Dear colleagues on the urban front:
I am eagerly anticipating our gathering in Ireland this September. Reconciliation is a big word with many expressions. And regardless of our ministry context, it is central to our work as Kingdom people. I look forward to listening to lifelong enemies in Belfast talk candidly about reaching across forbidding barbed-wire divides to find true partnership - an intriguing backdrop to explore the anatomy of reconciliation. Vivid, personal stories of atrocities and forgiveness, of racism and bridge-building, shared by front-line practitioners from around the world, promise to be as inspiring as they are instructive. Bring your experience and let's learn together.
Bob Lupton
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
Reconciliation and the way forward
Reconciliation doesn't come easy. The three R's of repentance, restitution, reconciliation, followed by forgiveness is a long and winding road. Most of us have had a few relationships that made it through the steps of repentance and the initial steps of forgiveness but rarely do we move toward restitution and most certainly we do not get to the place of reconciliation.
Reconciliation implies that everything is new. "Behold all things have become new." God's promise of forgetting our sins and removing our sins "as far as the East is from the West" doesn't seem right somehow. We understand how to say were sorry but we have a harder time trusting our trepassing neighbor again. "I forgive you but I don't trust you and I will never work with you again," is the normal approach to forgiveness in a society that avoids all pain and seeks only comfort at all price.
To find reconciliation as a way of following Christ may mean that many will have to go to the cross without others understanding, without popularity, without everything working out okay, without selling numerous books, without being popular again, without having a happy human ending. Jesus did say, "If you want to be my disciple, you must take up your cross and follow me." Reconciliation is tough stuff. Jon Sharpe
Reconciliation implies that everything is new. "Behold all things have become new." God's promise of forgetting our sins and removing our sins "as far as the East is from the West" doesn't seem right somehow. We understand how to say were sorry but we have a harder time trusting our trepassing neighbor again. "I forgive you but I don't trust you and I will never work with you again," is the normal approach to forgiveness in a society that avoids all pain and seeks only comfort at all price.
To find reconciliation as a way of following Christ may mean that many will have to go to the cross without others understanding, without popularity, without everything working out okay, without selling numerous books, without being popular again, without having a happy human ending. Jesus did say, "If you want to be my disciple, you must take up your cross and follow me." Reconciliation is tough stuff. Jon Sharpe
Belfast Reconciliation 07
Dr. John Perk
ins &
Dr.
Bob Lupton will be our international guides as we look at Global Reconciliation issues through the eyes of the Belfast team and the eyes of others from around the world.
ins &Dr.
Bob Lupton will be our international guides as we look at Global Reconciliation issues through the eyes of the Belfast team and the eyes of others from around the world.
September 7-13, 2007
Dublin, Ireland September 7-9
Belfast, Northern Ireland September 10-13
The Belfast Host Team: Gary Mason, Glenn Jordan, Nathan Hamilton, Jack Drennan, and Lynda Gould.
Belfast Reconciliation 07
Belfast, Northern Ireland in September will be the site of the Belfast 07 Reconciliation Consultation. Honorary Chairs, Dr. John Perkins and Dr. Bob Lupton will join the Belfast host team of Gary Mason, Glenn Jordan, Nathan Hamilton, Jack Drennan, and Lynda Gould.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Exegeting Seattle by photography
Hey everybody. My name's Pat. I live in the eastside suburbs of Seattle and commute into the Ballard area for work.
I've begun taking the bus in to work, though it stretches an already long commute into a longer one - because I have the opportunity to experience the city and feel how it breathes. I've lived in the Seattle area for about 14 years, but all of that has been on the eastside. My home is in the easternmost suburb in the area, nestled into the mountains, a bedroom community of a few thousand, most of whom commute to the eastside's tech sector or into Seattle itself.
Last year I finally began to seriously pursue a lifelong interest in photography, and this study has been helpful in deeply spiritual ways. I like candid work, unstaged, observing and capturing a moment. It gives me a sense of the real life of a person, of the city.
I've found that this observation is much like sensing the leading of the Holy Spirit, or asking and expecting a response to the question, "Father, show me what you're doing.". Things happen that we wouldn't otherwise observe unless we've got our eyes open.
