"What can we spare?" vs. "What will it take?"

Some friends of mine have been impacted by the book Radical by David Platte, so I got it from the library to read during these 2 weeks of vacation.  One reviewer said this book kept him constantly saying either "Amen!" or "Ouch!"--in a good way.  David Platt challenges us to consider how much we (American Christians) have bought into the ideas behind the "American Dream," and challenges us to live radically, as the Bible truly calls us to.

If I owned this book, no doubt I would be underlining and writing notes all over the place.  Maybe I'll buy it later.  But for now, let me share a quote:

"How many people have not believed because they have not heard?  What will it take for those people to hear?  Have they not heard because there is no one to tell them?  What can we do, in obedience to God, to change a world in which there are millions and millions of people who cannot call on the name of the Lord? Most of us would say we know the answer to that question.  Many of us would say we are even doing things to change the situation.  But the truth is, there will continue to be millions and millions of people who do not hear as long as we continue to use spare time and spare money to reach them.  Those are two radically different questions.  "What can we spare?" and "What will it take?" (qtd in Radical, by David Platt, p. 129)

An Amazing End to the Summer

Not gonna lie.  This was the most exhausting summer of my life.  But God was SO gracious.  Most weeks as I work with a visiting team of youth, try to continue pouring into the youth group I lead, and coordinate communication with families and transportation to our kids programs, I find the work to be rewarding but exhausting.  But this summer I had something to look forward to through all the insanity: my brother was coming. :) 

And not only my brother Tyler, but the youth group he leads!  And a good family friend I had not seen for years!  And a phenomenal youth team from Brainerd, returning for their 4th time!  And, as the icing on the cake, God surprised us all by leading my sister, JaNae, to NOT go on a road trip to Colorado, but to stay for the week and join us for our sports camp.

JaNae (left) and other beloved young ladies.

One of the groups at our sports camp. I wonder what's so interesting about Tyler's forehead...

Wow.  God gives good gifts to his children.  Instead of being exhausted in this 6th week of being insanely busy, I had energy and joy, because I was literally surrounded by people I know and love.

Let me share a little tidbit that was especially cool to me: There were a few girls in Tyler's youth group who I have known since 2004.  That was the summer that I first got out of my comfort zone to be a camp counselor.  There were a couple of 3rd graders in my cabin that I thought were especially cute, and I'm sure I prayed for them a lot back then.  I loved counseling, and I returned the next summer, and there were those cute little girls again.  In fact, I had them in my cabin for four years.  Since then, four more years have passed, and now they are high schoolers.  It was such a joy to see them at the age I was when I first met them and to know that I had an impact on them back then that is helping them to step out now and minister to others.


On Friday, we had a brief visit with the Roseau youth group as they were returning from their own mission trip in St. Paul.  I noticed that among them was a girl I had in Vacation Bible School when I was in 8th grade (my first time volunteering with VBS) and she was in 2nd.  Again, how fun to see what God has brought about since then!

 Props to all you camp counselors and children's ministry workers.  God is using you in ways you may never know.  But I hope He gives you a glimpse of the fruit of the labors, as He did for me.

God at Work through Youth Missions

 

In high school, I had the privilege of going on four short-term mission trips with my youth group.  These were unforgettable experiences that played a pretty big role in giving me a passion for ministry, a heart for the poor, and strong bonds with the rest of my youth group which continue to this day.  Back then, I didn’t know that one day I would be facilitating the same sort of growth for hundreds of teens. 

One of the teams that served with us.  Yeah, I missed the memo that they were taking a photo.  Oops.

This summer over 170 teens and leaders served us and the people of Northeast Minneapolis, and we did our best to serve them and help them grow through the experience.  God certainly was at work in many lives this summer, and I want to give you a small taste of that.  Here are some things teens and leaders said at a debriefing time after their mission trip.  Rejoice with me, for God has done great things!

·      One student began to see that God is always at work, even in the little things

·      Several students expressed that they never really understood the power of prayer until this week.  They saw specific prayers answered.  Some that were mentioned:

o       For the true love of God to pour through us to the kids

o       For energy at times of extreme exhaustion

o       God’s total control over the weather

·      Several students had not intended to go on the trip, but somehow God had led them there.  By the end of the week, they could see that God had a grand purpose for bringing them on this trip to Northeast Minneapolis.

