One of the hardest things about my ministry is the inherent sense of
innovation. This approach to doing ministry, modeled after the first
century, is so old that it's new to most people. Concepts like making
relationship, listening to people's stories and community building do
not fit well and are not highly valued in our culture. 21st century
American society uses paradigms that place a premium on the quick fix
that one gets from a targeted programmatic intervention, not consensus
building and inclusion.
I found a great joy last week when I connected with Mike Mather at Broadway Methodist in Indianapolis.
A conversation I had with Tim Knauff, a
Lutheran in South Bend, led me to Mike, who is doing a ministry virtually the
same as I. Arrangements were made and I got in contact with Mike,
who introduced me to De'Amon Harges.
De'Amon works with Eric to make relationships and then connect people in the community, which is a mirror of my work in South Bend. It was
awesome to talk with people who have an active ministry doing what I
do-suddenly I don't feel so alone.
This
blog posting turned into an object lesson in relationships and
networking. Just look how I was encouraged and nourished by
relationships. It would be easy to create a programmatic response with
appropriate outcome data for the areas to which I
minister, but that action invalidates the people I seek to serve.
Spending time on relationship builds up, validates and acknowledges
people to fulfill the greatest commandment. Even though I write about ministry, there is immense value to enhancing relationship in marriage, friendship and work associations.
I recognize the
value, the necessity, of sitting in this formative time of relationship
making, but the notion of a quick fix is very seductive. It just seems
wrong somehow to not take action, however, jumping to a solution and
doing what I think is needed, the way we have always responded, is
clearly not the right way to go. The importance of spending time in
relationship was underlined by Mike in Indy and by another friend who I
met in Indianapolis, Bob Lupton of FCS/Desire Street
in Atlanta. Mike and Bob both talked about some of their mistakes and one common theme was the failure to make relationship with those they sought to help. People who
are doing effective community ministry talk about how the relationships of a successful
ministry are years in the making.
We miss out on a lot when we fail to slow down. When time spent
in discernment and relationship is neglected, we lose ears for the still small voice. I was just reading an article today about how our society has
done away with downtime and eliminated sacred space. Sure, there is
action and excitement in community ministry, but it is when we take time
for reflection and relationship that the real work is accomplished.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Big visions and little dreams
I was talking to a Lutheran pastor last week who told me about a Methodist church in Indianapolis that had a person they called a "roving listener". That's a pretty cool title for what I feel like I am doing in the far northwest side of South Bend. I just go and listen. It's more fulfilling when our conversations can touch on God, but that only happens about half the time. A lot of people have trouble doing what I do, which is amazing to me because talking to people comes so natural to me.
I have been working on developing a vision for my ministry and talking to all these people is a help. It occurred to me the other day, though, that I am at a point where I need to decide if this is a little dream or if it's a place for a big vision. So much depends upon the willingness of the churches to invest in me and this ministry because I can do a bunch of little things in the community here and there that meet some needs, but to create a lasting and powerful ministry is going to require time.
I've started by submitting an initiative to the South Bend Housing Authority which has been favorably received. I'm waiting to hear from them about some of their requirements before I can start teaching some elementary computer skills classes. I have a vision of expanding that program to the point where it can be self-replicating in other housing projects throughout the city, but, again, that is a vision that requires investment.
I met with a woman today who told me how to start up a soup kitchen and it sounds like something I could do. That's part of my huge vision for the area-a soup kitchen, food co-op and clothing. Putting something like this in place will require a lot of work, time, effort and volunteers. This is something that I could do.
Part of the issue is having the faith to step out and do this. It worries me to think about the funding (particularly my salary), but I also know that I need to have faith in the venture. If this is God's will nothing can stand in its way. I preach about having faith and God's everpresent support so I suppose this is the time for me to live out my words and stand on my faith. I believe this is what disciples are charged to do so I need to just do it.
I have been working on developing a vision for my ministry and talking to all these people is a help. It occurred to me the other day, though, that I am at a point where I need to decide if this is a little dream or if it's a place for a big vision. So much depends upon the willingness of the churches to invest in me and this ministry because I can do a bunch of little things in the community here and there that meet some needs, but to create a lasting and powerful ministry is going to require time.
