Introduction

The title of this blog, "Transforming in Community" is nothing catchy or clever. It is merely honest. This blog is setting out to be honest and real. One of the things that God has been teaching me in the past year is that Christians are supposed to be open with each other. We should encourage each other in the Body of Christ not only through sharing wisdom and praise with one another, but sharing our struggles. As it says in James 5:16: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." Being raw and vulnerable with one another is what truly grows Christian community. And if the prayers of righteous people are powerful and effective why wouldn't we want to be open with each other?
This year, I am participating in what is a called a living-learning community at my Christian college. This consists of a group of men and women living in separate on-campus apartments and throwing ourselves into learning about what it means to live in true Christian community. We have started out our study by reading "Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In addition to living in community among ourselves, we are transferring what we are learning into our larger college community by leading Bible studies and creating a general atmosphere of intentional radical living for Jesus Christ.
And God knows what he is doing, because all this living in Christian community stuff is happening while I am taking a spiritual formation class. This class requires each student to create a blog and post about what we are learning each week. Therefore, I will be reflecting not only on spiritual disciplines, but on how the things I am discovering through this class are aiding me and my fellow community members in living for Jesus.
So back to the title of this blog. The word "transform" has been the word from scripture that sticks out to me and won't leave me alone. My testimony is that of a woman who is constantly being turned into something new. The word comes from Romans 12:2-

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Well, here I go God. I am renewing my mind by learning, and letting myself be transformed by it. Through this learning I am trusting that God will transform myself and my community and that we will better understand what God's will is for our college campus and beyond.