Urban:Suburban Challenge
Posted: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Filed under: 2k10 | Tags: church, Evangelism, missional, missionary, Northside Missional Community, short-term missions trip, Urban 5 CommentsLast night, Louis had a committee meeting at his church, which left me home alone. I decided that I would take time to get ahead on postings…do a little planning on what stories I would tell and when. I thought I had it all under control when I went to bed last night. But, I woke up this morning at about 5am which is VERY unlike me! There’s nothing better than sleeping in! Knowing that, I believe the Lord takes great JOY in waking me up early to have a little discussion with me. This is hard to put into words as I grapple with it through my tears and fears. I’m still processing. But, I am going to give it a shot…
Where Louis and I Live and Minister
I have been challenged this week, when I received an email from the director of a local urban ministry. He contacted me to tell me that there was a local suburban church who was looking for a 1-day mission project in a couple of months. Thinking of me and SBH, he gave me a call to see if I could come up with a project for them to do.
Initially, I was THRILLED!!! WOW! Am I an official ministry now?!?!?! That people want to come and help for a day?!?!? But, something just wasn’t sitting right with me. For a couple of days now, I have been thinking…what could they do? I even went on the internet and started looking at what other organizations have done. Asking myself, what does SBH need? What could we do? I couldn’t think of anything that a 1-day trip could accomplish. Then, I was mortified. I started beating myself up! Surely there was SOMETHING!!!! Lord, what was it?!?!
Well, He woke me up with an answer. There may be NOTHING. (Stay with me! I said MAY!!!) There may not be a THING that a 1-day missions trip could do to help my community. Am I trying to force it? This church, I am sure, is full of well-meaning people of God. I know this will sound completely OUTLANDISH to many of you reading this, but could there possibly be more harm done in that 1 day than there will be good?
Let me explain why….
I first thought of odd jobs they could do around the community – yard work, painting, etc. But, then it hit me….How would my friend Everett make his living? Everett does odd jobs at an affordable price for folks around the community. Cutting grass, mulching, planting, washing cars, etc. How would Everett then buy what he needs without that income?
Would we offend people by offering FREE services? The last thing I would want to do is offend the people I have grown to LOVE. No one has come to me with a need that needs to be met. But, I am now asking the right local people for their help.
Then, I thought of “picking up trash”. Well, that would take a few hours. But, wouldn’t it be better if we rallied the community to do that? But, it takes a relationship to rally people. Does this well-meaning church have a relationship with the people to rally them? The simple answer is no, but we do.
I once heard a story about a well-meaning American church who went to a foreign country to build a well in a dry place where the locals had to walk for miles and miles to get clean water. Certainly a worthy cause! The Americans built the well on their own, then went on home to the USA. Then..the well broke down. No one knew how to fix it and the parts were too expensive. So, the people were STILL thirsty, but also frustrated!! They had a taste of what it meant to get water without walking for miles….now it was more difficult than before.
What I realized this morning is that we need those and other well-meaning Christians to INVEST in the urban community. Not just a 1-shot deal. We need folks who understand the impacts and the nature of being poor and are willing to walk along side someone or a family. We need someone who is willing to practice the art of being “present”….of just being there.
Yes, SBH may have people who don’t have a lot of money, but are RICH in spirit. Most of the folks in SBH are hard-working dedicated people. Many people look into SBH and all they see are the prostitutes, the dealers (and their clients), the trash in the street, the homes in disrepair, etc. But, that is what they see from the outside looking in. You need to BE there, PRESENT to see the inside…the many assets of SBH, the pride, the history, the commitment of the pioneers that have been through so much for so many decades…but continue to stick it out.
So now…I need to explore with this church and others. Knowing I can not discount short-term missions trips altogether, I realize that many long-term missionaries and volunteers are born out of 1-day and other short-term missions opportunities. But, I owe it to myself and to my community to do a little investigating first. The last thing I would want to do is bring unintentional harm to SBH or the servants. Is this the beginning of that relationship? How can I partner with this church (and others) without hurting them or SBH at the same time?
