Location, location, location. Posted August 10, 2010 by Aaron Story

If you've ever found an apartment, condo, or home you learn quickly this is the realtor's mantra. And it becomes our mantra so quickly. Depending on your life stage conversations about the right location usually revolve around a number of the usual variables.

The schools, shopping, night light, property taxes, general convenience, etc. Where do you live? Who you live around? And of course comes with that who we don't live around? Or who we don't want to live around? Location, location, location!

If you've lived in Indy for awhile it's easy to throw out names of neighborhoods and quickly find stark contrast. Indy is known for many of it's distinct neighborhoods. In fact, we are quite divided by neighborhoods. Irvington or Haughville? Meridian-Kessler or Fountain Square? Mentioning neighborhoods can easily cause immediate reactions to vary.

This isn't just try in the city, but In the suburbs as well. Although the neighborhoods are divided less by geography and location and more simply economic standards stated Usually, right on the sign in front of the newer neighborhoods. On signs as you drive by neighborhoods list homes from the 110's, homes from the 175's, homes from the 300's, and gated community starting in the 500's.

All to easily, followers of Christ are easily swept up into the location oriented journey as we consider where we move. Although in our “judeo-Christian” emphasis we are likely to pray along the way, in our search for the right location we often miss greater purposes and calling the Lord desires for us. I remember the last time I asked some friends if they believed the Lord has sent them to their neighborhood? And if not, would they consider moving to the east side to serve with IMC East? *Cricket, cricket.*

Simply stated, what if where the Lord wants us to live isn't oriented around the locations mantra? I mean, what if the schools, shopping, night life, property taxes, and general convenience of a location aren't the primary indicators the Lord wants to use in guiding you? What if the Lord wants you to determine your location by a completely different set of values? Huh?

At Indy Metro, we have seen families and singles move into the east side in particular primarily to build up Indy Metro Church. Yes, I said it. There are people moving into a location because of their desire to have a deeper impact and connectivity in their church. Crazy right?

People have actually relocated specifically not because of schools, jobs, convenience but because of their church. What if the Lord would want you to do the same thing? Are you open to that? Of course, you can certainly expect not shortage of people to consider you off your rocker, ask you to find a new Realtor, and question your Jesus.

While many of you might find this idea crazy, what if you started to live a little crazy. I mean, what if you dared to consider a new adventure. If you've been attending IMC East or call this your church, you should know we are still in an important stage of building the foundation of this east side church.

Now, if you're convinced you've been called to your current location, make the most of it. Love your neighbors. Build the Kingdom. Bloom where you've been planted. However, if you're not sure or don't think you have then join others in the east side. We love new neighbors. Heck, we will even brings cookies to you. ;)

Be a part of something greater than yourself as a Christ follower. Be apart of the local church.

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