Living in Mission, "Springfield's Free Store"

Even when business is good, it's bad. Serving a total of 2,053 families, they picked up 18 new ones on the day I visited and 31 the day before on their grand opening at their new site. More business means more people are in desperate need. You can find the Free Store at the corner of Selma and Sunset in an old Springfield strip mall. Eddie, one of their volunteers, walks clear across town just to serve there. Others show up for free clothing, food, house ware items, and a whole lot of God's love. Pastors Bruce Gischel, David Yingling, and Sherri Blackwell have much to be proud of. Having just moved into and their new facility, they were up and running in full operation. In this part of the country, the city is the most underserved of Methodism. But Jesus said in Acts 1:8, the movement of the Spirit will begin there and then spread throughout the region. Our prayers go out to all their faithful who are preparing for the next great awakening and to all who have given themselves to reaching the least, last, and lost.

Living in Mission, "The School of Mission"

Went up to ONU last week with my son to speak about our human trafficking interest. Just wanted to highlight a great teaching event. If you need to boost your interest in missions, it could very well be the place: make great contacts for planning trips and developing partnerships, learn about issues in depth and from all sides, and regardless of your background, build an understanding and get exposed to the other. For you evangelicals, begin to build an understanding of social justice and vice versa. Just be prepared to turn off your cell phone. Ada doesn't have very good coverage at least for ATT. :-)

Reflection: "Working with a Remnant"

I have been in several different places recently and hearing lots and lots of stories. When I look back on the Scriptures, it seems rare that God starts with anything big: one Abraham, five loaves and two fish, 12 disciples, 4o days, an extended family, sparrows, a widow, a voice in the wilderness, a paralytic on a mat, five smooth stones, etc. etc. The list goes on and on. So much has been focused on the mega church in our culture, growing the big, that we have lost the art of starting with the small. The twelve grew to the 40, and they the 120, and then the 500, and the world outreach from there. What is the unique dynamic of what you have to work with now? As much as you study where you want to head, become the master of the nuances of where you are now. We were nothing more than a Gentile stump to begin with. Yet, even with that, there is no limit to what we can ever be. God's grace and love.

Church Visit, "Principled Leadership," Fletcher UMC

Last Sunday, Fletcher UMC dedicated its long awaited new building. It is asolutely beautiful, styled perfectly for its context. Bruns Construction seems to have done a really nice job for them. Together, they incorporated some special touches that you really need to check out if your church is considering: in-kind labor laid a porcelain tile Gathering Place, a coffee bar doubles on the other side as a serving line for the multi-purpose room (a great design, I think), and just the right finely appointed touches that completely remove the metal building feel. Russ Tichenor and his wife Michelle have done an even better job leading, however. In just a short time he has really grown to be their pastor. In typical Russ style, he let the dignitaries play many of the key roles in the service. Various groups from the church were well represented. You never have to shy away though from the mantle God has placed on your shoulders. You have earned it with your faithfulness. Fine job all the way around Fletcher.

Living in Mission, "The Wesley Center"

As many of us already know, Acts 1:8 says that "we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us to be witnesses." That is, there is a purpose behind the giving of the Spirit. It's not for our own self-indulgence, but for reaching out beyond ourselves in self-sacrifice. It's even more specific, though, I now think. We are to be witnesses, it says, "in Jerusalem, and Judea, Sumaria, and the greater ends of the earth." Our outreach therefore starts with the city, and Dayton's Wesley Center has always been in the business of pioneering that. If you want to see partnerships, visit. Dr. Walker and his staff would be more than happy to show you around and discuss their philosophy of ministry. Radical hospitality is at the heart. It permeates every person in their organization and every ministry activity of which they are a part. For that matter, any of our district-affiliated mission sites would be more than happy to give you and your leaders a tour and help you take your local mission efforts to a whole new level of effectiveness. And, it begins where the church has largely abandoned. The city, where the most people are, is where God first unleashed the Spirit's power to transform the world. If you haven't already, don't you want to go where God's Spirit has always been?

Church Visit: "A Field of Dreams," Germantown UMC

I really thought I was in a scene from the movie. I half-expected to look up and see Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones, for real. Germantown UMC last Sunday night broke ground for their new building...after something like nine long years of hard work and prayer. It's a beautiful piece of property in an idealic location. 150-200 people showed up. And virtually all of them carried a shovel. It was incredible. Every generation was represented, all of them well, especially the youth, children, and young families. What is your field of dreams? The place where there is nothing and you are dreaming of something? Germantown made it...through a church merger, and all the getting used to living with each other. They made it...after three different pastors, one of which left prematurely as he was called up to serve in Reserves after 9/11. Sometimes we would rather till in a field other than the one we currently own. Most fields of dreams, however, are right outside our own back door. Rent the movie.

