WORSHIP GATHERINGS
LIVE: Wednesday Evening at 7:00p
SMALL GROUP VIDEO: Sunday 1:00p (in person at the church building)
CHURCH ONLINE: Sunday Morning 9:00a (theshiftchurch.online.church & Facebook)

Let me first start out by saying what this isn’t.  We are not bowing down to the idols and taking our cues from the culture around us; changing our identity and way of being simply because of social pressures around us.  That is not our heart, nor our intention. We follow Christ, His example the way the disciples lived, and the way the disciples led the Church to be in the midst of their culture.

Our Vision here at SHIFT is to execute an intentional, relationally-driven strategy for causing personal spiritual transformation, so that together we can accomplish the work God has given us to do. 

And we do this through our tool, the Vision Frame. Shifting everyday relationships into authentic community to live God’s adventure together; fully alive.  We do this by helping navigate people through our relational map, in order for each person to experience personal spiritual transformation, and cultivating this way of being by executing everything we do through our Values.

This is where all of our effort needs to be put as a church; knowing and living out God’s plan for us.

People can’t experience transformation if we/they don’t show up; if we/they aren’t present physically. 50% of winning at anything is simply showing up!

In order to show up, we need to be willing to think outside the box, outside the norm. 

With the simple fact of it being summer in Montana, people are just not showing up to a church gathering on a Sunday morning; it’s a simple fact...it ain’t happenin, no matter the reason.

The reality is, the warm weather in Montana is a short season and people (including those in the church) want to be outside and enjoy it on their limited days off. So, the question for us is, “should we really be continuing to posture ourselves in the church to fight this reality of life in Montana during the summer months?” Or, should we resign ourselves to people not showing up because they would rather be outdoors camping, hiking, road-tripping, etc … like churches always do? We say NO on both accounts!

So as a church, we have to ask ourselves the question...what can we do to love and engage with people in our church and in our culture? We all need to hear the message of Jesus Christ and get linked into God’s adventure of personal spiritual transformation; growing, getting better, living the abundant life (“livin’ my best life”) that God desires for each of us.

We have decided to shift our in-person church gathering to Wednesday nights at 7p here in Belgrade for the Summer months (June 2 - August 25) and switch back when school starts up again in the Fall.

We will record the Wednesday service and use that for the following Sunday morning’s online services. So, if you are not able to attend our in person gathering on a Wednesday, you can still join us online at: http://theSHIFTchurch.online.church

MOST IMPORTANTLY…this shift opens up people’s lives for a variety of relational opportunities for the days they are available to go do things that many Montanans love to do...get into God’s wonderful creation (it’s the reason many of us choose to live here right?!), spend time with our families, go on a road trip, go on a vacation…rest.

This still takes sacrifice. It still requires the intentional choice to make time, show up, and engage in the middle of the week.  It still requires carving out the time in your weekly schedule to be with the Church.

Come as your are! That’s what God desires.  He cares about your heart not your clothes.  He doesn’t want your “Sunday best”, He wants your Wednesday reality.  Come as you TRULY are.

Then on the weekends...rest; meet with your @Group; go for a hike or go camping with family, friends, and folks from your @Group to grow your relationships small; and let God fill you up.

We pray this season will be a great service to you and your families, give you opportunities to grow stronger relationships, that we are glorifying God by allowing ourselves to think outside the box for a season, and see what God can do with this summer.