faith in the urban village

the work of Jen & Trey Lyon

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Field Personnel in Atlanta, GA

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April 20, 09:09 AM
Corrected Link

The link for Luanne's article was bad. You can read it at this link (I promise!)
http://www.3streamsmedia.com/diocese/2012/04/07/all-in-good-time/

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April 20, 07:04 AM
Introducing Clifford...

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?"--Matthew 7:7-9


I recently heard someone say that Jesus is showing some humor in this passage. That Jesus might have given away a good practical joke. A bleary-eyed Peter sits down for breakfast and Jesus passes him a plate with what should be the finest fish the Sea of Galilee can offer, only to find a writhing snake on the plate. 

Jesus goes to extremes here to make a point--if God is good, and can be trusted, then why are we so surprised when God gives us exactly what we need?

For the last two months we have consistently averaged 22 students in our after-school program. Since August, the majority of kids got there by Henra, the associate pastor at Park Avenue going to pick them up in SUV. You can imagine how much gas he was burning through, not to mention how long it took to go to four, sometimes 5 different schools in Atlanta traffic. So we sent out emails to our supporters asking for folks to pray about a van that we could use for the After-School ministry.

I should be clear and say that I (Trey) and something of a cynic. I grew up watching faith-healers and name-it, claim-it folks on TV, so I'm not the first one to simply say something and the believe it. Truth be told, Jen was the one who said we should put it out there--I was trying to do all the work and research on my own and find some more "logical" solution. I relented and put it out there, not expecting much--perhaps maybe an inoperable old church van that would need lots of work.

Almost one month ago now I got a call from my Aunt, which was unusual as we normally correspond through e-mail. I was in a meeting and couldn't answer and planned on calling her back later. By the time the afternoon came she had texted me. "Call me back ASAP. I may have a van for you." My utter disbelief kicked in--I couldn't even process it. Then the cynic returned--"she said might man, calm down." Ask, seek, knock--very, very important words.

The story that began to unfold is unbelievable. We talk about "God things" as those seemingly random moments when things that shouldn't happen happen--and I have to believe on occasion God is somewhere saying "What did you expect? a snake?"

My aunt Luanne is very involved at her church, and a co-worker of one of the other members had fallen on extremely hard times and poor health. Adding insult to injury, this person's car completely died and they didn't have money or resources to get a new one. Someone in the church had an old Volvo they donated, which worked well, as another member of this modest-sized church happened to be a Volvo mechanic.

After a couple of weeks of getting the Volvo up and running, the person who needed it called back with great news--someone else int heir family had a car they were giving them--the Volvo was no longer needed. At the same time, the Volvo shop owner had a son whose car had broken down beyond repair. The mechanic called his daughter in Charlotte who had a 1985 Dodge Ram van that could carry 8 people. He drove to Charlotte to pick the van up, tuned it up and have it to his son to drive. You can imagine what it's like putting gas in a 1985 Dodge Van to do a long commute to work everyday--the Ram was a vehicle, but it was expensive.

Meanwhile, my aunt had negotiated with the IRS all the particulars of handling a vehicle donation to a church, for the church to then turn around and give it to another member--a process which took almost three weeks and involved finding a typewriter, being incapable of finding a ribbon for the typewriter, lots of failed attempts to format a Word document to print the form, and finally getting it to the IRS. One auspicious Sunday morning my aunt Luanne was doing announcements before church and passed around a thank you card we had sent. She just happened to say "Also, they really need a van to transport the kids in the after-school program, so please pray, or if you know anybody."

In the back of the worship center, Volvo-shop owner stood talking to Father Steven, their priest. As Luanne asked the congregation to pray for us to find a van, she noticed they both stopped talking and looked straight at her, only to burst out laughing. Perhaps unnerved by two good friends staring at her and then bursting into laughter, after church, Luanne asked Volvo-shop owner "What were you two laughing at?" to which he replied mysteriously "I'll let you know--I need to make a couple of phone calls."

