Beloved Church, 

John and I are back from down under where we not only had a fabulous time, but received the warmest welcome from the people of Melbourne. At our Spectrum this Sunday I’ll share more about our experience and what we might be able to learn from the Australians who welcomed us so well. 

As you might have heard, the 49ers won the game! (This is the NFL team John’s podcast follows and the reason we were in Australia.) There was a great deal of speculation before and after the game about the different ways the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams approached the international game, and I think there’s a lesson for the church in this tale of two teams.

The 49ers arrived in Melbourne a full week before the game. Throughout the week, in addition to practicing and adjusting to a new time zone, they spent time out in the city, engaging with Australians and fans. The Gold Rush cheerleaders were not allowed to perform at the game, as the Rams were the “home team,” but they flew all the way to Australia to participate in the outreach. Cheerleaders, players and other team representatives not only made appearances in the city, but spent time serving the community. They served meals at a community center, hosted a flag football clinic, visited kids at a children’s hospital and helped with a fundraising event for local organizations. The presence of the 49ers was clearly felt and had a meaningful impact on the city, converting new fans and fostering goodwill between the people of Melbourne and the NFL.

The Rams had a much different approach. They arrived in Melbourne 28 hours before kickoff and left immediately after the game. While they sponsored events, sending supplies and Rams gear to schools ahead of the game, they didn’t send people. And while they did send a couple of players to Melbourne earlier in the year to do some fan engagement and service, the difference between the engaged presence of the 49ers and the absence of the Rams during game week was felt by everyone in the city. 

The 49ers went home with full hearts, new fans, and a big win! The Rams went home defeated. 

Of course, these are businesses, and these decisions were made with different motivations than what motivates us as a church, but I think there’s something to be learned about an organization that is intentional about engaging a community with service and presence. One of our goals as a church is “to be a recognizable positive presence in the community”. How much are we showing up in Kensington and the other neighborhoods around us? How intentionally are we engaging with the people in our wider community? And when we do show up to serve, do people know who we are? 

We have an opportunity coming up to make our presence known in Kensington with the annual picnic and parade on Sunday, October 18th. Sara and I will host a table at the picnic, and of course Jaima will be there helping with food, but what if a group of ACC folks was out on the sidewalk when the parade came by, cheering everyone on? What if a bunch of us showed up in our ACC t-shirts at the picnic and spent time connecting with the community? 

We’re not looking to win a game, but we are looking to build community. 

Becoming a recognizable positive presence doesn’t happen by accident, it happens when organizations are intentional to show up, serve and engage. So let’s take a note from the 49ers in Melbourne and practice being present in our wider community in a visible and meaningful way.