Last Sunday, some volunteers from Continuum Church helped to serve breakfast at New Life United Methodist Church. The pastor, Jennifer Castor, is a Curves member, and several months ago, she took the time to have breakfast with me and give me some very valuable information about our neighborhood.

Each Sunday, her church serves breakfast to 150+ neighbors, many of whom are currently experiencing homelessness. They start serving cereal and pastries at 6:30 a.m., and are ready to serve hot breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Each guest also has the opportunity to get a new outfit from the clothing room, and take a lunch with him or her. This is a well-oiled operation, managed beautifully by an articulate gentleman named Chuck. He made us feel very welcome and put us right to work.

It was fantastic to see volunteers from several different churches work together in the very early morning in a very un-air-conditioned kitchen to provide for our neighbors in need. The guys at the stove scrambling hundreds of eggs were from Hilltop Lutheran, the lady buttering toast was a friend of Chuck’s from the business sector, and the young teenage girls in the clothing room were from yet another congregation. Our opening prayer was lead by Brian, who was once a guest for breakfast. He has since found Jesus, employment, and housing and is back each week to serve. “New Life” indeed.

We’re serving there again this week, since they were short-handed because of the holiday weekend. I can’t think of a better reason to get up three hours early on a Sunday morning.

Thank you all for your concern and interest in the prayer walk we had on May 31. I appreciated so much hearing from so many of you who said that you were praying for us that week and with us on Saturday morning. I believe those prayers were, and will be, answered.

I’m very pleased with how it turned out. We sent 25 people along four different routes in our neighborhood. We prayed for the items in our guide, and then also prayed for other issues as they came to mind. The preceding week was very difficult for both me and Adam, which I think means that what we did on that day was very significant. We know that as we walked and asked for God to help us bring more of His Kingdom to our neighborhood, we were doing the most important work possible. As Adam said years ago, “Prayer is the first ditch effort!” (as opposed to the “last ditch”).

Everyone who participated gave great feedback on their experience, as well as providing constructive ideas on how to improve our future walks. We will definitely do this again, continuing to ask God for creativity and wisdom and new relationships.

As for my own personal fear … I made it. I admit it was a little intimidating to walk right through the intersection mentioned in the newspaper article. But I reminded myself that every gang member is also created in the image of God and that I need to see that first. And nobody else seemed to be afraid, so, as the leader, I really didn’t have the option of chickening out!

As I promised, here’s the list of the things we’ll be praying for tomorrow. I am comforted/disturbed to know that what we are doing tomorrow must be important. I didn’t sleep well last night, I felt exhausted and overwhelmed all day today, I had a monstrous headache, and now, as I’m trying to go to bed, I get a nosebleed. Weird, huh? So all that to say that I appreciate your prayers. And if you want to pray along with us tomorrow at 11 a.m. Eastern (10 a.m. Central) here’s the list …

1. Homeless People: that God will bring immediate relief, shelter, food and health care; that Christ will restore hope for the future; for wise counsel and trustworthy friendships; for physical protection; for employment, housing and restored family life
2. Teachers: that they will impart godly character in their students; for needed tools and proper facilities; wisdom in handling difficult situations; encouragement; patience
3. Families: that God will sustain good marriages; that God will bring hope and help to relationships that are strained; for single moms; for righteous father-figures
4. Prisoners and Their Families: for prisoners to be protected from violence and the forces of evil; for the gospel to be proclaimed clearly in prison; for families to be sustained, protected, provided for and honored; for released prisoners to live restored abundant lives.
5. People who are socially weak or marginalized - specifically the elderly, physically handicapped and mentally ill: for supportive relationships; for the money to pay for medications; for the comfort and friendship of the Holy Spirit to encourage them
6. Substance Abusers: that God will break every form of bondage; for physical healing of their bodies; for wise counselors to bring intervention and help; for clarity of mind; that God would frustrate the plans of drug dealers in the neighborhood
7. Unemployed People: that God will miraculously meet their needs and that they will recognize his provision; that they will find work quickly; that God will prosper businesses that contribute to his kingdom
8. Children and Youth: that they would make wise choices; for strong friendships with Christian peers; for godly mentors; for good relationships with their parents; for laughter and joy; for safe and constructive summer activities
9. Law Enforcement: for righteous wisdom, principled patience, and gentle authority; for physical and emotional protection; for good relationships with neighborhood citizens
10. Gang Members: that God will satisfy their deep desires for significance and belonging; for Christians to welcome them into God’s family; for a way out for those who want one
11. Affordable Housing: for families to be able to pay their rent or mortgage; that those who want to stay wouldn’t be forced out by new housing developments

And for those of you late sleepers, feel free to pray whenever you want, since Marta and Jill both assure me that the Lord operates outside the time-space continuum. It will still matter.