I've started by submitting an initiative to the South Bend Housing Authority which has been favorably received. I'm waiting to hear from them about some of their requirements before I can start teaching some elementary computer skills classes. I have a vision of expanding that program to the point where it can be self-replicating in other housing projects throughout the city, but, again, that is a vision that requires investment.
I met with a woman today who told me how to start up a soup kitchen and it sounds like something I could do. That's part of my huge vision for the area-a soup kitchen, food co-op and clothing. Putting something like this in place will require a lot of work, time, effort and volunteers. This is something that I could do.
Part of the issue is having the faith to step out and do this. It worries me to think about the funding (particularly my salary), but I also know that I need to have faith in the venture. If this is God's will nothing can stand in its way. I preach about having faith and God's everpresent support so I suppose this is the time for me to live out my words and stand on my faith. I believe this is what disciples are charged to do so I need to just do it.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
neighborhood good news
I am surprised by the way different people hear the gospel message. For example, I met with a guy and his understanding of disciple making and evangelism was connected with church growth. He framed all his outreach as how it grew the congregation and so he had no interest in working on community ministry. I didn't pursue this discussion to far, but read the gospel in such a different way.
Later that day I found myself in the far northwest neighborhood and I spent a lot of time talking with Richard. I talked to him and a couple other guys about food pantries as well as soup kitchen. They were really excited about the possibility of something like that moving into the area. There are no real social services in the far northwest so people have to travel a long way to get food. This possibility would be good news to the neighborhood. We talked about God and church and other religious stuff and it was interesting to hear their theological take on things.
The two churches I work for generously provided me with the opportunity to attend the AND Conference at Granger Community Church. GCC is the local mega-church and, while their worship style doesn't speak to me, the conference featured some huge names. I have idolized Alan Hirsch for years and he was the main speaker at the gathering. I ran into Alan in the bathroom and had him sign my book. I got to hear him speak twice and he gave me a copy of his new book. I also got to hear Mike Breen, High Halter and Brandon Hatmaker.
The message is that the church has to change. The church must go out to that part of the society that it does not touch and impact people missionally. Just what I am doing! I wonder if I am moving too quickly when I hear these guys talking about spending years doing evaluation and interviews before acting. It was fulfilling to hear other talk about what I have felt since seminary. The challenge is figuring out how to do it.
Later that day I found myself in the far northwest neighborhood and I spent a lot of time talking with Richard. I talked to him and a couple other guys about food pantries as well as soup kitchen. They were really excited about the possibility of something like that moving into the area. There are no real social services in the far northwest so people have to travel a long way to get food. This possibility would be good news to the neighborhood. We talked about God and church and other religious stuff and it was interesting to hear their theological take on things.
The two churches I work for generously provided me with the opportunity to attend the AND Conference at Granger Community Church. GCC is the local mega-church and, while their worship style doesn't speak to me, the conference featured some huge names. I have idolized Alan Hirsch for years and he was the main speaker at the gathering. I ran into Alan in the bathroom and had him sign my book. I got to hear him speak twice and he gave me a copy of his new book. I also got to hear Mike Breen, High Halter and Brandon Hatmaker.
The message is that the church has to change. The church must go out to that part of the society that it does not touch and impact people missionally. Just what I am doing! I wonder if I am moving too quickly when I hear these guys talking about spending years doing evaluation and interviews before acting. It was fulfilling to hear other talk about what I have felt since seminary. The challenge is figuring out how to do it.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
church versus ministry
I didn't publish a post last week as I usually do because we had two missionaries from Nicaragua staying at our house. I was doing translation work all week and was simply too tired to post.
The last couple weeks were spent meeting up with people including other pastors. These experiences have been weird to say the least. I met with one committee and was describing my ministry to them when one individual asked me what I wanted from them. Apparently, this church, which is wealthy, is used to being asked to fund mission and ministry. I was taken aback and told them I didn't want their money-what I was asking for was their prayers and I wanted them to prepare themselves for when I asked them to participate in my ministry. I'm thinking I didn't make a good impression because we had such different ideas of doing ministry. Financial support is essential to a community ministry, but those supporters need to buy into the vision and I guess I didn't cast a good vision.
