pointing to Jesus

Last Sunday was our sixth week of holding church services in our garage.  It was a chilly morning, but with the door closed and heaters running, we were comfortable.  A handful of neighborhood kids tumbled in halfway through our communion service, bright-faced and eager to participate in church.  At some point, one sweet young girl raised her hand, and I couldn’t have dreamed up what she said…

“Last night, I was thinking about what you guys did for us during your movie night, and then I started thinking about God and Jesus.”

Whaaaaat??!!  My heart jumped and flipped and just about burst out of my chest.  Two nights before, we had hosted a movie night in the garage, just a simple, low-key evening of hanging with 16 kids, a neighbor mom, a fun movie and a few treats.  Nothing over-the-top, but it was so meaningful to her.  To be welcomed in, to have a place she belongs, to know she is loved.

The vision God has laid on our hearts is coming to life, and I’m humbly grateful to be called into this work.  To have the beautiful privilege of a front-row seat as hearts are being drawn to Jesus.  To bring the Light of His love to the people of this neighborhood. 

Despite the fears and doubts that sometimes overwhelm, God has used moments like this to consistently remind us that He is making a way for His Church to be raised up in this neighborhood.  That if we will continue to listen to His voice and be faithful to His vision and calling over us, He will do the work.  We are simply the vessels. 

When we were in Kenya in August, we were part of a revival conference in Nairobi.  During one of the services, there was a call for individuals to come up for prayer with clergy.  Throughout the prayer time, we sang the chorus “Ancient Words, ever true, changing me, they’re changing you…” over and over.  This moment was so memorable for me.  It was a needed reminder that it is the Gospel that saves people.  It’s the love of Jesus that transforms lives.  It’s not our movie nights or donuts on Sunday mornings or the worship music we sing.  It’s the Word of God, His saving grace, the power of His love.  Movie nights and donuts and music are all good things.  But the most important thing is pointing people to Jesus.  This is why we do what we do.

Laying down our expectations…but not our vision.

Sunday, September 13 marks a momentous day in Wisconsin.  Sure it’s NFL’s opening Sunday and the Packers just happen to be playing the Bears.  Admittedly, that alone is enough to make any Wisconsinite get the cheese out.  But tucked away in a 3-car garage just off Park Avenue in Racine WI will be the first worship service of Parish House Anglican.  As the priest of this newly minted congregation I’m excited and confused all at the same time.  Julie and I moved to our current home 3 1/2 years ago eager to begin a church here.  Of course we never imagined it would begin in our garage.  To be honest I’m not sure what we imagined.  But since our move we’ve continued to feel the Lord pulling us in a single direction…it just so happens that direction is where we normally store our lawnmower.   So this Sunday, Parish House Anglican will take its place among Apple Inc, Hewlett-Packard, The Walt Disney Company, Mattel, Google, and Yankee Candle, and will set up shop, albeit with a Kingdom-orientation, in our garage. 

And we’re excited to step out on this new missional adventure.  But as a priest I’m fighting off this one question: “What if nobody shows?” It bothers me that I’m not asking other questions like, “How will we park the church bus in our driveway?” or reading books on techniques to learn a massive number of names all at one time.  Instead I feel like I’m about to become the pastor of the smallest church in America.  Then I’m reminded of the wisdom a Kenyan priest I recently met in Nairobi who said, “Most anything really needed in the world will start small.”  I’m struck by how quickly the vision God gives us can shrink in the midst of anxiety and fear.  Anything new, especially a parish, will by necessity rewrite our expectations as we discover the depth of the life of God in our midst.  I know that being missional is code for relinquishing expectation.  And while that’s uncomfortable for me, I’m finding it necessary because the vision God gives won’t fit inside the probabilities that linger in the world of our own prediction.  It’s when God’s vision leads that we can lay down anxious expectancy and let the love of God draw us into those peculiar places we would have never gone before.  If you follow, you never know, you may find yourself worshipping next to your snow blower.

take heart

This morning I was reading the end of Mark 6, the story of when Jesus walks on the water.  He’s on land by himself, praying.  He sees the disciples struggling in the wind and waves.  He steps out on the water, fully intending to walk right by them.  Yet when they cried out in fear, He comes to their boat to comfort them.  “Take heart; it is I.  Do not be afraid.”  He gets in the boat, and the wind ceases.  He accompanies them the rest of the way to shore.

I wondered what this passage was saying to me.  As we step out in faith to minister in our community, I sometimes find myself shaken by fears and doubts.  Do we have the resources, the strength, the energy, the courage to carry out the vision God has given us? 

Here’s what I heard as I read and re-read and meditated on these verses.  Jesus sees our fears.  He knows what we’re up against.  He has faith we can handle it, so He intends to allow us to move through the storms, praying and walking beside us, leading the way.  He’s before us and behind us.  But when we reach that place where we give in to our fears and cry out, He not only hears us, He meets us where we are.  He comforts us and stills the storms.  He gets in the boat with us and gives us strength and faith to keep going.

So yes, there will be struggles.  There will be times when we ask ourselves what we’ve gotten into, how will we make this work?  In those times, He will always show up.  He’s there, keeping an eye on the wind, walking alongside to see how we are holding up, listening for our cries, responding with divine peace and comfort, and empowering us to move forward.  “Take heart; it is I.  Do not be afraid.”