(Note: several of the prayer items above are from a church member who lives in the neighborhood, and the others are from a really great prayer guide called “Seek God for the City 2008,” published by Way Makers. Many thanks to whoever left it in the up-for-grabs pile on the break room table at Convoy of Hope! I had a feeling it would come in handy.)

I hate to admit that I’m a fearful person, but I am. I know all the scriptures about not being afraid, and I use my common sense. But I’m still scared of being physically harmed. And unless I’m repressing the memories, there’s no deeply scarring event in my past that would account for this. I’m just a chicken. And I always have been.

This coming Saturday morning (May 31) I am leading a prayer walk in the neighborhood around the church. I am trying to make sure that we have at least one outreach event per month, and this is it for May. Our church/theater is situated on the northwest corner of an area known as Weinland Park. It’s one of the three poorest neighborhoods in the city. (Probably not so coincidentally, I currently live in one of the three richest neighborhoods in the city. Ponder that, and maybe I’ll post about it in the future …)

View Larger Map

Anyway, Weinland Park. It’s an older neighborhood and many of the residents are experiencing the effects of generational poverty. A few weeks ago I had coffee with another pastor in the area, and she identified some of the specific needs in that community. As with many urban neighborhoods, education is a challenge. Apparently, the schools have stopped assigning homework because they know it simply will not be completed, and the school books probably won’t be returned either. This neighborhood has also seen an increase in violence. A weekend story in the Columbus Dispatch notes this area as one that has been identified by police as having strong gang activity.

Did I mention we are prayer walking there this weekend? Now before all you mommies get really freaked out, let me say that a friend and I drove that route last Saturday morning and it looked fine. We’ll be in a group, during the day, and we won’t be doing anything to challenge the neighbors, so I think we’ll be fine.

But can I just say that I am scared? No one has said not to go, and this is our neighborhood so I think that we should do this. And I really think that we’ll be fine. But I’m still scared. I’m afraid so often in my life that I don’t think I know the difference between just plain scared and having a spiritual sense that this is something to avoid.

This is the kind of neighborhood that I want to live and work in someday. (Mom, don’t listen.) So I know that I’m supposed to be there. Which might be why I feel so afraid of all the situations I’m imagining. I think it’s important for me to conquer that fear this year.

So would you pray for me? And for our prayer walk? And even during our prayer walk? We’re starting at 11 a.m. (that’s 10 a.m., Missouri folks) and I would love to know that you are joining us in spirit. Before the end of the week, I’ll post a list of the things we’ll be praying for as we walk. Thanks, friends.

(See, sometimes I’ll post the stuff I’m thinking about. Just for you Judi!)

Mom pointed out to me yesterday that each problem I’ve faced, related to being in Columbus, has resulted in my having something better than what I lost. That’s very true, and I don’t believe that kind of stuff happens by chance. And since I also don’t believe that my own positive thinking can cause the universe to align to bring me good things, there must be some other explanation. I hope that seeing all these events together will help to build your faith as it has mine. And I hope that you are encouraged to take hope in your current circumstances …

Renting My House - Before I even could decide to leave, I knew I would have to make provisions for my house for a year. Now, if you know me at all, you know how much I love my house. The thought of leaving it behind was hard enough, not to mention leaving it in the hands of strangers. The thought of packing it all up was daunting, but the thought of renting it furnished was frightening. However, Jill and Lucas decided that they were going to sell (turns out “rent”) their own home so that they could rent mine for a year. Having my best friends living there was a better solution that I even thought to pray for.

Part-time Job - I knew that what the amount of support I had raised would not cover all my living expenses, so I really needed a part-time job. I filled out an application at a coffee shop in our church’s neighborhood, but what I really wanted was to work at Curves. At the very first one I visited, I really hit it off with the assistant manager. I had to wait more than a week, but they finally called me for an interview. A few days later they offered the position, and I accepted. Bonus: the job pays about $2 more per hour than I had expected to make!