Another pastor I met with is a very faithful guy. He is pushing the church he serves to do more Bible study and to become serious about inviting others to church. He told me about some of the outreach things they had done and how many people they had served. The down-side to the mission work was that not one of those people were grateful for the assistance nor did they attend worship at that church. For this pastor, mission meant growing the church and he felt that was his calling as well as the Biblical mandate. He went on to say that it was his thought that doing ministry to the community without directing them to a church was sort of a waste of time.
These were some pretty crazy conversations. My understanding of mission and ministry is so very different. Helping people with their relationship with God is one thing, but church membership is another entirely. When Jesus asked Peter if he loved him he said "Feed my sheep", not go to church. Jesus didn't even say to go buy sheep food, but to feed the flock. Mission and ministry are about making relationships. To love people, care for them and feed them we have to know them. This is the model of the Christ; Jesus became fully human to know us.
I did have some fun last week at a conference with Pat Meagly, Delray Brooks and Kevin Bacon. I was at a session meeting and got funded to go to a conference with Alan Hirsch presenting.
Best of all I'm beginning to get some vision of where this ministry should go. I feel resource poor, but I fe
el like God's gonna make it work. It is really hard getting my ego out of the picture so that God can work. I started getting scared, too. I'm asking for a Damascus Road experience but I don't want to be struck blind. Before you laugh, I'm praying hard for God to give me a vision and that's how God worked in the past.
Please pray for me, follow my blog, give comments and offer direction!
The last couple weeks were spent meeting up with people including other pastors. These experiences have been weird to say the least. I met with one committee and was describing my ministry to them when one individual asked me what I wanted from them. Apparently, this church, which is wealthy, is used to being asked to fund mission and ministry. I was taken aback and told them I didn't want their money-what I was asking for was their prayers and I wanted them to prepare themselves for when I asked them to participate in my ministry. I'm thinking I didn't make a good impression because we had such different ideas of doing ministry. Financial support is essential to a community ministry, but those supporters need to buy into the vision and I guess I didn't cast a good vision.
Another pastor I met with is a very faithful guy. He is pushing the church he serves to do more Bible study and to become serious about inviting others to church. He told me about some of the outreach things they had done and how many people they had served. The down-side to the mission work was that not one of those people were grateful for the assistance nor did they attend worship at that church. For this pastor, mission meant growing the church and he felt that was his calling as well as the Biblical mandate. He went on to say that it was his thought that doing ministry to the community without directing them to a church was sort of a waste of time.
These were some pretty crazy conversations. My understanding of mission and ministry is so very different. Helping people with their relationship with God is one thing, but church membership is another entirely. When Jesus asked Peter if he loved him he said "Feed my sheep", not go to church. Jesus didn't even say to go buy sheep food, but to feed the flock. Mission and ministry are about making relationships. To love people, care for them and feed them we have to know them. This is the model of the Christ; Jesus became fully human to know us.
I did have some fun last week at a conference with Pat Meagly, Delray Brooks and Kevin Bacon. I was at a session meeting and got funded to go to a conference with Alan Hirsch presenting.
Best of all I'm beginning to get some vision of where this ministry should go. I feel resource poor, but I fe
el like God's gonna make it work. It is really hard getting my ego out of the picture so that God can work. I started getting scared, too. I'm asking for a Damascus Road experience but I don't want to be struck blind. Before you laugh, I'm praying hard for God to give me a vision and that's how God worked in the past.
Please pray for me, follow my blog, give comments and offer direction!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Vision quest
I had a good week running around the neighborhood, but, once again, I felt drawn to the Keller Park area. I spent time helping Mack repair his garage, since he's physically not able to do that. I talked to a young guy who had his clothes taken by a guy who was allowed to move into the home but turned out to be a gang-banger and thug. I had no money and no way of helping this guy; it occurred to me how resource poor this area is.
I had time to sit with Gene a little on Friday and he suggested that I do some work on a vision for the ministry. He mentioned and I re-read Habakkuk today. "Though it tarry's, wait for it." resonates with me. I have been praying for this vision and waiting for it, but I still feel very unsure about the whole thing. I've generated a list of projects and talked to a lot of people to get their impression so I need to let this steep. My friend suggested I give it 40 days which would take me to the 9th of this month. I don't like to give God a deadline, but maybe it's me that needs this deadline.
