Why would a church have a rhino for its mascot? Some have joked that we have the rhino as a symbol, because it takes thick skin to be around us. The real story started when Pastor David heard a message from a pastor from California, named Erwin McManus, who talked about a group of rhinoceroses being called a “crash.”

These huge animals can only see a very limited distance, but can actually run over thirty miles per hour, and if they run into something, that object is likely to be moved! McManus’s contention was that the church in America has lived too long in fear and isolation, and needs to trust God to move boldly into the future. The metaphor is a powerful one, when we remember the description of the first group of Christians. They were bold and prayed for more boldness. When they prayed to speak the word of God more boldly, Acts 4:31 says the place where they were assembled was shaken. Those were men and women just like us, who trusted Jesus’ promise that He will build His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). As those first Christians lived and spoke boldly, they impacted their world for Christ. The people of Thessalonica went so far as to claim that Paul and his fellow Christians had turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).

A lot of us are concerned about the condition of our society. There is so much brokenness and godlessness around us. No one is arguing that. The question is, how will we respond? Fear, or faith? We keep the rhino in front of us to help us remember to live boldly for Christ. May this place be shaken, because God is moving among us and leading us to point people to Him!