A few questions to ask now (albeit not an exhaustive list)…
- Can we come up with a project that will help SBH or someone who lives here? There must be something! I’ve put the word out in the community this morning. Lord…show us the need that we can meet!
- How can I provide the kind of experience for the servants/missionaries where they truly experience the community and learn/benefit from the day? I know it is cliche, but how would Jesus do this?
- Is the CHURCH (the church at large….the Body of Christ) willing to commit…to invest…their time and/or resources to walk it out on the long-term?
or
is it a box to check?
served a poor urban community in 2010. Check!
I am reminded of a book that friend Don Coleman suggested to me When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor or Yourself. I’ve used it as a resource, but now it’s time to dust if off and give it a good read. If anyone wants to explore this book WITH me, let me know. There are great exercises and probing questions to ask yourself in a group or individual study.
Just for my friend, Jeanine…
Posted: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 Filed under: 2k7, Louis and Me! | Tags: bible study, Faith, Jesus, missionary, needle's eye, NEM, Richmond, Southern Barton Heights, Urban 4 CommentsI have to admit…I have been very preoccupied the last couple of days. I typically write the first draft of my post a day or 2 in advance….and then tweak it as the “due date” looms. Well…due to distractions that regular life has brought me AND the recent funeral today plus the death of my neighbor’s grandson…I’m doubly distracted and not processing very well. So, I’m picking an easy (and welcomed!) topic today! Back to Louis and Me!!! YAY!! I can hear my friend Jeanine cheering! She encourages me to write more…and not to leave her hanging because she hasn’t heard the story before! So, Jeanine…this is for you!!! Thanks for your encouragement!! I need it! btw – check out her beautiful photography blog by clicking her name anywhere in this post!
Ok…so I left off with praying for the other ½ of my pair and Don telling me about a guy who never calls….right? If you need to catch up….click Louis and Me! in the sidebar to the right…
Our 3 Lists Written in 02.07. 1 down...2 to go! (Yes...out of focus on purpose!!!)
Marc continued to come into work…encouraging me…and telling me that he had been “puttin’ in knee time” for me! I still had my own copy of the list that I was praying over…along with my 2 friends’ lists (who I am STILL praying for!!!!!).
The work merger had been announced in the spring…and we were alllll wondering…whether our jobs were moving to St Louis (StL). That fall, the word came. Yes, my team’s jobs were moving. I was a leader of about 40 people in 2 locations, Richmond and StL….with about 25-30 people in Richmond…and they were deciding that all the jobs had to located in StL. I was praying for my team and me…for good decisions. (btw – some of them are still looking for jobs if you know of any open HR/Recruiting gigs in Richmond!!!)
I spent a many many night on my face asking the Lord if I should move to StL. I said…if that is what you are asking, then that is what I would do. I asked Him if I would meet my other ½ in StL? But that just never landed on me right. The Lord had said I would meet the other ½ of my pair to serve SBH. So how could I move, right?
But, I prayed for confirmation. And received it. I told my manager that I would NOT make the move. No amount of money or job position could convince me to move. But, fears set in. How would I make a living? Where would I get a job, etc? It was definitely a faith building time for me! I had to trust the Lord.
Meanwhile, I was sooo sure that I was going to meet the other ½ in December 2007, I stopped praying for it! Yes….let me repeat, I stopped praying for it to happen. I even told Marc to stop praying…but he insistently prayed although I said that God had already answered. (Love me some Marc Lundy!!
