my purple purse

One of the great ministries at our church is our twice-weekly Community Assistance, during which we provide grocery, transportation and referrals, along with listening ears, caring hearts and a personal touch. Here's a story that comes from one of our workers:

My name is Joyce and serve the church's Food Pantry. We have 80 to 100 people each week that come for food. We talk to them and pray with them. When I first started, I wanted to quit because I couldn't see the purpose and found it depressing. But the Lord wouldn't let me quit, so I went- not wanting to, but compelled to.

It's been a year now and I've gotten to know those less fortunate than myself. There is one homeless woman in her sixties- always smiling and always pleasant. One day as I was talking to and praying with her, I admired her purse. It was a little plastic purple purse. That evening as I went to my car, she was in the parking lot and gave me my own plastic purple purse! It cost her $1.99 and she gave it to me as a gift. I can't describe the feeling that came over me. I felt so very blessed. The Lord confirmed to me that I am where He wants me to be and I'm blessed that a homeless person gave me the gift of my own purple purse. It means everything to me, and makes me feel so humble. Our Lord is awesome.

These are the kinds of blessings- sometimes tough to quantify, but tangible in their own ways- that we receive when we give ourselves for the sake of those around us. Especially those with great need. And you can be assured that Joyce's purple purse is a daily reminder to her of God's great compassion and mercy for us all, as He gave Himself for our needs...that we might give Him our lives and love in return. Our lives, our plastic purple purses. Maybe with little value to others but of immeasurable value to God.

Our God really is awesome.

hope in east africa

I'd like to introduce you to a very special person today. His name is Paul Mutendwa, pictured here recently with Stanley Mutunga, founder of Tumaini International Ministries (Paul is on the left). Tumaini (Swahili for hope), as many of you know, is an organization based in Kenya that provides for the sponsorship of AIDS orphans. Our church partners with them, and we currently sponsor more than 300 kids. Stanley and his wife Rose began this work not so many years ago, hoping to be responsible for 200 children. But, as is often said, we plan and God laughs. Now with more than 800 children being helped more than a THOUSAND on a waiting list (and yes, you read that right), Tumaini is impacting Kenya in a significant fashion.

Back to Paul. Stanley realized that as the work began to burgeon, someone was needed to supervise and oversee the in-country operations. He contacted Paul, who was successful in the business world, and challenged him to use his abilities and skills for the Kingdom in a specific manner. Paul responded to that challenge, left his secular position, and accepted the post of Country Director for Tumaini. For nearly three years, he has worked with and fashioned this outreach so it might expand according the the ever-growing needs around it.

Paul and his family are making a significant impact for the work of the Lord in east Africa. He is currently in the US this month, visiting supporting churches and working with the US board as they continue to consider Tumaini's role. He will be at Knott Avenue this Sunday (November 2), so if you are able, come meet him and discover another reason we believe so much in this vital work.

sticky caveat

More random thoughts about stickiness:

Last night my son and I went to watch the LA Dodgers play the Philadelphia Phillies to determine who will represent the National League (baseball) in this year's World Series. We're loyal Dodger fans and watched with excitement as the park filled to capacity with 56,000 others, most of whom shared our enthusiasm for Los Angeles baseball.

It seemed pretty obvious early on that we shared a stickiness factor that bonded us with each other, especially after the Dodgers took the lead and held it into the last half of the game. There were plenty of cheers, high-fives and encouraging comments throughout our part of the park. But as the game wore on, factors cropped up that revealed flaws in our stickiness.

Perhaps the biggest contributor to the change in our demeanor was a change in score. LA lost their two-run lead (and looked bad doing it), and suddenly that raucous crowd that had spoken with one voice became quiet. We almost immediately became a huge glom of individuals, not nearly so chummy, not nearly so bonded, not nearly so engaged with each other. Then a fight broke out in the section next to us. And it wasn't even with a Phillie fan! Seems two Dodger faithfuls found something that was bigger than their commonality and decided to determine the matter by throwing down (however, I do imagine that alcohol may have been a common thread in their relationship at that point). Someone pointed out that there were more hits in our section that inning than the Dodgers managed the rest of the night. Ouch.

We lost, 7-5. We're dangerously close to being knocked out of the running for the World Series. But the Dodger faithful remain bonded as one, regardless of the outcome, right? Not a chance. Any vestiges of our sticky relationships were trampled quickly in the parking lot, as we tried to escape our nightmare. Fans who had been cheering together, pulling together, hoping together just moments earlier were now suddenly cutting each other off, refusing to let each other in, cursing each other and generally treating each other rudely and with no regard. Didn't seem very sticky to me.

All this to say...beware of counterfeit stickiness. Of programs, ideas or concepts that bring people together and rally them around a common cause. You see, the world promises meaning and stickiness with each other, but fails to deliver (and we often do the same). Stickiness never occurs because of a program or event, although such commonality may be a great starting point. Rather, it's a result of relationships developed through time and intentionality. Never think that just because we have a bunch of people together that we have stickiness. All we have is a bunch of people in one place. Stickiness happens when we discover our connection and begin to invest ourselves in each others' lives, creating a "velcro effect." Then, win or lose we're more concerned for others than ourselves. Their situations, their feelings, their struggles become more important than our own. And we look out for them, not just for ourselves.

