Vision Casting for the Cube
by Luke McConnell
It has been six months since I came on staff at Council Road. I’ve learned a lot, including the fact the CUBE is, shall we say, unpredictable. You just never know when flipping one breaker will blow the power in the whole building.
In addition to learning a lot about the CUBE itself and the people that darken the doors every day, I’ve begun to put together a vision for what I’d like to see at the CUBE and how we can better utilize the facility to serve the community around us.
Here are some of the things we’ve put into motion at the CUBE in 2020:
- We’ve partnered with Variety Care to host Lunch and Learns over topics that are relevant to our senior adults. We will be doing these quarterly throughout the year. We will also be working with Variety Care to provide free, basic health screenings on a quarterly basis. The next one is Tuesday, March 10, at 11:30 a.m.
- We’ve also partnered with Oklahoma Blood Institute to host blood drives periodically throughout the year. We have two more scheduled for 2020—June 22 and September 14.
- I loved what Pastor Rick said on Sunday about the need to fight the illiteracy issue at a base level by getting more involved in our schools. We’re currently working on becoming a host site for Whiz Kids, an after-school program sponsored by City Care. We will need volunteers to make this program a reality. Please begin thinking and praying about your role in this!
The CUBE is a community facility, but it’s yours as well. When was the last time you came to the CUBE for something other than a church event? To work out? To play basketball? To attend a workout class?
Without your involvement in the activities of the CUBE, we cannot serve the community. It’s really quite simple. Your presence is necessary for the community to see how much we care about them. We want to not only provide this space for them, but also be involved in their lives.
Matthew 9:36 says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” There are a lot of people who come to the CUBE who are harassed and helpless, either currently or in the past. But compassion for these people doesn’t come naturally. Why? Because compassion requires proximity. We can’t have compassion for people we’re never around.
Jesus was among the crowds. He walked with them, talked with them, healed them and fed them. We need to be among the crowds, the community around 30th and Council, where God has placed us to bring hope to those who desperately need it.
The following are ways you can do that:
- Instead of meeting someone at Starbucks for discipleship, come to the CUBE. There are plenty of spaces to sit and talk, and we even have coffee! Think about the impact it can make on someone who isn’t a Christian to see two church members sitting together and engaging in conversation about what God is doing in their lives.
- In light of our “Live Simply, Give Generously” mantra for missions month, did you know the CUBE is FREE for Council Road members? How much does your gym cost? Working out at the CUBE would save you money you could then contribute to our missions offering. Is the number of free weights at Planet Fitness that important?
- Volunteer. We’re always looking for volunteers to work the front desk at the CUBE. We have a tremendous group of men and women who give up time every week to do this, but we can always use more. This is a great way to get to know the people who come to the CUBE each day, and also a way to get to know your fellow church members. I’m not asking for six hours a week. Perhaps you can give an hour or two every other Tuesday.
There is so much potential at the CUBE, and it’s my intention to make the most of it. But we’re all in this together. I can’t do it alone, and the current volunteers at the CUBE can’t do it alone. We need to work together as an entire church to maximize this great facility and to see how God uses it to change the community around us.
Author Bio
Luke serves as the Cube Director at Council Road. He previously worked at Channel 9 as a sports writer and an account executive. He also serves as the play-by-play voice for Southern Nazarene athletics. Luke graduated from OU in 2011. Luke and his wife, Mary, have been members at Council Road since 2012. They have two-year-old twin boys, Jackson and Cameron. Mary teaches third grade at Wiley Post Elementary. They also serve in the Student Ministry and help lead a home group.