Before long, I joined a short 6-week Bible study at Needle’s Eye Ministries on Faith. It was now October-November 2007…coming up on the December date the Lord gave me! Figuring…if there was anytime I needed faith…I needed it now. This group of about 25 women gathered every week for 6 weeks at their office. I barely knew a soul!!! After Susan led us in our study, we always closed in prayer. I shared my story and asked them not to pray for my other ½ in the same way – that he would show…but to actually pray FOR him to prepare him. I often wondered if he knew what he was about to get himself into. So, the ladies agreed to join me in praying FOR him. I thank God for these ladies, whose names and prayer requests are in that journal! As I look down the list this evening, I wonder what other prayers have been answered?!?!
But, allow me to remind you…nearly 2 years had gone by since I prayed for the “bone” in December 2005. I had been praying for God to send me a husband. Over the following year, 2006, the Holy Spirit had used many situations, Don Coleman and Luke 10:1-7 to change my desires and my prayers. In early 2007, I had started praying for the other ½ of my pair in ministry to SBH. I had begun praying the will of God instead of Marti’s.
Learnings for me,
- Take prayer requests seriously. If you say Yes to pray for someone, be sure to do it. Don’t take it lightly. It’s serious business!!
- Be careful what you pray for….you just might get it!
- I’m often astounded at the sheer number of people God uses in this story. He doesn’t need to use us, but it is sooo fun when He does. At any point, if someone said “NO! Lord!”…the story may have turned out differently. Just like the story of Marcellous. If Marc, Emmanuel or I had said “NO! Lord!” at any point…the results might look different.
- These stories consistently remind me of the importance of listening and obeying. We are robbed of the blessing of being used by God when we say “NO! Lord!” Like the Nike slogan….”Just do it!” comes to mind!
Jeanine…sorry, I am going to leave you hanging…..AGAIN! Hugs to you!
Here.Am.I.
Posted: Monday, March 8, 2010 Filed under: 2k10, 2k7 | Tags: Jesus, journal, luke 1, mission, missionary, psalm 82, Richmond, Urban Comments Off on Here.Am.I.This is a post that I started yesterday. Actually it was the 2nd half of yesterday’s post….which would have been WAY too long. So…here it is now, as promised.
Shortly after attending the conference, I found myself reading Encounter God in the City by Randy White. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to discover the exceptional power of experiential discipleship and transformational experience. Here are a few notes from my journal while reading this book…
- I’m living intentionally in a high crime, high poverty neighborhood in the city.
- Cities – not just an area to serve, but to grow my faith and discover a meaningful life where I can be transformed.
- I will be a repairer of broken walls and restorer of streets with dwellings.
- Making things the way they should be
IN people,
BETWEEN people, and
FOR people
Human beings dwelling in peace in all relationships with God, self, fellows and nature.
- Holy Pestering of city bureaucracy
Psalm 82:3-4
2 “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
I am reminded of the story in Luke 1:26-38 of when the God sent the angel Gabriel who appeared to Mary. Gabriel said that the Lord was with her and that she was highly favored. She asked a simple clarifying question. After hearing the answer, Mary then responded, I am the Lord’s servant. May it be so, Lord.
Now that I am reminded of all of this…what now? Lord, as my job soon comes to an end…what do you want me to do? This time, Lord…it’s not “Not me, Lord! I’m not ready!” This time…it is “Here am I…your servant….may it be so! Lord, may it be so.”
On a side note…The funeral for my colleague was wonderful and uplifting! I also spent some time with my neighbor this evening. She’s in good shape…. considering. Her hope and trust is in the Lord! It was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I understand there were plenty of witnesses. Pray for justice! Please keep both families in your prayers.
Heavy.Heart.
Posted: Monday, March 8, 2010 Filed under: 2k10 | Tags: Bible, death, John 14, murder, Richmond, Urban 1 CommentJohn 14:27 NIV
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
I’m pausing the story I was telling yesterday to tell you about my today! 03.08.2010. Today is a tough day for me for a couple of reasons…
At 11am, I am going to the funeral of a work colleague who was taken from this world WAY TOO EARLY after a very very short fight with liver cancer. RIP Corby Bailey!
