Sub-Merge Book Report

Sub-Merge: Living Deep in a Shallow World
John B. Hayes
Regal (2006)
This book is a call to serve God by working with the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized people of society. The author goes into detail about several missions strategies that are currently being utilized throughout the urban world, with a special emphasis on incarnational living as a key to transformational leadership.
The author does a good job describing the needs of the poor around the world, but that is not really the major theme of the book. The focus is on mobilizing people to join in community with other incarnational leaders in order to connect more effectively with people in need. Great joy and relationships can be found in discovering shared experiences within a missional community. The author suggests that the Western church is obsessed with process, and not necessarily solutions. We are also driven to succeed according to Western norms. This modern culture of performance and outcomes presents an enormous obstacle for those that choose to sub-merge into inner city ministry. Innovative and creative strategies are outlined in the book to equip leaders who are interested in moving counter culturally into work amongst the poor.
At first impression, an observer might think that the author is advocating for everyone to move to inner cities around the world in order to become effective Christians by living incarnationally among the poor. Actually, while the author presents a good case for living purposefully as a Christian among the poor, he also presents a unique perspective on the advantages and disadvantages of this aspect of purposeful living. The stories in the book are very inspirational, and good stories move people to action. The author throws out a tremendous challenge to the body of Christ in the first part of the book, but then he seems to let up toward the end by describing in detail all of the many challenges and difficulties associated with sub-merging. So, the strategies about incarnational living are a strong point of the book, but the difficulties outlined can be perceived by the reader as discouraging.
I must admit that I have considered living incarnationally prior to reading this book. Ray Bakke and Robert Linthicum introduced this idea in books I had previously read on urban ministry. After reading this book, I really took a step back from everything to consider incarnational ministry as a calling. I have been equally torn between developing the property I live on (six acres) as a mentoring center for L.A.M.P., or moving to the east end of Pittsburgh to live incarnationally with the children and families that I am mentoring. I have actually delayed making a decision on this matter because I wanted to read books like this and spend time in Seattle for Overture I to gain a broader perspective on what God is calling me to.
The incarnational strategies really resonated with me, and I can see myself living in the city. On the other hand, I am now more interested in developing relationships with others who might want to sub-merge with me instead of obsessing over real estate. This book taught me that community is the key to incarnational ministry, although the actual location needs to be we well thought out.

A Mentee Speaks

This was a great weekend for LAMP at North Way.  One of the boys we've been mentoring for three years was able to share his story with the congregation.  Although he was nervous, I was very proud of him for speaking in public in front of so many people.

One of the byproducts of this experience was that I had plenty of down time to hang out with him in between the services Saturday night and Sunday morning.  He opened up about some dreams he has in life, and also some struggles of family life and the gunshots in his neighborhood.  He's entering an age where he wants to be a man, but he also wants to remain a child.  Conversations with him jump in and out of serious topics and childish jokes.  I think everyone can relate to this awkward stage of life.

The important thing is that he has some positive mentoring relationships in his life.  I know he'll have his ups and downs.  I hope he makes good choices in life, but what's important right now is that his mentor and I remain a consistent part of his life.  We're in this for the long haul!

All Kids Are Our Kids

A friend of mine recently told me a story about a child who was causing major disruptions at school because of their "out of control" behavior.  When my friend contacted the parent to discuss the situation, the mom told her that she does not believe in disciplining her children.  Furthermore, she did not believe that other adults should be permitted to discipline or correct her children.  My friend was not quite sure what to do with that response... this was a new one!  

After our conversation, I began to wonder what happens to a society when parents don't fulfill their responsibilities?  One would think that all hope is lost if a child has bad parents, but something I read in one of my text books offered a different point of view.

In "Reclaiming Our Prodigal Sons and Daughters" Larson and Brendtro say, "We have often heard teachers and others say, 'What can we possibly do?  Look at this kid's family!'  But simply blaming the family does little good.  If the lives of troubled young people are to change, others in the community must become involved and play a role in the lives of individual children.  Nowhere is there more potential for positive influence than in faith-based programs.  They are one of the few cross-generational groups that can help rebuild a sense of community.  Nearly every segment of modern society has segregated its young from its older members.  Schools, recreational programs, entertainment centers, and even many families keep youth distanced from adults.  Traditional faith communities do not.  Churches and synagogues are not merely buildings.  Ideally, they are communities of committed people who are also potential employers, adult mentors, and positive peer groups - all things that troubled adolescents desperately need."

Churches and initiatives like LAMP play a huge role in the healthy development of children in this culture.  This is true for the obvious spiritual reasons, but I think it has a much deeper meaning.  When people of faith fail to act like people of faith, it causes tremendous problems in a society.  The age group that is most often negatively impacted by that is young people.

Joy in Leadership

I've been having a blast leading since I returned from Seattle.  I feel like I have really been equipped by my course work, and it is so fun to implement.  

I tried out an appreciative inquiry process at the last LAMP monthly mentor meeting, and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  I think that it opened the door for a more collaborative and energetic process of mentoring support (at least that's what I heard from a few of the mentors at the meeting).  I love taking risks and trying out new things.

Last Friday we had about 50 kids from Faison Intermediate out to a monthly group mentoring event at North Way Oakland.  The kids have really made the church their home when they are there, and the group mentors are doing a great job of connecting with them.  They're building solid relationships.  When I had the vision to launch this group mentoring effort two years ago, this is the kind of community and rapport that I had in mind.  I don't know who is blessed more:  the kids or the mentors?  Next up... snow tubing on February 13!

The LAMP leadership team at North Way met last night.  We went through the I.T.A.F.E.R.R. process of volunteer management that I learned last September in Dallas at the Externally Focused Leadership Community.  I learned a lot from listening to what these awesome LAMP leaders had to say.  It's such a joy to partner with them in this ministry.

Finally... I guess it's official:  I'm an elder at North Way (more specifically in the Worship Cafe)!  I can't wait to roll up my sleeves with my brother in Christ, Kent, who is doing an amazing job building up the Worship Cafe community.  If you know Pastor Kent, you'd agree that he is a gifted servant leader with a strong passion for God.  I'm very fortunate to be a part of that community, and I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store.  I'm sure this is going to be an adventure.  It all kicks off with the elder's retreat in Oakland this weekend.