Don't get caught up in the crowd. Instead, make connections. Connections that will infuse a level of stickiness in your relationships. Then you'll know that someone has your back, regardless of the score. And that's a recipe for victory every time.

stuck on sticky

More thoughts on our need to be "sticky" and what that means for us:

The idea of being a "sticky church" is that of helping people create and grow relationships that will "velcro" them to each other and to the Church at large, so that they'll remain connected through the ups and downs of life's journey.

I experienced a great example of the impact of stickiness recently. I was meeting with one of the life groups (small groups of 4-15 that gather regularly to connect in a more personal way than a weekend celebration service will allow) that I lead. We've only been meeting a short time, so we're getting to know each other and discover each other's stories.

I asked if anyone had any good things, any blessings to share from the week. One of our older men replied that he had already been blessed by being a part of this group, blessed because of the acceptance he had received. He then looked at us, choked up and said,"You don't know my whole story yet, but I can tell you that for the first 50 years of my life, I had no friends. In fact, you all are the first friends I figure I've ever had."

No friends for 50 years? Can you imagine? He went on to describe his difficulty in opening up his life and letting people in, even family. The more he shared, the more his eyes welled with tears (and the more my eyes welled!) as I heard the pain, the struggle and the hope he dared to seek by being a part of our group.

Do you suppose our group's "sticky quotient" increased in that moment? Suddenly we again saw the importance of relationships, of connecting with each other beyond a surface level. And we became that much more committed to stickiness with each other. Because we need it. Because those around us need it. Because it's the defining mark of those who say they follow Jesus...

By this will all men know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

- Jesus

That's why we're stuck on being sticky.

sticky church?

Our pastoral staff just returned from a two-day conference in San Diego County (sure is pretty there), entitled Sticky Church. I know there were plenty of questions among our support staff prior to our going about what kind of conference this was. Just what is a "sticky church," and what does it mean to and for us?

There were close to 700 who gathered on the campus of North Coast Church in Vista to hear from leaders of three large congregations, all talking about one overarching topic: how to get those who attend our churches to stick and not leave out the "back door." The recurring word given to us was that this kind of stickiness doesn't come through programming, events, or even teaching and preaching, but through relationships (duh!). If people are connected in significant relationships, they will most often remain connected to the life of a congregation for the long haul. So, if we want to close our back doors, we must be certain that we are encouraging and providing opportunity for our people to develop connections with others who will help create the kind of stickiness that keeps us together in our journeys.

Not rocket science, is it? In the 90's it was the local bar (remember Cheers?); today it's the local Starbucks (or equivalent). Somewhere we can find a level of friendship and acceptance even with our issues and imperfections. It's what we need, it's what we crave. It's what the body of Christ is designed to be. Sticky. Oh, it gets a bit messy at times, but as long as we hang in, we're gonna make it...together. Stuck together for good. And forever.

So get sticky. You may just help close that back door and help someone connect for life- theirs and yours.

what's a missionary to do?

I was perusing the Internet the other day, and I came across something that left me astounded and nearly flabbergasted. And that's saying something, since I figure I've seen a fair amount of strange and offbeat stuff.

I wandered upon a "Christian" board game unlike anything I've ever seen. As you can see by the picture, it is called "Missionary Conquest" and is described with the following:

Don't miss this exciting game of laughter and strategy! Travel around the world as a missionary and learn to finance your trips with wise investments. Good decisions and risks are major factors in this wonderful game. No Bible knowledge is required to play, win or to enjoy this game.

I can't begin to explain the waterfall of feelings that rushed over me as I looked at this game. After chewing on it for awhile, I pretty much sorted out my thoughts and criticisms in the following order:

1. First, I see this as the kind of stereotypical merchandising that world has come to expect of Christians. I'm pretty sure the average person would look at this and simply shake his or her head at the goofiness of such a concept (What? Are Monopoly or Risk too worldly? And I'm really asking that!);

2. I also think a game like this reinforces the (mis?)understanding that everything religious is about the dollar- and if kids play this game, do they begin to think of missions being about finances and cash investments? I recognize that funding is important (I was a missionary 12 years, after all), but is that what I really want others to think about such a calling?

3. The title! Missionary CONQUEST?? Why not simply revert to the once-popular term, but now understandably insensitive, CRUSADE?! The last thing we need is for the world to think that as cross-cultural workers, our ultimate plan is to go out and conquer! Jesus told us (and showed us) that's it's not about conquest, but about servanthood and sacrifice in order to advance His message. ARRRRGGGHHH! This really gets to me!

4. But most problematic is knowing that, in fact, we have all too often represented the Gospel across national or cultural lines as conquerors. We've gone places and told people (either by word or by action) that we have the answers, that we know best, that we can show them a better way to do things. Instead of going as learners, we've often gone as tellers. Instead of entering cultures in a lowly manner, we've gone as top dogs, with the money, the resources, the influence, and the "right" way of doing things. Instead of enriching cultures, we really have often done more to conquer them- and not just for the Gospel, but for the sake of Western culture as well.

Maybe this game bugs me so much because for all its "wrongness" (in my way of thinking, at least), its very title hits too close to home, too close to the truth. Maybe we need to rethink the way we "do missions" (and, thankfully, many are doing just that) and find out what it really means to empty ourselves, taking the form of a servant, if we are going to go.

After all, that's what the greatest missionary the world has ever seen did.