House Fire - On Valentine’s Day, I woke to phone call from Jill telling me that my home in Springfield had caught fire the night before. (See previous post) That was horrifying enough, and the prospect of trying to manage the reconstruction project from here was overwhelming. However, God continues to redeem this situation. Here’s the list so far:

• Jill and Luke are able to handle much of the project for me.
• The company hired to clean things up is also contracting the entire reconstruction project, so I’m only dealing with a few people (who have been wonderful).
• That company has an agreement with State Farm such that whatever they quote is what is paid. No quibbling about money.
• When the ruined flooring downstairs was pulled up, they found the original hardwood floors in brilliant condition. Yup, think I’ll take those instead.
• The entire house is being rewired and brought up to code. They are making sure every wall has an outlet. And they are getting rid of the ugly institutional fluorescent light in Stephanie’s room.
• The roof has been completely replaced. Like, they took the top off my house and put it back on. (Thank you to those of you who prayed for good weather that day!)
• I am getting a new furnace.
• AND they are going to paint color on my ceilings, which I did not have before.

It’s going to be just like my house … but nicer. And it’s supposed to be done before I’m home for the weekend in June.

Housing in Columbus - I was hoping to find a family who would rent a room, or an elderly couple who could use a companion/housekeeper. Adam and Jenna tried for months before I arrived to find something, but to no avail. Finally, Adam’s aunt and uncle graciously allowed me stay in their home while they vacationed in Florida in February. Then I went to stay with my cousins, who I had only met a couple weeks before. They invited me to stay for two weeks longer than any of us expected. At this point, I was getting desperate, and was starting to really feel discouraged. I even interviewed with a home-sharing program in Columbus, where I would live with a total stranger and either pay very high rent, or do a lot of personal care. But then, one of our generous Curves members offered to rent me the third floor of her home, which her family wasn’t using. We agreed on a one-month trial and what I felt was a very fair rent. After only a week, she told me she’d decided that we didn’t need to go for a whole month: she knew she wanted me to stay. And recently she’s told me that she doesn’t want me to pay rent because I’m helping her by watching her daughters a few times a month. AND her house is in a beautiful safe neighborhood and a five-minute walk from my Curves club.

Cell Phone - When Jill and Luke came at Easter, I picked them up at the airport. I pulled up in the crazy passenger pick-up lane and jumped out of the car to get their stuff. I thought I heard something fall, but didn’t see anything when I looked down. After we were already on the road, I realized that I didn’t have my cell phone. We went back to look for it, but it was nowhere to be found, having probably been pulverized by about 70 SUVs already. I knew I could not be here without a cell phone, and there’s no Alltel store in Columbus. So, Jill and Luke decided that, if I could buy myself out of my current contract (and I managed to), they were going to add me to their family plan. And they were going to pay the nominal monthly fee. So now I have a nicer phone (even though I lost all my numbers) and no cell phone payment.

Car - See below post. Long story short, I have an infinitely nicer car and I got an amazingly, divinely-arranged deal on it.

“We are assured and know that, God being a partner in their labor, all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good, to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.” (Romans 8:28, Amplified Bible)

I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised anymore, but I must admit that I do get a little disturbed when faced with what could be a major problem in my life (disclaimer: I realize that nothing I face is tragic compared to what is happening to others in our world, but still …) However, since I decided to move to Columbus, God has taken every crisis and resolved it better than I would have even dared to pray for. Case in point …

For several weeks now, my car has been making me nervous. I was pretty sure that it needs new tires, and there was just something not quite right about how it was driving sometimes. But then, about two weeks ago, it started slipping out of gear. While I was on the highway. Driving 65 miles per hour. Of course, I had no idea what’s going on, and immediately imagined myself careening out of control and … well … you get the idea.

So I took it a mechanic (trusted, Adam’s cousin), and they couldn’t replicate the problem. Of course, as soon as I drove the car again, it was acting up. So I drove it for another few days, and it continued to scare me. I decided that as long as I was driving less than 40 mph, I was OK, so I just tried to avoid the highways. But that’s not particularly easy to do in Columbus. Finally, after much prompting from Jill who talked me through a couple scary drives, I took it back to the mechanic again.