And yet sometimes, the best way to observe the city and its people is to actively pursue it, to ask. This is a picture of Michele, who works at one of the fruit stands in Pike Place Market, a well known landmark. Michele, it turns out, is a photographer as well, using the same camera body as mine. We traded websites, and I enjoyed her work - though she has a very different style than I do.
Michele's a great example to me of the power of asking a person to tell you their story. We chatted for a while and shared stories, and then I asked to take her picture. It was as hard for me to ask as it was for her to say yes, I imagine, but I think we both appreciated the connection. And I got to hear stories from within the belly of the whale, so to speak - what it's like to work in the Market and interact with locals and tourists alike.
One of the things I've rediscovered in the past few months of exploring the city by foot and by bus is that, as beautiful as our scenery is, it's the people that make Seattle what it is - both great and needy.
And it's watching carefully that I'm learning about the city I live in.
I've begun taking the bus in to work, though it stretches an already long commute into a longer one - because I have the opportunity to experience the city and feel how it breathes. I've lived in the Seattle area for about 14 years, but all of that has been on the eastside. My home is in the easternmost suburb in the area, nestled into the mountains, a bedroom community of a few thousand, most of whom commute to the eastside's tech sector or into Seattle itself.
Last year I finally began to seriously pursue a lifelong interest in photography, and this study has been helpful in deeply spiritual ways. I like candid work, unstaged, observing and capturing a moment. It gives me a sense of the real life of a person, of the city.
I've found that this observation is much like sensing the leading of the Holy Spirit, or asking and expecting a response to the question, "Father, show me what you're doing.". Things happen that we wouldn't otherwise observe unless we've got our eyes open.
And yet sometimes, the best way to observe the city and its people is to actively pursue it, to ask. This is a picture of Michele, who works at one of the fruit stands in Pike Place Market, a well known landmark. Michele, it turns out, is a photographer as well, using the same camera body as mine. We traded websites, and I enjoyed her work - though she has a very different style than I do.
Michele's a great example to me of the power of asking a person to tell you their story. We chatted for a while and shared stories, and then I asked to take her picture. It was as hard for me to ask as it was for her to say yes, I imagine, but I think we both appreciated the connection. And I got to hear stories from within the belly of the whale, so to speak - what it's like to work in the Market and interact with locals and tourists alike.
One of the things I've rediscovered in the past few months of exploring the city by foot and by bus is that, as beautiful as our scenery is, it's the people that make Seattle what it is - both great and needy.
And it's watching carefully that I'm learning about the city I live in.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
News from Jon Sharpe
December 30, 2006
Jon Sharpe talks about the Center for Global Urban Leadership
A Friends New Year Report
The last few months I have been working with several key leaders to develop a Center for Global Urban Leadership. We are standing at rare time in history where the world and the church are changing rapidly and Christian leaders need to be developed, encouraged, and strengthened for the challenges. Our mission statement simply reads: “Connecting and cultivating leaders who will bring positive change to the cities of the world.”
What do leaders need to learn?
The world is going urban at warp speed! In China alone 30 Million rural inhabitants are annually migrating to the urban centers of China. To put our arms around this in practical terms would be to envision the entire population of Canada moving every year! Urban building is taking place at a pace unheard of in times past. The demand for building steel in China is driving global building costs out of sight and squeezing the global economy. Major cities of the world are also growing in complexity as competing forces, cultures, and systems seek to gain positions of power. To be a leader in today’s cities requires thinking and acting on multiple levels at the same time. Static leadership of yesterday will not keep pace.
Global issues where leadership is desperately needed:
Children at Risk-Sexual exploitation, child soldiers, AIDS victims, and street kids represent the new chaos of this global growth. Key ministries and networks are being raised up to address this global epidemic of abuse but the growing need is beyond comprehension.
India’s Caste System- This ancient system of slavery still holds India’s masses in captivity. 52% of India’s population continues to suffer under this cruel system. Recent developments in the Indian landscape promise a new day for India and the world. Leaders are being raised up who repudiate the evil tyranny of the Caste system but the need for the right kind of leadership must be raised up with increasing speed to meet the demand.
Reconciliation: Wherever humans interact the need for reconciliation is necessary. Wars and rumors of war fill the news. We rarely hear about reconciliation taking place but we constantly hear about horrific struggles between people and cultures. Shiite against Sunni, American against insurgents in Iraq, Hamas against Fatah in Palestine, Lebanese Christians against Hezbollah in Lebanon, all vying for rights and power. With global strife increasing, new leaders are needed who will seek wisdom and peace.
