Communitas

Race for the Least of These

2010-04-06T22:30:00.002-05:00

May 18-25 we return to Los Angeles to work on Skid Row and in South Central. We will be tutoring homeless children, working with children in South Central (Gang Land), and serving and working with the homeless. There are 90,000 homeless in LA. 20,000 are women. 6,000 are children.

I am blessed to take 21 amazing students on this trip. The trip always transforms lives and develops leaders. God always shows up in the most amazing ways as we are all stretched profoundly. We get to see some of the most beautiful things in the darkest of places, hope in the midst of despair.

We are sponsoring a 5K Fun Run and a 10K Competitive Run on April 24, 2010 at McAllister Park in San Antonio (Race starts at 8:00 a.m.). All proceeds from the race will go toward sending our students to Los Angeles for a very intensive week of work.

We would like for you to participate in the sending of our students! You can do so in several ways:

1) You can pre-register online ($15.00). Here is the link to the race registration site (cost is $20.00 on race day):

http://www.active.com/running/san-antonio-tx/race-for-the-least-of-these-10k-race5k-fun-runwalk-2010

You don't have to be a runner to participate! While there will be trophies and medals for the winners of each age group, this race is all about sending students on mission. You can walk, enjoy a day in the park!

2) You can help sponsor the race. Sponsorship begins at $200.00. All sponsors will have their church or company logo on the back of the race T-Shirt.

3) You can send a gift to help send students to Los Angeles on mission trip. All gifts are charitable contributions and are thus tax deductible.

Checks are payable to San Antonio Baptist Association. In the memo section of the check, you can designate "BSM Mission Trip" or "BSM Race Sponsorship." If you want to sponsor, please send me your company or church logo so we can get it to the t-shirt designer. All sponsorships are due by April 13. You can contact me at: utsabsm@gmail.com

The address for San Antonio Baptist Association: 5807 I H 10 W; San Antonio, TX 78201.

Your investment in our students is an investment in the leaders of tomorrow, in the lives of many homeless in Los Angeles, and many children in South Central.

Your prayers are greatly needed as well. The week is taxing, challenging, and quite difficult. We need prayer covering. We are not always in the safest of places.

Thank you for your prayers and for your support of BSM.

Grace and Peace,
Kevin

Science, Faith, Theodicy and Ed-Engaging the New Atheists

2010-04-06T19:52:00.004-05:00

His name is Ed and he is a friendly young man. Approximately 24, Ed returned to school at the University of Texas, San Antonio after two tours of Iraq. When Ed graduated from High School, he considered himself a Christian. He knows the Scriptures-very well. He 'walked the aisle' at the age of 12, and grew up in the church. He will tell you that he prayed to receive Christ and believed everything in the Scriptures. He will tell you that he had no doubts, trusted Christ and grew up a strong Christian in a strong Christian home.

He will also tell you now that he has disavowed Christ and is certain of his atheism.

He will tell you that the first cracks in his faith surfaced in Iraq, where he saw "so much evil go on in the name of religion, in the name of God" from professing Christians as well as devout Muslims. He wondered where God was in all of this, why He would allow so much suffering and evil if He were truly loving. He wondered why God would allow such evil to flourish if He was all powerful? He wondered why God did not seem to answer his prayers while in Iraq. He considered all of these things as he came back to the States to resume his academic studies. God seemed distant, and Ed wondered why people in America were so 'oblivious' to the evil that was in the world and so blindly trusted in God. He wondered if Christianity was a convenient faith in a comfortable land.

During his studies in school, he threw himself into studying science and history. He concluded that science and the Bible were incompatible. He studied history and determined that a 'group of men just made decisions to control people at the early church counsels.' He said there came that moment when "I was liberated. I saw it was all a sham, all something made up, something designed to be a crutch for the weak, to comfort the intellectually lazy, something to control people's behaviors."

I met Ed two weeks ago at our Wednesday lunch. We talked for over an hour. Ed had many questions. God gave much grace in that conversation as I spoke to him. Our conversation was not hostile-it was lively, but not dishonorable. I hold tightly to the apologetic of 1 Peter 3:15,16. I did not answer all of Ed's questions to his liking-but we did have several moment where it became clear his thinking was distorted or his view of Scripture or Christianity was a misrepresentation of what we truly believe.

I told him about a book, written by Dr. Hugh Ross that I would like him to read. He agreed and last week I lent him the book and he is reading brilliant writing from a brilliant Christian astrophysicist on the subject of creation. Please pray for the conversations that will follow.

A lot of praying was going on in that conversation. I prayed the Spirit would open Ed's eyes, heal the wounds, and remove the blinders that kept him from seeing The Christ. I prayed against the enemy who was blinding him and holding him hostage. This conversation was not some mere intellectual debate-it was spiritual warfare to the core.

But there was certainly a great deal of discussion that involved apologetics (defending the faith). Scripture (again, 1 Peter 3:15,16) makes it clear that we are to 'always be ready to give reason for the Hope that is within us-and to give that reason with all gentleness and respect.'

I took away several things from that conversation:
1) We Christians as a whole are not taking "loving God with all of our MIND very seriously." We like to give pat answers to real, probing questions our lost friends have. We give Sunday School answers: "The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it." That is a wonderful personal credo when it comes to faith-but is not something to spout to intellectual seekers when they have serious questions. Ed even joked "When I ask Christians questions that are really important to me, I get the same answers: "God....Jesus...the Bible...no one seems to be able to talk about faith and science, faith and history or faith and philosophy." Ed has legitimate questions.

My first question: Are we properly equipping Christians to defend and share their faith with the "New Atheists?" ,with people who have legitimate questions who are seekers?"

2) A lot of seekers are encountering a lot of angry Christians. Peter said we were to give reason for the hope that is within us, but to do so with all 'gentleness and respect.' Sometimes we Christians are good at arguing with those who disagree with us, but not so good at speaking the Truth in love. We don't have the option of 'opting out' of loving our neighbor-and yes, even Atheists are our neighbors. This leads to my next question:

Are we really embracing the second greatest commandment? Love is supreme. We can disagree with people and discuss ideas without being hostile or hateful. We can defend our faith without dehumanizing others in the Name of Christ. There were several tings Ed said about his encounters with Christians, and one in particular broke my heart: "I have legitimate questions and you have no idea how many times Christians start yelling at me or calling me names or just saying 'you're going to hell,' as opposed to talking about the issues. Christians are just angry people! And Jesus is supposed to be loving? This God is loving? If that's the case why are His people so hateful?"

Ed had many questions. He said during his 'crisis of faith' that point where he was making a decision to believe in God or not, he asked many questions from Christians and in his church. He was told on several occasions something along these lines: 'I'm concerned you have so many questions...faith doesn't do that. You just believe.'

My third question: "Does God tell us to check our brains at the door when we come to faith in Him?"-or, related to this-"Is Christianity illogical?"

God is the Author of Truth and our faith is certainly not 'illogical.' Some of the most brilliant minds throughout human history have come from Christianity. Some of the greatest scientific breakthroughs came from Christian scientists who engaged in scientific pursuit because they believed in a Sovereign, Creative, Orderly God who gave sense and meaning to life and to the cosmos. Unfortunately, there has been a 'dumbing down' in the area of discipleship, even in the area of preaching and teaching. The focus on 'felt needs' has in many ways led us to focus more on making people feel good (and make sure we keep them happy in our gatherings) our as opposed to walking through the full counsel of God and addressing not only 'felt needs' but also real needs-and that includes the need to share the Gospel with non-believers in a way they can understand.

Paul's missiological approach in Acts 17 (his encounter with the Greek philosophers) is informative. Paul knew what the philosophers believed, understood their philosophy and even quoted from some of their poets and philosophers, using the insights the lost thinkers had as a bridge to share the Truth. Paul was heartbroken over the idolatry, but respectful, even commending the philosophers for being 'religious men.'

We can learn a lot from Paul. Paul did not compromise the Message, he showed love and respect and he knew how to defend the faith with some of the intellectuals of his day. What Paul did not do was spew hatred towards the philosophers who were somewhat arrogant as they pondered Paul's ideas, ideas which were 'strange to their ears'-they even called him a babbler. Still...Paul persevered, shared the Truth and demonstrated love and respect.

There are many people like Ed in our city, in our culture. Ed is not opposed to the idea of God, he simply wants some legitimate questions answered. He has a lot of anger towards God. In our conversation, I did point out (carefully) that he seemed quite angry with someone who does not exist from his point of view. Ed slipped several times in this area. It makes no sense to be angry with a non-existent Deity.

You see, the core issue of Ed's 'unbelief' was his inability to reconcile what he was learning in science, his life experiences in Iraq, and what he was hearing in his history classes. To be frank, many of his objections from a historical and scientific point of view were related to poor discipleship-and professors who had an agenda to undermine Christianity.

Poorly discipled Christians encountering 'intellectuals' with an agenda against Christians often find themselves dashed on the rocks.

We can and must do better.

Please pray for Ed. God knows him and loves him. Pray that Ed will come to truly know Christ. Pray for our students and for me, for those who are in conversation with him. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray also that the enemy be bound. He is wily and crafty and has blinded Ed.

Pray also for the church. Pray that we would rediscover what it means to love God with 'all of our mind'-as John R.W. Stott said, our minds "matter to God."

If you are wondering what some of Ed's questions were-here are a few statements and questions:
1) "If God knows everything and is Good and Loving, why did He create a world where He knew we would fall? Why would He do that to condemn most of humanity to hell?"

2) "It's like God slits our throats, tells us we are dying, and then says, 'love me and you will live. Do not love me, and you will die. He cut our throats, making us imperfect-what kind of love is that?"

3) "Most of the evil in the world has come from religious zealots doing all of this evil in the name of their god. We would all be better off if we were all liberated from these superstitions."

4) "You Christians believe the earth is 6,000 years old. It's laughable. Science has proven beyond a doubt that the earth is millions of years old. How can any intelligent person believe such a thing?"

5) "Why does God create people He plans on tormenting for eternity in hell? If He knows everything, He knows who will love Him and who won't. Why would He make people just to torture them in hell for eternity? Isn't that evil?"

6) "If God is so wise, why couldn't He figure out a way to create a perfect environment where there was no possibility for evil or sin?"

7) "If God is so good and heals people and things like it says in the Bible, why don't we see amputees growing limbs back or the lame walking or the blind seeing? Where is the evidence for that?"

I could go on-but this is a starting point. Interesting questions, and we can address these issues, but are we willing to study and learn and are we willing to have meaningful dialogue?

The culture is asking a lot of questions. Bumper sticker theology isn't going to answer these questions, but followers of Christ, filled with the Spirit, available to Him, who are learning to love God with their minds, will be quite useful in His Hands.

Mission Trip Update

2010-03-17T23:55:00.003-05:00

For the third consecutive year, we (BSM) are taking students from UTSA to serve in Los Angeles for one week. We will be working on Skid Row and in South Central (Gang Land), and once more, we are looking forward to a transformational experience for our young people. The lessons learned in Los Angeles are always transferred back to San Antonio.

I am blessed beyond measure by our young people. I don't even like using the term "mission trip" to describe what we are doing because in some ways, the term trivializes the idea of being on mission, as if being on mission is something one does once a year. Our students are always on mission-on our campus, in our city-they are one of the most amazing missional communities I have ever been a part of in my 25 years of vocational ministry.

Los Angeles is our 'ends of the earth' when it comes to the Great Commission. God has specifically given us a burden to serve in places that most people go out of their way to avoid. Consider:

There are over 90,000 homeless in Los Angeles. That number continues to climb. It is staggering. A city within a city. 25% of the homeless are women. There are an estimated 6,000 homeless children as well. Los Angeles has the largest disparity between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' in the U.S. The drop off point between barely making it in Los Angeles and winding up homeless is small.

Skid Row is a very real place with very real people. A sea of humanity populates the area. It is said that Skid Row is a place where 'people go to die.' We have seen and heard such things when we serve on Skid Row. We will be working with Union Rescue Mission and the Dream Center to minister to the homeless on and around Skid Row. If you've ever seen the excellent movie, "The Soloist" (based on a true story) you get some idea of what Skid Row is like. Having said that, there is no way to describe what it actually is like until you walk outside the secured gates of one of the mission centers and actually take in the sights, sounds, smells and sense the despair, which is tangible, on the streets themselves.

There are so many stories, and so many of the 'stereotypes' of the homeless are shattered when you are on those streets and talking to individuals who neither want to be on the streets or chose to be there. And yes, you hear many stories of people who are barely hanging on, ready to give up.

But God is at work in the midst of the darkness and despair. Union Rescue and the Dream Center are doing remarkable work sharing the Gospel, providing training for people, helping individuals find housing and the care they need. God is at work, but it is surely one of those cases where the harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few....

School on Wheels is a remarkable agency. Their objective is to tutor children (elementary through high school) who are homeless so they can successfully re-enter the school system when their parent(s) find housing. The reality and pain of homelessness really strikes home when you are helping a child with school work and that child is either living on the streets or in temporary housing for the homeless. Children have no say in the matter. They don't choose to be homeless. More amazing is just how determined and how focused so many of these children are, wanting to make the best of the opportunity to go to School on Wheels, to receive their education, to help their family (usually their mother). It's humbling. It's heartbreaking-but God is working.

South Central is the stuff of TV cop shoes and movies. Gangs literally infest the area. There is a tangible sense of oppression in the region. We work with the Dream Center's ministry "MetroKidz" which targets children and younger teenagers. The objective is to share Christ with the young people, to teach them how to make wise decisions, to help provide an alternative view of life and reality than the one offered by the many gangs who compete for turf and for the next batch of 'young soldiers.' Children as young as 10 are recruited-lured by $50.00 a day and a free cell phone to simply be on the lookout for police cars. If one is seen, the playing children just 'call the man on the phone' and warn of police presence. For many of these children, who may eat one meal a day, $50.00 goes a long way towards providing material things they both want and need.

When we are working in the area, we have the sense that we are not in a safe place, but the most amazing thing is...we feel absolutely at peace. The Dream Center has developed great credibility in the area and families appreciate the investment in their children. God is working through MetroKidz to reach children. The enemy has stolen so many young people, but God is redeeming many as well. Again-Light is present in the darkness, Hope present in Despair.

Our students dont' go on 'mission trip' in LA to hang out in Hollywood or the beaches-they go to the places people avoid and we spend our week there. It amazes me that our young people will spend 3 months in training, will raise their support to go (approximately $900 per student), and give one week to go to places....again...places most people would pay to avoid.

We need your prayers. These are tough economic times. We realize that. The past two years, our students have found it easier to raise their support. This year is particularly challenging-yet we still sense His call and believe it to be our mission and calling to return.

We need your prayers, and if you are able, your support. The lessons these students learn in Los Angeles will be applied here in San Antonio. Every year that we go, we bring back a stronger core group of leaders and missionaries who will impact our campus, our city for Christ.

If you feel led to give, you can send a check to San Antonio Baptist Association; 5807 I H 10 W; San Antonio, TX 78201. In the memo section of the check you can simply designate "BSM Mission Trip LA" and 100% of your gift (which is tax deductible) will go towards sending our students.

We are also sponsoring a 5K Fun Run and 10K competitive race on Saturday, April 24, at McAllister Park. It is a "Run for the Least of These." More information on the run will be coming soon. By participating ($15.00) you will help send students, and if you choose to help sponsor (again, tax deductible) you will also be helping to send students.

I believe in this mission and this cause because I see how He has used this trip to impact lives in profound ways-not only our students, but the lives of men, women and children in Los Angeles, and again, as lessons are learned, here in San Antonio.

Atheists and "Smut for Smut"-Prayer Needed

2010-02-28T14:54:00.002-06:00

You may have heard it on the news. You may have heard about it from others.Yes, it's true: This week, the UTSA campus organization "The Atheist Agenda" is indeed running their "smut for smut" campaign in which they encourage students to trade in one form of smut (from their perspective) for another form of smut. Specifically-they are encouraging students to turn in Bibles in exchange for pornography.

It is heartbreaking. It is also a snapshot of the "New Atheism" that is springing up in America-aggressive and confrontational. It outrages the senses of Christians. And the Atheist Agenda does this solely for this purpose: To get under the skin of Christians and to provoke an angry response so they can point at screaming Christians and say to their peers: "See-they are angry, self-righteous, judgmental people." The last time they had this campaign, tensions were quite high on our campus. This year the tensions are exceptionally high. I do not know what to expect this week.

As you can imagine-emotions are high this week on our campus. As students saw the posters for the campaign last week, many were upset, offended, angry.

Groups have been forming in response. Some groups are addressing the administration, others are forming to establish a 'counter movement' to 'fight back.' Some groups are starting prayer groups. Others are planning protests. Tensions are indeed high.

I've never seen a person won to Christ through legislation. If legislation could change the human heart, then we could be saved by keeping the Mosaic Law. Do I hope they change school policy when it comes to this matter-yes. However, even if the policy is changed, hearts are not changed.

I've never seen a person won to Christ through anger or arguing. All that is accomplished when spiritual forces are addressed in fleshly means is the further calcification of the position of the person outside of Christ.

And, I've never seen prayer as political or protest rally anywhere in Scripture, nor have I seen it change the hearts of lost humanity.

I am blessed by the students in BSM. They are intentionally missional. We have students investing their lives and relationships with Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Muslims and Hindu's. We have students intentionally befriending the lost, praying for them, investing in them and God is using our students to profoundly impact lost humanity.

This past week, I challenged our students to re-consider Christ's words on ridicule, opposition, even persecution and what it means to take up our crosses and follow Jesus, to share in His sufferings, to pray with fervency on our faces, to intercede and engage in spiritual warfare. Our enemy is not flesh and blood. We too, apart from the Grace of God and the Redeeming Blood of Christ were lost once-just as the Atheists are now. We are praying for our campus, for other followers of Christ and yes, even for the Atheists.

I share this story with you to encourage to you please pray for our campus. At the same time, I share it with you because this is a snapshot of what is to come. We are now a land of many gods and no God. My heart breaks when I consider how much of our attention is spent on ourselves while we are surrounded by lost and broken humanity.

So please pray for us--and please continue to read (following two entries). There is GOOD news to report! Please read prayerfully. The enemy is at work, but our GOD reigns and HE is working in powerful ways!

Mission Trip Needs

2010-02-28T14:38:00.002-06:00

For the third year, the BSM at UTSA will be going to Los Angeles (our 'ends of the earth') on mission trip. We will be leaving mid-May for a one week period of service in the roughest parts of Los Angeles: Skid Row and South Central (also known as "Gangland").

God has used these mission trips to profoundly impact and influence and shape our students and the ministry at UTSA. Every trip has been nothing short of transformational. Students are stretched (as am I) to the limits, and the lessons learned in that context are taken and applied to San Antonio-to our campus and to our city. This trip is not 'spiritual tourism' and not for the faint of heart. Each year we go, we pray specifically for only the 'called out ones' to go with us. We recognize that if a student were to go on this trip just to 'see Los Angeles' they will be highly disappointed (because we're not seeing the glitz and glamor of L.A.) and will crash and burn because the experience is quite intensive.

He has used this trip to transform lives in Los Angeles, our students' lives and as a result, our campus and city. Missionaries are birthed on this trip. Students come back forever changed.

These are tough economic times. The past two years God has faithfully provided for the called out students to go. We are trusting Him to do the same this year. The challenges this year are the tight economy and the 'giving fatigue' that many individuals and churches are experiencing. We are taking 22 students and the cost per student (airfare, lodging, meals, transportation) for the week is $900.00.

This year, students are finding it particularly difficult in raising support. We are taking a mixture of students who are returning for a 2nd or 3rd tour of duty in LA and freshmen who have never experienced this trip and what God does in this context. Our students do not come from the wealthy or privileged families-many of them are working to help get through school and are doing their best to save money and to raise funds to go and serve in Los Angeles. Many are reporting just how difficult it is to gain support. We are blessed in that many are covenanting to pray for and with us. We also need the provision only He can provide.

I am asking (and this is something I have not done before) in a very straightforward way if you or your church or a Sunday school class or a missions team would consider giving to help our students go. We will gladly do all we can to give you reports and information on the trip when we return. These students are passionate for Christ and are eager to go where most people would not want to go. They do have that sense of 'calledness.'

Any amount is greatly appreciated. We see this mission trip as a faith venture from now through our return. We can do nothing of value in our own strength. We do not have the personal or financial resources. All must be from Him and come from Him.

If you feel so led to give, please know that your gift is going to change lives-literally. Your investment in our students will leave an indelible mark on their souls as will the work they will be doing in some very difficult places.

If you are led to give, you can send a check to the San Antonio Baptist Association,, 5807 I H 10 W, San Antonio, TX 78201. Checks would be payable to San Antonio Baptist Association. In the memo section of the check, you may write: BSM L.A. Mission Trip Gift. All donations are of course tax-deductible.

There are over 90,000 homeless in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles has the greatest economic disparity between the 'have's ' and 'have nots' in the U.S. The darkness there is great-but there is also a Great Light shining Hope in midst of despair. Would you pray about and consider supporting our students as they prepare for one of the greatest and most challenging experiences they will have in their young lives?

Your prayers and consideration are greatly appreciated.

Awakenings, Revivals and the God of This City

2010-02-28T14:08:00.003-06:00

Since I was a child, I remember the talk about our need for revival. I remember the revival meetings and prayer meetings. If you grew up in the church I'm sure you do as well. There was this collective sense we needed a fresh outpouring of the Spirit of God, that ultimately we needed God Himself.

I was blessed as a child to actually grow up in a church that experienced an authentic awakening and revival. Growing up in that context and seeing such an outpouring of the Holy Spirit for years shaped my thoughts on what happened in church life. I thought what was happening in the church we attended was the 'normative' experience in every church. It was not until years later that I came to realize that the authentic revival that broke out at Castle Hills First Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Jack Taylor was not the 'norm' but rather a Sovereign visitation of the Spirit of God on that church.

As the years have passed, in every context where I have served (youth minister, church planter, pastor) in each church there was that prayer for revival, that talk of revival and awakening-but we cannot bring about revival or awakening in and of ourselves. It cannot be manufactured, programmed or scheduled.

We are seeing something on our campus that I can only describe (and I use this term carefully) as the beginnings of a potential awakening on our campus and revival among those who belong to Christ. It is a holy time. We are seeing Christian students thirst and hunger for greater intimacy with Christ, desiring for His Glory to be known and acknowledged on our campus and in our city. We are seeing young people praying with a sense of desperation and brokenness before Him over our need for Jesus Christ to be known and worshiped.

We are seeing young students who just 'show up' at our events, hungry and thirsty for something they cannot identify or name, but we know what it is-a longing for the Transcendent. God is moving. Please pray for UTSA. Please pray for the BSM on our campus. God is working in ways I have not seen Him work for so many years.

I believe that this movement of the Spirit is not limited to our campus. I see Him working and calling His people to pray across the city. I see a longing for Him that I have not seen for so long.

I do not know what is taking place in your church, among your people. Perhaps you are going through a difficult time. Perhaps your church is going through a challenging period. Perhaps the words 'awakening' and 'revival' seem like a distant dream in your context. I encourage you to join the growing number of people in our city who are on their faces crying out for the Lord to renew His works in our days. You are not forgotten. He loves you deeply. He is working.

Perhaps your church is experiencing the blessings of growth. I encourage you to give all glory to Him and to always be wary of the idea that we can somehow, in and of ourselves, 'grow' our churches or communities. Unless He is doing the building, we labor in vain.

In these tough times, more people are recognizing there must be something 'more' to life than the 'American Dream.' God is calling out to His people to return to Him wholeheartedly. He is calling out to lost humanity to find life through Jesus Christ, His Son. His Spirit is moving in remarkable ways. I pray that our city is awakened. I pray for revival in our churches. I pray that we humble ourselves before out King, crying out to Him because we so desperately need Him.