This time, I rode along with the technician, Jerry, and for 40 minutes there were no problems. But, finally, (and I’ve never prayed for my car to malfunction before!) as we were on our way back to the shop, it started slipping out of gear. Jerry recognized that problem, and immediately exited the highway as well. He assured me that we were safe and weren’t going to lose control of the car, but it’s very bad for (what’s left of) the engine.

Diagnosis: transmission is shot. It could be repaired, for around $1,800. Now, friends, my car has served me well, but it’s not even worth that as a trade-in. Not to mention that, as a missionary, I don’t have $1,800 burning a hole in my pocket. So after consulting with Lucas and Jack (Adam’s dad), I decided that the best course of action is to try to buy a new car and believe that God is going to provide for the monthly payments.

I continued to drive the car a few more times last week, but on Wednesday when the transmission started slipping at 25 mph, I made peace with the fact that it was time to stop driving it entirely.

I have $500 in an emergency savings account, and am expecting another $500 from those lovely “economic shot in the arm” checks. I figured that with $1,000 down payment, I could get into something that will at least get me through the rest of the year. Jack agreed to help me shop, which was fantastic because he’s so good with cars and with negotiating, and I’m thoroughly intimidated by this whole process.

This past Saturday dawned rainy and chilly, but I couldn’t really afford to wait around on this, so I got ready to head out anyway. Before I left, Adam called and told me that the church was going to take up an offering to help me pay for my car. So I could count on some additional money for the down payment. Apparently my new reaction to unexpected blessings is to start laughing, because I did. I guess that’s a natural reaction to joy and surprise. Thank you, my amazing Continuum Church family.

Jack and I literally drove all over the city of Columbus, and even a little ways outside it. Over the course of the day we visited seven different dealerships, got our feet wet, saw some really awful cars, and had some interesting encounters. The worst of which was with a very un-funny-even-though-he-thought-he-WAS-funny, high-pressure-sales British man, who tried to have me working on loan paperwork without even really asking me if I liked the car I’d driven. He basically admitted that he’d been completely untruthful with us when we arrived. Our clue to that was that he told us that a 2003 Jetta was entirely within my price range. In the end, we basically had to politely walk out the door while he was still talking to us. He even called my cell phone later in the day (shame on me for giving him the number) to tell me how we were wrong about something we’d said and if we could just tell him the “magic number” he could work with us. And he served bad tea. THAT is why I hate shopping for used cars.

Finally, at around 4 p.m., we stopped at one last spot. The whole spiel started over, with a new sales guy. We told him what we want. He told us he doesn’t have much (if anything) like that, BUT he can show us something else we might like … Except that in this case, he’s right. It was a 2002 Chevy Impala (3.8 L V6 engine, if you care). I didn’t think I would care for it, since it was the complete opposite of what I was looking for. But I was surprised by how much I liked driving it. Maybe, first, just because it actually ran as it should. But in addition I felt very safe in it, since it’s a heavier car with all sorts of safety features. And, in Jack’s words, “It rides like a Cadillac.” It really does.

I drove another car that was closer to what I was looking for, and realized that what I really wanted to drive for the next however-many-years was the Impala. Jack assured me that the engine will run for another 100,000 miles at least and finally admitted that he likes it maybe even a little better than what he’s currently driving. That was the endorsement I’d been waiting for.

It was already priced well below what we expected, but the history was totally clean. The dealer came down another $500, and gave me $700 as trade-in for the Contour, knowing full well what was wrong with it. Between those discounts and my down payment, my actual loan amount is less than the minimum I’d been planning on, even after the additional cost of tax and tags.

So, once again, crisis averted. And, not just averted. As Mom pointed out to me yesterday, each time I’ve encountered a problem, the solution has actually given me something better than what I had before. See above post that highlights all those stories. Crazy to me that this difficult year away from everything I’m used to may actually bring some of the biggest blessings …

This past Saturday was the first official outreach event for Continuum Church!

We had 23 show up at Bethany Christian Church on the east side of Columbus at 8:45 on Saturday morning. This is a stellar turnout when you consider that the average attendance at our weekend gatherings is 50. It’s fantastic to be part of a community of believers who have caught the vision for social justice, and are ready to really do something about it. Everyone was on time and excited to get to work!