Minority Leadership in the Muslim World: Christians have been the minority in many countries of the world for centuries. The need for innovative leadership chiseled out of systems cast in stone is urgent. Business and educationonal leaders have the best opportunity to support emerging leaders who will be able to establish new systems addressing the harrowing tyranny of the past.
Why the Center?
The Center for Global Urban Leadership is responding to this need by providing international learning communities where leaders will explore Incarnational leadership (the kind of leadership that brings transformation) within the largest cities of the world. Leaders will learn from each other as they explore models of effective ministry within the urban context. We believe that as followers of Jesus, we are to be led by his Spirit and we are to pursue the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. We believe this is the path to transformation of people, places, and systems.
What will the Center do?
We will intentionally recruit leaders who are in mid-career and post-career to strengthen emerging international leaders in pursuit of mission. We will also recruit North American and international educators, pastors, mission and business leaders to learn in community.
We will provide the following:
Experiential Learning Communities that will work together online, travel to international cities together, and engage an ongoing commitment to mission for transformation of people, places, and systems.
Assessment of learning needs for emerging leaders and find means and resources to meet the needs.
Curriculum and experiential learning communities focused on global urban leadership for seminaries, colleges, universities, Bible schools, and training institutes.
Access to educational resources for emerging leaders who might otherwise find themselves locked out of the educational process.
Access to a growing global urban network for global urban leaders.
Ongoing relationship building and development of global urban leadership resources.
Learning Community Destinations 2007
January 20-31: Delhi, India— “The Social Spiritual Movement” (with Truth Seekers and Global Spectrum)
i. Learning Community start date: January 5, 2007
June (dates to be determined): Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda— “Children-at-Risk & Leadership Models”- (Viva Network)
i. Learning Community start date: April 5, 2007
July-August (dates to be determined): Amsterdam, Netherlands and London, UK—Sep “Youth-at-Risk- and the African Diaspora” (with New Horizons and INNERChange) (Ron Ruthruff of New Horizons)
i. Learning Community start date: June 5, 2007
September (dates to be determined): Belfast, Ireland-September—“Reconciliation” (with Belfast Ministries and Bob Lupton)
i. Learning Community start date: July 5, 2007
If you have an interest in participating in one of these learning communities please let me know asap so we can plan with you.
What has been done up to this point?
Five leaders have committed to working together on the development and operation of the Center.
Educational Consultant
Wayne Clugston, a pioneer in curriculum licensing in American higher education, co-founded an educational company that owns a regionally accredited university in the United States with global outreach in undergraduate and graduate programs. He has consulted in the development of entrepreneurial educational networks in several countries. Presently Wayne is Senior Vice President, Academic Development and Innovation at Ashford University.
Co-Director Leadership, Technology and Systems
Casey Cerretani, a creative developer, has built sustainable processes and systems for multi-national corporations, regional businesses, start-ups and non-profit organizations. This work has taken him across the United States and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Casey is a gifted communicator who holds advanced degrees in engineering and applied science.
Co-Director, Human Relationships and Development
Fred Choy is a leader in a faith based community and brings incarnational leadership and community building skills to the Center. Fred seeks to work with leaders through a life process of discovering one's passion and gifts. He has worked for many years in the multiethnic community and is gifted in interpreting cultures and systems. Fred has been a part of several national multiethnic think tanks and brings challenging insight and analysis. Fred has also led and helped many organizations through times of transition and visioning.
Director of Encore for Mid-Career or Post Career Leaders
Pastor, teacher and author, Dr. Ward Tanneberg believes that discovering renewed life purpose, demonstrating personal worth and value, and fueling one’s spirit are keys to a long, happy and fulfilling life. Life and ministry are every day celebrations of the grace of God. It is a message he lives and shares with pastors and other leaders in churches, retreats, and conferences throughout America, focusing on the midlife and beyond age significance of 21st century Christians.
Executive Director
Jon Sharpe, a pioneer in higher education in the area of global urban leadership, co-founder of a graduate university, served as Academic Dean, and a Professor of Global Urban Studies. He lectures internationally and has co-authored Street Signs with Ray Bakke, addressing how to consult a city. He has been instrumental in forming several organizations, a think tank, and facilitating city-wide consultations. His work takes him to major cities in Africa, China, India, Europe, and the Philippines as well as cities in the United States.