If you sense Him leading you to pray specifically for revival in our churches and an awakening in our city, I encourage you to join with others to specifically pursue Him in prayer. There is no better place for us to be than on our knees before our King.

LA Stories-And An Invitation to You!

2009-07-13T11:17:00.002-05:00

All of the LA Stories are up on the Blog now! We all appreciate your prayers and interest. I spent the first two weeks after returning posting these stories on Face Book, now I've transferred the stories to the Blog.

I pray these stories are an encouragement to you. I know they were for us and for many who have heard them in person. When reading the Blog, you'll find that not all of the stories made it to the 'front page'-there were too many!

So as you read, and once you reach the bottom, click on the tab that says 'older posts'-and continue reading! There is a 'reward' at the end-an invitation for you to be a part of something very special that is coming to San Antonio at the end of July!

Check that out too.

Grace and Peace,
Kevin

LA Day One: Conversations With A PowerBroker

2009-07-13T11:16:00.001-05:00

It is one of those relationships that really doesn't make sense: One of Hollywood's biggest power-brokers and a nobody minister from Texas. The relationship started five years ago. A long story-but it exists and on paper, it makes absolutely no sense. We touch base on and off each year. "How's life?" "How's the family?" That kind of thing. Whenever his Lakers play my Spurs (especially if my Spurs lose), the banter goes back and forth. He represents people like Denzel, Shakira, Robert Downey Jr., Russell Crowe, Beyonce, Liam Neeson, Hugh Jackman...to name a few.

I represent Baptist Student Ministries @ UTSA. (Now I know I represent Someone far Greater than these 'stars'-so don't get all spiritual on me-you get the point...it's not like we run in the same circles). He lives in Beverly Hills and has this incredible office in this amazing building on Melrose Ave. I live, well, I don't exactly live in Beverly Hills and I work out of a cubicle. He's in LA, I'm in SA. He is an observant Jew, I am a follower of Christ. He is talking about Iron Man II being in production. I'm looking forward to going to Iron Man II whenever it comes out. The whole thing just doesn't make sense. But God put this strangely wonderful relationship together and the conversation and dialogue continues.

I told him I was coming back to LA, bringing about 19 students with me to work with various ministries on Skid Row and among the urban poor in South Central LA. He doesn't get why we would travel all that way to LA to not (in his words) "have some fun!" but nonetheless he says, "Drop by and bring them all up. Want to meet them."

His schedule is tight. He has the whole power-lunch thing going on, the many appointments with the movers and shakers of Hollywood-and this guy says, "Yeah, bring your college students up here. Look forward to seeing you again and look forward to meeting your kids." Who does that in Hollywood?

Crazy.

So we land in LA. Most of us had little to no sleep the night before, arriving at the airport at this ridiculous hour to get to LA. The main objective of our first day is to get our vehicles and get checked into our dorms and go through some training for the week and hopefully stay awake for it all. Our appointment with him is on day one. I have no idea what to expect when I show up. Past face to face meetings were one on one, or my family and him hanging out. Very relaxed, always enjoyable-but I wasn't towing a tribe of college students with me during those times. This meeting will be a bit different. All I know is that he is a great guy, authentic (seriously)-and that for some reason he has let me in his world.

He's my age. We have kids who are the same age. Family is extremely important to him. We do have commonalities. Past conversations lasted 30-45 minutes, again, rather surreal since I'm sure he has 'people to see, places to go,' that kind of Hollywood thing going on. I wonder what he's going to do with 20 of us in his office. Maybe 5 minutes of meet and greet?

My family and I are in prayer for him. We have been for years. I have had conversations with him about faith, about life, priorities, goals, family....He's been given a book to read as well as a couple of well produced DVD's-and still the conversation continues-he hasn't shut me out. Bringing a bunch of college students to his office, I wonder, is this a bit too much?

But God gave us an appointment with him and we show up. I have no idea what to expect this time. We fill the waiting room. Rather uncomfortably fill the waiting room. The receptionist has this "Who are these people and why are they here?" look going on. She's more curious than annoyed-her response to us showed this kind of thing just doesn't happen in this office. In time, his assistant notifies him we are here. Again, I wonder what to expect. Soon another assistant brings out this large box of bottled water. "Anyone thirsty?" We grab our water bottles. Then we are told he'd like to meet us in the conference room across the hall, which to me is pretty amazing.

He comes out of his office and he's dressed quite casually, wearing a baseball jersey and jeans. After our appointment he's leaving to coach his son's baseball team. We exchange the 'man hug' backslap, hey bro how's it going kind of thing and he enters the room.

As he surveys the group I'm wondering what he's thinking. Then he starts talking-asking questions. Why are you guys here? Where are you going? Is this guy (me) going to let you all have fun in LA? He asks each student his or her name. He cracks jokes.

We tell him why we are in LA, we talk about The Soloist (Downey, another of his clients, starred in that true story). I ask him if guys like Downey ever realize how they have this positive impact on people's lives when they make such a film, if they are ever thanked. I was just curious.

He tells me "thanks" isn't something you hear much in Hollywood. The few times he's received "thanks" really stand out to him. We all make mental note of this. Gratitude and grace are in short supply in this industry.

He then tells us about lecturing at UCLA earlier that morning. He loves kids. He talked about the dangers of "playing it safe" of the importance of risk, of accepting failure as part of the learning and growing process, of not fearing failure, but rather learning from it and moving forward. He challenges the students to move out of their comfort zones and this is timely because we will be out of our comfort zones in the week ahead. We take note of this as well.

He spends a little over thirty minutes with this group. Again, it's not like he had to do this or that we are 'important people' in his world-but nonetheless he spends the time. It never felt rushed or awkward. It's as if this was something important to him on some level, and this too is something I take note of.

We speak of family and priorities and he quotes Denzel as something he values: "I work to make a living, but my family is my life." You probably didn't think you'd hear something like that coming out of Hollywood. But it's him. He's a big family guy.

Now you might be thinking: "When did you all break out the Four Spiritual Laws tract and share the Gospel with him?" Well, that didn't happen. So why did we go? What was the point of it all? Just to say we hung out with this really powerful guy in this amazing conference room? No. First, he is my friend, not a project. Second, and most importantly, God was present in that room and in that conversation.

You see, my friend is still trying to wrap his mind around a few things: First, why would anyone willingly fly across the country to come to LA to spend most of their time on....Skid Row? Why would people fly all the way to LA to spend time in some of the worst places in LA? What is the motivation? What is so different about these people? Second, he's trying to figure out this whole grace thing. He sees it and senses it and is trying to wrap his mind around it all.

He knows our being there, that 'something different' has something to do with our faith in Christ. He sees something in this group he doesn't see elsewhere and it is intriguing to him. There is a 'disconnect' for him and he's I'm sure he's also processing this strange relationship with this guy from Texas and these students he just met. He is also, I am sure, processing something within that says this whole group is doing something more than just religious activities...

Our stories speak to him. God is using this relationship. The spiritual soil is being tilled. Seeds are planted and watered...we continue to pray for him. I am trusting that the God Over All Creation will, in His Sovereignty continue to use this relationship and will bring other followers of Christ into His life. I am trusting that the Spirit of the Living God will continue to draw him to the Living Christ. I believe He is Big enough to do all of this and more, and in some way He will use this last meeting with a bunch of students he's never met to continue to speak Truth into his life.

So this was the beginning of our trip. Starting off our time in Los Angeles at the pinnacle of power, to soon plunge into the depths of the forgotten, the disposable was somewhat surreal. But He loves my friend as much as He loves the forgotten ones on Skid Row.

Pray for him. I do not feel comfortable giving you his name, but God knows who he is. We talk a lot about the 'power of prayer.' We affirm with our lips that God can do anything, that He can move mountains, that no one is beyond His ability to redeem. But sometimes, if we are honest, there is a part of us that reveals we may not believe that as much as we say we do. I am asking (and I am sure my students are as well) that you join us in praying for him. Consistently. I'm not saying that if he comes to Christ there will be this tremendous mass movement towards Christ in Hollywood as a result. I am simply saying he is a friend and I am praying he comes to know Christ. He matters to me.

Pray for me as well. This "strange" friendship is there for a reason. I do not believe in accidents or coincidences when it comes to God. Pray for wisdom and that our conversations would continue to grow in terms of depth and Gospel.

This is just one of many stories to share. Each story, each person matters-and maybe that's the thing. People aren't disposable-whether they live in Beverly Hills or on Skid Row. People matter. They matter to God and they sure should matter to us. We don't live for ourselves. It's not about us. It's about Him. His mission.

"The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

Including my friend.

LA Stories-Investors

2009-07-13T11:14:00.000-05:00

They didn't have to do this for us. We aren't members of their community, their church, and his job description at church is to solely connect the church to non-Christians and non-Christian organizations that are doing good work in Los Angeles. Another relationship that in many ways 'doesn't make sense.'

But still, he shows up, takes time out of his day to bring two people he is mentoring to spend time with people he doesn't know (well, he knows me and I consider him a dear brother, but still...)-they come. They take time out of their day to train, to prime us for our time in Los Angeles. His name is Adrian, and I think he is one of the most amazing persons I know. Besides serving as the "Serve LA" pastor (unpaid staff) he is also a full time EMT and a husband...a busy guy. Still, he takes time and spends an hour and a half with this group from Texas-and he brings David and Britney, two young 20 something's along for the conversation.

This time is important for us. Adrian has a heart for the city. He loves Los Angeles and believes God indeed has a plan for this city. He invests himself in others, and in this city, to develop relationships for the King and His Kingdom-LA is his mission field, as well as the place he calls home. And this guy from the Midwest, a transplant, truly loves the city, the people, and sees harvest where most might see nothing but emptiness and futility. The ministry team he leads is always out among the lost, the least of these, the broken, those searching for meaning in a city where people are as disposable as yesterdays trash.

He talks to us about missiological principles, though he doesn't use that term, and he talks to us about core values, and the one that stands out to me is "Love is the context for all mission." This stands out because all too often people are seen as projects, missions as something we do for God-and if we are honest, sometimes missions is what we do "to" people as opposed to "with" and "for" people-mission work that isn't fueled by a love response to God and a love for people is simply work and people are merely projects. As Paul said, "if I don't have love, I am nothing..."

The thing that sticks out to me about him is that he's not giving us a religious pep talk. He is speaking from an authentic core, he believes this and lives this and wants us to grasp this. He calls us to love Los Angeles and the people we are serving. He challenges us to not simply go about doing work-but to serve in His Name and in love.

Why is this so important? It is important because in our propensity for religiosity, we can do many 'good' things for God without actually serving Him out of a love response, and we can do things for people without actually loving them-and this is not the way of Christ.

This training time took place at the end of our day, and frankly we were all exhausted. No sleep getting to LA, and by this time, we are fading-but his passion for Christ and for this city is contagious and God uses him to speak into our lives. What lies ahead, the week ahead, is not a series of projects, but rather multiple opportunities to flesh out the Gospel, to share the Truth, to share His love with countless people. We need to remember that in the midst of our busyness. He challenges us to walk with our eyes wide open, looking for places where God is at work, to join Him in that work. He calls us to walk in the Spirit and by faith and to trust that God can and will use us.

He encourages us. Challenges us. He takes time for us. He invests in us.

The two proteges (David and Britney) invest as well. They share their stories, their love for Los Angeles and the lost people and places God has called them to invest in. We are blessed to hear their stories and their authenticity.

For me, I am blessed by the gift of their time. Doing what they did for us is not a part of any of their job descriptions-in fact, we are the only Christian group they invest in. They don't do this for anyone else. Their connections are with the church and Los Angeles. Yet, they choose to invest in this group from San Antonio.

What is the point of it all? Well, I pray this challenges us all to think about the supremacy of love in all we do in His Name.

But I am also thankful. Thankful for a brother who continues to invest in me and in those I serve. And I am thankful for the gift of time. I have people in my life who are much closer geographically but when it comes to the gift of time...well, perhaps we are all that way-time misers.

Those who take time to invest in others (not just preach at them or tell them what to do), but truly invest time and energy and love-are few and far between, and this is why my friend, Adrian, and my new friends, David and Britney, are special. I thought you should know about them. They didn't view us as a nuisance, nor did they view us as projects, but rather as brothers and sisters in Christ and they chose to love us and invest in us.

Sometimes we tend to take such people for granted. We shouldn't. They are few and far between. People who come alongside you and say, "let me walk with you...if even for this moment in time..." This is the community of faith at her finest.

I pray their tribe increases. I pray that we all remember the supremacy of love in all we do. I pray we don't take for granted those special moments with those who choose to invest in us. I pray we remember that those outside of Christ will never know about Him unless they hear, and they will never hear unless we go to where they are and share, and do so in love, with all gentleness and respect.

It's easy to stay sequestered in our safe havens, in our four walls of the church-to look at the outside world and look at the messiness and choose to stay safe in our fortress, or to shake our heads at how 'messed up' ..."those people" are...it's easy to write a check for someone to do missions, easy to pray for 'all those lost people out there...' so easy to outsource and so easy to forget that we are on mission every day. It's personal. No follower of Christ is exempt-we all have this privilege, this responsibility as salt and light, as ambassadors, as witnesses, as representatives of the King and His Kingdom.

But we can't do that. His love compels us...and if it does not, then perhaps our hearts are not aligned with His-perhaps we're missing something when love for the outsider isn't there.

Thank you Adrian, David and Britney for reminding us, for investing in us, for taking time. Your efforts were not wasted.

This is the end of Day One. Tomorrow-A "Spiritual Tour" of the spiritual influences that shape Los Angeles-and the beginning of our ability to learn to love some very different people....

LA Stories: The Celebrity Scientology Centre

2009-07-13T11:13:00.001-05:00

There is a common misconception that Los Angeles, Hollywood in particular, is not a religious place, void of any 'spirituality.' Nothing could be further from the truth. 'Spirituality' is a slippery term that can mean a million things to a million people, but for the sake of this entry I'll define it as "man's quest to satisfy the God-shaped hole with some type of religious practice." We all have that God-shaped hole within us, a result of the Fall and our alienation from God because of our fallen nature. What we do to fill that hole...well, that is the penultimate question.

Hollywood is a place where people are disposable. People come to Los Angeles to chase their dreams and so many are chewed up, spit out and discarded like so much human refuse. There is a tangible sense of emptiness, loneliness and despair in Hollywood. Beneath the lights and apparent glamor is this emptiness that comes from chasing the wind. Meaninglessness.

Like Solomon, who spent a good portion of his life 'chasing the wind,' most people eventually come to some conclusions: One, there has to be something more. Two, there has to be something, or someone who can bring meaning and order to life-and for many, that realization is in part fueled by a desire to be successful. People who come to Hollywood to 'make it' soon find out it's much more difficult than they imagined. The industry is a harsh, unforgiving machine that cares little for the individual other than what it can extract or take.

So there are a lot of people searching for answers. A part of our trip as we sought to understand Los Angles before immersing ourselves among the least of these was to understand the spiritual forces that influence the city-and there are many. Like Athens in Acts 17, Los Angeles is a city of many 'gods'-and people will turn to anything or anyone that offers some kind of construct for meaning.

Last year we visited the Scientology Celebrity Centre as well as the "Self Realization Temple." This year we returned to the Scientology Centre as well as the largest Buddhist Temple in the US. I'll talk about the Buddhist Temple in the next entry. For now, Scientology...

Scientology may seem foreign or on the fringes to people living outside of California, Los Angeles specifically, but they are a very visible and powerful influence in the "City of Angels"-especially in the concentrated areas of power, namely Hollywood.

I don't have time to get into the theology of Scientology. It is quite complex and so foreign it would take a book to go over the tenets, practices and beliefs. I will focus instead on the impressions from the center.

We pulled into the facility knowing we were under observation. The Scientology Centre is rather wary, if I can use that word, of outsiders who come to their facility. They knew up front that we were a student group coming to learn about Scientology and what they believed. To say that our point person, Jenny, was a little suspicious would be an understatement. If we had arrived as a group "seeking answers" we would have been welcomed and aggressively 'evangelized.'

As my vehicle entered the lot my phone rang. It was Jenny. She said, "I see you are here, come on up to the Garden and cafe area." These kind of phone calls are a bit unnerving. We knew prior to coming (from our last visit) that there are cameras throughout the building and that we would be monitored and our tour would be tightly managed. We would see and hear what they wanted us to see and hear.

We spent 2 hours at the center. Several things particularly struck me: The first perhaps being that I can understand how someone who is at the end of their rope, or desperately looking for answers, would find Scientology appealing. They have a plan for EVERYTHING. The religion is very much a "do it yourself" kind of religion, where you, by learning, by growing as a student of Scientology, can become the master of your own destiny. It promises answers to everything and 'technology' to help you achieve whatever your dreams and goals are. It promises a full and exciting and whole life...no obstacle too big, no problem too large, everything can be overcome by applying the teachings of L.Ron Hubbard.

Christianity promises infinitely more for both this life and the life to come, but the promises are the exact opposite of Scientology. Contrasting the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount with the teachings of Scientology is a the difference between night and day. Scientology says: "You can do this on your own and with our help you will achieve your dreams and goals." Christianity says, "You can't do this on your own-you need a Savior, and in following Him, true life will be found." Christ never promises earthly success or wealth or a trouble-free life. Scientology offers success, prosperity, the ability to overcome any trouble.

Our tour guide, a man named Salvador I believe, was from Argentina. I would like to say I know more of his story, but everything on that tour is absolutely controlled. Information is given, there is little give and take in terms of dialogue. There are opportunities to ask questions, but honestly, they are only concerned with questions that reflect well on Scientology, certainly not anything that might call into question their teachings.

So we take the tour, watch the videos, the demonstrations, visit the bookstore (and to be a good Scientologist one must purchase a LOT of books because one needs the answers to every life issue and or possible life issue), and watched the orientation film, which by the way, you can still, I believe, check out on YouTube.

Another thing that struck me was what we observed while we were hearing about the wonders of Scientology and how it brings happiness and wholeness and empowers the practitioners. As we walked around the center, I observed the employees and honestly, there didn't appear to be much in the way of joy or happiness. Some looked flat out miserable.

Before you judge, insert your own observation about many Christians and the church.

Last year, we had opportunity both while there (with our tour guide, Desiree) and after leaving (on Hollywood Blvd) to take what we had learned of Scientology and share Christ with Scientologists. This year, our tour was so tightly managed and every moment so controlled, we did not have that opportunity to slow our guide down and talk Gospel.

So why go? What good came from that?

Francis of Assisi said something to the effect of "preach the Gospel at all times, use words when necessary." In other words, our very lives should be a reflection of Christ-our words, our response to others, our actions...

And Christ was shining through our group. I don't think Salvador knew what to make of this group of students who were not Scientologists, but had this sense of peace, joy and happiness that we never saw inside the center. He was briefly disarmed and lowered his guard as we had opportunity to hang out with him in a garden area. He relaxed for a moment and as I watched him I could almost see the wheels turning in his head, wondering, "What is it with theses people? What do they have?"

Yes, I did have opportunity to tell him and another that we were followers of Christ. I pray the Spirit uses that knowledge to pique interest and curiosity.

Jenny, the coordinator was also curious on some level. Our conversations on the phone and brief personal meeting made some kind of impression on her. Later that day, she called to thank us for coming and asked if we had an enjoyable time. She also said we were a 'really great group.' Last year there were no follow up phone calls. As we prayerfully walked through that center we were asking Him to use us in some way. I honestly believe those we interacted with saw something different in us and they had no framework for understanding what that something different was, but it was appealing on some level.

The woman (and now I've forgotten her name, please forgive-but she is on our prayer list that we developed of every person we encountered in LA and prayed for every night-perhaps we will publish that list once it is typed) but this woman who spoke to us after the orientation film stood out the most. We were supposed to be out of the doors by 12:00 noon-but she wouldn't let us go. It wasn't that she was holding us hostage, she was just pouring out her life story. You see, she is a 'pastor' in the church and as she shared her story (from Woodstock hippie to Buddhist monastic to various other religious stops along the way to Scientology) it was so obvious that inside, in her core, she was still searching. So, alone with her in this room, she told her story and kept talking and talking-almost a cathartic experience for her. We listened and spoke as she gave us opportunity, but for her, she just needed to unload.

She stuck in our minds. Even as a 'pastor' in the church, she was still seeking...and we are praying for her. She enjoyed our group to the extent that we stayed approximately 20 minutes beyond our scheduled time (and believe me, the Centre runs a very tight ship) to listen to her.

The follow up is important. Thank you cards were sent to Jenny and to the 'pastor'-and I will be following up with Jenny by phone, to see if I might get her email (again, they are very guarded-so please pray she is open) so perhaps a two-way conversation can develop.

The great irony from our time there was the tangible sense of darkness, of control. While offering freedom and liberation from human limitations, Scientology instead brings a form of servitude and slavery. I can only imagine how difficult it is for someone who is immersed in the religion to walk away and break free without a lot of intimidation and harassment.

What are some take away points from this visit:
1) There is a lot going on in the unseen realm that truly shapes people, cultures, structures and communities-and Scientology is definitely one of those spiritual forces shaping Los Angeles.
2) There are times when you may not be able to present the story of Christ (Security would have ushered us out and those we interacted with would have been further driven from the Truth), but Christ can and will shine through you as others see the difference in your life that comes from Him being your life.
3) Scientology has a well-thought out vision, strategy and methodology and they are executing it exceptionally well. I think of the church, and honestly, we have the Truth, we have a much greater mission, but sometimes it seems we are so...unintentional about what we are doing. It's almost as if we have (not all, but enough to be cause for concern) this attitude: "Well, I'm in-I've got the whole eternal life thing...if 'they' want us, they know where to find us." It's like we've substituted the Great Commission for something we might call "The Not So Great Invitation." Go up and down Hollywood Blvd and you'll see not only the presence of Scientology but practitioners aggressively sharing their story to win 'converts.'
4) To walk into the heart of a dark place and to be able to establish relationships on some level with people in bondage is something God can and will use. Often we think if we don't whip out the 4-Spiritual Laws, tell the story, we've failed. But if we are really honest with ourselves, a lot of times when we do this, it is akin to a 'spiritual drive-bye" -we unload and drive off. If the person accepts the Message, we're pleased with ourselves. If they don't, or if they have more questions, we wash our hands and move on. We've 'done our job.' Perhaps there are cases when the most important thing to do is to let Him be seen in us and to intentionally develop relationships through which the Gospel will flow. It's much more difficult to invest long-term in someone, but many times, that is what is needed.
5) Sometimes our job is to simply till very hard spiritual ground. We all have a role in the harvest. Some work the soil, some come along and plant, others water...God provides the harvest. As such, we must remember that every encounter with every person we meet is opportunity for us to be used in some way by God in that person's life for His purposes. At the center we did some tilling and some sowing. We are praying that God will continue to bring others along to water and cultivate.
6) Which leads to the last point: The power of prayer. Followers of Christ affirm belief in the power of prayer, but often we live our lives as if we believe otherwise. Our group bathed our new 'friends' in prayer and will continue to do so. We believe God is Big enough, Powerful enough to continue to bring more followers of Christ into the lives of people like Jenny and Salvador. I ask that you pray for these two as well as our Scientology pastor friend. God is not bound by time, geography or anything. Wherever you are, you can pray for these three people created in His Image, these three for whom Christ died to ransom. Do you believe He is able?

LA Stories: The Ignorant, Englightened and Conversations in Spiritually Dark Places

2009-07-13T11:12:00.000-05:00

Our second day in Los Angeles was spent trying to understand some of the spiritual influences on the city. It was an interesting way to gain some perspective on the city before we plunged into the despair that is Skid Row and South Central Los Angeles. Our first stop was at the Scientology Centre. Our second stop...the largest Buddhist Temple in America, Hsi Lai.

