Getting Away to the Big City

I'm enjoying a couple days in Brooklyn, NY. When I get away, I like to get away to explore other cities. It just so happens that my little sister, Cameron, lives in Brooklyn so I have the opportunity to utilize her apartment as a base for exploring the city. I love the feel of cities, and I love to experience new things. I'm also using this time away to connect with God and to discern what God has in store for me and my family. I've been praying, reading, writing, and talking with different people. It's been so much fun so far. I'm loving New York! 

Assets in Pittsburgh

Over the past couple of weeks I've had the opportunity share with several different people about the many assets that are in East Liberty, Homewood, and other parts of the East End of the city of Pittsburgh. These assets include signs of hope in both people and places throughout my local urban environment.

I've shared about these assets with graduate students from different parts of the globe through the courses that I'm teaching at Bakke Graduate University. I've taken local leaders on walks through my neighborhood to see the assets first hand. I've shared positive stories of the process of urban transformation on social media. I've talked about all of the signs of spiritual transformation that I've been experiencing as a pastor in church staff meetings. Basically, whenever I get a chance I love to serve as an advocate for asset-based community development in the part of the city where God has called me to serve as a leader.

The Holy Spirit was at work in my city long before I arrived on the scene, and God's redemptive mission will carry on long after I am gone. I am simply participating in the good work that is going on in this particular place at this particular time. The kingdom of God is advancing in the East End of Pittsburgh in many creative ways. The city is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. The city has many assets. I am excited about what God is going to do next. 

Reflecting on a Busy Couple of Weeks

I just wrapped up a busy couple of weeks of ministry. I had the opportunity to lead, preach, teach, build relationships with many different types of people, and to engage with some of the most challenging issues in my city. It was a tough stretch, but it was also a good stretch. Life is presenting many challenges, but God is teaching me that I must increasingly depend on him for strength as I give myself away to others in participating in God's redemptive mission.

I'm really enjoying teaching masters and doctoral students at Bakke Graduate University. Students from all over the world are increasing their capacity by studying about relief, development, and advocacy in complex urban and global contexts. I am learning so much from the leaders who are taking the course. It's been a challenge, but it's so worth it to see the difference that is made in a relatively short span of nine weeks.

As an urban pastor I've encountered the pain of violence in my neighborhood, and I've been able to challenge our faith community to passionately impact the world through healthy work. These recent weeks have been filled with counseling appointments, staff meetings, partnership collaborations, worship services, and discipleship time. There are many ups and downs in the journey, but God is faithful through it all. Urban ministry is not for the faint of heart, but God is equipping me daily for the challenges. 

Three Year Anniversary

Three years ago I set out on the amazing adventure of launching a new church in the East End of the city of Pittsburgh. There have been so many ups and downs over the past three years. Many people who were with me from the beginning are still standing with me, shoulder to shoulder, as we seek to participate in God's redemptive mission in our little part of the city of Pittsburgh. Others who were with me in the beginning have moved on for various reasons, but I'm still thankful to those individuals who helped get our church off the ground. God has brought many new people to North Way East End over the years. I'm just as excited today to be a part of the transformational work of the Holy Spirit as I was three years ago. I have to admit, I've learned many lessons along the way and I've made some mistakes. There have been times when I've done some things well. The church isn't about me, though, The church is about God. We seek to make much of Jesus every week at North Way East End through worship, teaching, community, and outreach. As we celebrate what God has done in three years of ministry, we also recognize that we can do nothing apart from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We're expecting big things from God in 2015. Happy three year anniversary North Way East End!