We were part of a larger group at least 100 people who were partnering with the Windchangers organization to address several different needs in the area. After a welcome and explanation of neighborhood dynamics from Pastor Elaine Fennell, the Continuum Church group split up into two teams, affectionately known as “Team Sheep” (my team, pictured above) and “Team Goat” (Adam’s team). We were going to be part of the neighborhood clean-up team, working in partnership with Keep Columbus Beautiful.

The incredible amount of partnership and cooperation on display on Saturday was probably one of my favorite parts. Christians from across the continuum (wink!) of denominations worked together, and partnered with secular organizations as well. We know that God’s dream of reconciliation is for the whole world, and if we are going to accomplish it, we have to stop judging our brothers and sisters on matters that don’t really matter. (Anyone else ready for the the chorus of “Come Together”?) Anyway …

Before heading into the neighborhood, armed with safety vests, gloves, trash bags, grabbers, brooms and rakes, our group talked about our core values for outreach at Continuum Church. Unfortunately, I don’t have three clever words that all start with P (or R or D) to describe them, but I still want you all to know what we think about:

1. We are going to be flexible. We know things aren’t always going to go exactly as planned, or exactly as we hope. But we’re going to just keep working, knowing that, through our obedience, God’s purpose for the day’s work will be accomplished.

2. We’re here to join our neighbors. We know that when we work, we are serving PEOPLE, whom God loves, whose lives matter as much as our own, and whose spiritual journeys are moving along just like ours. Relationships are important to us, and we want to come alongside those in need, not drop in to quickly provide some temporary assistance.

3. We are doing spiritual work. On Saturday, we picked up trash. We didn’t talk to very many of the neighbors. But we know that what we did had eternal significance, for us and for them. All the work that we do for the sake of Jesus and in his name, IS part of seeing God’s Kingdom come here in Columbus.

Check out this great story in the Columbus Dispatch, featuring one of our fabulous Continuum Church members, pictured below (who, by the way, was on Team Sheep).

Overall, the morning was a great success. Rain was forecast for the whole day, but it held off until we’d finished our clean-up, returned our tools, and got back in our cars to go home for a nap.

I’m working to build some relationships with other churches our area so that we can do more projects like this. Thank you so much to those of you who are supporting me financially. Your generosity made this weekend project possible, and I’m looking forward to reporting on many more this year!

Here’s the text from an e-mail sent to our Continuum e-mail group this week. For those of you who aren’t in Columbus, you’ll find some more information about our outreach, as well as how you can pray for us.

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We’ve been talking together on Sundays about the mission of Jesus, and we have an opportunity to put our beliefs into action through our first “Roll” event. We believe that there is nothing more beautiful or powerful than a community of Christians working together to overcome injustice and pain in the world. Now THAT’S worth getting out of bed for! So let’s go …

What: Continuum Church’s first outreach event

Where: Meet at Bethany Christian Church, 1130 E. Livingston Where is this?

When: Saturday, April 19

What Time: Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. so that we can get started right at 9:00. We plan to be done by 12:30. Lunch will be served afterwards for $5 per person.

How: We will join Bethany Christian Church and the Windchangers organization to serve our neighbors in the Old Oak Community. There is a great opportunity in this area to meet basic needs. We’ll be connecting spirituality and social justice through projects such as cleaning up neighborhoods, tending a neighborhood garden, fixing up playground equipment, visiting homeless neighbors in transition, and assisting other churches. We’re going to work hard, so please wear clothing and sturdy shoes that can get dirty, and bring work gloves if you have them. We’ll provide the water and snacks.

What Now?: E-mail Beth to confirm that you’ll be there.

What if you can’t be there?: Use the following prayer guide, based on the outreach’s activities, to join us in spirit by asking God to help make this a success!

Monday - (Serving Local Churches) Pray for the churches in the Old Oak Community, especially our partner Bethany Christian Church. Ask God to give them creativity and compassion as they meet the needs in their neighborhood. Ask God to provide the resources they need. Pray that they would all be inspired by God’s plan for good to triumph over evil.

