Loft Resident, Sean Benesh. Born and raised in Iowa (ok … oh so NOT urban), I am married to my high school sweetheart, Katie, and we have 3 sons; Grant, Camden, and Seth. I hang out / office at local coffee shops too much where you can find me almost anytime. We live in Vancouver, BC and I’m in the beginning stages of starting the Ion Community as well as continuing to direct the Epoch Center.
You can click on Sean to email me.
June 12, 2008 at 4:23 am |
Hey Sean
…glad to have found this blog…via Ala Hirsh’s Facebook, then Epoch…isn’t the web great?!
Sounds like you are doing some interesting work there.
Peace & blessings
J
June 12, 2008 at 8:11 am |
Thanks for the kind words Johnny and thanks for finding me.
. I usually write for myself as it helps me process my own thoughts out loud and it’s great to hear every now and then someone jumps in.
Hope all is well in Oxford (did I see the correctly?),
Sean
June 13, 2008 at 5:35 am |
You’re very welcome , Sean.
OxTED is my little town, as opposed to much larger and more famous University city of OxFORD.
Not much to say about it, expect it’s small,, sleepy, pretty and typically English.
We love it here, though.
J
June 13, 2008 at 8:35 am |
LOL … oops! I just saw the “Ox” and I guess my brain filled in the rest.
September 30, 2008 at 11:22 pm |
Listen Sean, just a thought…why so complicated?
I live in Tucson, am dissatisfied with the way “Church” is being conducted, and will probably simply begin gathering with fellow Christians in my home. While looking over your website, what you’re wanting to do, all the jargon…I hope I don’t offend, but I find myself asking, where is the Lord in all of this Planning? Why such a focus on Urban Planning? It sounds so hectic, frantic, technical, and complicated. Makes me tired just reading it. Here in Tucson, we’re not so complicated (except maybe on the UofA campus, but then, most of them will be leaving eventually). We just want to gather together, read the Gospel, help one another, and enjoy Jesus. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Again, just a thought (or two)…
October 1, 2008 at 5:48 am |
Thank you Marilyn for your thoughts. You’re right … it doesn’t have to be complicated nor should it be at all. We have made the process of starting churches so highly technical and professionalized that you need an MBA to start one. What I advocate and long for is a simple movement of simple churches started by everyday Christians throughout the city. The problem is that idea or notion is not normal in our thinking. Our imaginations have been held captive by a certain way of “doing church” that we cannot envision doing them or starting churches any other way.
I think what we’re up against within the church is an institutionalized culture that has not “given permission” to Christians everywhere to have the freedom to start simple organic churches. Therefore, when I blog I hope to bring light to that and advocate this cultural change.
Why urban / city focus? Simply put, because the majority of church planting takes place in the suburbs and we’re neglecting our cities as a whole.
Thank you for sharing and I appreciate your willingness to do so.
December 2, 2008 at 12:28 pm |
Hey Sean,
Found your site via twitter, social media networking at it’s finest.
Really fascinated with this group, would love to learn more about it. The organization I work with (Mission Year) seems to be in close alignment with the movement of this group. We are an urban inter-denominational volunteer program that plants young people on teams in urban under-resourced neighborhoods to live for a year. Serving, living, worshipping and learning to be a good neighbor. All in their community. We believe in building community, building the Kingdom through our lifestyle, in our neighborhoods, right where we are. We choose to focus on urban communities because, like you, we believe our cities house some of those most marginalized and have become the most neglected/under-resourced. We currently have 5 teams doing this in Chicago ( N Lawndale, Little Village, East & West Garfield Park, and Englewood), but are also in 5 other cities nationally.
Let me know how could network further. Seems like it could be a great opportunity to share stories.
Keep on doing what you’re doing.
God’s Peace
Ashley
April 1, 2009 at 1:13 pm |
Howdy Sean
Long time no talk…give me a call sometime and I can fill you in on all the “junk” but mostly to give you an update on the Johnson Family…some good things have happened this year and some not so good. We will be grandparents in June (that’s good). Lisa just has a Bilateral Mastectomy and will start Chemo in 3 weeks (not as good). Kayla is off to University of Central Florida (that’s ok), while Brit is off to dreaded ASU (that’s not ok)…anyways, I miss talking to you and I have since taken up street biking and have barely used the mountain bike. Peace