As our caravan pulled onto the property of Hsi Lai we couldn't help but be impressed. So much land, so many beautiful trees, the site occupying a mountain side-and the architecture, straight out of China. The temple itself was built by Chinese with Chinese money and designed to replicate the great temples in China. It felt as if we were in another land, and in so many ways, we were. As we ascended the stairs (and there were many) that led to the entrance of the temple, it would be an understatement to say we were a bit awe struck. The facility is simply huge. The various buildings of the temple continue to ascend upwards, quite an incredible place. Everything was pristine, as one might imagine. Buddhists pay great attention to the smallest details, everything is done as art, as a reflection of their 'spirituality.'

We were greeted by Mae Chu, who organizes group tours for the temple. Immediately we were taken to a hospitality room where we were offered either hot green tea (made correctly as Mae pointed out-because there is an art as well to making Chinese green tea properly) or water. The first impression we had was that of a very hospitable people making us feel quite at home, concerned that we were comfortable and prepared for our two and a half hour tour.

After a few minutes, we were introduced to our guide, a female monk, the "Venerable Ru Lan" a woman with a shaved head, a monk's robe-somewhere in her late 20's or early 30's. Ru Lan carried herself gracefully as if every step she took had meaning and was again, itself an act of spiritual expression.

Ru Lan was a master teacher. She spent two hours with us, taking us from one area of the temple to another, explaining Buddhism, what every statue meant, what every piece of art of every symbol meant. She would 'teach' us by asking us questions. As our tour unfolded she shared many of the Dharma's of Buddhism (teachings), and her veneration for the Buddha, her commitment to this way of life was undeniable.

While there, it was not uncommon to see worshipers come into the temple, offer something on the altar before the Buddhas (whether food, or coins or something personal) and devoutly begin to meditate and or pray. They take their religion quite seriously.

We learned much about Buddhism. It is one thing to read about the tenets of Buddhism, another to hear it first hand from a 'master' and to see it in practice. While there, C.S. Lewis' remarks came to mind. I believe he said that were it not for him coming to know the truth of Christianity he would have made a marvelous Hindu. For me, if it were not for the grace of God bringing me to the Living Christ, in my flesh, Buddhism would have been the 'religion' that would have most appealed to me.

But while we were there, as the tour continued, my heart broke. So much veneration, so much eagerness to escape the wheel of karma, so much desperation for this peace that Buddhism promises, fleshed out all around us.

Ru Lan spoke to us about the basic tenets of Buddhism, and as our conversation continued, it became clear-she was not there to 'evangelize' us, but rather to 'open our minds' that we might gain some light, become interested in Buddhism, that we might pursue that path (and we were given materials to encourage us to investigate Buddhism), because at the core, she was the enlightened one and we were dull, ignorant ones if you will, to the realities around us, bound by karma but able to break free if we would embrace the Dharmas and the Buddha's way of life. Ru Lan was doing her best to 'enlighten us' because at times you could tell she felt some kind of sympathy for us, stuck in our 'ignorance'-but all she could or would do was to give us more of the Dharmas and ask us more questions (they are big on teaching by asking questions) to hopefully spark something inside of us. I made note of this as well.

At each point along the way we had opportunity to ask questions (and she asked us MANY questions to stimulate our thinking). At one particular point, she was going over some of the virtues of Buddhism, and I noted compassion was present, but strangely, love was absent. She asked if there were any questions. I commended her on understanding the importance of compassion (even though we had a different concept of what compassion is and does), and then asked her about love. What does Buddhism have to say about love, that kind of love that commits to another-an act of the will, sacrificial love? (We would as followers of Christ call that 'agape love.') and she had no framework for that. Her explanation, for the first time on our tour, was not clear. Perhaps it caught her off guard. I think she had no framework for that kind of love. I made note of this.

As our tour continued, her enthusiasm for explaining her faith continued to grow. She was graceful, gracious and a patient guide. Our students asked many questions and in so many ways, the questions asked were bridges to the Gospel. I do not know how she processed the questions, but I do believe the Holy Spirit used those questions and will use those questions for further dialogue (more on that later).

The thing that struck me as I read the literature and as I listened to her and others within the temple, is the desire to break free from their cyclical view of life and death and bad karma. Their devotion is in part fueled by both a desire to break free and a fear of not breaking free. And the key to that breaking free is adherence to the Dharmas, to living right lives, very much self-effort.

There is no concept of a Savior, of One who came to Redeem us. There is no outside help. This is definitely a do it yourself kind of deliverance, and this too broke my heart. There are no guarantees, only the hope that somehow if doing that which is good from the Buddhist perspective, the cycle will eventually be broken.

As our tour winded down, that question about love-the kind of love that Christ demonstrates towards us, the kind of love that should characterize all followers of Christ became my core question, my burning desire-that thing I HAD to discuss with her in private. As she said farewell and thank you to our group, she walked away gracefully to her quarters. I, not so gracefully, raced after her to ask if it would be possible for our conversation to continue. I told her I was a follower of Christ and that I would be quite honored to continue this conversation with her about life, reality, truth if she was willing. I told her I would like to learn more about her story and that I would enjoy a mutual exchange. Surprisingly she was open. She said I could send her emails (I think I'll cover one topic or question at a time, given my propensity for lengthy writings) and that Mae would get them to her, and she would respond. This is on my list of things I must begin this week. So, please pray for Ru Lan, and for Mae Chu-and for me as well.

But there were several things about our time there that stood out-questions that came to mind:

1) Their hospitality to the outsider was exemplary. What if 'outsiders' to Christianity experienced the same kind of hospitality from God's people? They were quite sensitive to our being outsiders and empathetic to how that must feel, and they went out of their way to make us feel welcomed. Honestly, we Christians could do a little better in this department.

2) Their attention to detail-what they might being fully attentive in each moment-was also impressive. As I read the Psalms, I see David taking note of the stars and creation and praising God for the beauty that is all around him, a reflection of the Glory of God. Sometimes I think the fast paced American culture shapes us so much we don't notice a tenth of what is going on around us. While I may not begin practicing the art of 'mindfulness' when making my next cup of hot green tea, I certainly can be more mindful of the people around me, the opportunities to bless, to love-and I can certainly slow down enough to see how all of creation declares the Glory of God.

3) The intensity of their devotion spoke as well. Granted, from my perspective, much of that was driven by this desire to escape bad karma-but shouldn't our devotion to the One who loved us, delivered us, set us free provoke this amazing love response to Him? And again, if we are honest, sometimes we are neither hot or cold-and this is tragic. His love should compel us to a life of love, service, worship-to follow Him with unparalleled devotion.

4) Beauty. I read the Psalms and again, I see David amazed by the beauty that is around him, an understanding that this beauty is a reflection of God's Beauty. And again, I think we are missing out on something here. Yes, life is difficult, and there are trials, but God has placed beauty all around us, whether it is the created order, or the people in our lives.

5) Teaching style. I've heard countless preachers preach countless sermons and honestly, sometimes it's as if I'm listening to someone fly by the seat of their pants, little depth and information, and little in the way of engaging the audience. I'm sure I've preached my fair share of sermons that just bombed as well. Her teaching style encouraged us to think and to interact with what she was saying, very engaging. What if we were more thoughtful about the way we are communicating with people? I look at the Gospels and I see Jesus, the Master Teacher, asking questions, using imagery and metaphors, challenging people to think and to respond, not merely be passive listeners. For Ru Lan, the message she was sharing was of supreme importance. As such, she paid great attention to detail as she communicated. We have THE Message, and yet sometimes, perhaps because we are 'too comfortable with the holy' we do not think carefully through what we are sharing. It must be understandable, applicable-and it should be informative to the outsider.

There is more to tell, it is too difficult to explain all we were told, all we were taught in this entry-but I do know that God has opened a door for further dialogue with Ru Lan and Mae, and for that I am thankful.

The next day would be surreal for us, our tour of Los Angeles over, and plunging into the darkness and despair among the least of these. Those stories will follow.

Sunrise Breakfast on Skid Row: Conversations Outside the Gate

2009-07-13T11:11:00.000-05:00

The schedule said: 'Roll call, 5:00 a.m. Meet at vehicles, leave for Union Rescue Mission.' I'm not a morning person. It's widely known (at least among family) that it's best to let dad have an hour and a half of quiet with coffee and the Scripture before he should be allowed to speak to anyone, or be spoken to. O.K.-I'm grumpy in the morning. I admit it. I'm not 'that guy' who wakes up each morning greeting the sun and embracing the created order with joy, and barring a miracle, probably will never be that guy-and I've accepted that.

So 5:00 a.m. roll call meant more than just showing up first at the vehicle. It meant being up by 4:00 so I could shower and do something to get my blood flowing, spend some time with God, ask for help I would obviously need. It meant that somehow I would need to get down to the vehicles early and be at least a moderately alert and pleasant voice of calmness as well as provide a measure of somewhat coherent leadership to a large group of students who, I assumed, would likewise be fairly sleepy and groggy. I was excited to go to Union, but must admit, I would have preferred the lunch shift, but this was our assignment.

I tried to be strategic about the whole thing, knowing myself on little sleep. Somehow I would also need to have coffee, but no place was open at that hour. I know-my lack of spirituality is showing-I shouldn't need caffeine. There, it's out of the way. But the night before, at the local grocery store I found a bag of chocolate covered espresso beans. One serving equaled one cup of espresso. There were three servings in the bag. I wondered if that would be enough...seriously, I'm that bad in the morning.

To add to it, there was this element of being tested for the first time. Two and a half weeks earlier I was in the hospital for something called neuro syncope, which is a fancy way of saying I have this really low blood pressure and an enlarged lower chamber in my heart (ironically due to a lot of exercising) and the combination of the two can sometimes cause this wonderful reaction called passing out. Four days in that hospital and a week of hanging loose and resting at home. My heart is in great condition, it's just that I have this weird thing and there are certain things that can trigger it: Dehydration (so I get to drink at least one Gatorade a day), and lack of sleep are two big triggers. So, here I am my little fridge stockpiled with Gatorades, Smart Water and this bag of chocolate espresso beans. I'm really not interested in finding out what it might be like to go 'lights out' at Union.

So I fell asleep around 12:30 a.m., thinking that I would wake up around 4:00, drink my ginormous G 2 Grape Gatorade and crunch that bag of espresso beans, shower (cold shower) spend some time with God and hopefully be moderately alert.

Turns out, God decided it would be good for me to wake up at 3:23. I remember looking at my watch and thinking, 'honestly, why try to go back to sleep?' (Oh, did I mention I also have insomnia-and if I ever wake up in the middle of the night I can't fall back asleep? Yeah, that too). So, I sat up, turned on the light in my little dorm room and started drinking purple Gatorade and eating chocolate espresso beans-the breakfast of champions. I did get to spend more time with God than I previously planned (and frankly, there was a lot of asking Him to just let me stay upright while there) and after that, had a marvelously cold shower and made my way down to the vehicles.

Everyone was tired, and there was a collective sense of "what are we getting in to?" that was almost palpable. But the students, to their credit, were soon alert, at least I know the ones in my vehicle were. I am guessing part of their alertness was related to this learned fear they had of me getting lost and us missing our appointment. But we arrived, all together, no one lost-and our adventure began.

Skid Row in the morning is not like Santa Monica beach in the morning. We saw people asleep on the pavement, some others slowly milling around, starting their day. We entered the underground parking at Union. We took the elevator up and from there, we were introduced to a new world.

We checked in at the security station and were told to go to the kitchen. We shuffled down the hallway, some residents were already up and moving around. Once in the kitchen, we were assigned our duties and the work began.

We were broken into groups. We did everything from chop food to butter bread. We were making both breakfast as well as starting lunch. It was a whirlwind of activity. The crew chief ran a tight ship. One of the assistants, Brian, also a resident, was 'that guy' -one of those individuals who was energized and simply glad to be alive on this morning. His enthusiasm was contagious. While the crew chief kept people moving and things rolling (and honestly, he was a big man and a bit gruff-he scared most of us into staying focused and moving quickly), but Brian joyfully, enthusiastically and energetically did his work and somehow found time to make the rounds to tell jokes. He had this epic Pirate joke that was exceptionally funny at 6:45 a.m. but I can't remember it, just his pirate voice, which was in and of itself hilarious.

Time flew. Before we knew it, our shift was over-9:15...I went to meet Mindy, this remarkable young woman who coordinates the volunteers at Union. She would give us our tour. While I went by her office, the students stuck around and had breakfast with some of the residents. I was so blessed by their willingness to jump in and not only work with the residents of Union, but also spend casual time with them, talking about God, life, and listening to stories. Our students are simply amazing.

Mindy was out of the office when I first arrived. I was told she would return in about 20 minutes. At that moment, I had this compelling urge to go outside, to be on the streets, to talk with someone, to listen. I can't explain it-I just knew I needed to go by myself. I found a Union security officer and asked if I could go outside to talk to people, or just listen to people. He gave me this strange look, the kind of look that said, 'Now why would you want to go out there?" But I assured him I would be smart and he eventually decided to let me go. We walked down a hallway where some of the male residents were showering and another hallway where some male residents were just hanging around. I am extremely aware at this point that I don't look like I belong here. Nonetheless, I have to go outside.

He opens a door and shows me the inner courtyard. "It's safer in here. You can talk to people in here. Outside, don't really want you going outside." And he left.

And there I am.

In the male part of the courtyard I see... I don't know how many men, of various ages and ethnic backgrounds. Some are asleep. Some are sitting still, as if the life had been sucked out of them, some are talking (talking to others, a few to themselves). At that point I figured the only thing to do was to just ask God to show me who to go to, who to talk to. Part of me wondered, 'did I really think this through? What am I supposed to say, 'It's going to be O.K.?" or "I understand?'"

I made the rounds so to speak. Some did not want to talk. Some did. Some of the conversations I did not understand because some I spoke to were living in this alternative reality. But there was one, his name was William. William is a black man in his 50's. He saw me and asked me "Are you a preacher?" I told him 'no...I'm a minister, but really I'm just here to see how you are doing." Our conversation didn't last long-but he was polite and asked me to pray for his situation. I checked my watch and examined the growing crowd outside the courtyard. Again, something compelled....

I wasn't supposed to do this, but again, I just had to know what it was like, what might be out there, who might be out there...and the walk on the street from the male courtyard to the other entrance at the female courtyard (and back into the building) wasn't that long, so I took my first solo steps out on Skid Row.

To say I could identify with the people milling around would be disingenuous. But God gave a sense of peace and I started walking down the section of the street to the other entrance. I said hello to a few people, anyone who would look me in the eye, and some returned the greeting. One man in particular asked me if I could get him food inside. I asked him if he wanted to come in. He said, 'No...don't want to check in there." I knew I couldn't bring him food outside. I tried to encourage him to check in, but he started to walk away.

The smell of marijuana wafted by.

I asked him if I could pray for him. He said, 'sure.' So we prayed for a moment and soon after the prayer he wandered off, disappearing into the crowds. I wonder what happened to him. I stood there for a brief moment soaking in what I was seeing. Hopelessness and Despair were tangible. Like a dark cloud hanging over the streets. It was etched on so many faces. Tired, beaten down, worn out, disillusioned...the forgotten, the left behind, the least of these.

My need for caffeine and Gatorade seemed really trivial in that moment. I had a new perspective on my sense of 'feeling tired and wiped out.' There were people all over who had long ago given up or been given up on. My problems are small.

I went back to Mindy's office and she was there to greet me. She is an amazing young woman. She has a degree from a great university and she yet she has chosen to serve on Skid Row, to work at Union, to make a difference. I'm sure she has many peers who are 'carving out their names' and 'climbing the corporate ladder'-but Mindy has chosen a different path towards 'greatness'-she's descended into it. Reminds me of Philippians 2.

She's been there almost four years. Beautiful heart, and an old soul for someone in her 20's. She's seen more and experienced more than most people her age, or older for that matter. Still, the love of Christ is evident in her, and tired or not, she radiates grace.

She gathers the group and we tour the facility. Union is an amazing place with programs and housing and treatment and training for individuals and families. Mindy explains all that Union does as we follow her down each hallway, up each floor.

After an hour of seeing this place and learning more about what Union is doing to address the homeless situation in Los Angeles, a city with a homeless population greater than New York City and Chicago combined, I am even more amazed by her and the other people who have willingly chosen to invest their lives in this ministry. These are not the 'rock stars' of Christianity-not a part of the 'cult of personality'-they aren't known by many for what they do, they are not 'famous' like some preachers or ministers, but their lives, and that includes Mindy's life, speaks volumes. Quietly going about this business of serving with no fanfare and little recognition.

Once our group is on the roof of Union, we are able to look down and see the masses wandering around the area. Some are seeking shelter, some seeking just to survive another day. As we took all of this in, I glanced at Mindy and I thought I picked up on something I can only call a sense of soul-weariness. I asked her, "Mindy, can we pray for you?" I didn't know how that came out, so I tried to qualify: 'I'm guessing you get tired sometimes. You see a lot. The people, they just keep coming and coming and coming. I would imagine it would be easy sometimes to just feel overwhelmed by it all."

She responds well. Yes, we can pray for her. And our students, with the fantastic hearts they have, immediately gathered around her and we prayed for her. She truly seemed to appreciate it.

I think we all need that. Whenever you are serving people, whether on Skid Row or in any other context, sometimes you just get worn out. We all need a bit of encouragement from time to time. I encourage you to pray for Mindy. To me-she's like an evangelical Mother Teresa. I'm sure she'd appreciate your prayers. She's doing remarkable work.

So our time is over, but again, I feel compelled to ask for something. I ask Mindy if our students can go out into the courtyards to pray for and listen and talk to some of the people 'out there.' We are given permission.

I don't remember if I asked the students if they wanted to do this. Maybe I did. I just wanted them to get out of the security of that building and see what I saw, and to see how God might use them.

So we went. Females to the female side. Males to the male side.

The crowds had grown since my little solo excursion. At this time I was more concerned with watching out for the safety of the group. I'm playing 'dad' now. I talk to some people, but I'm doing a lot of watching, checking to make sure our students are safe and fine.

They are amazing. I see some of our guys talking to men two to three times their age. I see some praying with a man. I see others sharing Christ. I see others simply sitting down next to a man and listening. I slip into the building and peep outside the female side of the courtyard. I see our young women doing the same. No fear. No hesitation. They are engaged. They are declaring and demonstrating Christ's love. It is beautiful.

Making my way down the street towards the male section I once again smell marijuana, and this time a large security officer from Union comes out and with a booming voice tells the men in the area, 'I told you guys to knock it off, there's gonna be trouble.' I soon learn what he means. Within five minutes a police car pulls up, siren blaring, and a young man in his late 20's is arrested. People start to scatter. The security officer gives me that 'get your people out of here before things get really ugly' look. I start gathering our males back into the courtyard (much like me, several of them wanted to talk to the people on the outside), and we start wrapping our time at Union up.

But before we leave, there are still students talking, listening, praying...just being there. And there are a few residents of Skid Row with smiles on their faces, glad that someone came down to where they were to talk with them, to spend a moment with them, to meet them where they are in life and to speak Hope, Truth, Love and Grace into their lives. It's what followers of Christ should be known for. I was blessed beyond measure as I watched them.

And as we left Union, I was reminded of One who left the Splendors of Heaven, took on flesh, lived in poverty, walked among us, identified with us, and ultimately laid His life down for us that we might live. The One who came to set the captives free. The One who, I am sure if He were physically walking around right now would be walking around Skid Row.

As you read this rather rambling story about our time at Union and our first experience with Skid Row, you need to know that there is no way I could tell every story. This is a very truncated version. There were so many people, so many stories...and as you read this story, it is easy to grasp the despair and hopelessness that is there on Skid Row-but it's not just the homeless wandering aimlessly on Skid Row that Jesus came to set free. It's people like you and me as well. All of us in bondage to sin and death. All of us in need of redemption. None of us able to deliver ourselves.

You see, Skid Row is a geographical location. It is also a spiritual condition-and the Good News is that He has come to Rescue us, and to me that is the Greatest Rescue Mission in Human History.

* Note: I would love to post pictures from Skid Row. However, none of the ministries we worked with allowed us to do so, for understandable reasons-these are people, real people, like you and me, not attractions. For more information on this aspect of a ministry we connected with, Google Union Rescue Mission, Los Angeles.

LA Stories: What is Missing and Why

2009-07-13T11:10:00.001-05:00

"So you actually raised money and spent money to fly to Los Angeles to work on Skid Row? Why?" Those of us who went on the mission trip met tonight for a debriefing time, and evidently several students have been asked this question. After all, going to Los Angeles as a college student makes sense if you are going to see Hollywood and enjoy the beaches...but Skid Row?

Another common question revolved around pictures. "Where are the pictures of the homeless people? You went on this mission trip and most of the pictures I've seen are students apparently having fun. Where are the homeless?"

I understand this question on one level. We've emphasized from the beginning of this endeavor that this was not a spiritual field trip, or a tourist event, but rather hard work in some pretty tough places and rough conditions. People want to see for themselves what it's like. And, some want to see if the students truly worked.

I've been giving a chronological report, day by day, of what we did in Los Angeles, and now that we are in that part of the story where the homeless are the ministry, there is a natural curiosity. I've had people ask me if Skid Row is in fact a real place or if it's just a term used for people who are down and out.

It is a real place. A real place with real people. Masses of people. The 'disposable ones.'

So where are the pictures?

You won't see any. There are two reasons for this. First and foremost, the agencies we worked with wanted us to see the homeless not as projects, but as people-not as something to objectify, but rather as someone who mattered and deserved to be treated with dignity, not like animals in a zoo.

There are no photos primarily because we understood what the agencies were saying about the dignity of the human soul, and honestly, when you are there on those streets, the last thing you want to do is to break out a camera and start taking pictures of people who have either given up on life or have been told they no longer matter.

The 'pictures' of those we worked with must be relayed through words. There is power in story, and in telling the stories we are able to do far more good than simply showing the despair and brokenness on film.

The second reason there are no pictures is because of the work itself. It was hard work. There was no 'down time' when working on Skid Row. Our students left their cameras in our vehicles and focused on the work at hand. I am proud of them for understanding both the importance of not trivializing these precious lives by running around like tourists taking pictures and for working so hard that they didn't think of bringing their cameras with them because they knew the work required their undivided attention.

Imagine the scene: Students walking down Skid Row. A man, pushing a cart, dressed in rags, limping along because his knees are shot and he's simply exhausted from another day on the streets, and then a student standing from a distance taking pictures. Or, imagine stumbling across a group of homeless, laying on the ground, some seated against a building, wrapped in newspapers, living in squalor, and then a group of students stopping to take their picture.

It would be surreal. In appropriate. Dehumanizing.

At the end of the day, we had a choice-we could take pictures or we could take time to talk and to listen. We could capture the images on film, but in doing so, lose any credibility with those we came to serve.

Our students chose to engage. To talk. To listen. To pray with and pray for those we encountered on Skid Row. I am blessed by their courage and their sensitivity.

You see-most of the people we talked to on Skid Row had 'heard it all and seen it all' before. Groups, driving in from the suburbs, taking pictures, being polite, sometimes condescending to actually talk, but rarely if ever sticking around to listen and converse. I heard variations on this from several Skid Row residents. A degree of cynicism is definitely present. I guess when you are dehumanized or seen as some kind of odd curiosity or side-show...well, after awhile, a certain amount of cynicism would be natural. One man said something to the effect of , "Well, guess you folks come down here to do your good works."

I responded, "No sir, just came down here to see how you are doing." He seemed to appreciate that. Conversation followed. Prayer followed. I guess he just needed to know we weren't there to pat him on the back, tell him we 'understood,' that we would 'remember him in prayer' and then move on.

When you live on Skid Row, after awhile, you learn the drill. Some come to take pictures to show others the 'good work' they were doing. Some blow in like a special forces team, large groups swooping in, preaching the Four Spiritual Laws, pushing for a decision, then hightailing it out. Others come to simply hand out some food and move along. Few stay. Few listen. They are America's 'lepers' of Jesus' day. Best not to get too close. That kind of thing.

