Live, Love and Learn

The Power of Intentional Community

By Jenny Baxter

Ever noticed how sometimes there are life-changing moments when suddenly you just ‘get it'? When Stephen and I were first married, we shared dinner with a few people and I read a book about Christian community. It was then I suddenly saw what could be achieved by people living together in community or in ‘common unity' as a friend of mine puts it.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Stephen and I lay on the unfamiliar bed mostly asleep, hoping whoever it was would just go away. It was our honeymoon, 4:00pm, and the day after the big event.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

We had risen early and driven several hours to our destination and we were exhausted. Not so much from you-know-what (well, maybe a bit of that!) but mostly from all the pre-wedding effort. Now, staying at my aunt and uncle's seaside holiday home for a few days, we were thankful for a little sleep.

Knock. Knock.

There was some rustling and a gentle nudge of the door and then we drifted back to dreamland.

When we woke, we found a note posted under the door.

Hi

Heard you were coming to visit, so thought we'd say hello.

We get together for dinner on Tuesday night.

Why don't you come along?

Just bring some food to share.

 

John

It wasn't totally unexpected John should drop by. He was a friend of our aunt and uncle's who lived in a neighboring Christian community. We hadn't anticipated being asked to dinner though. What a bonus!

Tuesday night came, and we arrived with some salad and bread in hand. We were impressed by the property – several relatively new houses clustered together in bush land, a few mobile homes, a shady picnic area with a barbeque and tables where we ate. Our dinner was shared with a few families who lived there, some neighbors, plus an interesting collection of individuals from God-knows-where who were staying for a while to take respite from God-knows-what.

So, that was it – my first introduction to an intentional Christian community. With everyone working together many people, including the lost and broken, were embraced, loved and given hope in a safe and welcoming environment. Lives were being changed. People had found a place to belong.

Community Life Lived

To some degree, everyone experiences a level of community. Often we become aware of it when we gather for carols on Christmas Eve, or at events such as funerals and weddings. Sometimes great tragedy brings even strangers together creating a level of community – remember the way people supported one another during the days after 9/11. However, when I describe ‘intentional community' I picture a lifestyle. This entails a deliberate choice to be accessible to people, to turn up at community events, to consciously connect with others and allow time to listen to them. In some cases it means sharing homes with others for days, weeks, or even years.

Before our honeymoon, Stephen and I had already decided to put our faith into action by being ready and available to do whatever, and go wherever we thought God was leading. Christian writers such as Francis Schaefer, Colin Urquhart and Jean Vanier had already begun to shape our thinking. Our honeymoon dinner experience crystallized the direction which we have now followed for well over 25 years. Our aim became to accept people where they are at, and offer love and forgiveness with no judgment and no criticism.   

By choosing to live ‘in community' we have seen God's transforming power at work in so many people I struggle to count them all. We helped two unmarried teenagers with tiny baby in tow, make a marriage commitment to God and one another; we shared our home for several years with a desperate-to-marry girl from a dysfunctional family and saw God transform her into a marriageable woman; for three years we lived in a large community (around 200 people) – the training base for an International Youth and Community organization; and we have just recently left a smaller community of 15 on a farm which provided support to young people from difficult backgrounds.

Sometimes God used us during someone's life journey as he wove their story and we did not see his final result. So even ‘failures' have been part of our past, along with many heart-rending stories such as helping one young woman who succumbed by walking in front of a train to ease her pain; supporting many alcoholics looking for an escape from their addiction; allowing a young man to sleep-off his drugged stupor in our bed, only to later find blood-stained sheets from his needle-scarred arms; and for a few months we shared our home with two teens, one who had been kicked out of home by his third stepfather, and the other an introverted young man who had left his family in the country to look for work – on this occasion it was more difficult because not only was I busy with a two year old, but also heavily pregnant.

Part of the Created Order

Community comes from the heart of the triune God, one God – Father, Son and Spirit – all three living in intentional community held together with love. This God made us in his image and so community is part of his created order and part of our destiny as children of God.

Yes, it has been costly. But as Paul would say the love of God compels us. (I look forward to the next 20 years!) God has done many amazing things while we have watched on. We have discovered that when lived well, true Christian community rings of these words spoken by Jesus, "He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."          Luke 4: 19 (NIV)

Jenny Baxter and her husband Stephen live in Australia 's island state of Tasmania with two of their five children. She is the editor of Christian Woman magazine (Australia/New Zealand) www.christianwoman.com.au , and hosts a Sunday radio show from 6-9am (GMT +10). You can listen online: www.ultra106five.com

Email: jbaxter@mediaincorp.com

The Baxter family is just about a community on their own! Here we are at the 2007 wedding of our eldest daughter: L-R Alice, Elliot, Hilary, Stephen, Marion & Luke, Jenny and Joe.