I spent the day doing a lot of reading on casting visions and so on, but there's not a lot to read about this. I feel like my situation is so unique that what is written doesn't apply. On the other hand, I know that's just not so and I continue to look for Biblical examples that are similar to my situation. I started reading Jeremiah because I have a sense of being unsupported in this ministry. Don't get me wrong, I know there are people I can touch for emotional support, but there aren't too many to walk with me. I sort of sense that God sent me out to develop a community or identify others to walk with me in that task. I just feels like a big job.
As I think about the coming week I think about how I can work on this vision. I know I'm going to have to spend time in prayer and meditation, but that's hard because it's not really "doing" anything. It's hard for me to shake that impulse to do rather than simply spend time with God. I don't have a prayer closet or a place in which I feel especially close to God. I need to develop such a place or mind-set here in MI. I know that prayer and meditation are vital disciplines to my ministry.
I had time to sit with Gene a little on Friday and he suggested that I do some work on a vision for the ministry. He mentioned and I re-read Habakkuk today. "Though it tarry's, wait for it." resonates with me. I have been praying for this vision and waiting for it, but I still feel very unsure about the whole thing. I've generated a list of projects and talked to a lot of people to get their impression so I need to let this steep. My friend suggested I give it 40 days which would take me to the 9th of this month. I don't like to give God a deadline, but maybe it's me that needs this deadline.
I spent the day doing a lot of reading on casting visions and so on, but there's not a lot to read about this. I feel like my situation is so unique that what is written doesn't apply. On the other hand, I know that's just not so and I continue to look for Biblical examples that are similar to my situation. I started reading Jeremiah because I have a sense of being unsupported in this ministry. Don't get me wrong, I know there are people I can touch for emotional support, but there aren't too many to walk with me. I sort of sense that God sent me out to develop a community or identify others to walk with me in that task. I just feels like a big job.
As I think about the coming week I think about how I can work on this vision. I know I'm going to have to spend time in prayer and meditation, but that's hard because it's not really "doing" anything. It's hard for me to shake that impulse to do rather than simply spend time with God. I don't have a prayer closet or a place in which I feel especially close to God. I need to develop such a place or mind-set here in MI. I know that prayer and meditation are vital disciplines to my ministry.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
New Stuff
It took a conversation after worship with Dave H. to help me realize that I have been touched by miracles this week. Probably the most awesome thing was what happened to a homeless couple I met a couple weeks ago.
I met Rob and Lisa about three weeks ago when I ran into them walking the streets. They were out of work and so had lost their place. On top of that, Rob, who does carpentry, had his tools stolen, which is along story. The couple was in the process of suing to get the tools, but things were just not going their way. I saw this couple a few other times and spoke with them to find that their lot had not changed. Imagine my joy when I saw them this week and they told me that they had a place to stay! Granted, they still struggle, but, as Lisa put it, "God is helping us and it's just a matter of time.". This is a miracle.
Everyday I am talking to people who struggle with difficulties, but they are not beaten. I talk to felons who can't get a job but keep trying. I talk to people who live in neighborhoods plagued by crime but are not willing to leave. I talk to people who are discriminated, marginalized and silenced: down but not out. The majority of people I talk to have a faith that God has not deserted them and that God is present in their lives. This is the miracle! God touches peoples' lives so that even in the valley they rely upon the divine presence.
Society is quick to discount those who have less and by the world's definition are less. Even the church forgets that this was the group of people to which Jesus ministered. Christians love success stories and even those who are in the process of change, but we have a hard time meeting those who are in the depths. We feel a lot more comfortable with people who share our values and goals in life, people who are doing what we thing they ought. Our perceptions are conformed, not transformed.
I pray that God touches my heart so that when I talk to anyone they see Jesus in my eyes.