It turns out that as Luanne was mentioning prayer requests, the Volvo-shop owner just happened to be telling Father Steven that it looked as though his son was going to take the donated Volvo as it was a much better car for his commute and his kids than the van. He went on to say he now had this van that they might be able to use for church events, but he really didn't have any use for. At that exact moment, Luanne said "pray for them-they need a van."

When Luanne first told me this story I, too, laughed, but maybe a little harder than I should have. My next words were "You're not going to believe this. That thank you card was supposed to have been mailed two months ago. I was cleaning out the office and found a stack of letters and among them were thank you cards--addressed and stamped, but that had never been sent, so I dropped them in the mail." On the other end of the phone, more laughter from Luanne. "You know what's funny--you guys are on our regular prayer list, but I would never have mentioned it that morning, much less the van, had I not gotten that card that week."

Over the next week I picked up the van you see above. Yes, it is from 1985. But it has a rebuilt engine and transmission. It has been remarkably cared for by a wonderful and generous Volvo-shop owner and mechanic. What's more is that we are blessed to have a licensed mechanic as our church custodian, so when I inadvertently found out that running the air conditioning full blast on a hot day while idling would overheat the van, Mike was able to come get it running in no time.

We call it Clifford, the big red Van, after the children's books about a big red dog. Clifford is an absolute gift--one we asked for, prayed for, but one I can say I didn't honestly expect. Maybe it wasn't a snake, or a beat-down old church van that would be a liability. It wasn't any of that--it was perfect--exactly what we needed. And so we ask, seek and knock. We hope for great things, but brace ourselves for the reality. We ask for daily bread, but plan for stones and snakes, only to find that God has laid before a feast that strangely meets everything we ever needed.

Thanks be to God.

*My aunt Luanne has written wonderfully about this for her diocese's blog. You can read her remarkable version of the story here.

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January 31, 01:45 PM
It's Not That Kind of Party

Part of being involved in a community of faith is forming deep and
abiding friendships--being there for one another through births,
deaths, new jobs and tragic loss. Our Sunday School class at Towne
View Baptist Church has been that kind of community for us, so when
December rolled around, it was important to us to still keep in
contact. When Jen called to find out when the Annual Christmas Party
would be, we were surprised to find out there was no Christmas Party
this year.

Instead, this group of 20-or-so 30-something's had decided as a class
they would isntead schedule a workday with us--to come paint, scrape,
build and serve together as we continue to renovate space to expand
our ministry.

We were humbled and overwhelmed at what all was done in a few short
hours last Saturday. Our After-School kids finally have a ladder to
climb in the reading loft, the light in the homework room can actually
be turned on without the sound of a buzzing transformer overpowering
all attempts at concentration--our new girls Sunday School class and
Monday Girls Empowerment group has a lovely purple room in which to
meet, laugh, play and create. All because a few folks had a different
idea. They could've partied and brought pot-luck, laughed and talked
and had a nice night out without the kids together. Instead they chose
to come together, bring the kids, and model a better way--a way where
we laugh while sweeping, talk while hammering and even party while
painting. We are so grateful for others who put their faith into
action through love and service and we are thankful for the ways in
which they shape our faith and calling.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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January 09, 02:10 PM
what do you get when you put 90 college students in a 70-year old building?

Last week we hosted over 90 students at Lydia's House--17 of which had been scheduled to come for months--74 of which found out their housing for the Passion conference fell through less than 48 hours before they left Arkansas for Atlanta! Every once in a while you sense that God is up to something and we had that sense with this. With some clever organization on the part of Jennifer Simmons Lyon and intern extraordinaire Stephanie Uhler (and some divine help, I like to believe) it all worked--and nothing was damaged or hurt--including feelings--the whole time! (yes, having only four showers and record low temperatures may have made given some folks temporary hypothermia, but all things considered...) I wrote an article on what I learned by watching this group on my personal blog that will run on EthicsDaily.com later this week. Check it out if you haven't read it yet. We're all still learning and evolving in the life of faith...