Tuesday - (Neighborhood Clean Up) Pray for the families in the neighborhood. Ask God to keep them safe outside and inside their homes. Pray that relationships would be strong between husbands and wives, and parents and children. Pray that the power of God’s truth and goodness would be stronger than the systems of violence and malice.

Wednesday - (School Playground Maintenance) Pray for the schools in the neighborhood. Ask God to protect the students while on school grounds. Pray that the teachers and staff would be good role models as they teach, mentor the students, and consult with parents. Pray that God would provide the resources the school needs. Pray that the students would have open minds and would learn the information that will help them to be productive members of their community.

Thursday - (Neighborhood Garden) Pray for the tangible need of food for those in the community. Pray that God would help the churches and agencies that provide food. Pray that Bethany Christian Church’s neighborhood garden would be a project that provides food as well as teaches about nutrition and fosters relationships between church and neighbors. Pray that God would also fill the spiritual hunger of the neighbors.

Friday - (Visiting Transitional Housing) Pray for those in our community who are homeless. Pray that God would keep them safe while they are on the streets, and ask him to provide the food they need. Pray for the churches and agencies who serve these neighbors, asking that God would give them the resources and volunteers they need. Ask God to direct the homeless neighbors to the places where they can receive help. Ask God to help these neighbors be aware of his presence and his desire to overcome the pain in their lives. Ask God to help you not to look past these neighbors on the street.

Saturday - (The Event) Ask God to help all aspects of the event to be successful. Pray that the weather would be nice enough for us to work outside, and that enough volunteers would show up. Ask God to help the volunteers to be united in our desire to serve, and to make new friends as we work together. Pray for us to have opportunities to meet neighborhood residents, and that when we do they would be encouraged by the proof that someone cares for them.

Tonight I was chatting with Jill online, and we were talking about Continuum Church’s first outreach event on Saturday, April 19. Of course, this is where it all really comes together for me, so I can’t help but feel a little apprehensive about this. I mean, it’s why I’m here, right? It’s why I gave up my life in Springfield and why some of you are supporting me financially (THANK YOU!). It’s a big deal.

Of course, as a friend would, she reassured me. “You’ll be so incredibly grat.” She caught it immediately and the next moment “great” popped up on the screen.

But that’s my fear! What if I wind up being so incredibly grat? So close to “great,” but not close enough. That’s always been my fear: that I’m just not quite good enough to do what I really want to do.

I know all the right answers to this: God equips those He calls. Obedience is the key, and everything else is up to Him. Look to the successes of the past as proof that this is what you’re supposed to be doing.

I know all that, but let’s be honest: it nags at me anyway. Because I can think of plenty of times in my life when I’ve been grat. It’s not so much thinking that I’m the wrong person for the job, because I know clearly that I’m supposed to be here. It’s really worrying that I might be just that plain old not good enough. Maybe I’m grat, but not great.

It’s just this area too. I feel confident in other things that I’m doing, but I think that this area of leading outreaches is SO IMPORTANT to me that I just don’t want to mess it up. I want it to be perfect. I want everyone participating to have a meaningful, life-shaping experience. I want what we do to bring God’s Kingdom to earth. And, of course, I want everything to go perfectly. I know it won’t, not all of it, but I still want to be good at it.

The more I write this out, the more I realize how me-centered this is. (For those of you who might have somehow missed this about me, I have to process things out loud … or on paper I guess.) I have to admit that it might be as much a fear of the ambiguous “looking stupid” as it is a fear that the outreach won’t be effective. In fact, I think it’s more. I think that I trust God to accomplish his purpose in the work we do, when we go with the right attitude. But I think what’s really bugging me is how other perceive me during that process. It’s all about what people think of me. Or what I think of me when I compare me to someone else who might have been great in that situation.

Dang it. That’s an uncomfortable revelation.

This past Sunday was our Invitation Sunday. We’ve graduated to a larger theater, one that has actual seats so we’re adjusting to sitting in rows. We had 59 people, and some really great discussion about we as a the human race have reached our point of crisis, and how Jesus is the solution to our problems.

Of course, new space means new challenges (lighting, sound, group dynamics) but this is part of the process of growing. And even with new challenges, it’s exciting to grow.

Please continue to pray for our relationship with the new theater management. We believe this is the space we are supposed to use, and so we need some wisdom as we renegotiate our lease.