·      Some students remarked how this trip meshed their youth group together in a way they had never experienced before.  Others expressed amazement at how two youth groups from different places quickly became like a family!

·      Two students confessed that before the trip they really disliked each other.  This was something that both of them were nervous about and were praying about as they went into the trip.  On the second night, God just did something!  He broke both of their hearts, and there was reconciliation…and new friends.

·      Some students were pushed out of their comfort zones…and at the end of the week they were very glad for that experience!  Students shared the gospel with strangers on the streets; they went prayer-walking through the neighborhoods, praying out loud and asking strangers if they wanted prayer; some made phone calls to strangers; others did service projects that stretched them out of their comfort zone.  Some were way out of their element just working with kids, but found it to be extremely rewarding.  All of them found that they needed to depend on God more in these situations, and they realized that He was always there with them to help them.

·      One student loved how excited the kids in his group got about heaven.  They asked tons of questions about it.  He said the strangest one was, “Can I do a backflip on a wolf in heaven?”  (It's a fair question.  I want to know.)

·      Some students were impacted by the difficult situations the kids find themselves in.  One expressed gratefulness that God has a plan for each of them, even if their futures look grim.  Another learned the importance of making the most of every opportunity, knowing that you may only have one chance to tell a kid about Jesus.

·      One student insightfully noticed, after a few years of coming to Living Hope, that she is more apt to go out of her comfort zone and take opportunities here than she is in her home town.  She knows that has to change.

·      One young man was incredibly moved by the trip.  He said that he’s been wanting to see God in a real way, and that his perception of God this week has been life-changing.   He now sees God as one who is actively at work.

·      Another realized that fear of failure was a major issue before the trip.  Ministry success was all-important to him.  God opened his eyes to see how he was using ministry to point to himself rather than to God.

·      These students and leaders faced many difficult situations when they were with us.  (Satan tends to hate what they’re doing and work pretty hard against them.)  One girls said, “God taught me to look past the bad stuff and rejoice in God.”  Another student felt burdened by things going on at home, but God answered his prayer to lift the burden.

·      One student was convicted of his impatience and cynical attitude and finally asked God for help.

·      One leader was struck in a new way by God’s heart for the poor and for children.

Living Hope Prayer Calendar

Summer Programs for Kids

Week of June 19-25        Offsite Camp at Luther Park Camp in northern Wisconsin: 3^rd-8^th grade

                Led by teams from Living Hope Church, Neillsville, WI

                                & Merrill, WI

Week of June 26-July 2   VBS at Jackson Park: Age 2- 5^th grade

                Led by Waushara Community Church, Wautoma, WI

Week of July 3-9              Sports Camp at Jackson Park: Age 2- 5^th grade

                Led by Grace Community Church, WI

                                & Bethany E Free, Clintonville, WI

Week of July 10-16          Performing Arts Camp at Living Hope: 1^st- 5^th grade

                Led by & Nashwauk Alliance Church, Nashwauk, MN

                               

Week of July 17-23          VBS at Jackson Park: Age 2- 5^th grade

                Led by Valley Church, Des Moines, IA

                                & Grace EFC, Huxely, IA                      

Week of July 24-30          Sports Camp at Jackson Park: Age 2- 5^th grade

                Led by Lakewood Evangelical Free Church, Baxter, MN

                                & New Journey Church, Fosston, MN

Please pray…

*For unity among all of our workers—within teams and between teams that will be working together.

*For God to use the Living Hope Staff to minister effectively to the families of Northeast Minneapolis and to the youth groups serving with us

*For each of the youth serving with us:

·         That the Lord would do more than we can ask or imagine through these teens surrendered to Him

·         That God would prepare their hearts and reveal Himself to them in new ways on their mission trip. 

·         That they will be challenged and encouraged to go home and make disciples!

*Pray for the logistics of these ministry programs.  Especially pray that we will have good weather for our ministry in the park!  Pray for safety and for programs to run smoothly.

