We at Eikon speak quite a bit about paradox. In all parts of life, we find seemingly contradictory things that fit together in a mysterious and beautiful way. Last night at our weekly gathering, we made an announcement that brings with it a new sense of paradox.
Over the course of the last few months, through a season of focused prayer and critical examination of our community, we’ve made the difficult decision to bring the journey of Eikon Church to an end.
On one hand, there’s a been a great sense of sadness and loss for this decision. Just over 5 years ago, we set out to foster a community of people disillusioned with organized religion, church misfits and those seeking a community in which to explore what it really means to live in the way of Jesus. So, as we bring this community to an end, it’s with great sadness that we say farewell to this alternative brand of faith community we’ve created here in Little Rock.
Paradoxically, though, we enter an unexpected season of celebration. There’s an affirmation in the midst of our sense of loss, that, as the writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us, there is a “season for everything”. Over the last several years, we’ve experienced a season in which people have come back to faith after complete abandonment. People have discovered the way of Jesus for the first time. We’ve created long-lasting friendships with our neighbors in the streets. We’ve shared a space where people could be painfully honest about their doubts and uncertainties about God and faith. It’s been an incredible season that is worth celebrating, even as we come to terms with our sadness over the end of Eikon.
We aren’t turning the lights off and closing the doors just yet. Rather, we’ll be spending the next month having some very intentional conversations and teachings about transition. We’re most excited, though, for a final celebration gathering we’ll be having on Sunday, September 16. A funeral won’t be fitting for Eikon, so instead, we’ll spend one final night having a celebration of what has been done through the work of Eikon. We think it will be a night worth attending.
If you’d like any more information about our decision, you can either be a part of our upcoming Sunday night conversations or contact Ryan at ryan [at] eikonthechurch [dot] com.
Ryan Byrd, Lead Pastor
Kim Roth, Community Pastor