Last night, I learned that a neighbor’s 23-year-old grandson was murdered (shot to death) in Gilpen Court/Jackson Ward yesterday evening. He was also taken from this earth WAY TOO EARLY!!! RIP Keith Brunson!
Both deaths seem soooo unnecessary, so futile, so… senseless, so… I don’t even know the words to describe it.
Cancer is evil…and we need to find a cure for it!!! We can send people to the moon and back. David Blaine can hold his breath for over 14 minutes (and other ridiculous stunts!). We can provide artificial limbs, transfer organs such as hearts, etc…but we haven’t yet found a cure for cancer. All of us have in some way been impacted by this ugly disease. Let’s support the research to find a cure!
Shootings…also….it needs to stop! The senseless taking of one another’s lives must cease! I am not judging here….for that’s God’s job…..and God’s job only. I’m just sayin’…let’s replace HATE with HOPE! For those of you know the story of Frank…this is bringing about many emotions for me this morning. For those who don’t, you soon will! In upcoming posts, I will share with you the story of our friend Frank and his family.
Louis and I were praying this morning for the families, friends…even for the shooter. We also prayed that God use us…in any way that He wants to. He doesn’t NEED us to do anything for Him. But, if He wants to…we are here.
As I think about the post that I have almost completed for later today…it’s ironic..(no….it’s not ironic…it’s God)…just how tied together these posts are. It’ll be out there later this evening.
Lord…here am I…send me!
Do Whatever He Tells You
Posted: Sunday, March 7, 2010 Filed under: 2k7 | Tags: glory, James 1, Jesus, John 2, journal, mission, missional, Richmond, scripture, Southern Barton Heights, Urban Comments Off on Do Whatever He Tells You
My Journals from the Last 5 Years
Just today I found my journal for 2007….here are some clips from it. I’m glad I found it and had a chance to read it again. It reminds me of God’s faithfulness and what he was stirring in my heart 3 years ago!!! There’s definitely a theme of hearing and doing! And bringing God glory.
12.31 James 1:22-25
- When the Holy Spirit reveals something…ACT. Do something about it. Don’t walk away. Or you’ll forget. Blessings come from listening and acting.
1.6 ComChap Church Service (don’t know the scripture reference)
- Go out into the world…uncorrupted – a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society.
- Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.
- May my life bring glory to God. I want to be fresh air!!!
- Church – end of service…read lambs among wolves…the windows being shot out of my old car.
The weekend of 1.19-20.2007 – Kay Arthur Conference at Thomas Road Baptist Church “Whatever He Says, Do It!” My friend Grayson and her mom, Judy and I attended this conference, which was so full of good stuff. This is just a few of my notes from it…
- Guard Your Glory! Don’t exchange your Glory for idols.
- Glory = honor, true unchanging essence of God
- Whatever He says – DO IT!!! -> is bringing God glory
- God, help me guard my glory.
- John 17 -> Glorify God on earth, accomplish the work HE gives you to do.
- Guard your Christlikeness!
- Numbers 14:21 – may it begin now – with us guarding our glory
I don’t remember everything that was going on at this time, but these were the messages I was hearing from the Lord. I started crying from almost the moment I walked through the door of that conference. For the Lord was doing a real work in me….preparing me for something. In addition, we studied the story of Jesus turning the water into wine in John 2 (paying close attention to vs. 4-5).
John 2 (NLT) (click to read the whole scripture)
4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Throughout the end of 2006 and early 2007, I do remember saying to Him….What do you want from me? I’m not ready. Not me! It’s not my time! (vs 4) But it was clear that I was at this conference to hear “Do whatever he tells you.” (vs 5) It was time to take a risk and do whatever He tells me to do…in spite of what others may think.
Within a week, Marcellous was in the hospital and KK was living with me! Who woulda thought?