When I was a student at Shorter College in the late 90's, I first heard about a conference for college students in Texas called "Passion". There were CD's of new and inspiring worship songs coming out of the conference, as well as sermons from compelling speakers. Every local college worship service seemed determined to capture some of the energy that was coming out of this new movement, which, at that time, according to the vision and leadership of Louie Giglio, was to culminate in an event called "OneDay"--a solemn assembly/worship festival to be held in a field near Memphis. 

I remember attending OneDay and being riveted and moved by the worship and sermons I heard there. I also remember a good friend of mine reading a bizarre passage out of Amos 5 that day. "I hate I despise your solemn assemblies." And neither of us could figure out what that could possibly mean in the context of a movement that looked and felt like genuine revival.

Earlier this week, the latest iteration of the Passion movement, Passion 2012, finished here in Atlanta. As part of our work as CBF Field Personnel, we host mission teams and groups through Lydia's House. This last week over 70 college students from Arkansas slept on air mattresses and ate Pop-Tarts in a drafty old church, all to experience a conference that in many ways is identical to what I experienced during my college years. As I stacked up mattresses while cleaning up what is normally our children's area, I stumbled across a program some forgetful collegiate left behind. As I looked through the worship guide, every page screamed a common theme--"Freedom"--more specifically, freedom for those enslaved around the world. Children, women, those in sweatshops, those in brothels. People who were bought and sold every day. In bold, all caps (shouting for the internet generation) was the slogan "DO SOMETHING NOW."

I remembered back to OneDay and the days after, when I first discovered that the Amos passage was God venting some holy anger because while there were solemn assemblies the orphan, widow, alien and oppressed were dying in the streets. 

This week, CNN featured Passion, primarily because the event raised over $3 million (yes, from college students!) to combat human trafficking and end slavery around the world, including a $100,000 donation to the host city ot Atlanta, an international hub for human trafficking. Upon hearing this news, I couldn't help but feel that Passion as a movement is evolving in very much the same way as the life of faith. 

The early years of Passion focused on the verse Isaiah 26:8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." The implication was that if worship of the name of God were to take root around the world, then conversion, discipleship--peace, even, would follow. That inward, solo deo Gloria focus, when turned outward in public worship became a powerful force that created a kind of ecstatic worship experience. The worship component is still very much in tact at Passion, but the outcome is quite different. Raising funds to combat human trafficking and "end slavery in our time" is, to me, an external focus--a shift from inward devotion to concrete action. For many Christians, this shift is familiar, as we often move from inward devotion and worship to action and service.

As my wife and I were talking about this evolution, within the Passion movement and within the life of faith, she asked "I wonder what would have happened had it not had that inner focus?" As a social worker, she knows all too well that a commitment to change and justice rarely provide endurance for the task. "Without the sense of purpose and filling up" she said "you'll never make it to actually doing anything about it."

And that gets to the Church. In many ways, the Passion movement as irrevocably altered the course of the American evangelical Church. Yes, there were praise and worship choruses and bands that pre-date the Passion movement (remember Shout to the Lord?) but the movement made it mainstream. My first Christian CD was the wunderkind of Contemporary Christian Music, Steven Curtis Chapman. Today's generation knows only his heir, Chris Tomlin--perhaps the nations most successful worship leader and a key figure in the Passion movement. Most of the contemporary worship movement has been pushed forward by some aspect of the Passion movement, resulting in mega-churches trying to recreate the feeling of a Passion conference every Sunday.

Back in our car, driving on the interstate, my wife said "I wonder if the churches will evolve". For whatever one's opinion may or may not be of the Passion movement, the irrepressible enthusiasm of youth has nowhere else so clearly been capitalized to a singular end. As the Passion movement evolves, it appears that end has moved from internal to external--from self, to neighbor. Perhaps the most persistent question for the Church--particularly those who wished to capture the same zeitgeist--is will they follow course?

Can you imagine congregations spending as much money providing community and support services to single parents and the unemployed as they do on sound systems, musicians and projectors? 