Signs of Hope for the Center
An attorney has donated his time to form the legal piece of the Center for Global Urban Leadership.
A building contractor has committed to paying for the costs of the Center organizational formation.
We are in conversation with a university to let us represent their programs online and at learning centers in India.
We are in conversation with a college in the United Kingdom to partner with us so we can offer a PhD and a DMin for students seeking post graduate degrees in global urban leadership.
We are in conversation with two seminaries and one university about partnering together on global urban leadership curriculum and field experiences.
A key mission leader and educator in India has been a part of developing the curriculum for online learning and will be involved in developing learning centers in India with the Center.
A key political activist and Christian leader in India has agreed to partner with us developing learning centers committed to educating those traditionally excluded from education within the Indian context.
Curriculum has been developed and delivered to a university for online learning with a focus on Global Urban Leadership.
Curriculum has been developed for seminaries and other educational institutions with a focus on Global Urban Leadership.
The first Pilot Experiential Learning Community trip is scheduled for January in India.
A strategic partnership with a network addressing children at risk is in process.
Be a Leader, Follow Jesus
Over the last decade I’ve learned a great deal about leadership. I’ve had the opportunity to be with leaders from many walks of life and from many parts of the world. I’ve been able to assess their strengths and weaknesses and I’ve learned that good leadership not only moves people toward a goal but it also helps grow people in character and gifting. Poor leadership can often accomplish organizational objectives but usually leaves shattered people and broken community in its wake. My years in the trenches of ministry have taught me that we need to spend more time developing and encouraging good leaders… leaders who know how to follow.
This summer I had the privilege of speaking at a commencement service in Amsterdam made up of African immigrants.. As I looked out at the audience and graduates that warm summer afternoon, I remember being impressed to share that effective leadership is leadership committed to following Jesus. Jesus is our model and our method. I concluded my comments that day with these few words, “Be a leader, follow Jesus.”
What can you do?
Over the next six months I will be working with our team to put the Center for Global Urban Leadership on a good foundation. It is hard work and it will require a great deal of sacrifice. I’m wondering if you would be willing to be a part of this Center and its development. There are three ways you can do that:
Join a pilot experiential learning community and go to a major city with us this year to strengthen leaders globally.
Give a gift for this six month startup phase for the Center of $250, $500, $1000, or more.
Pray that the Lord will give us the right people to serve in the right places at the right time.
If you plan on sending a check, at this point it can be sent to: Antioch Ministries, PO Box 273, Issaquah, WA 98207.
Within a few months the Center for Global Urban Leadership will be fully approved as a 501-C3 organization.
If you wish to be removed from this email list, please type reply and write, “remove”
Jon L. Sharpe,
Center for Global Urban Leadership
206.295.8343
jonlsharpe@gmail.com
http://www.globalurbanleaders.org/
January 5, 2007 Five leaders comment on the global future
http://www.outreachmagazine.com/library/features/JF07ftrLongRangeForecast.asp
Jon Sharpe talks about the Center for Global Urban Leadership
A Friends New Year Report
The last few months I have been working with several key leaders to develop a Center for Global Urban Leadership. We are standing at rare time in history where the world and the church are changing rapidly and Christian leaders need to be developed, encouraged, and strengthened for the challenges. Our mission statement simply reads: “Connecting and cultivating leaders who will bring positive change to the cities of the world.”
What do leaders need to learn?
The world is going urban at warp speed! In China alone 30 Million rural inhabitants are annually migrating to the urban centers of China. To put our arms around this in practical terms would be to envision the entire population of Canada moving every year! Urban building is taking place at a pace unheard of in times past. The demand for building steel in China is driving global building costs out of sight and squeezing the global economy. Major cities of the world are also growing in complexity as competing forces, cultures, and systems seek to gain positions of power. To be a leader in today’s cities requires thinking and acting on multiple levels at the same time. Static leadership of yesterday will not keep pace.
Global issues where leadership is desperately needed:
Children at Risk-Sexual exploitation, child soldiers, AIDS victims, and street kids represent the new chaos of this global growth. Key ministries and networks are being raised up to address this global epidemic of abuse but the growing need is beyond comprehension.
