I recently saw my friend, Simon Jackson, inviting friends and church members on Facebook to join him at his next “pop-up pastor” location. Pop-up what? Intrigued, I asked Jacko to write a guest blog post about his experiences. Jacko is on the ministry team at Church by the Bridge, Kirribilli & Lavender Bay. A great church on the north side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, check it out if you’re in the area or visiting Sydney!
Have you noticed those stores in shopping centres and malls that just pop-up for a brief stint, sell some stuff, pack up and then they’re gone? I’m pretty sure they call them pop-up stores – yeah?
Drop in, make an impact, gone.
A few weeks ago early one Tuesday morning four things came together; (i) for some reason the ‘pop-up’ concept popped into my head; (ii) I had a meeting in the Sydney CBD at 2.30pm, (iii) a 1pm Tuesday lunchtime pastoral catch-up fell through and (iv) I needed to eat lunch that day! Strangely that quartet of ideas gave rise to what is known as ‘Pop-Up Pastoring’.
‘Pop-up Pastoring’ was birthed that day and has been alive and well since.
How does it work?
Well, I simply communicate on the day to people at church and others where I will pop-up via Facebook, Twitter and SMS. I give the time and location. It’s open to all – church people, their colleagues and friends. Those who are free, meet me to enjoy food, read the Bible, share encouragements and challenges in our walk following Jesus and then we pray together.
Drop in. Impact each other for God’s glory. Go back to work. Simple.
I’ve ‘popped up’ four times for lunch now and it’s been really encouraging. We’ve read from the Psalms, the gospels and shared how Jesus is changing and shaping us and prayed for all kinds of things. Interestingly the most common prayers have been for opportunities to share the gospel with colleagues at work.
Pop-out from the office. Meet with Jesus and His people for an hour. Pop-back to the office and engage in Jesus’ mission.
Why pop-up at lunchtime?
The simple answer: we need to eat! I really love doing pop-up over food. Meals are full of significance. Few acts are more expressive of companionship than the shared meal. It turns strangers into friends. And it connects us with people.
I mean Jesus, the Son of Man, came ‘eating and drinking’ (Luke 7.34). God’s people didn’t expect him to come to seek and save the lost. They would have said the Son of Man would come in glory and power. They would never have said he would come eating and drinking.
Jesus spent quite some time eating and drinking—a lot of his time in fact. His mission strategy was a long meal, stretching into the evening. He did evangelism and discipleship around a table with some grilled fish, a loaf of bread, and something to drink. So the meals of Jesus represent something bigger. They represent a new world, a new kingdom, a new outlook. But they give that new reality substance.
Jesus’ meals are not just symbols; they’re also applications. They’re not just pictures; they’re the real thing in miniature. Food is stuff. It’s not ideas. It’s not theories. Meals are more than food.
Pop-up is more than the food. It’s an opportunity for evangelism and discipleship – spontaneous but powerful. They’re social occasions. They represent friendship, community, and welcome. Pop-up represents an opportunity to connect with God’s people, His purposes, His mission.
I love it. Give it a go and watch the fruit fall. But be careful ‘cause ‘once you pop you can’t stop!’
It reminds me of not letting an opportunity be missed to further the gospel and love one anther well
amen!