But His love compels us to do so much more than take pictures or do our 'religious duties.' As counterintuitive as it sounds, His love compels us to want to stay, to connect.

So our 'pictures' from Skid Row in the stories that will follow are memories of people etched in our minds. Whether it was the sun-weathered, elderly woman barely moving along the side walk in her broken down wheel chair or the dazed young man shuffling around the middle of the street, wandering aimlessly, looking for something that probably made sense only to him, the images stick. Sometimes it just seemed like a sea of broken people. Sensory overload. Too many people and you realize you can't 'fix' it all. Overwhelming.

But there was Light in the darkness, Hope in the midst of despair. We could see glimpses of it here and there. People of faith. People open to the Gospel. People just longing to be touched and reminded that they mattered, that they were people too, that we are all in this together.

And some of that light certainly came from our students. I cannot begin to explain how proud I am of them. They did nothing for show. They fleshed out Christ and Gospel and reached out way beyond most people's comfort zones. They did this because they were following His lead. He cares for these people and they did as well.

I cannot think of any picture or collection of pictures that could possibly do justice to the people of Skid Row. To understand on some meaningful level, one has to be on the streets with the people. There is a distinct texture and flow and feel and smell...it has to be experienced.

As stories of Skid Row are shared in future posts, I thought you should know this. You won't see pictures. We did not take pictures of someone in our group sharing the Gospel with a homeless person, or praying over a homeless person-this is no religious show.

But you will hear stories, stories of people who themselves have countless stories, and people who, like you and me, are made in the Image of God. They matter to Him and they matter to us now. And it is my prayer, that after reading some of their stories, they will matter more to you as well.

Thursday Night: Hope Gardens-Desiree, A Few Bad Choices, and Jesus

2009-07-13T11:08:00.004-05:00

Rarely do you get the opportunity to see the other side of the story when it comes to the homeless. By that, I mean the stories of those who come off the streets, enter into programs, and are preparing to re-enter society. Hope Gardens is this amazing transitional community on the outskirts of LA, hidden in the mountains, off the beaten path...a place where women and their children are able to stay, receive job training (many are already working in jobs, saving money to get back on their feet so they can afford housing) and experience things you and I take for granted.

In Los Angeles, a woman on the streets has a greater than 80% chance of being assaulted if she is on the streets for two weeks. Union Rescue focuses on getting women and children off the streets. But it's not just getting them off the streets, it is protecting them (many wind up on the streets running for safety from abusive males), nurturing them, preparing them to re-enter society, and above all, protecting the children.

Our initial assignment was to tutor students. We were running on little sleep, little steam left after a couple of hours sleep the night before and working at Union in the morning. Our job description changed, however, and we discovered that we would be doing manual labor. Hope Gardens was going to remodel and repair some things, and they needed the help. So, being flexible, the students said, "Sure, whatever you need."

We were broken into two groups. I was in the "clean out the kitchen" crew-and the others were cleaning out a large storage shed. A crew from John Tesh productions was there. I was introduced to the two men and was told they were shooting a story about Hope Gardens. We never saw them after that-because we weren't the story. The story is Hope Gardens and the women and children who stay there (approximately 80) and what God is doing in that place.

So, for several hours we scrubbed floors, cleaned cabinets, moved buckets of paint, moved whatever they wanted...good old fashioned manual labor.

The highlight of the day came at dinner. We were able to eat with the women and their children. Such precious kids. They never chose this life. Never chose the streets. But the time on Skid Row will always be a part of their story, just as the Grace of God will forever be a part of their story, as Hope Gardens will be a part of their story.

At dinner there was a Birthday celebration for one young girl. I tried to imagine what life was like for this mother and her children on the streets. I thought of my own children, my own wife, and couldn't imagine them going through that.

I was at the end of the food line and watched as our students (always proud of them) broke into groups to sit with various families-to listen to their stories, to pray with and for them, to talk about God with them...they made friends quickly. I credit that to God working in their lives and giving them a love for people not like them. When it was time for me to get my food, there was only one table without a student, so I went to that table. Two African American women were at the table with their children. One was leaving as soon as I asked if I could sit down (and I wondered, "do I have this effect on people or was this just awkward timing?"). The one staying, Desiree, said, 'Sure, have a seat," and then proceeded to introduce herself and her son.

Desiree didn't 'look' like a homeless person-didn't 'sound' like a person who was on the streets. In fact-most of these women looked like anyone you might meet at the grocery store or any place else you frequent. I know this sounds like I'm stereotyping, but that's the point-these women did not fit a preconceived 'mold'-and their stories are all stories of triumph.

I tried to engage her son in conversation-he was rather quiet and reserved. I imagined he was probably wary of strangers-and for good reason. I tried multiple times and multiple ways to engage him, but little response, until I asked about sports.

Marcus, who is thirteen years old, loves basketball. Once that topic came up, he opened up a bit-but not much. His mother explained he doesn't talk a lot to most people-just her and some of his friends at Hope Gardens. I wondered what Marcus had seen. What had happened in his life.

I wondered about Desiree's story. It's the elephant in the room-you want to find out her story so you can find out about her relationship with God and what she's been through-how to pray for her-that kind of thing. And...she knows that I know she was homeless, but bringing the whole thing up is a bit challenging.

We made small talk. She was originally from New York City. She tells me she loves New York. She's wearing a rather artsy I LOVE NY T-Shirt-just to underscore that NYC is her true home. She said: "New York is so alive, so full of life and excitement-so much to see there. The people are real...not like here..." She has family in Queens. She wants to go back sometime soon after she transitions after Hope Gardens to go back to family and work there.

She asks me where I'm from. I tell her "San Antonio" and she asks what it's like there-and asks if the people are friendly, asks if there is much to do in San Antonio. I tell her not nearly as much to do as New York, but the city is friendly.

She knows about the Riverwalk and tells me "that's one place on my list of places I have to see. But I really, really want to go to Europe. France particularly. Paris specifically." She's a vivacious person and her face is lighting up as she tells about her dreams. 'Want to go to Paris, but also London, and of course Spain...I could probably live in Paris, never come back..."

Of course, I have other questions-things I'd like to know. This woman looks and talks like someone who might be in a position of management at some successful company...How did she get to the streets of LA from NYC? She continues to talk...

"Well, I miss New York, but it's O.K. here. It's a lot better than Phoenix."

I can tell by the way she pronounces Phoenix that Phoenix is a sore spot.

"How did you get to Phoenix from New York?"

"Job transfer."

"Why didn't you like Phoenix?"

"Hot place, cold people." She didn't skip a beat. Obviously Phoenix was not a pleasant memory. I don't think that was a 'stock answer' from her-she's a sharp person with a sharp mind. Great quote.

I am just at a loss for how she wound up...here.

She continued..."So, I didn't like Phoenix, but I met this man...." She looks at her son, Marcus, who, still being quiet, somewhat lowers his head

"And...I made some bad choices. Those choices led me to Los Angeles. Those choices led me and him to the streets. They led us here. I won't make any excuses. I was wrong and we paid for my choices."

It's hard to know what to say at this point. I wanted to know her story, wondering where to start, and she just bypassed that process and started sharing.

"But God has been good to us and we are getting a new start. It's not perfect here, but my son is safe and I am safe and we're getting back on our feet. That's the main thing. He is my responsibility and nothing like that is ever going to happen to him again."

I don't know what 'that' is-but I do notice that Marcus raises his head slightly and looks at his mom with a sense of...trust? belief? ...hoping that it never does happen again? I can't tell. I do not get the sense I should ask what 'that' was. Desiree is largely an open book and if she wanted me to know that information, she would have told me. I leave well enough alone.

She's said enough already, more than most would say, and she's taken ownership of whatever these decisions were, and shares how God has changed her life.

She tells me about a discipleship class she went through that God used to really transform her. She talks of God and Gospel and new beginnings. This woman who has been through, well, I don't know all the details but I know she's been through a lot, and yet she radiates. She is ready to move forward.

I tell her that I am glad she and Marcus are safe at Hope Gardens. I ask her if I can pray for her and Marcus, and if so, how should I pray?

She is direct, as New Yorkers are prone to be: "Pray that I will continue to follow Christ as I should. That young man (pointing to Marcus) is my life, my responsibility, and I don't ever want to fail him again."

I start to say, "O.K., let's pray" but she continues...

"You see, I just want to see places, go places, I'm a free spirit. But it's that free spirit that got me into this mess. I just need to stay focused for him (pointing to Marcus again)-because he deserves that. Once he goes off to college (she's already sure he'll go to college) and once he's on his own, I want to take off and just go. I don't do well staying in one place very long."

And I start to understand more of the story-and the prayer request. I don't know if Marcus was 'planned' or not. I don't know if Marcus ever had a father figure in his life. I do know that it took this horrific experience, making a series of bad decisions, losing her job, winding up on the streets of LA for Desiree to rethink her free spirited ways and start living for more than the moment-but rather for someone else, someone she loves deeply, and who loves her deeply, her son.

There is this moment of silence. She looks at me as if to say, "Pray that I am the woman God wants me to be...because I know my shadow side."

We all have a shadow side-that default mode we would shift into were it not for the grace of God. She is aware hers.

I look at Marcus, wondering how he's taking all this in, his mom so transparent about everything right there in front of him to a complete stranger. Marcus says, "And thank God for us being safe."

So we pray. Handshakes are exchanged. She has to get Marcus back to the room-he has homework. She has things to do as well, responsibilities.

Before she leaves, she asks me, 'Did you hear about what happened here in December? With the wildfires?"

I had heard the story from Susana, the operations manager at Hope Gardens, but wanted to hear Desirees take. So I just listen.

"Yeah, when the wildfires were all over these mountains, everything was burned. Everything. People losing their houses. Losing everything. They evacuated us. I thought, Lord no...don't want to lose everything again...but the craziest thing happened. Everything on this side of the mountain was burned except this place. The fire stopped at the gates. The firemen set up here and they said the winds shifted. Not one thing was burned at this place. Kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

I tell her God was very gracious to everyone at Hope Gardens. She tells me she knows, and has been very gracious to her many times since she came to LA. And with that, she leaves.

It's hard to get Desiree and Marcus out of my mind. In about eight months or so she'll be 'free' -just her and Marcus on their own. I wonder if she'll honor that commitment to him. I wonder if she'll make wise choices. I wonder if Marcus will go to college? I wonder if the cycle will be broken? I wonder if in ten years Desiree will be living in Paris, doing some kind of work, or if she'll be back with family in New York-or, I wonder if she will make 'that' bad decision again? I pray not.

And I'll never know on this side of eternity. But I do know, that for a moment in time, I met someone who had a life, lost it all, took responsibility for it, and was looking to God to put all the pieces back together again. I met someone who stopped dreaming and was dreaming again. I met someone who was once on the streets with her son and was now talking about her son going to college. I met someone who had committed her life to Christ-and had made a fresh commitment to put the needs of her son first.

And I met a young man who I am sure is hoping and praying that everything his mother talked about is true.

Friday Morning: School on Wheels-Pursuing Those Who Wander

2009-07-13T11:08:00.002-05:00

Friday morning just 'felt' early. We had some sleep the night before. I guess the week was catching up. However tired I felt, my eagerness to finally see this "School on Wheels" and to work there energized me.

School on Wheels is a secular agency that educates homeless children. Their mission is to work with children, to provide a safe environment where they can continue their education until their family (usually it's just a mother and her child or children) is able to gain access to a school. They are amazing people. The church we were connecting with in Los Angeles, Mosaic, connects with many non-profits in Los Angeles, specifically agencies that are doing good work to serve people. More on that later.

I envisioned this school that was literally on wheels-perhaps a remodeled old school bus parked on Skid Row. I was surprised when we arrived to find it was in a storefront, on Skid Row, and once inside, to discover that this place was a well appointed tutoring station.

Originally we thought we would be tutoring children. However, the kids would not be arriving until the afternoon. Our assignment was to pack some 400 new, donated backpacks with a lot of nice, new, donated school supplies.

The man who runs the agency, Matt Raab, is an amazing individual. His love for children and his passion for education and his compassion for people is tangible. He welcomed us with bagels and drinks and showed us around and told us what they did.

We watched a video-stories from homeless children about the impact School on Wheels had on their lives, and what it was like to be homeless as a child. It was amazing to see so many children talk so passionately about how important school was to them and how desperately they wanted to stay in school and graduate, then go to college. Some wanted to be policemen, some doctors. Some just wanted to have a good job so the family would never live on the streets again. These kids were not reading lines-this was 'straight from the gut' talk. These kids wanted hope. They knew education was valuable. They wanted to break free from this cycle they were in.

They don't choose this life. In most cases, their mothers did not choose this life. Story after story showed women who just wanted their child to be safe and to somehow find housing and a job. These mothers were not trying to 'work the system.' The common thing in most all interviews was this sense of fear, mixed with shame and confusion as to being in that position-and most all of that fear and anxiety was directed towards the children.

Skid Row is a dangerous place for adult men. It's a very dangerous place for women and children.

Matt, a man in his early thirties, is using his gifts and abilities to invest in the lives of the forgotten. It's hard to be around a person like Matt and not be impressed by the sense of commitment he and his staff have for these children and their families.

As we watched the video, we heard stories from children, and one in particular stood out. This young man, twelve I believe, spoke of what it was like to be homeless, to always be on the move, to never have a sense of 'belonging.' He sounded like an adult, innocence long lost, I can only imagine what he's seen, what he's been through at that age. At one point in the video he compares life to a chess match, and paraphrasing, he said something to the effect of: "I'm the oldest. I have to watch out for my family. It's like in chess. You need to make the right move. Every move matters. If you make a wrong move, bad things can happen."

He's just a child-and I thought of my own twelve year old at that time and this boy's story just ate at me. Life as chess game, carefully making every move-just to be safe. Just to make sure the proverbial wheels don't fall off. The child watching out for the family.

So after watching this video and learning more of what School on Wheels does (and after wiping away a lot of tears streaming down my face-and I know others were doing the same), we were formed into an assembly line and we spent the next 2 and a half hours stuffing as many bags as we could-not randomly, but making sure each bag had exactly what it needed for a student to go to school. Pencils, notebooks, scissors, markers, pencil sharpeners, etc... and this is what we did.

But something interesting was taking place. As we stuffed the bags, we did not see this as busy work, or meaningless work, because we knew that each bag represented a homeless child. We might not ever meet that child, but that bag, so nice, so clean, so full of supplies, would be important to each child, so what we were doing became important to us-to do it correctly, to make sure no kid was short-changed.

While we were there, a mother came in with one of the younger students. Matt unlocked the door and the mother and child came in. Safety. He sat down to talk with them, then one of his assistants came by as well. I didn't know what they were talking about, couldn't hear from where I was standing, but I could see.

I saw this young man come to life. He WANTED to stay. He wanted class to start NOW. He didn't want to go back-back OUT THERE.

When it was noon, it was time for us to leave. We did not finish all 400 bags, but made a huge dent. Another volunteer group was coming in later that week and their work would be easy and the bags would be ready in time.

As we left School on Wheels, many things stuck with me-but three things in particular:

1) Matt made a statement about how they track the kids. If one goes missing, they go to find that child so they can continue working with them, so they can watch out for that child. In other words, when times get even tougher in a very tough place, they don't give up on the children, or the family. They continue to pursue. It reminded me of the way God pursues us when we were lost and far from Him. This kind of commitment is rare these days. I commend Matt and the staff at School on Wheels for making that commitment to place and to people and sticking to it. From talking to him, I can see how it can be a discouraging thing at times. So much uncertainty, and so much danger out there, but someone has to be pursuing these families and watching out for these kids. They are one of those few who do just that.

2) My friend from Mosaic, Adrian, is an amazing guy. He is the "Serve LA" pastor, and his job description basically can be summed up by saying: "Interface with as many non-Christian non-profit service entities that are doing good and meaningful work as possible to develop relationships with them. Through serving with them, the Gospel will flow through those relational lines." Adrian's job is to connect followers of Christ in the church to those who may not know Him and to develop relationships through service that God will use for His Glory and the Kingdom. Matt asked a question towards the end of our time, one that caught me off guard. He said, 'Hey-you guys were amazing. Forgive me, but I can't remember, how did you find out about us?" I told him "Adrian, from Mosaic connected us with you." Immediately he said,'Oh, Adrian...man, that guy is incredible.We really like Adrian around here. He's amazing. Mosaic has some incredible people. We really like working with them."

Matt may not know the 'why' these people from Mosaic he has met, and Adrian in particular, are so 'amazing'-but I do-Matt and his co-workers are seeing Christ in the lives of these Christians who are coming alongside them. And as I listened to him, I wondered, "How many 'secular' agencies do I know have positive things to say about a church or followers of Christ because of their authenticity, love and service? I don't know the answer to that question, but I do believe we (the church) should ideally be seen as a blessing by those who may not know Him.

3) So this leads to the third take away for me: Sometimes we followers of Christ think that the only agencies we can or should connect with (agencies that are service agencies) must be Christian agencies. I liked Mosaic's strategy. Through serving in this agency, by serving these people, relationships are formed, and through those relationships, the Gospel travels. I didn't see (and from what I understand there is not one) a 'Christian" School on Wheels. But by being intentional, Gospel and Christ are introduced into that context by followers of Christ who come alongside those doing good work to support their efforts and to become their friend-and this too speaks.

We returned to Los Angeles because we sensed that God was calling us to invest in a place-not to be spiritual tourists going from one place to the next each year. If we are able to go back to Los Angeles next year, we plan on spending perhaps half of our time with School on Wheels, to invest in the children, and to invest in those who are serving them.

Because we see the power of coming alongside someone and loving them, serving with them, and how God uses such things to bring people to Himself.

If you want to learn more about School on Wheels, and perhaps do something to make a difference-check out their website: http://www.schoolonwheels.org/

If you email them, tell Matt that Kevin from San Antonio (the guy who brought the college students from Texas to stuff backpacks) said 'hello'-and tell him you've heard amazing things about what they are doing. Join Adrian, join us in developing relationships that matter in so many ways-in forming relationships that God will use in amazing ways.

These kids matter, and so do Matt and his staff-they all matter to God, so they should all matter to us.

Friday in South Central LA: GangLand, Luis and MetroKidz

2009-07-13T11:06:00.001-05:00

South Central L.A. has a reputation. Gangland. The stuff of the History Channel series. MS 13; the 13th Street Gang, Mexican Mafia...turf wars, A-K 47's, drive-bye's, violence...and it's Friday. You're starting to feel the fatigue of the sleepless nights a bit, and you've just wolfed down a sandwich after School on Wheels and you arrive at the Dream Center barely in time to connect with the MetroKidz team, and you rush, in your vehicles...to...Gangland...for ministry.

That logical part of your mind knows a few things: One, you know you are going to enter a different world, and two, you know that there is a reason South Central is the stuff of movies, national news reports and History Channel episodes-the place has a story, and it's not pretty. But the interesting thing is, as you load up in your vehicles, something else is going on: God is giving you an absolute peace about it all, and so you drive into the heart of South Central, past the many wall murals, through run down neighborhoods and by countless taco stands and small shops, and you aren't thinking about safety, you're wondering what God has in store for this trip because everything about the week has been one continual experience of seeing Him at work. You assume and trust He is also working in South Central.

On the way, a young man from the Dream Center rides in the car with you to give you directions. He's nineteen years old, and his name is Luis. Luis is rather quiet at first, giving directions, but there is something inside of you that just knows this kid has a story, working for the Dream Center, so you ask.

And you find out that this young man from South America has quite a story. He knows about MS-13 because he once belonged. He knows about police because he had been arrested a few times, and once on very serious charges. He has seen too much. Done too much he is not proud of. He speaks with a matter of fact tone as he describes his past life. He understands South Central because he grew up there when his family came to America when he was a child. He talks about the dangers of the Mexican drug cartels and how Al-Qaeda supplies the Mexican gangs with military weapons. He is not speaking in a sensational manner. He just knows these things because he knows how things work in South Central, in "Gangland."

As you drive by murals, he explains how so many of the 'saints' in the images are really demonic. He talks about people worshiping these false idols for protection, for money, for strength in battle. He says that so many people are blinded by the enemy. He wants to see South Central set free from this bondage. He is more concerned with the cycle of violence and false worship and the children. He does not mention a need for more money as a core issue, and you can't help noticing this omission. From his perspective, it's spiritual freedom and physical safety that are the big needs, and he knows that none of these things will happen until Jesus Christ is known, the Jesus he encountered in the Scriptures. The Jesus who is, not the Jesus of folk religion.

The SUV gets quiet as you ask more of his story. He is not comfortable at first, but as he begins to speak of God, and of how Jesus Christ was shared with him, how this Jesus was what he was looking for all along in life, he becomes passionate. He shares the most incredible testimony, and the thing you notice, it's not a testimony about "Luis changing his life," but the focus is all on Jesus Christ and how He reached down to 'the worst sinner' and saved him. He gets very excited as he talks about how filled with joy he was and is because of Christ. He talks about Jesus as if He is the most important treasure a person could have, and again...you take note of this.

He talks about facing down death-namely members of his gang (he was a sect leader) who confronted him after Christ saved him. He talks about a particular individual in that group of seven who came to him, a large man, with tattoos all over his body, and his face-"The Devil" is what he called him, and how he had this moment where he was confronted. "Is this true? You think you are leaving?" they ask. "The Devil" gets in his face. Luis wonders if this is how his story ends.

But Jesus gives him courage. He tells these former associates that they can kill him but they can't take his soul. He belongs to Jesus and he cannot turn his back on Jesus. He tells them that Jesus Christ is his "Boss" and his "Lord." He says he will always follow Jesus, even if he has to die, because he knows Jesus will use even his death to save someone else. He is not afraid.

That tense confrontation ends with his former 'friends' walking away, inexplicably, but with the warning, 'We will be watching you-if you are playing games...." And he says, "Watch me, but look at Him. He is God's Son."

Luis winds up at the Dream Center and he talks about the incredible discipleship training he received and how God used that time to really help him understand Jesus and what it means to be a Christian.

So you pull up to the park, where your ministry for the day is a mini version of Vacation Bible School in the middle of South Central, working with children, teaching Scriptures, playing with them, loving on them, talking to their parents (mostly women), and as you start setting up, you notice how free Luis seems. The joy on his face radiates as he interacts with children, with parents, with kids at the park-and with you and your team.

The time with MetroKidz is simply amazing. Children singing, playing games, learning about the Great God who loves them and knows them personally...the God who is there, in South Central. The kids learn about making wise choices when it comes to friends, and you realize that this instruction has a significance to these children that you can't begin to imagine.

By age ten or so, the gangs, the drug runners, the people behind the violence and fear, start recruiting children. $300 a week to walk around with a cell phone while you are playing, just to call a number to tell an unknown person that police are around the area is incredible money for someone who would like to know what it's like to go down to a local shop and buy ice cream or soda pop just because...and having extra money to buy things for mom or dad, well, that is a nice thing too.

So you look at the faces of these children, at this moment in time so eager, so innocent, so glad to be around caring adults, and you then look at the face of Luis and you wonder. You wonder if some of these children will make it through school and avoid the lures and temptations and bondage that is so rampant in the area. You wonder if some will fall between the cracks and wind up as a 6:00 news story. You wonder a lot.

But you look at Luis, and you remember your God. You see what He has done in Luis' life and in the lives of some of the adults you have met, and there is hope. Always Hope. Nothing is impossible for God.

And before you leave, you ask Luis if you and your group can pray for him. You wonder what he might ask for in prayer. Perhaps a nicer home? The opportunity to move? For a better paying job? For protection?

He surprises you because his one request is that God will continue to break him. He explains that pride is very dangerous and he wants to always be humble before God so God will use him. He fears pride. He wants to be humble before God and man more than anything so people can see Jesus in him. He reiterates, "Don't pray for God to bless me with things. Things are meaningless. Pray that He will break me over and over so I can be useful to Him."