India’s Caste System- This ancient system of slavery still holds India’s masses in captivity. 52% of India’s population continues to suffer under this cruel system. Recent developments in the Indian landscape promise a new day for India and the world. Leaders are being raised up who repudiate the evil tyranny of the Caste system but the need for the right kind of leadership must be raised up with increasing speed to meet the demand.
Reconciliation: Wherever humans interact the need for reconciliation is necessary. Wars and rumors of war fill the news. We rarely hear about reconciliation taking place but we constantly hear about horrific struggles between people and cultures. Shiite against Sunni, American against insurgents in Iraq, Hamas against Fatah in Palestine, Lebanese Christians against Hezbollah in Lebanon, all vying for rights and power. With global strife increasing, new leaders are needed who will seek wisdom and peace.
Minority Leadership in the Muslim World: Christians have been the minority in many countries of the world for centuries. The need for innovative leadership chiseled out of systems cast in stone is urgent. Business and educationonal leaders have the best opportunity to support emerging leaders who will be able to establish new systems addressing the harrowing tyranny of the past.
Why the Center?
The Center for Global Urban Leadership is responding to this need by providing international learning communities where leaders will explore Incarnational leadership (the kind of leadership that brings transformation) within the largest cities of the world. Leaders will learn from each other as they explore models of effective ministry within the urban context. We believe that as followers of Jesus, we are to be led by his Spirit and we are to pursue the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. We believe this is the path to transformation of people, places, and systems.
What will the Center do?
We will intentionally recruit leaders who are in mid-career and post-career to strengthen emerging international leaders in pursuit of mission. We will also recruit North American and international educators, pastors, mission and business leaders to learn in community.
We will provide the following:
Experiential Learning Communities that will work together online, travel to international cities together, and engage an ongoing commitment to mission for transformation of people, places, and systems.
Assessment of learning needs for emerging leaders and find means and resources to meet the needs.
Curriculum and experiential learning communities focused on global urban leadership for seminaries, colleges, universities, Bible schools, and training institutes.
Access to educational resources for emerging leaders who might otherwise find themselves locked out of the educational process.
Access to a growing global urban network for global urban leaders.
Ongoing relationship building and development of global urban leadership resources.
Learning Community Destinations 2007
January 20-31: Delhi, India— “The Social Spiritual Movement” (with Truth Seekers and Global Spectrum)
i. Learning Community start date: January 5, 2007
June (dates to be determined): Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda— “Children-at-Risk & Leadership Models”- (Viva Network)
i. Learning Community start date: April 5, 2007
July-August (dates to be determined): Amsterdam, Netherlands and London, UK—Sep “Youth-at-Risk- and the African Diaspora” (with New Horizons and INNERChange) (Ron Ruthruff of New Horizons)
i. Learning Community start date: June 5, 2007
September (dates to be determined): Belfast, Ireland-September—“Reconciliation” (with Belfast Ministries and Bob Lupton)
i. Learning Community start date: July 5, 2007
If you have an interest in participating in one of these learning communities please let me know asap so we can plan with you.
What has been done up to this point?
Five leaders have committed to working together on the development and operation of the Center.
Educational Consultant
Wayne Clugston, a pioneer in curriculum licensing in American higher education, co-founded an educational company that owns a regionally accredited university in the United States with global outreach in undergraduate and graduate programs. He has consulted in the development of entrepreneurial educational networks in several countries. Presently Wayne is Senior Vice President, Academic Development and Innovation at Ashford University.
Co-Director Leadership, Technology and Systems
Casey Cerretani, a creative developer, has built sustainable processes and systems for multi-national corporations, regional businesses, start-ups and non-profit organizations. This work has taken him across the United States and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Casey is a gifted communicator who holds advanced degrees in engineering and applied science.
Co-Director, Human Relationships and Development
Fred Choy is a leader in a faith based community and brings incarnational leadership and community building skills to the Center. Fred seeks to work with leaders through a life process of discovering one's passion and gifts. He has worked for many years in the multiethnic community and is gifted in interpreting cultures and systems. Fred has been a part of several national multiethnic think tanks and brings challenging insight and analysis. Fred has also led and helped many organizations through times of transition and visioning.
