Soul Renovatus

They don't do that in church...

Tonight was one of the best nights of my tenure as a youth pastor.

We have this thing...or organized chaos...or whatever you want to call it on Wednesday night.  We serve a meal to the community for free, and then about 120 students off the street show up.  These are students who normally don't want to have anything to do with church.  It has been wonderful watching the evolving of our relationship as they continue to get to know us and vice versa.

Before I talk about tonight, there was a moment last Wednesday night where the guys were playing basketball, and a couple of the guys that were playing were kind of hogging the ball between themselves.  About three of the guys came storming out, ticked that they didn't get to touch the ball that much, and complained, "This is our &$*%*$ church!  Who do they think they are?  We even come on Sundays? What are they doin'?"  Freakin' hilarious!  These are students who are so raw, who normally wouldn't want to have anything to do with church, but I am seeing how much more they are loving being around the people. 

So...tonight, we hosted a local band for a concert.  Not really Christian at all, seemingly quite the opposite actually.  Some in our church were worried if they would be singing "the right lyrics" and such.  We have known these guys for two years.  First thing we said to them was that we wanted them to play their music.  I also told them not to be dropping F-bombs and such.  I told them if the radio can do it, they can do it.  They were totally excited to play. 

So a ton of people showed up tonight.  We asked for $2 for admission just to give these guys some more money.  It was so encouraging to hear some older adults who were there mention that the guys had the utmost respect for us and talked about us all of the time. 

I was thinking about the relationships that we've built, and the fact that when we asked them to play, they were excited.  I mean...I don't think I could ever done this in any other place I've been.  I'd have to jump through a thousand hoops to do it.  Of course, I really don't know how many people really know we did this tonight.  But regardless, the people in our community heard the words loud and clear tonight as I was up front during intermission, "We believe God is a God of creativity, and we want to provide space for that here."  It was good to hear my friend share his story a little.  He's a guy who just isn't the church type at all, but 3 years ago gave over his life to following Jesus and now is like a freakin' wildfire.  It was him who had all of the connections in the community to make this happen. He said, "I think if you know me, and who I was, you can understand very quickly that this is not your normal church."  I just smiled.  It was a great moment tonight.  It's beautiful to watch the students open up more about their lives, what they're wrestling with, and realizing we really do care about them.

I mean, why are we so afraid of stuff like this?  I am amazed at the whole idea of our faith being a "don't do this" kind of journey.  Look, it's not like I'm saying that all of "those things" are okay to do, but really, where does grace fit in the picture?  How do we love and care for others who really don't believe in following Jesus?  Maybe we celebrate the things that God is doing already in their lives, even if they don't realize it, with the hope that they will see that they might be participating in a much bigger project. 

Let's me more permission giving than permission asking.  There are so many more great ideas people have if we would let them try it.

Plus, as a great colleague friend of mine said at dinner last week, "You know youth ministry is 90% failure right?"  These students are trying to figure their life out still (so am I!), and why not be in a place that welcomes failure and be there to pick them up and try to make it better, to live a better way of life?

Tags: youth ministry, emerging church, evangelism, concerts

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The harvest field...

How many times have we heard that Scripture, "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few?"  I can't tell you how many messages I've heard on that very thing, but it is becoming extremely real to me right before my eyes.  As I continue to be here at this new place, I am seeing the spiritual strongholds that are all around us, right outside the doors here, and seeing how much hopelessness people have and how much deception people find themselves in.  At the same time, God is using idiots like me and a few others to plant a seed of God's light in someone's life.  I understand why Jesus asked to pray for workers to send to the harvest fields.  They are ripe for harvest!  We just don't have enough people to do the work. So that is what I am praying for, more workers...

I am always cracked up on all of this "evangelism training" or stuff on "how to share the gospel."  Like it's some legal paper that you have to explain in a classroom.  People have very real questions, "How can you say God loves me when my dad doesn't show up for my program? I mean my dad doesn't even love me, how I am suppossed to believe that God does?"  It's a great question, but those are the kind of things that people ask.  Very hard questions. 

But at the same time we have a great opportunity.  People are hungry for some good news.  People want peace in their lives, not necessarily that everything just goes away, but being able to live with a contentment that is above anything life can throw at you.  A real life!  That is exactly what Jesus has promised if we put our complete trust in Him.  Not necessarily a "happy" life, but a life that does have peace no matter what is thrown at you.  A hope in something more beyond our circumstances.  That's how I see God using me.  When I approach people with humility, with a listening ear, with a presence to help deal with and possibly answer or struggle through the tough questions, there is a bond that is developed.  I talked with a student yesterday who's into all the stuff church people cross their arms at.  The drugs, sex, and drinking, and he's tired of it.   I think there are lot more people there, aching to hear an answer of hope.  I don't want to give them a "hey, now they're in the dumps so go convert them" speech, I really want them to know the life that Jesus offers.  It doesn't matter if you are in the dumps or not.

Well, 3 hours have passed since that last thought there, and it's just amazing to me what happens when you listen.  So many walls can break down if we are honest about our faith, our questions, struggles, and such...people are a lot more receptive to listen when they know that you are.

I've gotta get goin'...need to spend time with the Princess before hangin' with the utes at the concession stand tonight for the Little League games in town.

Grace,

Lambo