So you pray-and as you pray for and with this young man, you experience a measure of the trauma of encountering the Holy One as well as the sense that God Is In This Place. You are on Holy Ground, in South Central. God has plans for this city. For South LA. He has not left, He is working, always working.

The kingdom advances, invisibly, and faithful messengers continue to come to this part of Los Angeles to tell the story, to love, to serve, to bless, to invest in the lives of these children, these families-and Luis is just one of many who have dedicated their lives to making Christ known to this community.

You understand that there is much more going on in South Central than what you see on Gangland, what you see portrayed in the movies, what you see on the news. God is working and laborers are in the fields.

Yes, God is working here. You can see it. Light shining in the darkness. Hope in the midst of despair. Freedom in the face of fear. His love is present. He is present.

And when you leave, you realize the experience was nothing short of amazing. And, you realize that you only spent a half day there, and when you leave, life will go on in South Central. Police sirens will continue to scream both day and night, police helicopters will continue to circle the area, but this is the visible realm.

You realize that there is Beauty in the unseen realm, because He is working, and when you finally leave the Dream Center, you have a greater appreciation for those who continue to invest in a place that most have written off as hopeless, and a greater understanding of the Power of God to transform individuals, families, and yes...even social structures. You realize many things...

You realize that God loves South Central L.A. He loves Broken Luis. He loves the children and the parents you met. And yes, His love is amazing...He loves even you...and yes, you realize, that apart from His grace and mercy, you were just as lost as Broken Luis, just as lost as the AK-47 toting gang member, just as lost as the man they call "The Devil" (El Diablo)-and you realize that you have every reason to worship Him for such an extravagant display of Love, Grace, Mercy and Compassion.

So you drive back to the safety of your dorm in Pasadena, a quietness comes over your soul. Yes...Grace is truly amazing.

Saturday Morning With Freddie on Skid Row

2009-07-13T11:03:00.000-05:00

Another morning with just a few hours of sleep, fatigue starting to set in, but we were excited for this day, so the tired and weary shuffled to the vehicles to spend Saturday on Skid Row (we didn't know that would be our assignment-we just knew we'd be somewhere where the needs would be great). When you go to the Dream Center for "Adopt A Block," you receive your assignments at the site, and load up your group on the assigned bus to go to the assigned place. We had no idea where we would be going-we just knew it would be a challenge.

We arrived at the Dream Center for an hour of prayer and preparation. You don't go to any place they send you, any block they have "Adopted" without spiritual preparation. You don't go to these places with a sense that you are adequate in your own strength and wisdom. You are keenly aware that you need Him as Shield, Protector, Wisdom...you just know you need Him to do this through you because you are completely inadequate.

The time of prayer was incredible, and necessary. By the time they assigned us to our buses for "Adopt A Block" we were ready for whatever they had. They divided our group into two groups (I'm only able to share the experience of my group from my perspective), and our group was going to Skid Row. This was not going to be one of those 'in and out' missions, this would be two hours of walking the streets, among the people-who are everywhere...being present-our little group of 20 or so, among...well, a lot of people.

Our 'guide' was a kid named Freddy. Late 20's, he was and is an incredible story. Before Christ rescued him, he was, as so many we met, involved in a gang-lost, doing things his own way. He is an introspective person, rather quiet, a thinker-the words that come to mind when I think of him are "humility," "intensity" "love" "compassion"..."calm"...and he has an old soul in many ways. Mature beyond his years. Quiet, but when he speaks, the words matter, they carry a certain weight, insightful words.

Freddy knows what it's like to be at a relative's Quincienera (probably misspelled-but a big celebration in Hispanic culture-a girl's 15th Birthday Celebration)-and to have that day interrupted by gunshots, people screaming, bleeding family, chaos...world turned upside down. That is a small snapshot of his past.

Jesus Christ reached down and rescued Freddy, saved him, transformed him, and to Freddy, Jesus IS life, and he can't get enough of Scripture, taking it all in, memorizing it, thinking it through...consumed with wanting to know Him. Freddy is reflective and takes this business of following Jesus quite seriously. I get the feeling that Freddy has seen hundreds of groups come in and 'help' by 'giving up a Saturday' once a year or so, perhaps to make themselves feel better, perhaps to help for the right reasons, but he has this disposition where you can tell he's not impressed by people playing religious games, this is real to him and he takes this following business seriously. He is not aloof, but you can tell he is trying to discern if the group with him is serious about what God wants to do, or if this is just a field trip to them.

This young man, slightly built, neatly dressed, with tightly woven dreadlocks, and a Bible in his hand and a sense of purpose and focus to minister to those on Skid Row is our guide. I am fascinated by him.

As we approach the drop off point, you can't help but notice what's going on around you. People everywhere. Sleeping on the streets, in alleys, some setting up shop for the day with grocery carts, milling around-others just walking around-who knows where, and some sitting down, just thinking about making it through another day.

Skid Row is a place where people are forgotten. Disposable people. People who have given up on hope, and people who others have given up on-all present. There is mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, but there is also the common man who lost his job, kept trying to make it, and somehow, found himself here, and eventually, he just gave up on everything.

Skid Row can also be a violent place-sometimes desperate people, or people with mental illness, or people fueled by drugs, well, they just do things-things you hear about on the evening news. There is lostness, there is also despair-and the combination of the two makes for a combustible mix at times.

We get off the bus and Freddy tells us: "We usually have food to pass out along with copies of "Daily Bread," but today, we don't have food-so we're going to walk around and check up on people and give out copies of the devotional. Stick together and be ready for whatever God has for us."

And that's it. So we're going to walk Skid Row with nothing to meet physical needs, just literature-and we're going to check on people and see what God has for us. We start walking, and honestly, as we are walking, there are a lot of silent prayers going up, "Lord, whatever you want...prepare us. Help us to see where you are working here."

We have taken perhaps 10 steps when out of nowhere, a driver pulls up and says, "Hey, I have all of these apples-you guys want them?" And, before you know it, God has provided-and we have sacks of apples to pass out.

I don't believe in coincidences like this. I do believe God does amazing things.

Off we go. As we walk around, I notice something-people on Skid Row know Freddy.

"Freddy! What's up my man?"

"Freddy, what's the news today?"

On it goes. Freddy leads us to different people. He's checking up on people he knows and continues to check on people he's still getting to know.

Freddy is the pastor of Skid Row. It's not a formal title-but an earned one. They know him, and he knows them. This speaks to me. I wonder how many of us would apply for that pastoral position? Freddy lives at the Dream Center-so he has a roof over his head and gets three squares a day and minimal pay. But he's chosen this because he believes He has been called to do this. He has embraced this place, these people-and it shows.

Over time, we start to feel more comfortable on Skid Row and while staying in Freddy's field of vision, start talking to other people, checking on them. Praying with them. Sharing food and Scripture with them, talking about Jesus with them-and it's an amazing experience.

We're walking around this one street and I hear (as only a true basketball fan would hear) something surreal...the sound of someone on a mike calling a game, and the unmistakable sound of shoes shuffling and a ball bouncing and people cheering...I am drawn to this. What is going on?

I walk around the corner and find this spot, someone has made this a special place on Skid Row for the homeless to have fun, release tension, get some exercise-and I see small bleachers set up, guys playing basketball, and on the court are players, playing in donated jerseys, and this is a serious game. The guy on the makeshift PA has given all the players nicknames, and he's calling this game like it's game 7 of the NBA finals-pumped up, making comments on everything that's going on.

Before I know it, I'm sitting next to a man named William. Watching it all. It's not pretty basketball, but the guys are having fun. I turn to William and introduce myself. He's friendly, pleasant. He smiles and introduces himself. I ask him if there were some serious ballers' out there and he laughs.

"No...we're all past our prime...this is just for fun."

Past our prime-I wonder if maybe that is how many feel about life in general on Skid Row. Life has come and gone and they are just waiting out the inevitable.

We talk. William is open. We watch the game together and for this moment, God and basketball and conversation converge and we're having a great time. I'm not thinking "I'm on Skid Row"-it's just this wonderful moment where two guys are talking and watching a game.

When the game is over, I start asking William about himself. He's an open book. He asks me if I'm a preacher. I always struggle with that one, in my new ministry position-I preach from time to time, but...

So I tell him, 'Well, I'm a follower of Christ, and I do work with a ministry-but I'm just here to check on you, see how you're doing."

William gets serious. He explains how he once followed Christ and how over time, he lost his way, and in losing his way, he ended up losing family, job, and somehow ended up here. I talk with him about the Message, and offer him a copy of Daily Bread-which he eagerly receives.

I ask him what he'd like to pray about-and he doesn't miss a beat. He quickly says, "I know Jesus is my only Hope. I know He's real and He's the Truth. I got hooked on drugs. I want to follow Him. He can put this all back together. I've been clean now for three days. Pray that I will do what He wants me to do and that I will stay clean."

That's honesty. That's powerful. So in the midst of all of these people, we pray. And after we pray-William gives me a hug. His eyes, a bit teary, but he's smiling. "Thanks brother. Thanks."

And as our conversation comes to a close, our time together, I see Freddy on the other side of the courtyard, a big man yelling at him, so I walk with others towards that area. I don't know what I think I am going to be able to do, but we all gather around, because our guide is taking a verbal beating.

As we approach Freddy, the man continues yelling, and starts walking away.

Freddy never yells back, never gets angry. We stay in this courtyard a bit longer and then head back out to the streets.

"He's an angry guy. He's Muslim, and he likes to stir up problems whenever I'm around here. Tells people lies about me, about what we're doing...I just pray for him."

And we move on. Freddy 'gets it' as pastor-not everyone is going to love you or what you're doing-but you do what your called to do, regardless of opposition. Pastoring is not easy. Freddy know this. Opposition doesn't stop him from doing what he's called to do, what he knows he is to do.

We are finishing up our time, and Freddy said he needs to check on someone. He tells us about a lady in a wheelchair who is usually out in front of LAMP (the rescue mission featured in the movie 'The Soloist'-the movie about Nathaniel Ayers)-so we go there, but she's not around. He asks some people if they know where she is. They don't. Freddy starts talking to these people as well.

As that conversation ends, Freddy asks us if we saw the movie-and we all had (part of training for LA)-and he tells us that this woman and others on Skid Row were extras in the movie, part of the deal to produce it, so a portion of the money would go back to the missions.

I saw the movie twice so I have to ask "Does Nathaniel come out here much?" We all want to know-would love to meet the REAL Nathaniel.

Freddy lowers his head and says, "Nathaniel was shot Easter Sunday. You didn't know that?'

We didn't. The media told us about Nathaniel's life and this amazing movie that captured his story-but they didn't tell us he was murdered shortly after it's release. They forgot that part.

Nathaniel saw a murder. He did the right thing and told the police. For that, he paid the price. Shot in cold blood on Easter Sunday.

We look up, and we are standing under LAMP's sign. It is a surreal moment.

"Yeah, it's very sad" Freddy says, and then we move along.

The apples are gone, the Daily Bread is gone, and we are going back to our bus.

So much to process, so much seen, so much heard, and I realize that when we leave, life goes on for the masses on Skid Row...and there is this part of me that wants to fix everything, but I know I can't.

God is the one who does such things, and I am not Him.

But as we board the bus, Freddy quietly sits down, and it hits me. "God is present-always present everywhere, but all too often we aren't aware of His presence. Freddy knows Jesus is on Skid Row, and Freddy goes there to be a part of what Jesus is doing. Three to five times a week, Freddy is out there checking on his people, God's people....bringing Light and Hope and Truth and Grace and Love into this context.

Pastor to Skid Row.

Watching Freddy navigate the area, talking to people, knowing so many of their situations and stories, watching him flesh out Christ I am reminded of Jesus' words about the first being last and the last being first-and while Freddy may never pastor a church, or gain any public attention-He's walking with God, and He's about the Father's business in virtual anonymity....and I think that when it's all said and done, Freddy is going to be somewhere near the front of that line...

Eric Bryant, Lead Navigator from Mosaic in SA

2009-07-13T10:58:00.002-05:00

BSM is blessed to announce that Eric Bryant, Lead Navigator at Mosaic (in some church terms-associate pastor) will be in San Antonio on July 31 (Friday Night). He will be speaking on the topic: "Hindus, Homosexuals and the Hard to Reach: Sharing Christ in a Post-Christian Culture."

Eric is a remarkable man who fleshes out what he preaches-love is the framework for all we do as followers of Christ. At Mosaic, they are reaching people that most traditional churches never reach (and many would not consider reaching out to!)-this is a free event and you are invited.

We meet in the JPL Auditorium, Friday, July 31 from 7:00-9:00. Refreshments will be provided. We will have a time to fellowship at the beginning, Eric will speak and we will follow that up with a 30 minute time of Q and A. Again, admission is free-but seating is limited to the first 200.

We invite you to come! Please RSVP if you plan on attending. You may RSVP by emailing me at kpchprather4@aol.com or calling 210.823.4166.

Eric will also have copies of his book, "Peppermint Filled Pinatas" for sale.

We hope to see you!

Los Angeles

2009-07-13T10:51:00.002-05:00

We had an incredible, transformational mission trip to Los Angeles. Words cannot describe how significant the trip was. Out of all the mission trips I have been on over the past 22 years, this one was the most amazing experience. There are many reasons for that:
1) God truly moved on the trip. From the moment we touched down until the time we left, it was quite obvious He had business with us.
2) The students were amazing. I could not have asked for a more well prepared and more responsive and willing group.
3) We discovered more of 'communitas'-that rare thing that takes place when a community grows closer to God and to one another as collectively they stay focused on the mission and go to the margins, the fringes, and experience tests and the discomfort of being out of the the safety of familiarity.
4) The church we connected with, Mosaic, provided an incredible framework for understanding mission, community and how a community of faith can be so wonderfully shaped by faith, hope and love.

There are stories below that describe our trip to Los Angeles. I posted them all on Face Book the week after we returned. I have taken a brief break from Blogging-I had other work that I needed to tend to, so please forgive the late post. I realize that many of those who follow BSM are not on Face Book, and I wanted to get the information out to my other friends today. I hope you enjoy the stories, and gain a sense of how wonderfully God moved, what can happen if we are open to Him, and the power of Him writing our stories....
Grace and Peace,
Kevin

BSM RUMMAGE SALE FOR MISSION TRIP

2009-05-06T10:05:00.002-05:00

This is a rarity for us, but we (Baptist Student Ministries) will be putting on a rummage sale this Saturday, May 9th, at Northwest Hispanic Baptist Church to help raise support for our mission trip May 19-26. We are taking 20 wonderful students to work primarily on Skid Row in Los Angeles and among the urban poor. These students have prayed, worked and prepared well for what I can only describe as a very intense but meaningful time of service, evangelism and training in one of the most difficult contexts in America.

If you or your church is looking for some audio visual equipment, electronics, office supplies-or simply looking for things like appliances, furniture, fixtures or clothes, please come! All proceeds will go directly to students going on the mission trip.

God has blessed us tremendously with the prayers and support of many. We are so thankful for your prayers and encouragement.

At this point we are still short on what we need to cover costs, and we are praying and hoping the rummage sale helps us reach that goal.

Northwest Hispanic Baptist Church: 9603 Braun Road; San Antonio TX 78254

A Fantastic Year

2009-04-27T19:06:00.002-05:00

Baptist Student Ministries experienced an amazing year! God blessed us tremendously and we are seeing incredible things happen!

1) God has raised up a strong core group of students who are the most mission minded young people (or adults for that matter), that I know. These students are actively and intentionally engaging their campus, developing friendships with the lost, and going out of their way to serve the lost on campus. Our students have grown immensely. They no longer see Baptist Student Ministries as a "bubble" where they can hide safely from a lost campus-rather they see our organization as a place to be equipped, to worship, to be built up and re-energized so they can go out into the mission field that is the University of Texas, San Antonio.

2) Lives are being changed. I recently received an email from one of our students stating how significant Baptist Student Ministries was to her in her life. In her words, "I was heading down the wrong path when I came to the university, and God used BSM to change my life." This young girl is one of the most vibrant believers I know. She is actively serving others and sharing Christ. There are many stories like hers.

3) The lost are responding. We have been spiritually mapping our campus. By that, I mean we have been surveying students on campus to gain a better feel for the spiritual climate at UTSA as well as to help us understand our mission field and people's perceptions of Christianity, the Church, Christian organizations and their receptivity to further conversation and exploration. We have found students surprisingly open to talking. We have encountered Neo-Pagans, Atheists, Agnostics, Satanists and people from other religions and alternative lifestyles. Interesting: While many are open to talking about Jesus, many have negative views of Christianity and the Church. Even more interestingly-after listening to their stories respectfully, these students are open to exploring Christianity with BSM.

4) We are growing. The students have been faithful to till the spiritual soil, to work the ground, to plant, to sow, to water, to continue to do good, to not grow weary, and we are seeing the first fruits of a potentially tremendous harvest. We have outgrown our rooms for luncheons as well as our worship time. God blessed us in that next year we have two larger rooms for both meetings. It is amazing to see how God has and is using our students for His Glory.

Please continue to pray for BSM! We look forward to our summer mission trip and to spending time this summer preparing for an incredible year next year!

Los Angeles and the Least of These

2009-04-27T18:35:00.002-05:00

They have a name for it: "Compassion fatigue." It is a recent phenomenon. We hear so much about the needs of others, here and around the world, that we become desensitized to appeals for help. Whether it is the displaced child in a refugee camp in Darfur, the children without parents in AIDS ravaged Africa, or the plight of the homeless and urban poor in America, we are bombarded with images and requests to help. Over time, we become weary of it all, and we stop feeling responsible. "It's someone else's job" or "I'm only one person...what can I do?" or "I just can't handle any more. I have enough stress in my own life."

It is understandable. We live in a hurting world. Fifty years ago, we did not have the Internet, there were not news agencies across the globe covering every tragedy. Now, we are bombarded with images and stories and needs. We want to make a difference, but at the same time we are overloaded.

As I have shared about our Los Angeles mission trip over the past few months, no doubt for some, compassion fatigue was the default response. I've been there and understand.

I am reading a fascinating book that I strongly encourage you to read: "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Rich Stearns, CEO of World Vision. Stearns makes a powerful case for the Gospel (as presented by Jesus, the apostles) being Good News for the poor-and that as Christ-followers, our relationship with Christ leads us to care for the least of these. I strongly encourage you to read it. Going back to God and Israel, Stearns points out quite powerfully and convincingly that God is supremely concerned with the least of these and demands that His people who are called by His Name take responsibility for the poor in their midst. Stearns shows in Scripture how proclamation of the Good News is accompanied by demonstration of the love and kindness of God.

In Los Angeles, we will be working with and serving some of the most destitute, the most 'least of these' in the U.S. . Skid Row is a real place. Thousands upon thousands of people have given up on life, given into despair, feel abandoned by God and by humanity. As one person said of Skid Row in an interview: "Skid Row is where people go to die." We saw that last year-this tangible sense of hopelessness and despair. With over 90,000 homeless in Los Angeles, Skid Row is a city within a city where darkness and despair are tangible. It is the "end of the line" for those who end up there.

Women are at particular risk. A woman (and many women are on the street with their children) has a greater than 80% chance of being sexually or physically assaulted if she is on the streets for longer than 2 weeks. We are ministering with agencies that are doing everything they can to get these women and children off the streets.

Stereotypes of the homeless are shattered in Los Angeles. I must confess my stereotypes often included the ideas such as: 'This is a life they chose,' or 'These are people just working the system,' or 'drug addicts' or 'people with mental illnesses.' While there are certainly people who fit into these categories, they are still loved by God and He desires for them to be set free. There are the 'others' though-thousands and thousands of 'others,' individuals or families who were barely making it paycheck to paycheck. People who were downsized (laid off), or had medical emergencies, and suddenly found themselves unable to pay mortgage or rent. It is a progression: Living in a car while trying to find work. If no work materializes, then being on the streets.

The "drop off point" from having a roof over your head to being out on the streets is a fine line in Los Angeles. The greatest economic disparity between the 'haves' and 'have nots' exists in L.A. Thousands are on the streets asking themselves, 'How did this happen to me?' Jesus cares for these people as well.

And many are on the streets having long given up any idea or hope that things would change. We met a young man last year and after talking with him, it was quite apparent that in his mind, there was simply no more hope." Jesus cares for him.

So we are going to Los Angeles because we sensed Him calling us to go. We won't be spending our time with the 'haves'-or hanging out on Rodeo Drive. We will spend our time on Skid Row and among the urban poor.

And Jesus cares for these people. He cares for this city that so many look at as the "land of fruits and nuts." He cares for them all.

I am blessed by our students. They have prayed and sensed His call to serve in a very challenging context. I would ask for you to pray for them. I would also ask, if you sense His leading, to support them, partner with them in the Gospel. Yes, "compassion fatigue" can desensitize us to many things. I would humbly ask that you consider the twenty students going, and the work they will be doing, and the thousands of people we will be interacting with, and join us in making a difference in the lives of people who experience a sense of abandonment, pain and hopelessness most of us cannot imagine.

Jesus cares for the "least of these." I'm proud of the students going who heard His call and are going in faith. We leave in less than a month. There are still needs to help these students go. We have seen this as a faith venture from beginning to end. We trust Him to provide. If He impresses on you to be a part of that provision, you may send any and all gifts to:
San Antonio Baptist Association
Attn: Baptist Student Ministries/Kevin Prather
5807 I-H 10 West
San Antonio, TX 78201

Missions Here or Abroad? A Both/And Approach

2009-04-27T17:14:00.002-05:00

Early in my ministry, I had a somewhat jaded view of many 'mission trips' which I saw as little more than sanctified spiritual tourist trips, or vacations. As such, I was not the most popular youth minister when, at my first ministry post, I broke ranks with the annual "youth choir mission trip" and took the group to Houston's 9th Ward. Prior to my arrival, the youth went to "fun" and "interesting" places to sing, do a backyard bible club, and then do a lot of sightseeing. Somehow, this idea of missions didn't resonate with my understanding of the New Testament pattern of missions. At Mildred McWhorter's Mission in one of the toughest parts of Houston, there was little to see in terms of "sights" unless gangs, people standing in line for sacks of potatoes, vegetables and bread were "sights."

The daily work in Houston was typically long and hard. Have to love that Houston humidity, sleeping on the floor and unloading food from 18 Wheelers from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

As I continued in the ministry in the local church, I believed it important for the church to be on mission both in the community and outside the community. I remember hearing (more than once), something to the effect of: "Shouldn't we focus our energies here when (fill in the blank of the city or town I served in at the time) there are so many needs here instead of going somewhere else? On one level, it seems to make sense. Why go to Houston when Dallas has so many needs? Why go to Los Angeles when San Antonio has so many needs?

When I look at Scripture, I see something else, however. I see Jesus calling His people to not only make a difference where they are, but to go to the ends of the earth. If we all adopted the mindset that said "We'll go elsewhere when everything here is fixed"-we would never leave. Poverty, lostness, hopelessness exist everywhere. The question we must ask is: "What role does Jesus have for us in His Missionary Enterprise? What is He calling us to do, to be?" The Great Commission certainly is not confined by geography.

Missions is not a "here or abroad" issue-it is the very nature of God's people to continually be on mission-both where we are and open to wherever He leads us-and He does lead us out of our geographical locations.

The wonderful thing about mission trips-and by mission trips I am referring to those trips that focus on sharing the Gospel in word and deed, as well as ministering to the 'least of these' is that they expand our vision of the King and His Kingdom, stretch us in ways that can only take place out of our comfort zone, and prepare us for more effective ministry in our city/place of origin. Mission trips also allow us to partner in the Gospel with other believers, strengthening the work they are doing.