Christians Leading the Way

I have the privilege of leading a multi-ethnic church in an urban context in Pittsburgh. We are a passionate community of followers of Jesus Christ, and we are committed to building healthy relationships with one another across cultural boundaries. I would like to share some of the language that I've been utilizing publicly during worship services and also privately in individual conversations with church members and community members. I am sharing it with the understanding that it may be helpful for some people who are searching for how to respond to the tension that is currently prevalent in the United States as a result of circumstances in Ferguson and New York. Here's the approach that I've been taking:

It is important for us as a church to acknowledge that there is currently a lot of tension in our country with regard to the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Followers of Jesus Christ must lead the way when it comes to reconciling human beings to one another because we have been reconciled to God. We cannot choose to be silent and disengaged on this subject. We must engage. We can get involved by praying, listening, and engaging in civil dialogue. All of those things are good, but they are not enough in and of themselves. Christians must also act. We can act in a wide variety of different and creative ways. We must each ask the Holy Spirit for discernment with how to act, but we must act. For some, action may include intentionally building relationships with people that are different from us racially and socioeconomically. Invite people to coffee, lunch, or dinner. Ask good questions and listen with an attitude of humility as Christ modeled. Uncivil discourse leads to an attitude of pride which deteriorates into an “us” versus “them” mentality. Civil discourse led by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit unites people together into a “we” mentality where we experience mutual transformation. Some may feel called to act by such things as protesting or writing or mentoring or discipling or worshiping together or advocating, but all actions should stem from healthy, cross-cultural relationships. Christians should be modeling these types of healthy relationships and authentic interactions.

Poverty, Diversity, and Social Justice

In January I'll be co-teaching a course at Bakke Graduate University called Poverty, Diversity, and Social Justice. I'm looking forward to facilitating the class and learning from passionate followers of Jesus Christ who are serving in urban contexts around the world. The students who take classes at BGU are usually involved in many different types of urban ministry and a wide range of circumstances.

Poverty. Diversity. Social justice. These are big issues in our modern world, and it is my opinion that followers of Jesus Christ should be leading the way in both learning and practice with these topics. A process of reflection and action leads to meaningful ministry. God is always on a redemptive mission to redeem every person and place in this world, and followers of Jesus Christ should be leading the way.

Bakke Graduate University offers students five life changing degree options: Doctor of Transformational Leadership, Doctor of Ministry, Master of Business Administration, Master of Social and Civic Entrepreneurship, and Master of Global Urban Leadership. Check out their website at www.bgu.edu for more details about their unique graduate level education opportunities and also for specific details about the Poverty, Diversity, and Social Justice class that I'll be teaching in January. 

The Gospel of Reconciliation

Recently, some people have been asking me for my thoughts on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. I think it's natural for people to want to talk with me because I have intentionally chosen to live in an African-American neighborhood and I serve as a pastor at an intentionally multi-ethnic church. I do have a lot to say about what is going on in our country, but I also have a lot of listening to do. Right now I'm listening a lot. I'm also praying and reflecting. I won't stop there, though. Out of listening, prayer, reflection, and dialogue comes action. It is important for followers of Jesus Christ to listen, pray, reflect, talk, and act because Christians should be leading the way in reconciling human beings to one another. If we are truly reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, then our purpose as God's church is to be a part of God's redemptive mission.

God's redemptive mission, reconciling human beings to God and to one another, was important to Jesus. In the book of John in the Bible, Jesus prays for the disciples that he will be sending out to accomplish his purposes once he is gone. Jesus also prays for all human beings to be reconciled to God and to one another. In referencing his disciples and all humanity, Jesus prayed, "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me." (John 17:20-24 ESV)

God's desire is for all of us to "become perfectly one." God is always on a mission to reconcile us to God and to one another. We were made to be in community with one another. There is no "us" versus "them" in the Kingdom of God. There is only "we" doing life together with one another empowered by the Holy Spirit to transcend all of the barriers that would keep us apart. If anyone has a message of hope in a country that has deep ethnic, political, economic, and social divisions, it is followers of Jesus Christ. We should be leading the way in listening, praying, reflecting, discussing, healing, and acting toward a more unified world. Let's have the hard conversations. Let's take bold actions that lead to a more just world. Let's demonstrate the profound love of Christ in a world that desperately needs to discern how to love each other in the midst of trying times. The love of God is strong enough to transcend individual and system sin and brokenness in our culture.