26 July 2010
Posted in Words

by Andreas Lunden

Personal preference or choice commonly seems to determine where we decide to live. God may call us to do ministry in another city or even another country, but to a specific neighborhood, would He really do that? Consider for a minute the gated communities missionaries often occupy or how Christians often talk when they are in the process choosing a neighborhood to buy a house in. Comfort and safety is probably high up on the list of priories. In some ways, choice, then, trumps calling!

In current issue of Street + Steeple*, our quarterly magazine, we wrestle with the implications of returning to a biblical theology of place. Location seems to be something that is on God's heart. God does not call us to comfortable lives. Instead he promises to comfort us in the midst of afflictions. As his redemptive purposes unfold the characters of the bible are often called to participate in a certain place and time. They are called to relocate so that they can be both "with" and "for" the people God wants them to minister to. As they do, they play a small but crucial part in carrying out God's plan. God, calls them to enter into his plan, it's not the other way around.

Think about Abraham who was called to leave the comfort of his homeland and go somewhere else. Somewhere strange to him. Somewhere without the comfort and familiarity of his home culture, his landmarks, his childhood memories, his friends, peers. He didn't even know where he was to relocate when he embarked. But he was told, God would bless him there, and through him others would be blessed too. We could also consider Jacob, Daniel, and Ruth.

At the risk of blowing this idea way up, the relocation of Jesus should be considered as well. Eugene Peterson's Message poignantly reads, "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." (John 1:14). Talk about leaving comfort and responding to calling.

Could it be that we are to follow these examples today; to relocate and live into the blessing of a restored relationship with God through Jesus, in order to bless those who live in the homes and apartments around us?

Consider Shaine Claiborne's haunting response to Jesus' statement "The poor will always be with you. He simply asks, "Are they? Are they with you?" That raises the question, what would it look like for us to be more call oriented concerning where we spend most of our lives? Or, in other words, if calling trumps choice, where do you think God would have you live specifically?

Seriously, what do you think about these musings?

*Street + Steeple issue 2 (August 2010 - not yet released as of July 26, 2010).

22 July 2010
Posted in Words

Outer southeast Portland is an area of diversity in cultures and economies. Many neighborhoods in this part of town face the challenges of crime, unemployment, racial tensions, relocation from gentrification elsewhere, and a growing homeless population. For many SE Portland residents health insurance is still out of reach, recent federal legislation notwithstanding. However, the gospel of Jesus calls for a caring response to people facing medical concerns without resources.

Last month, several local churches with over 250 volunteers turned Lane Middle School into a medical clinic. They did this to display the love of Jesus through offering needed medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and pet vaccination services – for free. Everyone got a free BBQ lunch and access to additional resources through the 25 social services agencies present. The party atmosphere included free hair cuts, a stellar child care center with balloon tying experts, face paint and bounce house. The welcoming and joyousness projected by volunteers was infectious.

One woman entered the “follow up/exit interview” room, gauze bulging her cheek and protruding from the side of her mouth. She managed a lopsided grin saying, “Feels better already!” A man treated for shortness of breath including a chest ex-ray and a thorough examination expressed similar relief at knowing the causes and having an additional appointment for check up. We celebrate the relationships begun and the services provided.

Here's a quick overview of Compassion SE by the numbers:

• medical appointments = 65 (including ex-rays, and other lab work),
• dental patients seen = 115 (included extractions and cleanings),
• immunizations = 58 (many guests got multiple shots),
• vision appointments = 33 (exams and prescriptions),
• chiropractic patients = 47,
• pets vaccinated = 88 (50 signed up for spay/neuter, 19 received boosters two weeks later),
• child care = 57,
• food = 700 meals served!
• Our estimate of value for services provided is about $67,000!

Whew. Big Day. However, these numbers don't account for the Kingdom display. People were dignified, prayed for, consoled, given guidance, offered ongoing care and relationship. There is an additional greater value in that God's people united to show our community that God is love. We obeyed him by loving our neighbors. And the gospel was proclaimed in deeds.

Celebrate with us in this story of his Kingdom come and will be done on earth; in SE Portland!!

 

20 July 2010
Posted in Words

This post originally appeared in Jeremiah's Words, the blog of our our friend Jeremiah Meeks.

“Yeah, this just got kind of creepy when the pregnant lady left. We should probably just pack up and go.”

Most Friday nights this summer I will be standing on a corner on 82nd Ave, hopefully with some people that give my supposedly intimidating figure credibility. That’s right I will be hanging out on the Avenue of the Roses! For those of you outside Portland, 82nd is that storied street for many to “avoid”. It is where the trains converge, the interstate runs parallel for quite awhile, and the housing is not expensive. It is also where you easily get drugs, where prostitutes and homeless are easily seen and where some of the best stories in town are located.

We call it Friday Night Stories and the purpose, as I see it, is primarily to help churches see the power of listening. The tagline which I love is “listening to God breaking into the brokenness”. We allow who ever walks by— or as was the case three times this week drive by, stop in the parking lot and then walk by—to have a hot dog, a bottle of water and tell us their story. The stories are often about a need.

“I’m a drug addict and am just waiting to use again”

“I’ve been homeless 15 years, that’s my story.”

“I just picked up my girlfriend from work at the strip club, and we are just looking for something to do now”

“We are on our way home to study. Classes start again Monday and I have to keep my GPA up high.”

There are also a lot of very strange looks. A lot of people that don’t want to accept hot dogs from dudes on a corner. Cars that come close to wrecking while turning the corner. Even a bus driver that wants to know what the hell is going on, and holds the bus up for me to squeeze too much ketchup on a hot dog and run it over to her.

Even though this was only my third week hanging out I saw people that were regulars. Formerly random people walking home or changing buses at 9 pm on a Friday night were now recognized. A guy explaining he is trying hard to turn his life around, but the felony drug charge at 20 has made it nearly impossible, and yet he is fighting still.

These are people that are more interested in letting us know God is protecting them then needing to be told God wants them to show up at 11 am on a Sunday morning to talk to them.

Ideally we will start seeing more of the same folks week after week. We will be able to hear what their needs and wants are and be able to help them out. We will be able to use their assets to help others in need.

The guy that has been clean and sober for 11 years can help the lady who is looking for her next hit, instead of judging her. The overworked mechanic could help the unemployed teenager learn a trade.

Youth groups will see people as God does – broken, hurting, alone – but still loved. Youth pastors might be quiet long enough to hear someone’s desires instead of only seeing their issues and implied needs.

Most importantly, Second Stories' mission of equipping churches to engage their communities in partnerships that transform neighborhoods will come true! And somehow through talking to a couple skateboarders on a Friday night over a free hot dog and bottle of water, God’s kingdom is coming here on earth as it is in heaven!