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Weekly Ongoing Ministry:

Faith In Action: (Monday nights) A leadership development program for 6^th-12^th grade students.  Pray that these 10 students will have the courage to surrender all to Jesus and do hard things for His glory!  Pray for the leaders: Alyssa, Frank, and Sheila

Girls Bible Study: (Wednesday nights) Girls in 6^th-12^th grade will dream about a God-centered future as we study Proverbs 31.  One of our main aims will be teaching basic Bible study skills.  Pray that God will grow His daughters and that He will draw young women who are lost to Himself.  Pray for the leaders: Alyssa and Sheila

Relational Ministry: Throughout the summer, we desire to continue building relationships with children, youth, parents, and other adults in this community.  Some of this will happen through service projects and events, but much of it will happen through phone calls, home visits, and unexpected encounters.  Pray that we will be good stewards of our time and energy and pour ourselves out where God would have us.

Provisions: Pray that God will provide for the financial and material needs of Living Hope, of each staff member, and of each youth group serving with us.  Pray that He will raise up new financial partners with this ministry.  Also pray for those in our community who are struggling to make ends meet.  Pray that the Church will be able to take on its God-given role of caring for the needs of the poor.

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Praises:

*Please take time to rejoice with us for the opportunity He has given us to know Him, adore Him, and be His ambassadors in this community!  He is so good!

*Praise Him for the opportunity to do ministry in public places like Jackson Park. 

*Praise Him for the churches and youth groups who are giving of themselves in huge ways to serve Jesus through serving us and the families of Northeast Minneapolis.

*Praise Him for the provisions He has already given.

Sinking down roots

After several weeks of deliberating over places to live, two friends and I just signed a lease to move into a duplex in Northeast Minneapolis.  I am excited to move into a neighborhood where I already know several families.  My roommates and I hope this will provide new opportunities to share Christ with neighbors and show them hospitality.  I also look forward to forming deeper roots in Northeast.

One of the realities of our world today is that, compared to previous centuries, people do not stay rooted in the same place very long.  Even if we do, we often lose focus on pouring into our communities and giving back to them.  Today I read an article by Chuck Colson on this topic.  He speaks of Dutch Reformed communities in Michigan who, unlike most of us, have sunk their roots deep. 

It's a pleasant concept, but I didn't think much of its importance until I read this paragraph:

"This Reformation-influenced vision continues, which is why Ottawa County was so successful when, a few years ago, then-Governor John Engler challenged Michigan counties to get jobs for all able-bodied welfare recipients. Ottawa County asked its 250 churches to help; 60 signed up. Within a year, the welfare rolls were emptied." 

 I guess when we care about our community and plan to stay we naturally invest in it.  I hope this will become more true of me as the months and years go on.  To quote Colson in closing:

C. S. Lewis, who lived in the same Oxford house most of his adult life, put it well: As Christians, we can't love the whole world. But we should remember that God has placed us in a specific community at a particular time. We're called to love those around us. Loving them means serving them—and in doing so, we become the best of citizens.

Mr. Stick Man's Dilemma

Hello Mr. Stick Man!

Hello Alyssa!

Why are you sitting there with such a puzzled thought bubble?

Well, Alyssa, I've been hearing about how God commands us to care for the poor and the disadvantaged.  I've also been hearing about the plight of America's inner cities, and I've heard a little bit about what Living Hope is doing.  I want to help out somehow, but I just can't figure out what I could do.

Well, Mr. Stick Man, I know one way.  Go bowling.


Huh?


Go bowling.

Wait, like on my Wii?

No.  Actually get out of your house and go bowling.  It will be fun!


Umm...I like bowling, but how will that make a difference?

Participate in Living Hope's upcoming fundraiser, the Soul Bowl!  Here's how it works: You get together a team of friends/family and go bowling with us in Arden Hills on April 16th.  You could invite your college friends and your little brother Sticko.  Everyone on your team will raise money between now and April 16th with the fundraising tools provided by Living Hope.  

But how will I raise money?



Talk to people in your church, relatives, co-workers, and friends.  Explain that you're trying to raise $200 for this great organization that brings hope to the kids of Minneapolis.  Maybe your aunt Sally Sue will give you $10, and maybe your friend JoJo at church will pledge 5 cents per pin. 



Imagine the possibilities...

