what's fake all about then?

i suppose the first thing that needs clarifying is the name. what’s that all about? i’m a christian. there. i said it. shoot me down if you like but that’s the way it is. i’m very aware that many people think christianity is completely fake. that’s the first meaning behind the name: if christianity is fake then 'fake' is a place where i hope christianity will be defended.

the second thing to say is that i am a failing, fallen, fallible human being aspiring to a higher ideal. wanting to be like jesus but not there yet. in that sense i’m not the real thing – only jesus is i guess – i’m fake; but struggling for authenticity.

the third reason 'fake' is so called is that so much of what passes as christian just isn’t! not that i am setting out to be ‘the bearer of all truth,’ or that shane’s way is the only way. it’s just that i’m tired of being tarred with the same brush used on every whacked out, weird, extremist nutter who’s ever called herself a christian!

ok enough about the name!! it’s an evolving thing anyway...

fake is for those who are on the fringes, the disillusioned, the burnt out, the lonely, the afraid, the fallen, the broken, the outcast. fake is a call (sometimes only a whisper) to something more; a call to anyone who has ever sat in a church service and daydreamed of the possibility that there is more to relationship with the ineffable lord of the universe than is being shown here; fake is a challenge to us - the religious, the christians, the ones who have it all sorted - to be 'born again' again and a call to those outside, on the 'wrong' side, to come on in and be welcome. fake is a reminder to all of us that if anyone were to scratch beneath the surface, just a tiny bit, they may well conclude that we are indeed, fake.

fake will speak anywhere there's a welcome: prisons, churches, universities, pubs, homes... we love to speak with christians and people who aren't. we're not strictly for any particular age-group - probably generally adult(ish) the only thing we won't do is turn up once, do the talk and leave. we want to stick around for a little bit at least. to hear how the message goes down, what it meant to you in your situation, in your particular group. also what wasn't clear; what could we communicate better. so if you know of any burnt-out missionaries, pastors, teachers, wives, students who could really use some encouragement, training, prayer, conversation, love, then perhaps they could do with a fakeover. we'll work with a very small group or several thousand. why not give us a shout and see if we can make it happen.

if all this still sounds too unspecific that's because it really is emerging, hot-off-the-press kinda stuff. best way to get a feel for it is to get us involved with you in your little world and see how we can help each other.