What would happen if a church went to online giving and put their budget line for church envelopes into a micro-loan for someone starting a small business?
...or switched church fixtures to greener options and used the energy savings to provide weather stripping and compact flourescent lights to seniors?
...or launched a capital building campaign--for a free community health clinic?

The move from inward to outward is the way of Jesus--a way which can be moving and inspiring when it occurs en masse. The question is, will the Church follow?

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December 31, 09:25 AM
Fall 2011 Newsletter

newsletter volume 1 DRAFT.pdf Download this file

Take a minute to catch up on what God is doing through Lydia's House and Urban Village Ministries!

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November 29, 10:03 AM
thanks and giving


Almost two weeks ago now I received a facebook message from a friend from seminary. We met in a spiritual formation class at McAfee and soon found out she had been a formative influence on my my wife and mother-in-law through GA's and WMU. My friend and former classmate has now begun a non-profit ministry called HopeGivers and reached out to me asking if we knew of any families in need of a Thanksgiving meal. In truth, several families crossed my mind and after talking with Henra, our associate pastor and youth minister we identified families who could use them.

Thanks to the generosity and shared ministry of a good friend a mom and her four boys had a thanksgiving meal. Thanks to a church that reaches out and partners with the people of its community, a young couple and their 4 week old had a full meal. Thanks to your support of us and our ability to reach out, an elderly woman received a meal she didn't even now was coming but that came, by her own words "exactly when I needed it.

We are profoundly grateful and can say to you and to our generous Creator and Sustainer only "Thanks".

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October 19, 10:18 AM
building houses and bridges

There's nothing like the creativity of children and teenagers. Maybe it's that their brains are still forming and pliable--maybe it's that they haven't lived long enough to be told "no" enough times to make them doubt their own skills. Whatever the case, one things for sure--if you ask for them to think and create something from nothing, you better brace yourself for what your gonna get.

Last week in After School Program we split the group into a younger and older team. They had to build a structure as tall and large as possible using only notecards--no tape, no staples--and did we mention they couldn't talk? This proved to be hard for some than others (*cough*cough* Andrew and Zedrick) but as a whole they did a great job. Immediately they thought it was a competition. One team went for the highest structure, the other built a village that looked like some massive Urban Development. When they were then told to work together as a team, something totally different happened. After creating one bridge, the guys and girls couldn't stop. They built more bridges and overpasses--encircling the buildings. I joked that they must be trying to make their own I-285.

There's lots of lessons in there for us as adults I think. That building bridges can be more fun than building our own temples. That working together--though often more difficult--is always better than working alone. Moreover I think we might learn that the Kingdom can be built when we give our children and youth the tools to dream of what could be and let them go for it--without dampening it with our cynicism and critique. Who knows--they might just build something bigger and more beautiful than we could have dreamed.

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August 20, 07:28 AM
back to school party!
July 15, 07:37 PM
Moving Furniture

Paint, cleaners, sweat. All of these can re-make a room into a totally different environment. Park Avenue is an historic church, with the "youngest" building dating to 1931. With their large central meeting rooms and tiny class-rooms on the sides, many spaces in the church seem to echo the lessons of Sunday Schools long since past. Over the last seven years, shuttered and cluttered rooms have become sacred space for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, pre-schoolers and children, even some Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters in Christ's body. And now begins the process of converting what were formerly the "bride's" and "groom's" into a homework center and hangout room. Pistachio green and bright pink walls will soon be covered in chalkboard paint and gray, khaki and "Martian Green" hues. In preparation of the volunteers coming to paint, we started looking into furniture for the spaces.

This led us to Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta-- a warehouse of donated furniture supplied to families in need and organizations that serve them. In all honesty, I expected to find a chair or two that would fit our needs. Instead, we found everything we needed. Chairs, couches, tables--even old drama boxes that could easily be upholstered and turned into modular seating--it was all there. 

This past Wednesday we rented a U-Haul and used some of the great youth and adults from YouthWorks Camps to load the furniture up and deliver it to its new home at Park Avenue. To know that those couches and chairs will all-too-soon be holding up middle-school kids from Southeast Atlanta is a staggering thought--or maybe not as much so as it felt on Wednesday.