Director of Encore for Mid-Career or Post Career Leaders
Pastor, teacher and author, Dr. Ward Tanneberg believes that discovering renewed life purpose, demonstrating personal worth and value, and fueling one’s spirit are keys to a long, happy and fulfilling life. Life and ministry are every day celebrations of the grace of God. It is a message he lives and shares with pastors and other leaders in churches, retreats, and conferences throughout America, focusing on the midlife and beyond age significance of 21st century Christians.
Executive Director
Jon Sharpe, a pioneer in higher education in the area of global urban leadership, co-founder of a graduate university, served as Academic Dean, and a Professor of Global Urban Studies. He lectures internationally and has co-authored Street Signs with Ray Bakke, addressing how to consult a city. He has been instrumental in forming several organizations, a think tank, and facilitating city-wide consultations. His work takes him to major cities in Africa, China, India, Europe, and the Philippines as well as cities in the United States.
Signs of Hope for the Center
An attorney has donated his time to form the legal piece of the Center for Global Urban Leadership.
A building contractor has committed to paying for the costs of the Center organizational formation.
We are in conversation with a university to let us represent their programs online and at learning centers in India.
We are in conversation with a college in the United Kingdom to partner with us so we can offer a PhD and a DMin for students seeking post graduate degrees in global urban leadership.
We are in conversation with two seminaries and one university about partnering together on global urban leadership curriculum and field experiences.
A key mission leader and educator in India has been a part of developing the curriculum for online learning and will be involved in developing learning centers in India with the Center.
A key political activist and Christian leader in India has agreed to partner with us developing learning centers committed to educating those traditionally excluded from education within the Indian context.
Curriculum has been developed and delivered to a university for online learning with a focus on Global Urban Leadership.
Curriculum has been developed for seminaries and other educational institutions with a focus on Global Urban Leadership.
The first Pilot Experiential Learning Community trip is scheduled for January in India.
A strategic partnership with a network addressing children at risk is in process.
Be a Leader, Follow Jesus
Over the last decade I’ve learned a great deal about leadership. I’ve had the opportunity to be with leaders from many walks of life and from many parts of the world. I’ve been able to assess their strengths and weaknesses and I’ve learned that good leadership not only moves people toward a goal but it also helps grow people in character and gifting. Poor leadership can often accomplish organizational objectives but usually leaves shattered people and broken community in its wake. My years in the trenches of ministry have taught me that we need to spend more time developing and encouraging good leaders… leaders who know how to follow.
This summer I had the privilege of speaking at a commencement service in Amsterdam made up of African immigrants.. As I looked out at the audience and graduates that warm summer afternoon, I remember being impressed to share that effective leadership is leadership committed to following Jesus. Jesus is our model and our method. I concluded my comments that day with these few words, “Be a leader, follow Jesus.”
What can you do?
Over the next six months I will be working with our team to put the Center for Global Urban Leadership on a good foundation. It is hard work and it will require a great deal of sacrifice. I’m wondering if you would be willing to be a part of this Center and its development. There are three ways you can do that:
Join a pilot experiential learning community and go to a major city with us this year to strengthen leaders globally.
Give a gift for this six month startup phase for the Center of $250, $500, $1000, or more.
Pray that the Lord will give us the right people to serve in the right places at the right time.
If you plan on sending a check, at this point it can be sent to: Antioch Ministries, PO Box 273, Issaquah, WA 98207.
Within a few months the Center for Global Urban Leadership will be fully approved as a 501-C3 organization.
If you wish to be removed from this email list, please type reply and write, “remove”
Jon L. Sharpe,
Center for Global Urban Leadership
206.295.8343
jonlsharpe@gmail.com
http://www.globalurbanleaders.org/
January 5, 2007 Five leaders comment on the global future
http://www.outreachmagazine.com/library/features/JF07ftrLongRangeForecast.asp
Friday, November 24, 2006
The Church of Alhambra
I love my city, Alhambra! Alhambra is a unique city in the Los Angeles Region, sharing a border with East L.A, South Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel and Monterey Park. It is not quite a suburb but it is not completely urban either. It is a transitional city with growing numbers of immigrants. The population is mostly Hispanic and Asian but White, Black, Burmese, Sri Lankan, etc. are also represented. We are a diverse city with over 40 churches. But history has shown the Church to be fragmented. God continues to call the people of God in Alhambra together through Jesus.