As a church planter in Wisconsin, I was blessed when a group from Dallas came to our city to help with the work. Their help allowed us to accomplish in one week what would normally take our church over 2-3 months to accomplish. The benefit was mutual-they were stretched and we were strengthened.

We are partners in the Gospel with believers both here and abroad, and it is in that partnership that we are able to do more together than we could ever do alone. It is in the context of that partnership that we learn more of what it means to be the Body of Christ, working together, each one looking out for the other, not looking out merely for ourselves.

The economy of the Kingdom is different from that of this world system-the more we give away, the more we receive. The more we live for the blessing of others, the more we ourselves are blessed. I'm not referring to receiving material blessings, but rather the blessing that comes with following Christ wherever He leads. May we follow well...

Investing in Eternity

2009-03-27T13:19:00.002-05:00

Sometimes when we hear about students going on a mission trip, a part of us equates the trip with "spiritual tourism." I know that feeling-I've experienced it before when I am asked to support a person or group going on trip, here or abroad.

But there are those times when you know a group-what they are doing, and you know their trip is anything but tourism. I want to tell you briefly about such a trip-a trip that is going to be extremely challenging, one that will profoundly change the lives of college students, and one that will impact eternity.

We (Baptist Student Ministries)are taking nineteen students from UTSA back to Los Angeles this year on mission trip. We are returning to the same church and agencies we worked with last year to build on last year's work.

Our students were challenged months ago to pray about being called to Los Angeles. The students going have taken this responsibility seriously and last night we had our first training meeting. I was blessed to see a group of young people coming in faith, with a strong sense of God's Hand upon them, leading them to serve in the heart of Los Angeles, where there is indeed much darkness.

Our students will be serving through Mosaic church-but connecting with agencies such as the Dream Center, Union Rescue Mission, Adopt a Block, MetroKidz, School on Wheels-working among the 90,000 homeless, focusing on Skid Row, and working among the urban poor. We will be sharing the Gospel and demonstrating Christ's love to people living in darkness and despair. It is tough spiritual terrain. Our students will not be seeing the "beautiful" side of Los Angeles, rather immersed in the darkest and toughest places. Their work schedule is taxing-not much in the way of down time, and they knew this as they prayed about the trip and yet...they said, "Here I am Lord, send me!"

I am humbled by their spirit, their willingness to offer themselves up in a context most people would avoid.

For us, Los Angeles has become our "ends of the earth" as far as missions.

I want you to know that for our students, missions is not about an annual trip-they are on mission throughout the school year. They have been trained and are continually challenged to be missionaries on their campus-and they are. God is using them in powerful ways to interact with and engage the lost. So for them, this trip is further training and further investment in the Kingdom.

I am writing to ask for you to prayerfully consider the following:
1) Committing to pray for this group. We are going to need it. The darkness and despair is great. We need God's protection, provision and strength. We cannot do this in our own strength.

2) To prayerfully consider helping to support these students as they go. Last year, our actual cost per student was close to $1,000. This year it is $950. Last year God provided through churches, Sunday school classes, individuals in such a way that our students were able to go for $350. That is our goal again this year.

Our trip is May 19-26. Our students have turned in their first deposit of $100.00 and their second is due next week. They are trusting God for everything, as am I.

If you are looking to make an investment in the Kingdom, an investment in young people-something that will "stick" with them, something that will make a significant difference in the lives of many, I encourage you to pray about supporting these students.

Anything that is received is divided among the group. We are all working and praying together-this is a team effort and a faith venture from beginning to end.

We appreciate the prayers of so many. Thank you. Your prayers are making a significant difference on our campus!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at ustabsm@gmail.com or call me at 210.823.4166.

If you would like to help support these precious students, you may do so by sending a check to the San Antonio Baptist Association; Baptist Student Ministries, 5807 I-H 10 West; San Antonio, TX 78201. In the memo section of the check, please designate: BSM Mission Trip, LA

For the King and His Kingdom,
Kevin Prather

Invitation

2009-03-11T23:59:00.002-05:00

This Monday, March 16, I will be speaking at the San Antonio Baptist Association after lunch. I will be talking about attractional and missional ministry approaches and sharing what God is doing on our campus and in the lives of our students. I believe the time will be encouraging and helpful to pastors, youth ministers, to church members-to anyone who is concerned about what it will take to reach our city with the Gospel.

I hope you will come! I will also be sharing a bit about our mission trip to Los Angeles and how the lessons we learned there last year translated into more effective and meaningful ministry here in San Antonio.

If you are interested in coming-please call the SABA office at 210.525.9954 to make your reservation.

I believe you will be blessed!

For the King and His Kingdom,
Kevin Prather

BSM Mission Trip to Los Angeles: Investing for the Long Term

2009-03-08T15:27:00.002-05:00

We are returning to Los Angeles this May for our mission trip. I am excited for our students. The journey to return to Los Angeles is a testimony in and of itself to our student's responsiveness to the Spirit.

Every year we are to take a mission trip. The trips have a remarkable way of not only forging community, but also expanding the vision of the Kingdom and sevice and what God is doing outside of San Antonio. As we started thinking and praying about mission trip 2009 late summer and early fall, there was this discussion going on about where we should go this year, with a subtle presupposition that wherever it would be, it would be some place new-some place with new experiences, new things to see and do...and to be frank, there were many possibilities that emerged that were exciting and would be new experiences-but one thing was lacking: Peace.

I read something from a leadership journal that simply said this: "Short-term mission trips= spiritual tourism?" The article spoke of the importance of having places believers invest long term-investing in your Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and ends of the earth. It spoke of the importance of building something in one area as opposed to flitting around each year to see new things. In other words, "don't prostitute missions by making mission trips nothing more than excuses to do spiritual tourism."

Bingo. This was why I had a lack of peace. I shared with the students (who were by the way excited with visions of New York City, Chicago, Seattle, and even Argentina). I called them to pray. We started talking. To their credit, to a person they began to see the importance of investing long term in one place-which for us is Los Angeles, and building something there that will last. Long-term investment.

So we are returning-and the work is nothing short of intense. Los Angeles has 90,000 homeless people, and that population is growing The city's unemployment rate just hit 10 percent. We will be connected to Mosaic Church for worship and for training, but will be working with Union Rescue Mission, the Dream Center, Adopt A Block, MetroKidz, Hope Gardens, School on Wheels (I encourage you to check out these places on YouTube). Our students will also be doing street evangelism on Hollywood Blvd as well as having conversations with Scientologists and Buddhists while in Los Angeles.

Last year, we had a remarkable time in Los Angeles. Lessons learned there, the experiences we had, translated into meaningful ministry on our campus this year. On this trip, the work is nearly doubled-our students are going to be stretched significantly (and I will as well), and we would truly appreciate your prayers.

At this time it appears we are taking around twenty students. We all need your prayers. When we touch ground in Los Angeles, the training starts and the work begins. It will be an intensive time of ministry (May 19-26), with little rest each day. Our mornings are early and our nights are late.

Something interesting has happened through this process as well: As we discuss this trip as an organization, God has been specifically calling students out to go-and the prevailing attitude is already one of soberness and humilty-that God has something significant for us and that we must be preparing ourselves now, not waiting for the mandatory 5 weeks of training to start preparing. It is difficult to describe other than it is tangible. God's Hand is on this group. We do not know what we will experience, what Los Angeles is going to be like in May of this year-but we do have a strong sense that we are in for a time of intensive spiritual warfare and testing.

We covet your prayers. I ask you to please pray for our students.

Last year, many churches and individuals joined us in praying as well as in the sending process. Churches and individuals helped support our students as they raised financial support to go on the trip.

We are aware of economic realities-and we are trusting Him to provide as only He can. If you feel so led to support this mission trip, we are grateful and thankful. Know this: Your investment in these students will reverberate to Los Angeles and back to San Antonio, and through eternity. Our students are sharing their stories with their churches, family and friends. Pray for them.

If you feel led to send financial support for this trip, you may send all gifts to: San Antonio Baptist Association; 5807 I H 10 W; San Antonio, TX 78201. Designate the gifts for BSM LA Mission Trip.

We appreciate your prayers and partnership in the Gospel.

Internationals, Atheists, Non-Christian Organizations

2009-03-08T15:15:00.002-05:00

It is always a blessing when a community of faith feels compelled, even responsible for reaching out to the lost, developing relationships with them-when obedience to the Great Commission is more important than any sense of personal comfort.

It is a huge blessing when a community of faith takes 1 Peter 3:15, 16 quite seriously, always being ready to give reason for the hope that is within, but to do so with all gentleness and respect. Love and graciousness are the framework for apologetics.

When a community "gets" this-the issue is not "winning arguments" with lost people, but rather, through an authentic, loving relationship, sharing Christ and making Him known, being prepared to answer questions as to "why do you believe in Him?" God has brought us to this place-and I am excited and blessed!

There will be parties monthly over the next three months for international students. These gatherings serve two purposes: First, to develop relationships with the many international students on campus and through those relationships to demonstrate the love of Christ. Second, through those relationships, to share the Gospel. We have relationships with students from Eastern Europe, China, Japan, Morocco...from places where the Gospel is "not" either due to government persecution of Christians or a completely different worldview/faith system.

Our students have also initiated a "bowling night" with students in the Atheist Agenda, something that is a miracle in and of itself (the Agenda's openness to doing something with a Christian organization). The purpose of this night is to simply build relationships that will provide opportunity for honorable conversations about the Gospel. We are the only Christian organization on campus that the Atheist Agenda considers "cool." We found that they have had a rough history with other organizations on campus that have further driven many of their members away from Christians. They (the Agenda) have been somewhat intrigued and caught off guard by the love they have encountered in our students. We need your prayers. This is both a significant opportunity as well as a significant responsibility. We have favor with them, and that is solely His doing. Please pray for our students as they continue to dialogue with perhaps the most militant group on campus.

Our students have also planned a social gathering in which we are specifically inviting non-Christian organizations to participate. The response thus far is exciting. Again, the purpose is to develop relationships for the sake of the Gospel. I am proud of our students!

We are seeing our community reach out to other communities not connected to Christ. We are seeing our students individually and in small groups reach out to the lost as well-this takes place daily.

Please pray that God would be glorified in all of these things-and please pray for the spiritual protection of our students. Their faith and willingness to go to the edge encourages and challenges me.

These "Kids" Are A Blessing-MIssion as Lifestyle

2009-03-08T14:41:00.002-05:00

There are over 29,300 students on campus at the University of Texas, San Antonio. That is the number of a city. Of those 29,300 students, approximately 500 or less are actively connected to a Christian student ministry organization.

In other words, Christian organizations on campus are about as effective as the church is to the city. That sounds harsh, but it is a reality.

Of course, there are variables: There are certainly students who follow Christ on campus who are not connected to a Christian organization, and not every student connected to a Christian organization is necessarily following Christ. Still...that number, that ratio haunts me.

Many students who come to our campus as freshmen have the same mindset many believers have when it commes to the church: "I need to find a place where I can connect, get fed, and be safe." We have many students come to our organizations from churches that fall into one of the following categories:

1) Students who are looking for a safe place to be with others who also desire safety. Every god imaginable is on our campus. Every worldview imaginable is on our campus. Some come simply to connect and to find commfort. Such students will often rotate from one Christian campus organization to another, nightly, to stay safe in a Christian 'bubble.' Like church members who fill their nights and activities solely with church members, such young people are so focused on staying safe with others they do not dare engage the lost person who sits next to them in class.

2) Students who are making decisions as to whether they are going to continue in some kind of Christian commmunity while at college or slowly drift away. Almost eighty six percent of students who 'grow up in the church' leave the church for good after graduating from High School. These students are torn between continuing in what they were taught as young adults and exploring alternative worldviews.

3) Students who are looking to invest. This is a small minority group-but we are blessed beyond measure when students arrive on campus with a heart for being on mission and the desire to connect with a community, to invest in that community, and to be a missionary to the campus.

4) Students who want to reproduce their youth group experience on campus. Well-intentioned but often lacking in the area of discipleship, these students just want to be around other believers, be good people, do some good things and have fun. The larger issue of the Kingdom of God and following Christ daily is still something that needs to be taught. With these students, we go over foundational issues again: How to have a quiet time, how to pray, learning the Scriptures, growing in relationship with God.

There are certainly other sub-categories. This is a broad view. And I want to boast in Christ-what He has done and is doing-and how our young people are responding to Him. I have great reason for hope on our campus!

I am proud of Baptist Student Ministries-our young people-at the University of Texas, San Antonio! God has been workin in our group in remarkable ways, teaching us what it means to be a community of faith on mission together. I see young people going to the edge of lostness to share their faith, to develop (intentionally!) relationships with the lost for the sake of the Gospel. Our young people understand that being on mission is not something we do once a year on 'mission trip,' but rather something we do daily. We are a community on mission.

Our students are developing relationships with Atheists, with the irreligious, with skeptics, with students from other faith backgrounds, all for the sake of the King and His Kingdom. They are praying for our campus and putting feet to their prayers. They have rejected the idea of Baptist Student Ministries being a safe Christian 'bubble' and have embraced the idea that we are a community of faith on mission together.

These young people bless me tremendously. I am encouraged by their faith, by their love for others, by their desire to journey together into the harvest fields. When we gather to worship or to study, it is to glorify God and to edify one another and to exhort one another on. We continue to see new students, continue to develop relationships with the lost-the process is slow at times, but our young people continue to pray and to persevere, to plant, to water, to invest.

So, as you read about our Baptist Student Ministry Mission Trip, please know this one very important thing: Our students are on mission daily on our campus, in our city. They have not compartmentalized 'missions' as something we do from time to time-rather missions is a part of who we are as a faith community on campus.

God is working in wonderful ways, and I praise Him! Please pray for our students as they continue to, in faith, reach out to the lost, the marginalized, the cynical, even the hostile. God is at work, and I see wonderful and amazing things ahead. God is forging a group of students who are hungry for Him, who have a passion for Him and His Kingdom, who are collectively saying, "Here I am, send me!"

And for this, I am blessed. I pray you are as well.

From Community to Communitas: Being On Mission Together

2009-03-08T13:49:00.002-05:00

A common conundrum for the church is how to be outward focused and at the same time build stgong community within the church. Often the discussion goes something like this:

Person # 1: "We need to be more evangelistic."

Person # 2: "We need to take better care of our own members. We need better fellowship"

Person #3: "How can we do both well at the same time?"

This conversation, or a variation of this conversation takes place in churches across the U.S. If a church begins to grow, long time members may feel threatened in a sense. Their community is changing. Their sense of what it means to be in community is being challenged. People do need to feel that they have strong connection points in the church, a sense of community. A church can be so focused on reaching new people that existing members are lost in the shuffle.

On the other hand, when a church focuses so much on the 'sweet fellowship' of the members, the congregation becomes ingrown-so focused inwardly that any sense of being on mission is lost amidst potlucks, socials, committee meetings and church functions. Evangelism is something that is done by pastor and staff, and any new additions that take place in the church seem more accidental than the natural result of being intentional in reaching the lost. If there is 'growth'-it is more likely to be transfer growth.

Is being "missional" contrary to building stronger community within the church?

Absolutely not. In fact, a right understanding of community involves the people of God being on mission together. Community is strengthened by being tested, by the community journeying together for one common purpose, by being tested.

Alan Hirsch describes "communitas" as (my paraphrase) the strengthening and deepening of a community that in faith journeys into the liminal zones (the outer edges). In other words, when a community is on mission together, something much stronger is forged than mere 'sweet fellowship.' For community to truly grow in depth, the community must be forged in the fires of faith, testing, being on mission together.

And perhaps this is where the breakdown occurs for many churches: Spectatorship is either encouraged or enabled. Fellowship is defined as simmply getting together and enjoying each other. Mission is something that is defined in terms of a trip, service is something scheduled on the church calendar from time to time. Prayer is something we meet to do once a week, and largely the prayer time is focused on membership. I could go on. You get the idea.

God calls us to something far greater than insulating ourselves from the outside world. He calls us to engage lostness. As salt and light, we are His plans for preserving and flavoring and illuminating the world. For the salt to be effective, it must get out of the salt shaker. For the light to be meaningful, it must shine outside the walls of the church facility.

For communitas to be formed, the gathering of God's people must be on mission together. It is in that 'being on mission together' that stronger, more authentic relationships are formed, community is enhanced, bonds grow stronger as God's people live, love, serve, share...together, on mission.

What will this look like in your church? Every church has a different 'personality' and each church has it's own strengths and weaknesses. A good starting place is for the community to prayerfully go through the Scriptures to understand what it means to be on mission together. None of us are exempt. We are not called to merely surivive, but to follow Jesus wherever He leads-and He is always leading us into the fields, where the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.

As God's people are re-awakened to the plight of the lost, to the heartbeat of God, to the Awesomeness of God, to the Great Commandments and the Great Commission, to our absolute need for Him in all things and for all things (giving up the illusion of independence and self-reliance)...we can do nothing but fall on our faces in prayer and realize that God has called us to far, far more than being 'safe' and 'comfortable.'

The church in America has not flatlined. We are in dramatic decline. Years of formulas for 'church growth' has created a church culture of spectatorship and consumerism. Years of in-fighting over 'worship wars' and 'who is in control?' has left many churches 'dead in the water'-stagnant, drifting, their sails no longer set to the Holy Spirit. In many ways, the church in general has been asleep.

And while we were sleeping, the culture changed. Our world changed. The church is awakening to find itself marginalized, on the fringes of life, seen as irrelevant by most Americans. They drive by our churches and never think twice about who we are or why we gather. Inside our facilities we wonder why all of those outsiders are not coming inside. Didn't we put 'everyone welcome' on our church sign?

While we were arguing over worship styles, while we were politicking over control issues, while we were filling our calendars with activities, the world around us changed-and the world around us is turning to anything and everything but the church for answers.

We sure need an Awakening. We cannot program one. We cannot control God. We cannot create new 'techniques' to make ourselves more interesting to the lost.

But we can do some very important things: We can humble ourselves before God and confess our apathy to the lost. We can repent of our sense of self-reliance. We can cry out to God to 'renew His works in our days.' We can re-examine our understanding of community and mission in light of the Scriptures, and in doing so, re-examin what it means to be God's people on mission together.

We walk among the living dead daily. We converse with people daily who are headed towards a Christless eternity. We are surrounded by the stench of spiritual death...and we must stop focusing on our own felt needs. Jesus calls us to far, far more.

He calls our community of faith to communitas, and as we follow Him, we will experience far greater things than we can possibly imagine. This is the adventure. This is where obedience intersects with faith and humility. This is where love grows-love for the family of God, love for the lost. It's not a 'safe' place, or a 'predictable' or 'comfortable' place, but it is a great place to be. It is the place where the Spirit of God does His most amazing work in and through us. It is the place where we are absolutely dependent on Him for all things-together.

May you and your community of faith hear His call, and together, experience the bonds of communitas as you go to the very edge on mission together.

How May We Serve You?

2009-02-17T22:24:00.002-06:00

BSM is committed to reach not only our campus, but to be a blessing to area churches. We are here to serve-and if we can bless you or your congregation, please contact me at 210.823.4166.

Areas of giftedness: Disciple Now's; Youth Rallies; Back Yard Bible Clubs.

I also am available to consult with your college and or youth departments. I am available to speak to your college students, youth, or preach in your church. My passion: Calling the people of God to flesh out the Two Greatest Commandments-and to move towards being missional congregations. I also train groups to think missionally, and how to develop strategies for reaching the lost.

We are here for you. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to be of service to you or your congregation. You matter to us! More importantly-you matter to Him!!

Grace and Peace,
Kevin

BSM Mission Trip-Returning To Los Angeles

2009-02-17T22:01:00.002-06:00

In May, BSM will be returning to Los Angeles to continue the work we started there last year. The connecting church is Mosaic Church (Erwin McManus, pastor), and we will be serving in some very challenging places and contexts.

It was interesting to go through this process of discerning where God wanted us to go. At the beginning of last year, I had a very clear sense: Go to LA. Interact with Mosaic, learn from them, serve in that city.

This year, I fell into the trap of thinking we had to go to some "new" place-concerned the students would want a 'new' experience. I prayed and sent out so many 'feelers' to see where we were supposed to go...but never had a peace-even though there were several possibilities-and new experiences.

One day I was reading an article. The title was "Short-term missions=spiritual tourism?" The title grabbed me. The article talked about how churches and student ministries tend to go from one place to another each year to keep students 'interested' (or entertained)-as opposed to committing to one place over the long haul. In other words, missions being prostituted by the longing for new experiences.

We prayed about that as a group-and talked about it. It soon became clear, our "Samaria" is Los Angeles. We contacted Mosaic, and they welcomed us back-and we are returning this year again. Some of the students at first wrestled with the idea-because lets be honest-we all want to see the world...but I am so proud of their maturity-they prayed and talked and it became clear to them as well that we should invest in one place outside of San Antonio as opposed to using missions as a disguise for tourism.

Now there is peace.

We will spend one day taking a spiritual tour of Los Angeles-learning about the spiritualities that are influential in Los Angeles. We will re-visit the Scientology Celebrity Centre (seriously-Scientology is very influential in Hollywood and in Los Angeles), as well as visiting the largest Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles.

We will be working with Union Rescue Mission and the Dream Center-two agencies that serve Skid Row-and the 90,000 homeless in Los Angeles. One thing that gripped us last year was this "city within a city" of thousands upon thousands of homeless.

We will be serving with Adopt a Block-working in some of the rougher areas of Los Angeles-to serve families and children in need-to demonstrate and declare the Gospel.

We will be working with MetroKidz-another inner city ministry that focuses on bringing hope to inner city youth by sharing Christ and His love.

We'll also be working with School on Wheels, an organization that provides tutoring and education to homeless children and teenagers.

We'll also be working with Hope Gardens, a transitional community for women and their children. These women were homeless, have gone through job training and spend 9-18 months in this special place as they are getting on their feet. We will be ministering to the women as well as to their children.

We may also be working with Hollywood street kids (homeless young people who have turned to prostitution and are in bondage to many other things).

God has put together quite a trip-a hard trip-but a wonderful time to serve, grow, be stretched and to continue investing in that area.

Finally-we'll be helping Mosaic (doing the grunt work of clean up, set up and tear down) for at least 3 services: William Carey, the Mayan, and either Beverly Hills or South Beach).

Please pray for the following:

1) Pray for those God will call out to go. The trip last year stretched and grew us immensely and helped shape our culture and view of missions, service and evangelism on campus. Pray that our students will be open and receptive to His call.

2) Pray that our schedule will flow well. We will be working long hours every day-and it is important that we schedule wisely. There will not be much in the way of 'down time'-so also pray for grace and strength.

3) Pray for those we will be ministering to and with. Pray that God would use us to bless and glorify His Name. The ministry contexts are very tough. It's hard ground. But God is working there. Mosaic is also a wonderful community of believers. I've never seen a church so effectively model loving the 'outsider' as we experienced last year. We learned a lot about loving the lost and reaching out to the lost through our time with Mosaic. We are trusting that our continued relationship with them will be used by God to contnue shaping us into a missional community-a community of people who go to the edge of lostness. For more on this-see entries below!

4) Pray for provision. Last year God provided wonderfully for our students. The actual cost per student was initially just under $1,000.00. God provided through churches and individuals and as our students raised their support...the actual cost was just at $350.00 per student-a remarkable blessing since that included air fare, car rentals, housing and meals for a week. Please pray that He would superabundantly provide for us. Economic times are tough-but God is bigger. We are trusting Him for all we need. Please join us in praying for provision.

God has something special for us on this trip. We ask for your prayers-and will keep you posted as we continue to prepare. We are hoping to take around 25 students, which would be 10 more than last year. We know that as students have this shared experience of serving together, sweating, working, crying, praying, laughing and worshiping together in this 'strange land,' they will come back to San Antonio better equipped to be missionaries on campus-and their vision of the Kingdom will be profoundly expanded.