The truth is, on Wednesday I had planned on picking up 4-6 couches like the ones in the photo above--mostly because there were about 15 of them there the Friday before when we had first visited the Furniture Bank. I couldn't believe how many had gone out in just three days--and then I thought of all the folks for whom those couches were creating a home--a safe place for them to rest and dream of how they could make the next steps in creating a home again. And it wasn't just about furniture anymore.

Next Saturday a church group from a Charismatic Episcopal Church will spend the morning cleaning those rooms and painting the walls based on design guidance from a Baptist with a background in design. They'll start moving in furniture--which was given in goodwill by Emory University, Home Depot and who knows who else--mediated through the vital and beautiful work of the Furniture Bank, delivered in 90 degree heat by a group of sweaty Methodist youth from Virginia--all so kids in this community have a safe place to stay.

There's a lot of talk in the church about the future of mission--what it looks like in a post-denominational, post-Christian world--how people will work together for the cause of Jesus in the world. There's lots that has been written and said about what this new vision of mission will look like, but I can tell you I've seen it and it looks like the Kingdom of God and it is good. 

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July 01, 08:28 AM
when the young see visions

This week we're at PassportKIDS camp in Macon, Georgia as "CBF Missionaries in Residence". Passport offers great camp experiences for teenagers and elementary schoolers that rooted in a sense of joining God in mission. Last night I (Trey) got to share with the kids in worship and to be totally honest, I was really nervous. If you know me, you know I don't mind talking to anybody, but I'm a little more used to talking to youth and adults than I am a room of 170 3rd-6th graders.

Just after our mission rotations yesterday the idea came to me. As a young man St. Francis of Assisi was the son of wealthy parents. He had every luxury a kid could want, as well as being a popular guy--a "cool kid" we'd say now. After being enlisted to go to battle with a neighboring village, Francis came back disillusioned by wealth and material things. He felt like he should pursue peace among people and with God. After stumbling across the ruins of a church, he stumbled in and began to pray, asking God what he should do. God answered back "Francis, rebuild my church, which is in ruins."

Francis heard God's call and he followed. He tried to get other people--good, church-going people to help him rebuild God's church--but some thought God couldn't work the way Francis was saying. But Francis believed in the dream God had given him and set out to make it happen. 

I told the campers Francis' story. I told them about the church int he picture above, which is in our neighborhood--one of many churches that are abandoned or for sale in our area. I asked them to pray about how God was speaking to them--if God might be telling these 3rd and fourth graders to rebuild the church--and to dream about how they could do it.

What's REALLY crazy is that as I sat down from speaking the missions video was introduced. The missions emphasis for Passport this year is supporting churches in China. Several CBF Field Personnel were featured in the video. The phrase they kept using in the video? "Your support of missionaries helps REBUILD GOD'S CHURCH in China."

We never know how the Spirit is leading--I had not seen the video and had no idea that's the language they would use. I hadn't planned on talking about St. Francis, but I had church group leaders come up to me later and say they talked about Francis in church group devotions--and even better, kids coming up to me saying "that Francis story is cool--did that REALLY happen?" I had no idea, but I like to think the Spirit did.

The prophet Joel says that the day of the Lord will have the old men dreaming dreams and the young seeing visions. We're blessed to be around kids audacious enough to ask, seek and knock and trust God to lead them.