I met Rob and Lisa about three weeks ago when I ran into them walking the streets. They were out of work and so had lost their place. On top of that, Rob, who does carpentry, had his tools stolen, which is along story. The couple was in the process of suing to get the tools, but things were just not going their way. I saw this couple a few other times and spoke with them to find that their lot had not changed. Imagine my joy when I saw them this week and they told me that they had a place to stay! Granted, they still struggle, but, as Lisa put it, "God is helping us and it's just a matter of time.". This is a miracle.
Everyday I am talking to people who struggle with difficulties, but they are not beaten. I talk to felons who can't get a job but keep trying. I talk to people who live in neighborhoods plagued by crime but are not willing to leave. I talk to people who are discriminated, marginalized and silenced: down but not out. The majority of people I talk to have a faith that God has not deserted them and that God is present in their lives. This is the miracle! God touches peoples' lives so that even in the valley they rely upon the divine presence.
Society is quick to discount those who have less and by the world's definition are less. Even the church forgets that this was the group of people to which Jesus ministered. Christians love success stories and even those who are in the process of change, but we have a hard time meeting those who are in the depths. We feel a lot more comfortable with people who share our values and goals in life, people who are doing what we thing they ought. Our perceptions are conformed, not transformed.
I pray that God touches my heart so that when I talk to anyone they see Jesus in my eyes.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Making Contacts
The last week of community ministry has been pretty inspiring. I met with a couple of pastors who have hearts for community ministry. It was a pleasure talking with guys who are so missional but grounded in the Word as well. Some doors are opening and I continue to pray for discernment.
I met today with a guy who would like to do a bi-racial church plant. This man has connections in the neighborhood and this seems to be a beneficial relationship for both of us. A difficulty is that the churches I'm working with are not so excited to share their worship space with another congregation. I am enthused to consider preaching and teaching with this guy and starting something new that isn't being done in South Bend. However, I have been a pastor long enough to realize how attached congregations can become to their buildings. I pray that God will make God's will known so that this gets worked out.
In conversation with one of these ministers it was pointed out to me that I might be overextending. I am concerned that the two churches feel a part of this ministry and I feel as if I have been focusing primarily on the more southern part of the area. The area to the north is more affluent and I think there is less need, but I am making that assumption without speaking to folks. My intention is to begin to invest some more time in the northern part of the territory.
I made multiple phone calls today and I'm trying to get together with the area pastors. I don't know who would be interested in partnering up, but we will see. I've made some appointments, but I've also left a lot of messages.
It seems to me that God is active in this ministry. God is moving things in such a way that ministry opportunities are present. I think this brings folks up to date and so I'm going to slow the frequency of posts to weekly now.
Oh, I got a call to discuss and interim position. The position would be 2/3rds time in a church about an hour from Niles. It was a temptation to accept this call, but I ended up saying no. I don't know this sort of temptation is happening at this time. Depending on your pneumatology, one could see this as the intervention of evil to frustrate the work of the Spirit.
I met today with a guy who would like to do a bi-racial church plant. This man has connections in the neighborhood and this seems to be a beneficial relationship for both of us. A difficulty is that the churches I'm working with are not so excited to share their worship space with another congregation. I am enthused to consider preaching and teaching with this guy and starting something new that isn't being done in South Bend. However, I have been a pastor long enough to realize how attached congregations can become to their buildings. I pray that God will make God's will known so that this gets worked out.
In conversation with one of these ministers it was pointed out to me that I might be overextending. I am concerned that the two churches feel a part of this ministry and I feel as if I have been focusing primarily on the more southern part of the area. The area to the north is more affluent and I think there is less need, but I am making that assumption without speaking to folks. My intention is to begin to invest some more time in the northern part of the territory.
I made multiple phone calls today and I'm trying to get together with the area pastors. I don't know who would be interested in partnering up, but we will see. I've made some appointments, but I've also left a lot of messages.
It seems to me that God is active in this ministry. God is moving things in such a way that ministry opportunities are present. I think this brings folks up to date and so I'm going to slow the frequency of posts to weekly now.
Oh, I got a call to discuss and interim position. The position would be 2/3rds time in a church about an hour from Niles. It was a temptation to accept this call, but I ended up saying no. I don't know this sort of temptation is happening at this time. Depending on your pneumatology, one could see this as the intervention of evil to frustrate the work of the Spirit.
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