Reflection: "Every Challenge an Opportunity--at a Cost"

Well, after two weeks on the job I am still smiling and having fun, though the territory seems still large, work huge, and challenges sometimes daunting. I have realized something though, in the midst of exploring some of "our issues." For every challenge there is an opportunity. Sometimes it's lurking a little beneath the surface. Sometimes, it's so glaring anyone could see it. Sometimes, it's only evident after I pray a prayer something like, "Lord, what in the world is the opportunity in this?" Or, "Dear God, what could be the wildest opportunity for You and Your kingdom in all of this?" Challenges become opportunities, though, in direct proportion to our willingness to pay the cost...

Some questions that would be helpful for us to consider in various situations throughout our district would include: 1. Am I willing to look at and evaluate how we do worship in our church? [Been to several services already. Fresh eyes always see at least a few things. Feel free to ask me what I see.] 2. Am I willing to look at and evaluate my leadership style? 3. Or heaven forbid, my preaching style? 4. When "The Conference" wants to take my pastor or not give me the perfect one, will I play continue to play victim?

Every now and then I turn on Robert Schuller just for the reminder to think positively about my situation, no matter what it might be, even when I realize it will cost much.

Church Visit, "Children's Ministry," Spring Valley UMC

A barefoot children's choir director who just doesn't direct, but also jumps up and helps her kids do the motions has really got it going on. Even in a small town kids abound. Spring Valley UMC just had as many kids in their VBS as they average in their weekly worship. Great work! George Barna published the research originally. But did you know that well over 80% dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ before they ever reach the age of 18? What we do for our children's ministry could be the most productive work we do for the kingdom. Is your church investing as much in it as it does in everything else?

Church Visit, "The Power of the Laos," Ansonia UMC

Wow, it was neat to see them in action. Got to introduce a new pastor to the fine folks at Ansonia, and boy, they really shined. Their previous pastor had prepared and led them well. They were engaged, and ready. They had owned their vision. It wasn't just the pastor's or that of the conference. It was theirs. And watching them share it and tell all that God was doing through it, blew me away. Great work Ansonia. In the Bible, there is no such thing as a word for "clergy." Rather, we are all the "laos" or laity. It's up to all of us, not just one special person or group. A strong clergy/lay partnership is perhaps the most important factor to a healthy and growing church. We get to love each AND work together. Just getting back to the basics of building strong and healthy relationships provides a foundation that with Christ will grow great things for the kingdom.

Reflection: "Appointment Making"

Last night I conducted an introduction for one of our most well prepared churches. In the midst of all the typical questions, they presented their church's vision, wanting the new pastor to see where God had been and seemed to be heading. What a great context to see if it was a good match with pastor and church. Too often, we see the appointive process as a negative. In the old days of the Methodist Movement, it was missional. As one pastor was "called" to another church for a very special purpose, so too was another "called" to the former church for just as important and special a reason. The conference didn't "take." God rather, "gives." Overall, as I have been now privvy to some of the inner workings of our shared appointive ministry, I have really been impressed with what all goes on behind the scenes. God is truly at work. Sure, sometimes we will miss the mark. We will in everything. Nothing though is irredeemable. God is Alpha and Omega: the Initiator of all good things and our Finisher. Looking forward to partnering together in Christ's mission.

Church Visit: "Mobilizing for the Future," South Park UMC

They are poised for growth not because of their prime location but because of their hard work and preparation. Pastor Brooks Heck and the leaders of South Park UMC are making the turn and positioning themselves for God to do a new work. Despite the challenges of their current reality, they have assembled several leading ministries as in-roads into the community: a Thrift Store and Food Pantry, Preschool, partnerships with the local University, community alliances, etc., etc. I have never seen such thorough demographic studies and neighborhood analysis. Keep them in your prayers as God puts the final pieces of their puzzle together for a new era of harvest. Despite how difficult it seems, Jesus said, "It is (still) plentiful."

Living in Mission: "It'll Break Your Heart"

Got back late Friday night from my Human Trafficking Awareness Trip to Mexico and my heart is still grieving. I saw things I never could have imagined even in my worst of dreams: a line-up of girls forced into prostitution; stories of children whose bodies were harvested for organs; a farm to take the taken and hook them on drugs so that they'd be willing to anything for the next fix; an onslaught of violence from the cartels that is taking up all of law enforcement's attention; and yet the breaking in of God's grace and light in the midst of what seems like such a dark place. I sat in the living room of a battered women's shelter and heard their stories, involving both the violence of men and God's saving provision. I have never heard such beautiful testimonies; let alone coming from such horrific of circumstances. What will you let break your heart? The church has never been more vital than when it's in mission to the worst of human need. The believers that I met abounded in love, and joy, and passion for ministry, much, much more than what I sometimes see here. Maybe we as leaders need to go even deeper into Jesus' mission. Instead of talking about parishioners needing to get off the fence, maybe it's we who need to lead even further than what we thought we do.