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June 30, 09:47 AM
On the Value of Shared Resources


To say that figuring out how to be "partner funded"  field personnel has been challenging is an understatement.  But probably not in the way you think- our ministry partners who are supporting monthly or with one time gifts, have been gracious and cheerful givers.  The challenge for us have been in understanding the financial specifics, developing two budgets, one household and one ministry.  Figuring out benefits, and coming up "the number" we had to raise to make sure everything was covered.  Trey and I neither one are what you would call "money people"- not that we aren't capable- its just not the world we live in- I have always said give me a social services problem and I in my comfort zone.  Thankfully we do not walk this journey alone.  Part of the beauty of relying on God's provision during this process was also relying on others.  One such family has been a crucial part of our ministry support team.  In one afternoon, with their help, we had a clear understanding of the financial aspects of getting started.  We have often joked with this family that financial wisdom is a spiritual gift- and no more was this evident than in our time together that Saturday afternoon.  We really would not be were we are today without their help. We continue to be amazed at how God has worked all the pieces of this puzzle together, and as we have just yesterday met our yearly pledge goal we know it would not be possible without the wonderful support of our ministry partners in sharing resources not only money, but also time, and unique gifts.  We can't say thanks enough!

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June 27, 09:33 AM
youth & enthusiasm

Last night I got to welcome about 50 high school students from YouthWorks camps that are staying here at Park Avenue and will be ministering to Southeast Atlanta over the next week.

We talked about the history of the church, about the power of Resurrection--Christ bringing new life to neighborhoods and communities and how they get to make that happen this week.

As I watched that room of kids I saw what we adults so easily lose as we get older--a sense of wonder and audacity. They believe they can still change the world--and between the enthusiasm they bring and the movement of the Spirit they can--and they're starting here.

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June 25, 08:06 PM
prayer and commissioning


commissioning night at CBF General Assembly

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June 22, 10:43 AM
It's official!

Our names are on the brochure! Its so exciting to be at General Assembly with so many who are creativel engaging and joining in God's mission. Thanks to all of you who are praying and supporting us!

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June 10, 10:53 AM
sacred space

See the full gallery on Posterous

 

Last Sunday was our first Sunday at Park Avenue Baptist Church, the place which will be "home base" for our ministry. After serving a church for nine years, being in a different place of worship on Sunday had me taking in the surroundings a bit. 

Pak Avenue is a special place. The church celebrated its 141st birthday on Sunday. That's right--the church is older than you, me, and even Grant Park itself. As I've walked around the building this week, the dichotomy is everywhere--old pipes and new pipes, discolored ceiling tiles and bright new murals in the children's room. In some unrenovated spaces, there's a sense of decay, perhaps, but mroe of history. On a building tour with our summer intern, she asked how many people had once used the large Sunday School room that is now home to a group of Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. As I thought about that, I remember thinking about the people that say in that room in the 40's and 50's. And then I thought about the rambunctious group of boys that now call it home--a safe place to learn about God's creation and how to be a good neighbor and a good citizen.

There are rooms still in need of paint and some basic repair. Four such rooms will behome to the new After-School Program we're starting in the fall. Others could look at the condition of the physical space and write it off--say that you'd be better off to raize the facility and build a newer, more modern facility. When you do that though you don't just lose the history of a place--in some sense you lose the soul of it.

Watching new things being born out of old things has a profound sense of holiness to it--the idea that God is always creating, even from what may look like deacy at the time--to grow something new, something, something sacred.

 

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April 28, 05:11 PM
a seat at the table

 

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to attend a meeting of faith community leaders across South Atlanta. I didn't know what to expect, so I got ready to go and listen, share, and meet my new neighbors. The group was as diverse as one could imagine--men and women, 20 and 30 somethings, distinguished silver-haired senior pastors, veteran community leaders. As we sat down to eat lunch I struck up a conversation with the gentleman on my left. He has lived in Southeast Atlanta since the 70's, worked for the mayor's office, been a producer for the biggest AM radio station in town and even owned his own media firm. The man who had organized the meeting has been doing community development in Southeast Atlanta since the 60's. To say I felt a bit out of my depth is a gross understatement.

But the strangest thing happened.

As we went around the room introducing ourselves stories began to take shape--the new pastor of a small Methodist congregation who was still commuting in from the suburbs, a priest who spent much of his life in a successful law practice until heeding God's call to serve and love others through the Church. We started to talk about the issues people in South Atlanta are facing--crime, poverty, lack of social and community services. Gradually people started to share the ministries their church had undertaken, largely to the surprise of everyone else at that meeting.