Praying for Internationals

2009-02-17T21:54:00.003-06:00

God has blessed us by allowing us to develop relationsihps with five amazing young people. Joseph is from Morocco. "Ricky" is from China. Ken and Shiori are from Japan. Margaret is from Khazikstan.

There is a large international community at UTSA, and sadly, few know Jesus. Sadder still, Christian organizations as a whole have not done well in reaching out to internationals.

Jesus' heart is for the nations, for "panta ta ethne" (all the people groups)-and we realize that the students He has brought here, to UTSA, matter-and who better to be missionaries to their own people than these young people once they come to Christ?

We are gathering (Our BSM Staff) Friday with these five international students to plan an international party-a bridge event to develop relationships with internationals for the sake of the Gospel. The international students are planning most of it. We had a meeting last week and heard their hearts-and they are very excited and very open to doing something for their international friends!

Our own students (BSM) are willing to be conversation partners with internationals (a great need for students learning a new language)-to serve them in this way. Our students want to serve and bless international students and are trusting that God is going to use those relationships and provide opportunities to share the Gospel.

Please pray for our international students and for our BSM students-and staff, as we seek to share Christ with young people who have little to no access in their country of origin to the Gospel.

Bowling With Atheists and Fugitive Nights-Students Being Intentional

2009-02-17T21:31:00.004-06:00

You can learn a lot about loving the lost by spending time with Jesus in the Gospels. Of course, all "Good Christians" know this. But often our "knowing" does not translate into our "doing." We are prone to stay isolated in our Christian communities. It's a sad truth-but a lot of us spend too much time with our "brothers and sisters" to the point we have no relationships (at least no meaningful relationships) with the lost.

And if we do-we usually tend to have relationships with people who are at least OPEN to the idea of Christianity, people who have commonalities with us.

This happens all the time in churches.

It also happens on campuses with Christian organizations. When I first came to UTSA I thought that students would be much more missional and intentional and open to being on the "edge of lostness"-after all, they are all about relationships...but I found out something that shouldn't have surprised me: Our kids are reflections of us.

The "Good Church Kids" quite often prefer to circulate in Christian circles Monday-Friday (some of these kids spend all their time with as many Christian organizations as possible during the week) and the end result is they "stay safe" but miss out on the adventure of following Christ and being obedient to the Great Commission and the Second Greatest Commandment! Sound familiar? It should-the story is played out in thousands of churches across America. We like to 'be safe.' Jesus never called us to that.

Which leads me to something amazing our BSM students are doing. You must know-they are doing this because they have been in prayer and are following the Spirit's prompting. We have been talking a LOT about being missional and not attractional as a ministry. Too many organizations (like too many churches) put on a lot of shows to "attract" while never living attractive lives that intersect with the lost. We reject that idea. The students have committed to a lifestyle that is intentional in being missional-in developing relationships with the lost. What follows blesses me to no end:

Several of our students, male and female, last semester, expressed a burden to reach out to the Atheist Agenda, a campus organization at UTSA that is quite militant. This semester, two of our students have actually attended their meetings (not to "de-convert), but to develop relationships. The story gets better:

We have been praying for the students in Atheist Agenda. We have a corporate sense of calling to go to groups and to people that others avoid. Through this meeting-relationships have been developed with some of the students in the Atheist Agenda. Something quite humbling (and sad in many ways) came out of the conversations. A few of the students from the Atheist Agenda said "BSM...we are cool with you...you guys are all right."

The stories that flowed from the conversation revealed that the Atheists have been burned, tricked (that is their perception) by other Christian organizations who were more concerned with pounding them over the head or winning an argument than they were concerned about them as people.

Stories were told by some of the Atheists about WHY they became hostile towards Christianity-and the common thread-how Christians treated them. Some come from church backgrounds. Some were seeking and exploring and had bad experiences. Some felt like 'projects.'

They knew us (BSM) only because we serve free lunch and our students have shown them authentic love. They are wary of other organizations.

From this comes a night we are scheduling with them to go bowling. Now bowling is not the end of the story-we are praying and working towards building trust and God-honoring relationships that He will use to build bridges to the Gospel. We are willing to love, to be patient, to invest-and I am SO proud of our students.

Please pray for them, for me, for the Atheist Agenda-pray for God to use these relationships and this scheduled time to bring students to Himself.

Our students also are putting on another event-it's an elaborate game called "Fugitive"-and personally, I can't wait to play. Long story-but we'll need a lot of space and every college student who hears about it thinks it's just about the coolest idea ever.

Our students have determined to not invite other Christian organizations-but to specifically invite non-Christian organizations, to play. Again-a bridge activity that will allow us to develop relationships with students who might not normally connect with a ministry.

Now some might think:"Wait-are you not being cooperative with other organizations?" We are-but we are refusing to perpetuate the Christian bubble experience.

If you put together all the students connected on a fairly significant level to Christian organizations at UTSA, you would find around 450 students...out of 29,300 on campus.

There is much work to be done and we cannot continue to circulate the same kids in the same Christian bubble-there is a campus that is lost and needs Christ. I am proud of our BSM students for their willingness to go to the edge.

Pray for them. We are asking God for a campus. We can't do it-but all things are possible for Him.

Oh-and feel free to tell this story to your church. What would happen if we all came together to worship and to encourage each other-to be refreshed, and then went out into the harvest fields with great intentionality? What if we spent more time with lost people?

What if...?

An Encouraging Word For Those in Ministry

2009-02-17T21:27:00.002-06:00

I ran across this story in Leadership Weekly. John Ortberg has something encouraging to say about "evaluations" in ministry. Having served in the local church for over 21years and in ministry for 23 years, I appreciated Ortberg's words. I think they will be an encouragement to many of you.

Enjoy:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/currenttrendscolumns/leadershipweekly/howamidoing.html

It's a two page article-so make sure you go to the next page to finish the story!

Blessings,
Kevin

Praying for a New Semester

2009-01-08T01:32:00.003-06:00

I am leaving with our student leaders tomorrow for our prayer and planning retreat. School resumes January 12! Please pray for us. We will be praying and planning for 3 days.

We anticipate God doing wonderful things this semester. We are looking forward to reaching new students for Christ, to being a great influence on our campus. Our students truly have a heart to see Christ glorified on our campus-and beyond.

We will be preparing for our mission trip as well, which will take place in May. Please pray for us as we prepare our hearts for the things God has in store for us.

Discipleship and Slipping Through the Cracks

2009-01-08T01:20:00.002-06:00

I wrote in an earlier entry about a young man connected to Baptist Student Ministries (loosely) who contacted me over the holidays to request a meeting. I asked for prayer for him. I wanted to give you an overview of what took place, thank you for the prayers, and relate something I pray will challenge all of us in positions of spiritual leadership to take seriously-the matter of discipleship.

The meeting was wonderful. He was authentic. Real. Very confused. He wanted to grow in his faith but really did not know what to do or where to start. More on this later.

He also had girlfriend issues. She is a former atheist who is now an agnostic. She had a lot of painful and traumatic experiences in her childhood and teen years and during that time she repeatedly asked God to help her, to change things-and things did not turn out well. She came to the conclusion that God either didn't exist or was unwilling or unable to help her. She carries deep scars. She is apparently open to the possibility of rethinking things, and he is going to not only start coming to our luncheons and study/worship times, but try to bring her as well. Please pray for her. Her name is Sarah.

Back to my friend: His story broke my heart as well. He came to faith in Christ in High School at a youth rally. He was given a Bible. The story of his discipleship basically ends there. All he knows is what he has tried to understand in the Scriptures for himself. No one ever spoke to him about what happens after trusting Christ. No one spoke to him about discipleship. No one asked him to connect with a community of faith.

We spoke about the nature of salvation, about justification, about sanctification, about time alone with God daily in prayer and in the Word, of the importance of connecting to a local body of believers, of being a part of a community of faith. He's reading through the Gospel of John now. We're going to spend more time together when the semester starts, one on one. He is going to look for a church home.

He slipped through the cracks. Some well meaning person invited him to a rally. He understood his need for salvation. But no one walked with him after this defining moment.

His parents are nominal Hindus. Please pray for him. Pray for me. Pray for our students as we seek to journey with him.

Praise Report

2009-01-08T01:15:00.003-06:00

My family and I truly appreciate your prayers and words of encouragement as we prepared to take our daughter, Hannah, to MD Anderson for her annual check up. There were some slight spinal issues the doctor here in San Antonio noticed that could have been related to her Neurofibromatosis. Had that been the case, there would have been multiple possible complications and causes for concern. We were obviously concerned as we headed to Houston to see what the tests would reveal.

The trip to MD Anderson was incredible! Her spinal issue is just a slight rotation in the lower back and has nothing to do with her Neurofibromatosis! Praise God! In addition, the doctors at MD Anderson (who are on the cutting edge of NF research) had new findings through research this past year which gives us new tools and insight into her disease. It was a huge relief to drive home after three days and know that we don't have to go back to MD Anderson until her next check up later this year. She is doing well.

Thank you again for your prayers. We are blessed!

Tap Knocks

2008-12-20T23:05:00.003-06:00

There are always students connected to a campus ministry that are connected to the ministry in a marginal way. Some students come only to free lunch. Some come to free lunch and Thursday worship. Some come to both and are involved in small groups. Some do all of these things and also serve and reach out to their friends.

Some come to lunch once every now and then-and that is their level of connectivity to BSM. They have reasons: Some really do have very hectic schedules, taking a full load and holding down a job to make it through school. Some really are serious students who are spinning a lot of plates trying to stay in school. Some are spiritually curious, but not ready to commit to anything. Some intend to, but get distracted...others are torn between two worlds. If you are in ministry-you know what I mean. Everyone's story is unique. Every person is important.

How we respond to the "fringe" people (I hate that term-it devalues the individua...but for lack of a better term...) is so important. Sometimes we send a message (in our best Leonidas, Spartan King Voice): "Commit or go home! Invest! Buck Up! Be Strong! Youre either In or Out! This...is...BSM!" (or fill in the blank of your ministry). Or, we play the passive aggressive game-withholding love and concern until the person "puts us...errr, "God," first. We give the cold shoulder. Or, we take the cavalier approach: We're growing, out of sight, out of mind.

But with each of these people, there are hurts and pains and real issues. These lives matter.

One of the more interesting things God has done in my life the past year and a half has been to reshape my thoughts on ministry. Twenty two years as a youth minister, church planter and pastor-I had twenty two years worth of perspective from one side of the pulpit. Now that I am on the other side, I've learned there are things I would do differently, things I am doing differently now when it comes to ministry.

One thing: Never give up. Reach out. Continue to reach out. Pursue. God is the One who pursues, who loves. We should be the same. One thing I've tried to do (and still have a way to go), is to send emails make phone calls to kids I don't see often. Just reminders that I am aware of them and that they matter. Some kids-well, there may be twenty or so that I've been dropping lines to for over a year. Every now and then I am surprised by a "thank you," or a call, or an email asking a question. I'm glad God doesn't give up on us. I don't think we should be giving up on others. We must pursue in love.

Sometimes we do a bad job of that. We talk a lot about grace, but we who have received so much of it are often, tragically, the ones least likely to show it. We have our reasons: Accountability, commitment, and many other terms-but a lot of times it's a failure to love that allows people to slip through cracks. We don't pursue-we don't try to meet people at their point of need. We're pretty good at "Peace, be well," and then going about our business while others struggle.

What does this have to do with BSM? With a young man named Tap? A lot.

Tap is one of those sporadic lunch attendees. He's a great kid. Sometimes he seems as if his soul is heavy or old. Tender hearted kid. He's lost two friends in the past year. One, a friend in Washington D.C., walking home at the wrong time. Drive by shooting intended to take out a rival gang member...his friend was just walking home. This year, another friend, hit by a drunk driver. Dead.

Tap carries these things around with him. He's also torn between two worlds. He knows Christ, just struggling right now. He gets my "how are you doing, missed you today" emails. He replies sometimes. When he sees me on campus, he gives me a hug. Good kid. But there's always the sense that while he might want to connect with God and with BSM on a deeper and more meaningful level, something is holding him back. He has told me before, "I feel guilty when I miss lunch...hard to come back the next week...feel like I let you down..." For Tap, I think this mindset is a part of the problem. Somewhere along the way in life, he must have been told by someone that Christians love on some kind of conditional basis or something. I have to reaffirm to him that he's always loved. Anything I can do for him-I will do. I think he wants to believe it. Maybe he's been burned before. I don't know.

I do know he called today. He has things going on in life and wants to talk. It would be easy to say, "Tap...My vacation time starts Monday. It's Saturday. Tomorrow is Sunday-family time...let's do this Jan 12 or so when school resumes." But I can't do that. God doesn't operate off my calendar.

Pray for Tap. Pray for me, please. We are supposed to meet either Sunday afternoon or Monday afternoon. The tone in his voice tells me it's serious and important to him-and thankfully, he's going to be O.K. between now and then-whatever he's dealing with.

The point? Love. Love fiercely. Pursue. Don't give up. When your "Tap" knocks on your door-be there. These are the moments we look back on as a "God Thing." Don't miss the blessing.

Great Semester Ends

2008-12-20T23:00:00.003-06:00

We had a fantastic first semester at UTSA. God blessed BSM in so many ways: He brought many new students into our lives. We saw tremendous spiritual and numeric growth. We saw a great change in culture. We see our students being very intentional in terms of being a missional people, and the reason for that, we saw a great growth in their love for God and their neighbor.

We are blessed. Please pray for us as we prepare for a new semester. God has given us a foundation to truly make a significant impact on that campus, that mission field of 29,000 students. Pray that we will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and follow Him wherever He leads.

We are eager for the new semester, eager to serve and minister to the campus, to share Christ, to minister in the city, to our churches and to our world.

God has opened many doors-doors to minister to internationals, doors to reach more students than I could have ever imagined last year. Our students are ready.

We anticipate at least 10 small discipleship groups next semester-lead by our student leaders.

We anticipate impacting the campus and being available to assist local churches in any way we can.

We are excited!

Thank you for your prayers. We need them and appreciate them!

Christmas Disconnect: Alcohol Gospel Prophet

2008-12-20T22:54:00.000-06:00

If this reads like it’s disjointed-that is intentional. I am trying to capture a disjointed experience with words and images and thoughts.

Foggy, misty night when everything feels like it’s coated with sadness. We’re laughing though because in this moment in time all is good. The company is enjoyable. There are families and the illusion of security. These are the times we disappear into and the world around us melts away. There is only the present and it is filled with laughter.

Twenty foot tall Christmas tree, filled with lights and ornaments trying to shine brightly in the murky, soupy darkness, but it’s just a dim beacon offering false hope to the hopeless that wander the streets. The night is filled with so many shadows. Christmas trees don’t save.They give a lot of people warm feelings, and taunt the rest. Consumer god. Idol to materialism. Promising instant, temporary happiness. Forgotten within two weeks, resurrected from storage in ten months to once again call us to worship.

Christmas tree worship is broken by the appearance of broken man.

Desperate homeless man on his knees telling us he’s going to die. Cancer covering his brain, exhaling whiskey as he tells us God is Real, that he is sent to tell us...God…Is…Real. Tears flow down his cheeks. On his feet then back on his knees, head bowed down like a peasant before kings… Speaking Alcohol Gospel.

Prophetic figure or con man? I see his condition and know that even if he’s not telling the absolute truth his interruption of our insulated Christmas gathering reminds us of both our excess and finiteness. He says we’re all going to die. He says we need to KNOW that God is real. We Need to know…Need to know that God is the Judge. Disconnected thoughts and words flow in between crystallized statements of truth. And this inconvenient reminder stops the laughter and for a moment…the young face the old, the healthy the broken. The comfortable and satisfied collide with the desperate and resigned.

The cross and empty grave. Hard to get in any words. He’s out of his mind. Repeating the same things over and over. Talking but not listening. Silent group, the fog and mist chew up almost every word spoken but his. Ours dissipate into the night. He’s not listening. Quietly prayers are offered up for him, for us in the shadows.

“Papa, don’t say a word, I’ve done what I’m supposed to do” he says over and over. He asks us to pray for him. His mind moving so fast he jumps from one topic to another like a small spider flicking about. Tides of longing crash over him, years of bad choices and disappointment, of being forgotten, of living on the margins…he’s had enough. Back on his knees again, crying ‘God is Real.’ This is his arsenal. His armor. We pray for him and he stands up again to tell us his message.

“Papa, all I need is money for my family.” We ask where his family is. He has no family. Ten minutes later he has family. They’re ‘over there.’ No one is over there.

He needs to go to Austin. Needs bus money. We only have a fraction of what he asks. “Don’t give me nothing Papa…no…not that way. I don’t need nothing. I’m going to die. I know that. “

A catalogue of unrelated images and words. Trying to understand it all. Racing thoughts, racing thoughts, he’s moving so fast I can’t hold his image. “I’m going to the Santa Christa Hospital for surgery soon. I won’t live for long. Maybe 6 months. Need money for my family.” The family only he can see.

Ghosts of family perhaps long gone? Of family he wishes he had? We don't know. He needs money though. Money for more whiskey? No one knows. He doesn’t know. Questions are asked. Cross and Hope offered, but he’s not listening. Discomfort level rising.

He continues: God is Real. That’s why he came-because God told him to tell this young group He is Real. That’s what he said.

Inhibition is distant. "I’m black. 56 years old. I don’t come to white people to ask for help..I come with a message. Did what I was supposed to do.” But he asks for help and I know that there is no way outside a miracle that we can truly connect and find out what is going on with him, truly know. His world is in his head and we don’t know the terrain. We can't find the door. Only One does. Only One can. We ask Him for help.

Something is given. “Don’t spend it on alcohol, please. Let’s get some food instead. “Papa, no…not like that…I’ve done what I’m supposed to do, said what I’m supposed to say. Just let me go now. Just let me go now." Disconnect. Like a snake eating its own tail. Help but don’t. Yes but no. He disappears into the fog and mist and God knows where he is now.

Gated communities. The satisfied ones. The world belongs to them. The rich, the happy, safely insulated from this man on the street. Perfect hairstyles, new clothes, new phones….loaded cars and shiny silver from mom and dad. Good kids. Very Good Kids. But something inside some screams: “Hurry back to that fun place. Let's run away from this...into the streets where the businesses are still open and let's just get lost in it all, away from these petty concerns that don't belong to us."

I realize I’m no different. I can be all of those hateful little things and I’m mad at myself for realizing that. I can want that safety and security-that escapism. I can embrace it because it's so easy to do. Feels so safe. But there is no safe approach to living. We each know we have that appointment with God. We just don’t want to think about it at Christmas. Ironic.

He came to die. Baby Jesus is loved. He makes us feel good. Bloodied, beaten, crucified Christ makes us squirm. False distinctions, as if there were two Jesus’. The shadow of the cross hangs over the manger but no one’s looking. The Christmas tree blocks the view. People shouting "Don't move the tree!"

This man makes us squirm because we hear and see some measure of Truth this night. Beginnings and endings. Life and death. God is Real. The clock is ticking. You were invincible but now you are more aware of your frailty. Now you are the old one. You’re going to get older. There’s no preventative directive or safe approach to living. He never promised us safety and calls us away from self-preservation. We each know we have a fate, an end. Don’t remind us now. Not with our full bellies and our Christmas wish lists. Don’t talk about these things.

But these things, these realities don’t change. You can change your hairstyle, your friends, change your clothes, change your cities your continents but sooner or later your own self and Ultimate Reality will always catch up. Sooner or later you have to face endings, if not yours, someone you love. Always present. Always waits in the wings. We just choose to ignore it until it’s thrust upon us.

And maybe sooner or later you meet the Alcohol Gospel Prophet, and he somehow forces you to remember The True Prophet, Priest and King who has absolute rights over every one of us. Sooner or later we face our Maker. Sooner or later we hear “Take up your cross and follow Me.” He doesn’t tell us where. He promises much—both life and meaning as well as trials and suffering. He just says follow, which is an invitation to come and die.

But it’s Christmas. Don’t talk about that. Tough economy—that’s the issue. Stuff We Have to Have—that’s the thing that haunts us, not the Mad Man sleeping on the street, his dignity long gone, giving up on life—no, not him. Give us Christmas ornaments, Bing Crosby, Chocolate and Gift Cards.

You see, there’s not much in the bank account. Lean Christmas. Tree with two boxes under it. Oh how we suffer under our roofs, with our full cupboards and central air and heat, with our clothes from Last Year. We’d like to tell the Whiskey Prophet about our ‘suffering''-he's not the only one suffering...but we’re not leaving this nice, safe place to track him down, to tell him about our “Lean Christmas.” Maybe we could put on our coats and get in our car and turn on the radio and heater and look for him downtown, find him, so we could say, “you are in my prayers, peace, be filled.” Yeah, let’s do that.

Times are changing. New realities. Economic Uncertainties. Shifting Focus. Coming to terms with Unknowable Tomorrow. “ Open up all the boxes, hurry kids, open ALL the boxes!” No….that’s not Christmas. We know this. Don't surpress it. Don't drown it out with Stuff.

Can’t get Alcohol Gospel Prophet out of my head and I’m glad he drifted into my life in that exact moment.

Christmas. Worship. God’s Gift to us. Don’t let Him get lost in all the anxieties and concerns, buried under all the wish lists and Christmas wrappings. And remember The Least of These. Including the Alcohol Gospel Prophet. He came to set him free as well.

Something About Me and Service Stations

2008-12-20T22:51:00.000-06:00

There is nothing more enjoyable for me than making a late grocery run to WalMart on a Saturday night. I am of course being sarcastic. One night after hanging out with "Sweet Lou" at the Shell Station, I had to run to WalMart at 10:00 for yogurt, cereal, spaghettie, sauce, hamburger meat...(no, this is not for some strange casserole)-you know, the" Things We Need and Ran Out of" run.

And, since WalMart (or Murphy USA) was selling gas at $1.53 a gallon, in my incredible wisdom I thought I should take advantage of that offer, especially since the needle was pushing "E." So, one more stop.

There was no line of Very Important People. I went right up to the woman in the glass booth, told her how much gas I wanted, and started writing my check when I hear this voice behind me talking.

"How's it going?"

I don't know this voice.

"Cold, just want to fill it up and get home."

I'm thinking it's blue tooth guy. I can see a tall person behind me, talking I think to himself.

The Lady in the Glass Box is asking me for I.D. Wants to know what pump I'm on. I'm asking her for a pen. I'm writing out my check.

"Man, I thought this was America..." the voice said. Blue Tooth Guy continues.

"I thought the 1960's was over..." he says. He's not angry. He has a rather mellow voice.

I turn around because I'm starting to have this weird feeling that maybe it's not Blue Tooth Guy-maybe it's just Talk to People You Don't Know Guy.

I smiled. Tall guy. Around my age. Dreads and a pony tail. No Blue Tooth.

Awkward. I feel Awkward.

"I'm sorry," I smiled, 'Were you talking to me?"

"Yeah," he smiled. "I'm talking to you, and I'm thinking,'man, the 60's are over. I thought Americans got along now..."

I'm feeling really awkward now. The Lady in the Box wants me to give her back her pen and of course the check that is still in my checkbook.

"I apologize, my man," I said. "I could only hear you and assumed you had a Blue Tooth on and were talking to someone on the phone..."

"No, I was talking to you," he said. He smiled. "Just being friendly. I say be friendly to folks. "

I turned and shook his hand. Part of me is wondering (if you see previous note) what it is about me and gas stations and People I Don't Know. Part of me is also wondering what God is trying to teach me. It's been two nights in a row now.

I give the Lady in the Box my check, she is writing down my D.L.. # on the check.

"Yeah," he said, "I'm thinking it's 1960's all over again. Two people can't talk because of the color of my skin...that's what I thought. And I thought, man...that's a shame...I guess I should have said 'scuze me man, or introduced myself or something....but ain't nobody here but you and me so I figured you were just ignoring me..."

Awkward again.