SWF Seeks Other 1/2 of Pair
Posted: Thursday, March 4, 2010 Filed under: 2k7, Louis and Me! | Tags: Bible, marriage, missionary, prayer, scripture, Urban 2 CommentsIn addition to all the craziness…I still hadn’t met the other half of my pair!!! Allow me to refresh your memory.
Born in 1963….I was never married.
December 2005….at 42 years old I prayed for the bone….God answers!
December 2006…at 43 years old…Don brings me Luke 10:1-7 and the Lord speaks to me…to pray for the other 1/2 of my pair….not for my future husband.
2007….I was still meeting with a small group of women. The 3 of us were not married…and decided to write down what we were looking for in a husband. So…we each created a list, made copies and shared them with each other, so that we could pray.
Now..Marc (at work) was following my story. He was very aware of everything that was going on…and prayed with and for me. He took my list home to include it in his prayers on a regular basis. He’d come into work…and say…. “Hey Mart! I put in knee time for you this weekend!” What a dependable prayer partner!!! He was such a faithful friend!
One day following our worship service at Commonwealth, Pastor Don asked me if he could “get in my business”. Pastor Don and I were meeting on a regular basis for breakfast. He was a true God-send! He was encouraging me in my own spiritual growth and the work I was doing in SBH. This particular day…he wanted to know if I wanted to get married. Yes, I said…I do. But, that the Luke 10 scripture had changed my prayer. That I was no longer praying for my future husband…but was praying for the other 1/2 of my pair.
Now, those of you who know Don….think about voice inflection. Don’s response was “Yes! That’s what I am talking about! Yes!” With his arms pumping in the air. You know Don! Now…it kinda caught me off guard…so I didn’t ask him why! (Silly me!) But…he DID ask me…if I got a call…would I go out. That is a bit of a crazy question. I had given up blind dates DECADES ago! But, I trusted Don and his heart. More importantly…I trusted God. After all…we had quite a crew praying, right! Why shouldn’t I expect God to answer those prayers. When 2 or more or gathered….
Later…I did remember to ask Don….and he told me about a “guy”. But…that “guy” never called….*sniff*sniff*
But…I kept doin’ my thing….loving God and others in SBH, while continuing to pray.
R&R
Posted: Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Filed under: 2k10, 2k7 | Tags: appendectomy, Bible, missionary, psalm 23, Richmond, Southern Barton Heights, Urban Comments Off on R&R
Psalm 23
2 -3 ….He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul….
In the first few months of the 2007, KK’s mom had passed, the spare car windows were shot out, Marcellous was in the hospital, then the spare car was stolen, one of the kids decided to steal and misuse my credit card, my company announced it was closing the Richmond offices and were moving them ½ way across the country. It seemed like it was one thing right after the other.
Before KK left for NJ, I had an emergency appendectomy and was in the hospital for a few days. Poor KK…didn’t understand WHAT was going on. First his mom was in the hospital…she died. Then, his dad…a few weeks later…ended up in the hospital, the beginning of one complication after another. Then, I (the only other “family” he has in Richmond) end up there! Thankfully, it was only for a few days. It was yet another one of Satan’s attacks. But, it was a perfect time for God to get my undivided attention. For several weeks, I spent time reading the Bible, praying, meditating, spending time on the front porch. God was definitely doing a work in me. During those weeks, He led me by still waters…and restored my soul. It was a time of rest after a couple of crazy months. It was just me…and God. It was refreshing.
Earlier in the year, I had been restless in my job. It wasn’t challenging to me anymore. So, when the firm announced the move…it was time for me to really reflect on what God wanted from me next in my career. During this time, a lot was stirring in me in regards to my community. Is this the time to make a move? God spoke to me through a number of people independently… “Remain open.” was the consistent message. So, I practiced at remaining open, making no decisions. Why would God lead me to this community and my kids…to my home, only to take me to Missouri? Why would God provide me with a great job, only to have me leave it? My finances provide for me…and for some family members.