Then you go bowling, tally up your score, and let your donors know how you did.  They joyfully send their gifts to Living Hope, and everyone is happy.  You're happy, JoJo and Sally Sue are happy, and the families of Northeast Minneapolis get to continue coming and hearing about the love of God in Jesus!

Wow, that sounds great! 



Yeah, and it can really make a difference.  Imagine if each bowler raises $200 in this way. Now imagine if there are 5 bowlers on each team. That's $1000. Imagine if there are 20 teams. That's $20,000 going directly to Living Hope Ministries, to help us continue and expand our ministry to the children and families in Northeast Minneapolis.

Wow, when you put it that way, I realize I can actually make a difference.  But Alyssa, I have a secret...

What's that Mr. Stick Man?

I'm really bad at bowling.  REALLY BAD.  I don't exactly have arm muscles, you know.

That's ok!  Everyone is guaranteed a minimum score of 100 per game, even if you don't knock down that many pins.  And if you decide not to bowl, you can still donate to sponsor the event.

Oh, that's good.  But what about my cousin Freddie who lives out of town? 

Well, if he wants to set up a bowling event in his town, we can help him with that too!

Wow.  There are so many ways to get involved.  How can I sign up?

Go to http://www.livinghopempls.org/soulbowlc295.php and fill in your information.  There you will find all the info you need to get started on fundraising.

Cool.  Are you going to be there, Alyssa?

Absolutely!  I hope to see you there too! 

Dreaming of a church plant Part 3: Intentionality

How much does the Kingdom of God suffer when we pat ourselves on the back for our “random acts of kindness” rather than strategically, intentionally, painstakingly building His kingdom?

A couple of weeks ago, I was reading Whose Child is This? by Bill Wilson.  He writes Metro Church about the ministry he founded, by God’s grace, in New York City.  They work in ghettos of NYC that make Northeast Minneapolis look like Mayberry.   Bill has witnessed 21 murders.  He and his staff members have been mugged, robbed, beaten, and shot.   This is what they’re willing to face in order to reach children and families in areas full of drugs, prostitution, and gang violence.  What an amazing example of what I talked about in the last post: living among the people.   But that wasn’t the main thing that caught my attention in this book.  Each week they bus in over 20,000 children to their Sunday school programs, and they are having a palpable impact.  To what do they attribute the success of their ministry?  Personal visitation.  Their 100+ full time staff and 350 volunteers make over 20,000 personal visits to the kids every week.  Through this, ongoing relationships are established, children feel loved (often for the first time), and disciples are made.

As I read about this, the Holy Spirit convicted me.  Sure, we try to do a lot of home visits.  But to visit every child every week, taking with us words of Life and finding ways to meet practical needs—would it not revolutionize our ministry? 

But it wouldn’t be easy.  It would take strong commitment and incredible intentionality.

And so I come back to the question I started with.  How much are we missing out on when we fail to be intentional in our ministry efforts?  Can we do away with random acts of kindness and start doing intentional acts of kindness?  Can we start seeing relationships as the foundation of ministry rather than programs?

  

Again, I look at Jesus’ life and see someone who was very intentional.  He said “no” to things that were not in accordance with his purpose (see, for example Mark 1:35-39).  Rather than just teaching whoever would listen, He focused most of his efforts on teaching twelve young men for three years and equipping them for ministry.  He always had his ultimate purpose in mind, and when the climax of His ministry was drawing near, Jesus “set his face” for His death in Jerusalem (Luke 9:51, ESV).

I am thankful for the intentionality I see in Living Hope.  We have a target area that Steve has “set his face” on for the past 18 years.  I see numerous volunteers calling students, meeting with them outside of ministry programs, and writing to them.  But I also see room for growth, and I ask you to join with me in praying for greater passion, commitment, consistency, focus, and unity of purpose.  Please pray that we will be intentional about intercessory prayer,  meeting real needs (Acts 2:42-45), sharing the good news of Jesus,  making disciples (Matt. 28:18-20, 2 Tim. 2:2), and equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12). 

As for me, I am beginning to set aside time in my schedule for home visits, and I am beginning to disciple a student one-on-one.  They are baby steps, but may God be glorified in them!