I remind him of the whole Blue Tooth thing. He said, "Oh, yeah, people walking around looking like they are talking to themselves...that phone thing...you thought I had one of those things?"

"Yes," I assured him.

"Naw, man...don't need to always be on the phone. Why do people always have to be on the phone? Everybody always talking to someone and never talking to people around them. Don't get that."

I could appreciate his philosophy.

"People talk, but they don't talk. I'm just talkin to you. Nice to meet you."

We never exchanged names. Just shook hands. He smiled. I smiled.

I admit, some part of me thought, "O.K., there is a 'catch' here. Maybe he's going to ask me for some money or maybe he needs a ride somewhere..."

No. Nothing like that. Just a "Nice to meet you, man" and him walking three lanes over to fill up his old SUV while I filled up my car.

He finished first. Started his car, began to drive off, slowed down and waved goodbye.

I waved back.

Nothing monumental about the story. Maybe that's the significance of the story. Be friendly.

Novel idea.

I'm learning a lot about life from my trips to stores at night. In the middle of all the busyness there are a million stories out there, and a lot of people just looking for an affirmation of their humanity and that they matter. That we matter.

Sweet Lou and Me

2008-12-20T22:38:00.002-06:00

He's about 6'3" and walks with a limp. Fifty five years old. He was ahead of me in line at the Shell station near my house around 11:50 p.m. on Friday night. He wore a Dallas Mavericks sweatshirt (it was 45 degrees outside) and smelled like a BBQ Pit. He was enjoying his conversation with "Ish," the young man behind the counter, oblivious to the line behind him, the line of Very Important People With Things To Do Who Wanted To Hurry Up and Buy Their Items And Go Home-you know, that line. I was a part of that line.

A kid behind me was wearing a Dallas Mavericks hat. The kid was probably 20. He speaks loudly to the older man: "Yo man...you a Mavs fan too?" The Line of Important People did not like this development, because we had Very Important Things to do and besides, it was late and cold outside. We wanted "Ish" to hurry up. The line was growing. Last minute beer runners were looking at their watches. One man said, "Come on man, Ish only got 10 minutes." He was referring to time running out to buy the twelve pack he had. "Yeah, I'm a Mavs fan. Not a lot of us around here," the gentle giant in front of me said to the kid.

Then Ish blew his cover. Ish said, "Don't know why you wear their stuff when you played for Phoenix." Suddenly I left the line of Very Important People (well, figuratively) because I was intrigued. Now I joined the conversation, asking him The All Too Important Question: "You played in the NBA?" I must admit, my interest in him prior to this possibility was shamefully low.

He stepped aside and Ish scanned my gatorades and peanut M&M's (the gatorade was necessary for the kids competitions the next day-the M&M's just a guilty treat) while the man started telling his story. The Line of Very Important People grew restless. I'm pretty sure most were looking at the clock or their watches. Midnight approacheth.

The man and I walked outside and he was eager to tell me his story. He explained he had been cooking out on the pit all day and would be until around 3:00 a.m. for an event he was catering the next day. Ribs, Brisket, Chicken, Pork...I suddenly had a desire for BBQ as he described it all. I wanted to get back to his story. Granted, there was a part of me that was skeptical-how many former NBA players do you bump in to in the middle of the night? I knew my B-ball history, so I asked a few questions and all my questions faded away as he talked about Mr. Colangelo (still the owner), and Coach McCloud (whom I remember as a kid), and playing with guys whose names I remembered from my younger days.

I asked if Connie Hawkins was playing with him at the time, and he said, "Naw, the Hawk was gone a few years before I got there." We stood outside for 45 minutes. I was not dressed for the cold, but my fascination with his story was greater than my desire to get into my heated car.

He told me about his brother, an older brother who was in Viet Nam with him. "Man, he was better than me in everything. He could do this thing...we'd take the net off the rim...and he'd jump up and with two hands lightly dunk the ball, catch it and then throw it down hard again...serious hang time....man he was something. Got shot up bad in Nam. Army let me out to take care of him. He could have been something..." his voice faded. I learned about his biological father-another incredible athlete, but also a violent man who left the family when he was a young boy. He told me about growing up with nothing but being happy "cuz back in the day, you didn't need all this stuff these kids got to make you happy." He talked about going back to college after the military let him go home, of playing in the Alaska Shootout, a big NCAA tournament to start the season, and averaging 41 points over 5 games. "That rim looked ten feet wide that tournament" he said.

He told me about his first game in the NBA-coming off the bench as a shooting guard against the Boston Celtics, "It was the year before Bird and Magic came into the league, but Boston had Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White...and I dropped 22 points in 18 minutes on them. I got this video tape at home...Brent Musberger saying, "Sweet Lou Hightower...remember this young man. He could be something special. Brent Musberger man!" He laughed...That's how I learned his name. "Sweet Lou."

Back in the day, everyone had their nicknames: "Downtown Freddy Brown," "Dr. J," "Chocolate Thunder," "Special K," "Black Jesus," and so on. He told me about the knee injury towards the end of his first season, an injury today (because of medical advancements) that might put him out of commission for maybe half a season and after rehab, he'd be as good as new. But then, well, the technology wasn't there. He had the surgery, but lost a step. Came back and played a half a season and was soon waived.

"Mr. Colangelo was a good man. He wanted to keep me. Coach McCloud said, "but he can't cover anyone any more. Mr. Colangelo said, 'but he can still shoot!' he laughed. "That was it for me. Ended up playing in Italy for four years. That's all they wanted me to do. Just shoot. Didn't play defense. But that was a tough time. Got some bad habits over there-all that money, so far from family. Lost my way."

He told me about Jesus Christ finding him. About life changing. About having it all and losing it-only to find something, or someone greater, and finding something more significant. We talked a long time, me and "Sweet Lou." Exchanged phone numbers. He said he'd love to meet me and my son at the gym. "It's all form, form and repetition..form and repetition...show him how to hit from anywhere...I can't shoot too far from outside 20 because of this surgery on my back...but I can still hit anything from 20 on in...still got that..."

I told him I enjoyed his story and his time. I said, "And Lou-man, one and a half years in the NBA-no one can take that from you." His response told me I hit a wound," Man...sometimes that still hurts. Just a step. Maybe a half step. But I couldn't get it back...I had a future there," his voice trailed. He gathered himself and said, "But God is good and this old man got more cookin to do."

We shook hands. He gave me a hug. I'm sure that looked odd to anyone watching. I walked back to my car, processing the conversation.Then something hit me: Would I have talked with this man for so long if he hadn't been in the NBA? I'd like to think I would. But honestly, at that time of night, I just wanted my gatorades and peanut M&M's. I was among the Very Important People who were in a rush.

Made me think. Sweet Lou just needed someone to talk to. I'm guessing there are a lot of Sweet Lou's out there. And as for me, maybe I don't need to always be in that line of Very Important People. Everything is too fast, and in the "fastness" of life-we miss out on a lot of potentially wonderful moments, and people, and opportunities...and handshakes and bear hugs and stories like Sweet Lou's.

Preparing for a New Semester

2008-11-24T20:17:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving is approaching, and after Thanksgiving, our students have one week before finals begin. We anticipate meaningful ministry between now and the end of this semester. At the same time, we are beginning to shift gears and prepare for the next semester. We will be taking our leaders on a leadership retreat January 8-10. In between that time, our staff will be meeting, praying and planning for another great semester.

Please join us in praying for the students at UTSA. God has given us great favor with many this semester. Next semester we are praying that our students will continue to grow in Christ and repdroduce themselves in the lives of many. Please join us in praying for our leaders and for our students as well as our staff and me.

Consulting Help Available

2008-11-24T20:07:00.002-06:00

I receive my fair share of emails and calls concerning starting a college ministry or youth ministry. I want you to know that I am available to assist you-this is something that we at BSM are here for to strengthen churches! If you are interested, please contact me at utsabsm@gmail.com or by phone: 210.823.4166. I would be honored to set a time to meet with you, your staff and or your church.

There are questions I would ask any church that expresses interest in starting a ministry to students. For your consideration:

* Is your church behind this endeavor? Does the church have a passion for students? Does the church have a broken heart for this generation?

* Does your church have people who are willing to invest their time, talents, energy and prayers into this ministry?

* Is the church willing to support this ministry financially? The church does not need to spend a lot of money on bells and whistles-but the church needs to commit some resources to the ministry. A church's budget reflects what is truly valued.

* Is the church willing to make some adjustments to reach students?

* Is the church willing to meet young people where they are?

Young people matter to Christ. It is not "news" that we are losing a generation that is ironically, interested in spiritual matters, but not the church. If you are interested in reaching this generation, my words to you are "God bless you! May your tribe increase!"

I would also say, "Be patient. Stay in prayer-and please let me know if we can assist you in any way."

Pancakes and Prayer

2008-11-24T01:02:00.002-06:00

Please pray for us as we reach out to many students this Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. As you might imagine-many students are "cutting" class that day to get home for their short Thanksgiving break. Many students, however, are "stuck" on campus-either due to work or because professors have scheduled tests for that day.

We are going to be out in a very public place to serve pancakes to students, faculty and staff who are still on campus the day before Thanksgiving. Our students are very excited about the service opportunity-and we anticipate this being a great way to bless students and develop new relationships.

Please pray that God uses this event to build bridges for the Gospel.

Praise Report and a Few Laughs...

2008-11-24T00:43:00.004-06:00

God has opened a remarkable door for us to minister to international students. We have been praying and waiting for some time now for that opportunity-and every time, it seemed as if doors were simply closed. This past week we sponsored a party for international students. We had no idea what to expect in terms of numbers.

Two showed up: Guki (from China), and Yosef (from Morocco). Some might say it was a failure-only two students-but it was a huge blessing and a great success! Both students were so amazed and excited that there was someone on campus who cared about international students. They both are in required English classes with hundreds of internationals. They let us know that they would tell "all of their friends" about BSM and they wanted to know when the next party would be so they could invite all their friends!

Both young men were delightful, full of energy and joy-and again, so appreciative at our small gesture. God has opened a door for us through them.

On a lighter side we enjoyed our conversations with them because they are also still in the learning process. Our language is not easy to master-but both are doing very well when it comes to speaking....still....

Both told us they were "very popular" with all of the international students. The word "popular" was used quite often. I believe they meant that they knew a lot of international students.

The next day, both showed up at our free lunch. After the first lunch, with a room packed full of students, Yosef asked me to introduce me to everyone. He said, "I want to know their names. I want to be popular." This brought a smile to my face. As I introduced him to as many students as possible, he proudly said, "I'm Yosef...it is nice to meet you. I like to be popular." I could only smile.

Perhaps my favorite moment came from a student named Carlos. Carlos is from somewhere in South America. I am still learning more about him. After my brief talk at lunch, Carlos pulled me over and said, "Thank you for these words. I will really take them for granted. I promise you that I will take them for granted." I tried (and God gave me grace to not do so) not to laugh because that was my first reaction-he was so sincere, so serious and obviously meant to be complimentary. I managed to smile and tell him I appreciated the kind words. He stated how eager he was to "join this group."

Again-God showing us favor. In ministering to internationals, relationships are so key. We will have a long way to go with all of our international friends. It will take time. But this much we know: God brought them to us for a reason-and these young men are all eager to connect us not only with their fellow internationals, but also their English teacher so we can coordinate more gatherings for the students.

Pray that God would continue to give us favor, that we would be found faithful, and that through those relationships, these precious students would come to faith in Christ.

Book Recommendation: God on Mute

2008-11-23T23:47:00.002-06:00

There are some things that "good Christians" don't often talk about. Dealing with prayers that seem to be unanswered or not heard....is one of those "things." Have you ever pleaded with God, poured out your heart to Him about something that weighed your soul down, only to hear nothing but a deafening silence? Have you ever fasted and humbled yourself before God in prayer and things seemed to actually get worse? Have you ever come to God in your brokenness, crying out to Him, and it seemed He was unresponsive?

We are quick to "defend" God (as if He needs our defense). We quickly respond with Sunday school answers: "When God closes one door, He opens another! Keep your chin up!" Or, the more spiritual sounding: "Sometimes His answer is 'yes,' sometimes 'no,' sometimes, 'wait,' sometimes 'yes, but...' which is certainly true-but sometimes those words seem quite hollow when we are in the middle of the dark night of the soul. Especially when that dark night turns in to a long, dry season in life.

As a pastor, I preached through several sermon series on prayer. If given another opportunity, I would more fully develop what to do during such mystifying and difficult times such as these. Pete Greig does a wonderful job of addressing a matter that most ministers would find difficult to address: Those times when it seems God is absolutely silent when we are sincerely seeking Him in prayer.

Greig is no mere theoritician. He is one of the co-founders of the 24-7 prayer movement, a movement that has spread across the globe in remarkable fashion. Greig is a man of prayer. He is also transparent and authentic enough to write a book on dealing with those when God seems both completely absent and remarkably silent when we are crying out to Him. Greig writes from experience: When his wife was diagnosed with a massive brain tumor, Greig and his wife found themselves thrusts into a situation where all they could do was pray...and it was not tidy.

I appreciate Greig's honesty and transparency. All too often we Christians tend to talk only about those spectacular answers to prayer (and dare I say-sometimes exaggerate the reports?) and gloss over those vexing, pesky, difficult times when prayer seems to go unanswered. We avoid "that place." Greig forces us to walk with him and with Christ in the Scriptures, to that place and we are richer for going there with him-and above all, with Christ. He does not give us easy answers, nor trite "Sunday school answers," rather we are challenged to embrace faith and mystery-and to find comfort in the One who does indeed love us perfectly, even if it doesn't always "feel" that way.

If you are one of those believers who has "figured out" God-and knows all the answers, this book will either insult you or bore you. But for the rest of us...I wholeheartedly recommend "God on Mute" to you.

College Ministry Toolbox: Principle One-Relationships

2008-11-23T17:33:00.003-06:00

I am commonly asked: "How can my church reach college students?" Sometimes, the question might be more accurately phrased: "How can we attract college students?" While the desire to reach college students is noble, there must be something more than growing a group numerically. All too often, churches fall prey to the trap of attractional ministry, regardless of the age group being targeted. The end result is the shuffling of believers or people open to Christianity from one congregation to another. When one church starts drawing a specific crowd, other churches want to know what they are doing and try to duplicate the efforts. I will let you in on a little secret I have found both as a pastor and as someone who works with college students: "We're doing little more than swapping people from one place to another, and in doing so, encouraging the consumer mindset of church attendees."

Here is where I would start (and how I did start) a college ministry. It is fairly radical because it is so counterintuitive to what the prevailing church culture encourages us to do: Start small, focus on discipleship. Invest in a few and then challenge them to trust God for great things and then unleash them.

The college ministry that grew in the most unlikely of churches for a college ministry to grow (a very traditional, out of the way church located no where near a college) began with Friday night discipleship meetings comprised of myself, my son (who was 14 at the time) and two soon to be seniors in High School. We met almost weekly for six months. We went through a simple book "The Barbarian Way" and these young people caught a vision for Christianity as a movement, not merely an institution. Even greater, they caught a vision of what it means to follow Christ with abandon and to invest in the lives of lost people.

The growth that took place from that six month period was incredible. These students became missionaries. They invited their lost friends to Bible Study, to fellowships, to services. We saw students saved. We saw lives transformed. We saw community develop-and the biggest blessing was this from my perspective: We did not "grow" a group by syphoning off other churches. The students invested in lost students and that is how the Kingdom is supposed to work.

If you want to develop a viable ministry to college students (or any particular age group) I suggest the following:

1) Identify a couple of individuals and pour yourself into them in a discipleship context. Teach them that it is normative for believers to reproduce themselves. Teach them to follow Jesus. Challenge them to trust God for great things. Turn them loose.

2) Pray. It sounds like a Sunday school answer-but pray. Going out to the edge where lostness exists is not the same as putting on a show to attract "good, Christian kids." Pray, intercede and pray with your core group.

3) Provide platforms for relationship building. You don't have to host everything at the church campus. You are more likely to engage the lost in a more non-threatening context, such as Starbucks. Provide opportunities for your core group (and your growing group) to fellowship and invite their lost friends.

4) Be patient, and be a good listener. The "unchurched" have a lot of questions about the faith. About church. We often assume, incorrectly, that "everybody" knows at least the basics of the faith. That is a dangerous assumption. Be prepared to walk with the students in relationship.

5) Love deeply. People have problems. (Newsflash-so do believers). This generation, and dare I say, most all generations, know if they are truly loved and cared for or if they are just a number or a project or whatever. Authentic relationships take place in context of love. A lot of times we drop the ball here. While we say Christianity is not a "performance based faith," we send conflicting messages in the way we love conditionally. One thing I know for certain about this generation-they want the real deal. They will fall down (just as you and I do), have problems (again-just like us), get hurt (ditto), and sometimes they are just "messy" (of course we would never admit to that)-but love must reign supreme.

This generation is interested in truth. They want to know what the Christian Scriptures teach. They want to believe, believe it or not-but they need to SEE it. They need to see love, grace, mercy, compassion in action.

They also need to feel they are a part of a community where they are loved, challenged and doing something much larger than themselves.

This is a starting place. May He bless you richly as you seek to reach others for the King.

Praying For A Campus

2008-11-02T22:15:00.002-06:00

With 29,000 students, UTSA is a large campus. With dorms and housing springing up all around, the campus is not the "commuter only" campus it was 20 years ago. It is now a campus where students from around the United States and the world live and go to school.

I am often reminded of Acts 17, when Paul encounters the Athenian philosophers and their multitude of gods, when I walk the campus. Every world view, every faith, every lifestyle is present.

We cannot reach a campus in our own strength or in our own 'wisdom.' It sounds cliche because it has been so overused, but we truly do want to win the campus for Christ. It is our prayer that we will be a city on a hill, a light shining brightly in the darkness, the salt of the earth-that we would be more than a religious organization. It is our prayer and desire that we would truly be missionaries on campus.

Please pray for our campus. Pray for Baptist Student Ministries as well as other Christian ministries. Pray that we would shine brightly, move forward confidently in Him, that we would be filled with the Spirit and that we would not be ashamed of the Gospel-that we would proclaim it faithfully and boldly as we should.

Our students are some of the finest young people I know. They "get it." By that, I mean they understand that God has strategically called them to this university, to this ministry that they might be used by Him to reach lost students on campus. The big test for our students, as it is for so many followers of Christ, is that of faith: Will God be bigger in their eyes or will people? Will they walk by faith and boldly go, or will they choose to stay comfortable with one another? I praise God that they are following His lead and desire to be missionaries. Please pray that God would be glorified in their lives and on this campus.

29,000 people. That is a city. A city that desperately needs Jesus.

Ministry Opportunity

2008-11-02T22:08:00.003-06:00

Every week we serve free lunch to students at UTSA. The number of students we serve ranges from 80-120 weekly. It (the free lunch) is a way for us to bless the students and develop relationships with them for the sake of the Gospel.

If your church is looking for a ministry opportunity and wants to learn more about this generation, BSM is always thankful for those churches who seek to provide a meal for our students! By providing a meal and spending time with the students during our lunch hour, you not only bless them, you also have the opportunity to learn more about ministering to college age students as you develop relationships with them.

If your church, Student Ministry, WMU, Women's or Men's Ministry is interested in providing a meal, please contact me at 210.823.4166.

Helping You Reach a Generation

2008-11-02T22:02:00.003-06:00

I am often asked, "How can we reach college students?" Or, "How can we start a college (or youth) ministry?" The 'million dollar question' for so many churches is: "How can we reach this generation?" It is quite obvious the church as a whole is not reaching this generation effectively. It does not have to be that way.

We are here to help you work through this question. If there is anything I can do to assist you or your church in developing a vibrant ministry to students, please let me know. I won't give you a 'program' or a pre-packaged response, but will gladly share Scriptural principles combined with personal experience to assist you.

BSM-How Can We Help Your Church?

2008-11-02T21:58:00.002-06:00

Baptist Student Ministries enjoys developing relationships with Baptist churches in San Antonio, in Texas and in the United States. Our students want to serve and enjoy service opportunities. Over the course of the year, we have: Lead Disciple Now's, lead youth rallies, worked Fall Festivals, participated in mission work, just to name a few things.

We are here to serve you! If there is a way for Baptist Student Ministries to bless your congregation, please let me know. You can contact me via email: utsabsm@gmail.com or by phone: 210.823.4166. It would be an honor for us to serve you!

Praying for Hannah

2008-11-02T21:54:00.002-06:00

I try to keep any personal prayer requests to a minimum on the Blog. I would appreciate your prayers (as would my family) for my daughter, Hannah, as we take her to MD Anderson this month for her check up. There are some spinal issues they need to examine. It is our prayer that whatever the issues are, they will not be related to her NF 1 (Neurofibromatosis Type 1). Please pray for a good report.

In addition, please pray for an opening at the Ronald McDonald House. The House is a special place-right next to MD Anderson, affordable and an uplifting environment. At the end of long days of testing, it's a true blessing.

Thank you for your prayers.

Seeing the Unseen at UTSA

2008-11-02T21:37:00.002-06:00

God has a way of surprising us. He certainly surprised me this semester at UTSA. It is my continual prayer that BSM will be a missional community, not merely a "Christian club." That contrast is continually shared with the students. Club or missional people? I have no interest in the former and pray fervently for the latter.

At the end of last year, the Spirit truly began to open the eyes of our students as to the difference between the two. We ended the year with a strong foundation to start a new year with great hopes of being used by Him to reach students.

This semester has been amazing. Weekly, we are encountering new students and our group is growing far beyond what I anticipated. Our new students are full of energy, enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference for the King and His Kingdom.

For most of this semester, we have been processing as a group this new, emerging community. Initially, some of our "old-timers" wondered what to do with all of these new kids. Community has been formed over the course of this semester. Now, we are focusing on developing "communitas" (for definition of communitas, see bottom of page). Pray for us. We are challenging our students to move out of the "safety" and "comfort" of community and into the sphere of liminality-going to the edge of lostness, to the 'unsafe' places on campus, in our city, and wherever God leads us as a group, to develop relationships with the lost for the sake of the Kingdom-to make Christ known.

We tend to prefer safety and comfort. We like our comfort zones. Jesus did not call us to comfort, but to follow. As this semester winds down, and a larger community has been formed, please pray for BSM. Pray that over the semester break, over our leadership retreat, that we will follow Him wherever He leads. A campus of 29,000 students is a wonderful mission field. He has called us to be far more than a club.

Praying for Anant

2008-11-02T21:27:00.002-06:00

Every Wednesday, BSM serves free lunch to students at UTSA. The meal is a time for students to connect, relax and of course have a free meal. There is no "typical profile" for the average attendee. Students who come from other faiths, who have no faith, who are searching attend our luncheons along with followers of Christ. The meal allows us the opportunity to serve and bless students as well as develop relationships with them. The ultimate goal is that through the relationship building-Christ will be shared.

Meet Anant. He is a young man of Indian descent. Raised a nominal Hindu, he also attends our luncheons. This past week, after my ten minute devotional talk (I usually focus on one spiritual truth or principle for the day), he approached me. He had questions.

I loved his intellectual honesty and transparency. He wanted to know more about the relationship between faith and works. His specific question: "I understand how faith would please God (we are not talking about the same God here-but this was our initial conversation), but what about works? Can we do good things, good works, and not have faith in this God and still please Him?"

God opened the door for me to share the Gospel with Anant. I would like to say he has given his life to Christ, but he has not as of now. He still has questions. He is very open and receptive. Please pray for him. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open his eyes and ears, open his heart and draw him to the One True God through Jesus Christ. Pray for his salvation. Pray for me, and for our students who know him. Pray that we would all be available, willing patient, prayerful and eager to continue sharing with this special young man.

UTSA is filled with students like Anant. Almost every worldview and religion (or lack of religion) is found on our campus of 29,000 students. Pray for BSM, that we would be the missional people God has called us to be.