15. Impact Church, Roseville, CA [November 24, 2013]
It started with a voicemail. Then another. Then another. I was being stalked. It happened at least three years ago, and he kept calling. I realized that he wasn’t going to stop until I agreed to meet with him. That’s when I first heard of Impact Church of Roseville. The Pastor of Impact Church, Don Proctor, ‘pestered’ me until I agreed to have coffee with him.
You see, Lead Pastors, Don and Christa Proctor, are passionate about the unity of the Christian Church. On Sunday, I heard it more than once: “One church, many life-giving congregations”. And, as one of the Sunday speakers said, when it comes to unity, “It is one thing to say it, another to do it. Don and Christa do it.” The attendance of the last city pastors’ luncheon, a reoccurring event they began, was 275. Approximately 400 pastors are involved in one way or another.
Don wanted to have coffee with me because, at the time, I was a local pastor and he wanted to get to know me. He wanted to encourage and support me in the work. Unity.
What I noticed on Sunday
People welcomed me. Russell, the Pastor Emeritus, took time to show me around and answer my questions.
There was a couple dressed entirely in camouflage. Especially with the gentleman’s long white beard, they looked right out of an episode of Duck Dynasty. He told me they do it to support soldiers serving abroad.
They offered me a name tag. They said that I didn’t have to use my real name, but I did. I like name tags. They make meeting new people so much easier. Then again, I hate it when I forget to discard it, and wear it the whole time I’m at lunch! (Yes, that’s what I did.)
They have a Russian-language congregation that meets on Sundays at 12:30 pm. They pray together on Tuesday nights. In addition, the Impact Family Christmas celebration is coming up on December 15 and will feature food from both the Russian-language congregation and a Persian church. Yum. Unity tastes yummy.
During worship, the congregation was engaged and responsive. They sang the Lord’s Prayer, calling out to God, “heaven come down” on our families, our city, our church, etc.
At Impact, they pray for each other like they mean it, like it matters, as if, prayer is a battle.
This particular Sunday, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. I drove all the way out to Roseville, and Don wasn’t even speaking. It’s that unity-thing again! They occasionally invite pastors of other churches in the region to speak. This Sunday it was Richard G. and Lindy Oliver of Family Church.
The Olivers shared the pulpit, back and forth. Lindy shared a well-written reflection on Thanksgiving. They also shared from Numbers, chapter 13 – the story of the 12 Hebrew spies who scouted out the land. In the end, the optimists, Joshua and Caleb, stood alone. The people had heard the promise, but didn't really believe it was for them. They didn't believe that it was really their inheritance.
They pointed out that sometimes God’s sense of timing makes little sense to us. Joshua and Caleb believed; they had faith. They were ready to take action, but they had to wait because other people didn't have faith, because other people wouldn't take action. They were delayed 40 years. However, in the meantime, they remained faithful and grew in character -- character they needed to lead.
Pastor Richard talked about the need for passion -- crazy, shirtless, body-painted, cheeseheaded, Green Bay Packer fan passion! And his preaching style modeled it!
For example, he questioned the songs we teach our children, “This little light of mine / I’m going let it shine / don’t let Satan blow it out...” He offered his alternative version: “This blow torch of mine / I’m going to burn Satan’s butt off!”
Passion.
Here is Richard, Christa, Don, and Lindy showing passion.
FOOD
I stopped for brunch at Shady Tree Coffee and Tea (325 Douglas Blvd in Roseville) for vanilla yogurt, topped with granola and a very fine cappuccino. They were friendly and went out of their way to make sure to grind the beans I bought just right for my AeroPress Espresso Maker.
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