Every day, I go to work with what most would call the ‘wealthy’. I came home every day to what some would call ‘the least of these”. There are so many similarities between these 2 groups.
The Lord brought people in my life who were making 6-7 digits a year trying to decide what latest gadget they wanted next, what prep school to send their child, upgrading their house, car, or phone, how to make the next dollar…trying to find happiness.
Then, there are those who have to decide between paying the light bill, providing food for the table, clothes for their children because they outgrew last year’s or buying Christmas gifts. Afraid to introduce the kids to Santa…in fear that their hopes would get too high.
What I had come to learn….is that we ALL are the ‘least of the these’ if we don’t know the Lord. It doesn’t matter what color we are, what socioeconomic group we are in, or where we live. There’s financially poor…then there is spiritually poor. What does the Bible say about the Needle’s Eye? That it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than it is for a camel to go through the needle’s eye? So…would I rather be poor and have an easier time getting into heaven or rich and a harder time? That is a tough question. Can I be some where in the middle?
But…a question that I will have to ponder in the near future as we face my job elimination. Regardless, we will be richer than MOST of the world….with a roof over our head, food on the table and clean water to drink.
“Give us this day our daily bread.” has a whole new meaning to me as I think about what the future holds. One thing I know…God is in control!
Me and KK...the early morning I took him to Greyhound to stay with his Aunt and sister in NJ
KK...being silly. How can you NOT love this kid?
No Love. No Gain.
Posted: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Filed under: 2k10, Louis and Me! | Tags: Bible, Jesus, love, missionary, Southern Barton Heights, Urban 2 Comments
Yes...Louis did good on Valentine's Day with Balloons, Cards, Roses and all other kinds of goodies!!!
As you can see in my tag line, Miss Marti’s House…loving God and others in Southern Barton Heights…. I have been thinking about that lately…what does that REALLY mean? Jesus tells us in the New Testament…to love God with all your heart, soul, strength. He also then tells us…to love your neighbor as yourself. So, what does that really look like? To love like that?
So…I read 1st Corinthians 13 and was struck by verse 3.
3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing.
So…I could be doing all this work…sacrificing my time and money, my hopes and dreams…but, if I am not doing it in love…why do it? So, how often do I respond to those ads on TV or causes on FB because I feel guilty? How often do I do something for a friend or family because I am shamed into it? Or…when I strike a check to the local non-profit why does that make me feel better. But…if we are doing this out of guilt, shame or obligation…we may feel a little better in the short run….but, God sees straight through to our heart…our motives. If I do this without LOVE….it’s nothing. Don’t get me wrong…I’m not challenging us to stop giving!!!! I’m challenging us to GIVE MORE!!!! because we respond with LOVE while giving. Let’s take a look at the rest of the scripture….
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails…..
Not long ago, Louis and I were challenged by reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Francis challenges the reader to replace your name where the word LOVE appears in this part of the scripture. So, I would say…
“Marti is patient….” OUCH!!!! Anyone who knows me…knows that patience is a challenge for me!!! Louis agrees with me here! Because he has the patience of Job….He is a positively fabulous role model for me!
“Marti is kind…” Well, I’m basically a kind person. But, there are times that I am NOT AT ALL kind! More than likely, my thoughts are NOT exactly kind at all. You might not see it…but, God knows my thoughts! OUCH!!!!
Then…keep reading it….Marti does not….envy (ow!), never… boastful (pain!), proud (burn!), rude (yee-OW!), self-seeking (not me!), not easily angered (ache!), keeps no records of wrongs (who me?), etc. etc.
I’m gonna challenge you like Francis Chan challenged us….Read this scripture, replacing your name….see what hits you!
So…should I change my tag line to TRYING to love God and others? Nah…I don’t think so. I’m doing the best I can right now. I am loving God and others…and I am learning how to love more….every day.
I’m a work in progress…moving TOWARD Christ…the ultimate lover.
Miss Marti's House 