A Look Back

During our staff meeting today we were asked to reflect on 2009... specifically in any areas where God was active. As I look back I can think of several key areas where God has impacted me. My life has changed dramatically in many ways this year, but God has been there throughout the entire realm of new experiences. I am so thankful for the challenges of life because they have presented opportunities for me to grow as a follower of Christ. The following are some random thoughts about moments that were significant to me throughout the course of 2009.

Overture I: In January I officially started the DMin program at BGU by heading to Seattle for two weeks of intense urban studies and field expriences. I heard over 40 lectures during that time, and we spent hours learning in the hands on environments of the streets. During that course I began to build the foundation of transformational leadership which I carried back with me to Pittsburgh.

The Move: After studying the incarnational leadership model in Seattle, Julie and I finally decided to take the urban plunge and move into the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Our urban adventure has had many ups and downs, but we have learned to seek God in the midst of unpredictable circumstances. We've been able to build strong relationships with people. Most of all, God has shown up for us in ways that people who live comfortably can only imagine or read about in books. God wants us to depend upon Him, and God cares deeply for the poor. We are learning so much!

Overture II: At the end of last summer Julie and I had to opportunity to go to Costa Rica and Mexico City for the second course in the DMin program. I learned so much through this exprience! As an example, Julie and I spent some time with a church group who ministered to prostitutes at night on the streets of San Jose. That group modeled for us how to demonstrate Christ's love effectively to people who are caught up in the lifestyle of prostitution. Although that experience greatly stretched my comfort zone, that knowledge has carried over for Julie and I and we recently had the opportunity to minister to a prostitute in Homewood. God is so amazing to plant a seed in us in a foreign country that we were able to utilize months later on the streets of our own neighborhood.

Externally Focused: In March and September I had the chance to travel to Dallas for the final two externally focused leadership communities at the Leadership Network. Those meetings helped to fuel my passion for mobilizing North Way to get outside the walls of our church to connect with people in need. Those meetings have yielded great fruit as I have had to opportunity to train multiple staff members and lay leaders in the fine art of leading our church to become externally focused. We still have a long way to go, but I believe that God is moving in this area at the church. We are making an impact in Pittsburgh!

I could go on about the many unique expriences from 2009, but I guess I should just read my blog entries from this past year to find out the full scoop on what happened... freezie pops, the urban chorus, the book reports, and so much more. The point is that I have a lot interesting things that I will be reflecting on as I enter into 2010. Do you have interesting things to reflect on? Were there any big things that you wish you had taken the chance on last year? Will you in 2010?

Consumerism and Materialism

On the topics of consumerism and materialism, Soong-Chan Rah writes, "American Christianity has acquiesced to the materialistic values of American society and is no longer distinguishable in its values and norms from the excessive materialism of American society... The American dream becomes confused with biblical standards. As more and more wealth and possessions are accumulated by the Christian, there is an assumption that they are in the will of God and that more blessings are coming their way." - from The Next Evangelicalism

What do you think about those words? I am definitely not against individuality and prosperity, as some have accused me of. However, I am concerned that American Christianity in many circles has bought into the prosperity gospel, which I believe is heresy. But cultural Christianity seems to be more subtle than outright proclaimation of prosperity gospel. It creeps into our lives and families and churches, and we often do not even notice. We do not notice that, as Christians, maybe our lives are not all that different than nonChristians.

DMin update

Well, I just found out tonight that I received an A on my Overture II course! That means two classes down and... many to go. The comments from the professor were very kind, and I have to admit that I was very relieved to earn a good grade. I poured myself into these initial classes, and it feels great to be done with my first year.

The courses I took this year will serve as a comprehensive foundation for the remainder of the classes. 2010 kicks off on February 1 with an intense round of theology classes: Old Testament, New Testament, and Hermaneutics. Then, I will go to Seattle again in May for a Global Christian History course taught by Ray Bakke. Later in 2010 I will work on some specialization courses, which may take me back to Seattle again or possibly another international trip. I am interested in a trip to Rowanda in October to take an inside look at the reconciliation process following the genocide in that country.

As I progress through the program the classes will become more and more specific to my work in Pittsburgh. The specialization I have selected is urban youth ministry, and I am working toward publishing my research as a book during the process of writing the dissertation. I really love Bakke Graduate University and the DMin program. I have been stretched and challenged as a leader in ways that I never imagined would be possible for me. This has been quite an adventure so far!

Loss of Community

I read a great book recently by Soong-Chan Rah called The Next Evangelicalism. He develops many interesting points in the book which I will probably chew on over the next couple of months. He dedicates one chapter to individualism, which has captured American culture and the American Evangelical church. In the book, he writes, "The narcissistic individualism of American society finds a direct corrolary in the American Evangelical church. Our church life becomes an expression of an individualism, yielding a self-absorbed narcissism. Instead of the church becoming an expression of a spirtual life lived in the community of believers or a spiritual life expressed in the context of a neighborhood community, our church life becomes a fulfillment of our individual desires and needs. Elements of the worship service, including the preaching of the Word and the worship of God, become reduced to a form of therapy that places the individual at the center of the worship service. Excessive individualism in American society yields, therefore, the loss of community life."

A couple of things have seemed strange to me lately. Why do many Evangelical churches have to "generate" community through small groups? Is it because we live such an individualistic lifestyle in America that we have so distanced ourselves from others that we need to try to force community? Also, many well-meaning Christians have been calling me lately to get them in touch with "needy people" that they can help this Christmas. I do not see anything wrong with that, and I am happy to help them, but why do they not know any poor people on their own? Often American people try to distance themselves intentionally from poor people by choice in terms of where they live and work and play. Does the American Evangelical church reflect that same attitude?

Do you see a big difference between the American church and American individualistic culture? Do you think the American Evangelical church overemphasizes the personal aspect of Christianity at the expense of the cultural mandate of God? Do you experience authentic community? Are you in any authentic (not top-down) relationships with people who are marginalized by mainstream American society?

Another Podcast Site

You can also check out the podcast at www.journeymenpodcast.com.

"The Journeymen" Podcast

I've launched a new podcast with my friend, Steve Brennan. Check it out at http://journeymen.libsyn.com/ and let me know what you think. You can also find it on itunes.

Have a great day!

Bryan