Having strong church programs and specific, holistic ministries is the call of every church, but all too often we're ships in the night, each trying to accomplish our own work and be faithful to what we feel God leading our specific congregation or organization to do. We don't always know our neighbors--especially our brothers and sisters within Christ's Church--and so we don't pool our resources and wisdom for the larger task of God's shalom. The NPU-W Faith Collaborative being birthed is trying to counter to that. As we talked about improving communication between us and sharing information about ministries and events, talk turned to creating a web presence to facilitate it. And suddenly the new guy in the room had a role to play. Our conversations have been productive and there is a genuine enthusiasm in faith communities across Southeast Atlanta about what God is up to in our midst. There's a million things that have to happen for something like this to come to fruition, but I'm convinced the best thing is a group of faith leaders who could get together for the sake of being the presence of Christ to their communities and make room at the table for all who would like to contribute.

even the new guy :)

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February 07, 02:38 PM
preparing the way


This past Sunday we worshiped for the first time with Park Avenue Baptist Church--the congregation that will soon be our home church and integral partner in reaching and ministering to the community needs of Southeast Atlanta. To be honest, Jen and I were a little nervous. Due to existing friendships and a missional partnership with the church we presently serve, we knew of the work God was doing at Park Avenue--how this historic downtown church had grown into a diverse congregation that reflects the community that it faithfully serves. We knew a lot about the church--but we didn't know what it was like to actually be a part of the church. I joked with a couple of people that it kind of feels like a first date--I felt myself hoping that I wouldn't say the wrong thing, or go on stage with something in my teeth.

The picture above shows the sanctuary after a just-last-week-completed renovation. A lot of time and energy--blood, sweat, tears and money--went in to restoring a beautiful place of worship into an inviting space where people could gather together to encourage one another, to learn and grow to be better followers of Christ--to sing songs and pray prayers together. I couldn't help but be struck by the devotion of this group of Jesus followers--not just in the paint and the freshly polished hardwoods--but in their singing and in their praying...in the intensity with which they listened to us share the vision of ministry we felt God calling us to...in the receptivity of them to the hearing and proclaiming of the good news of an abundant life in Jesus. We were welcomed into that community and made to feel welcome--as if we'd returned to visit a place we'd once regarded home.

In the stillness of a Monday I now find myself sending e-mails and ticking down an already-too-long to-do list. Just as Park Avenue welcomed us and invested a large part of who they are into being a welcoming and hospitable presence in Southeast Atlanta, Jen and I too must keep "preparing the way" for the work of God. For some reason that image has landed on me a bit. It's always tempting to think that whenever something really good happens in worship, or in personal ministry, or whenever someone's needs are met that we as humans had a role to play in that. When people acknowledge it we find ourselves saying somewhat awkwardly "well, God did it--it wasn't really me." I've always only half-believed that because, after all, it the people of God through whom God works in the world. So based on the good example of one church I find myself trying to embrace the role God has handed each of us--that we might be heralds of the Kingdom of God--the kind of people who prepare the way for God to move and to work in our lives and in our communities. And as we pray and e-mail, schedule and make phone calls, dream and talk and tweet--may we--may I--may all of us--come to believe that we are setting the table for God to do wonderful, beautiful, startling, glorious things.

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November 22, 05:01 PM
and we're off...almost.

We all know what it's like to wait for things. If you've ever traveled on any sort of mass transit--boat, airplane, train or bus, you know there's a process to it. Over the past year as Jen and I have embarked on this new journey of mission and calling, there have been stops along the way. Our exploratory conference with CBF. Meeting with leadership and discussing our vision for ministry. Identifying and meeting with ministry partners. Learning from people doing similar ministry. Getting to know the urban ministry team with CBF.

And here we are--a good ways through the journey--the gate is in sight, final preparations are being made and we're ready for take-off...almost.

We are excited about the vision God has given us for doing holistic community transformation in Southeast Atlanta among the most neglected people. We ask you to pray for us in this journey and as we continue to take the next steps in this process. We look forward to celebrating with you all soon!

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