The Courage To Be Present: A Study of the Ways the Church Embodies the Gospel Among the YMCA

The purpose of this thesis paper is to answer the driving question, “What are the ways the church embodies the gospel among the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne?” Through qualitative research with fourteen anonymously selected members of the YMCA(henceforth referred to as the ‘Y’), the cultural forces of secularity and anxiety were found to have an interesting effect on how Christians from varying church traditions participated in the mission of the Y and lived out the gospel there.

Further cultural and theological reflection in this thesis paper provides fresh insights as to ways the church is present among the Y members, as well as proposing experiments for how Christians might courageously extend the presence of Christ.

The findings of this thesis paper do not make claims for all Christians of all traditions among the Y. Rather it reflects upon what members from each of the six membership branches shared through the interview questions. The YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne has over 60,000 members across a three-county area, comprised of a variety of Christian church traditions and religions.

The experiments proposed include further inquiries into the ways the church embodies the gospel there as a way to participate in the fulfillment of the YMCA mission "to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all." Central to the YMCA mission is the gospel prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ, found in John 17:21, “that they may all be one.” There may be ways we can retrieve cultural and theological resources concerning this Christian vision of flourishing and communion, forming Christians from a variety of traditions to faithfully live out the gospel embodied through the YMCA’s mission in this anxious secular age.

This thesis paper was published in 2017 to complete the requirements for the Doctor of Ministry Contextual Theology & Missional Leadership program at Northern Seminary, Lisle IL.