This is the body of Christ.