On Wednesday night, Thanksgiving eve 2006, over 400 people representing over 9 Alhambra Churches (Protestant and Catholic) came together to worship and give thanks to our God. Multiple ethnicities, cultures, traditions and languages were woven into the service.
Pastors reflected from the book of Ephesians, a book that Paul wrote to the people of Ephesus to encourage them to see their city and world through Kingdom lenses, to see that the Kingdom of God is bigger than they think and that they are a part of it. The Church is bigger than we think it is and is not bound by our buildings and walls. Rather than each church taking a segment of the service to work on, we combined the elements of the service so that the people in all the churches worked together. The service included a multi-church orchestra, worship team and gathering. During the service, people were already talking about ways we can come together and be a light for Jesus to our city. One pastor's words especially linger. He challenged us to see that the greatest way to impact our city and world is through our collective worship of the one true God. When we worship Jesus, our Beloved, that is what expands the Kingdom of God in our city because our eyes are on Jesus and that points others to Him and what He is doing in our world.
Rather than our differences keeping us apart, we are brought together by what unites us; Jesus! And when the Church comes together in Jesus, the world sees the love of God for the world. May we be the Church of Alhambra that God calls us to be: people of compassion, love, hope, unity and Jesus. As we, the Church are made ONE in Jesus, so the Kingdom of God is realized more fully here in Alhambra as it is in Heaven.
On Wednesday night, Thanksgiving eve 2006, over 400 people representing over 9 Alhambra Churches (Protestant and Catholic) came together to worship and give thanks to our God. Multiple ethnicities, cultures, traditions and languages were woven into the service.
Pastors reflected from the book of Ephesians, a book that Paul wrote to the people of Ephesus to encourage them to see their city and world through Kingdom lenses, to see that the Kingdom of God is bigger than they think and that they are a part of it. The Church is bigger than we think it is and is not bound by our buildings and walls. Rather than each church taking a segment of the service to work on, we combined the elements of the service so that the people in all the churches worked together. The service included a multi-church orchestra, worship team and gathering. During the service, people were already talking about ways we can come together and be a light for Jesus to our city. One pastor's words especially linger. He challenged us to see that the greatest way to impact our city and world is through our collective worship of the one true God. When we worship Jesus, our Beloved, that is what expands the Kingdom of God in our city because our eyes are on Jesus and that points others to Him and what He is doing in our world.
Rather than our differences keeping us apart, we are brought together by what unites us; Jesus! And when the Church comes together in Jesus, the world sees the love of God for the world. May we be the Church of Alhambra that God calls us to be: people of compassion, love, hope, unity and Jesus. As we, the Church are made ONE in Jesus, so the Kingdom of God is realized more fully here in Alhambra as it is in Heaven.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Street Signs in the Desert
This past September we hosted a Vision Tour where we flew in pastors and prospective church planters in from all over the U.S. to Tucson. The idea behind the tour was to identify target areas and people groups where we want and need to start new churches. It was a lot of work, but a great time nonetheless. We had a great sampler platter of urban areas, the university area, among the Hispanics, the Pacua Yaqui tribe, Middle Eastern refugees, and of course, the suburbs.
The best part for me was in the preparation. While in the planning phase I happened to read Street Signs which opened up my eyes and helped me look at Tucson anew. I even expanded my vocabulary in regards to the city, but most importantly my love for Tucson grew. I decided from this point on I'm going to love this city as a student and work my way into all of the cracks and crevices. I set out to explore this place in depth and fell even more in love with Tucson.
According to the book, we've now just hit the "World-class City" mark as we've reached a million people. I've heard some projections that by 2050 we'll be at 10 million. Needless to say we're exploding with growth and as a church planting strategist it breaks my heart that we're not even keeping up with this growth let alone back-filling the urban areas when all the white churches fled to the 'burbs. I just learned today to in one spot in SE Tucson they're gonna create a whole new suburb ex nihilo starting with 30,000 homes! It's a daunting task.
Just yesterday I was thinking of this book as I drove from one end of Tucson to the other after I got done mountain biking. I really do love this city and I can only imagine how God feels as well. I too grew up in a tiny town (Iowa), but God has opened my eyes and heart for the city. I'm excited about trying in some small way to impact culture knowing the influence of Tucson is more far-reaching than I realize.
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