Greater Than the Sum of Their Parts

When followers of Jesus share life together in a particular place they become greater than the sum of their parts – they actually become something altogether new. The parish forms the context, and relationships of faith form the connectivity for wonderful new possibilities. (The New Parish by Sparks, Soerens, and Friesen, p 22)

We barely knew each other, we came from different backgrounds, and very different church experiences. To be completely honest, I wasn’t too sure how I felt about what God laying on my heart.

Pastor Ronnie Jackson’s church, Cornerstone Crusade Faith Center, has been located in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood for nearly 20 years. Pastor Jackson and I serve together on the leadership team of Mission St. Paul, a diverse group of pastors and leaders from around the Twin Cities, who pray for the transformation of our city. Although we serve together in Mission St. Paul, we are very different people. However, it was clear that God was calling us to join forces in praying for our neighborhood.

Pastor Jackson

Pastor Jackson grew up on the South Side of Chicago in the 1960s, and I grew up in a medium-sized town in Central California in the ‘70s. He comes from a traditional and more formal church setting and often wears a suit, and I work with exploratory church-planters and can’t remember the last time I wore a suit. He is in his 60’s, and, although I’m 50, I often work with people in their 20’s and 30’s.

When we started meeting in the Fall of 2014, it was just the two of us. We didn’t have an elaborate plan, but we did make one commitment that I believe was the key to our longevity. We determined to meet every Friday from 8:30-10 regardless of whether or not someone else joined us. Also, since we had invited others from our neighborhood, we agreed that if one of us was out of town, then the other one would still show up to pray at the designated time.

For the first several months, it was typically just the two of us. And, as discouraging as that may sound, it was anything but discouraging. As we shared our life stories, our current challenges, prayed for one another and the neighborhood, a deep friendship began to grow. I began to understand more of the history of our neighborhood from someone who has been here a lot longer than me. Pastor Jackson began to regain his hope for the neighborhood as I shared stories of new expressions of church that were being birthed. And, we both felt encouraged that we had an ally who was deeply committed to seeing transformation in our neighborhood.

In early 2015, others from the neighborhood began to join us. A couple of young church planters, a family with a ministry to the Arts community, a “retired” missionary who spent many years in Somalia, and an Eritrean immigrant who uses her East African restaurant to bless homeless young people. Our growth has been slow, but our growth has been deep, and this little band of intercessors has become a beautiful expression of the Church united.

Prayer mapping as we pray for the neighborhood.

This past year as we have prayed, two things have stood out to me. First of all, prayer is powerful. The power of praying for one another and our neighborhood has deeply united us relationally and spiritually, which is a compelling sign to a watching world. Our times of prayer are also profoundly shaping how we, as the wider Body of Christ, are living on mission corporately in our neighborhood.

Secondly, a united, praying Church is essential for creating a healthy environment for the transformative, redemptive work of God. A healthy Body life is crucial if we expect to see healthy, new expressions of church birthed in our neighborhood. If seeds of God’s kingdom are intentionally being sown throughout our neighborhood, then the condition of the “soil” is of vital importance.

And, this dream of a unified, praying Church is not only happening in our neighborhood, but is taking root in other neighborhoods as well. Wouldn’t it be beautiful to see more neighborhoods enjoying the power and beauty of the Church united in prayer and mission? It only takes a couple of people…could one of those be you?

Neighboring

As a church community we have been studying The Art of Neighboring for the past month or two. During that time, we have had great conversations about how to impact our neighbors, how to build relationships that will lead to deeper intimacy with Christ and transform lives. But, in all of these conversations, we could never really imagine how powerful a simple “braai” (like an American barbecue, only with more meat) with our next-door neighbors could be.

Last summer, Bryan and I invited the 3 young men from next door to come over for a backyard braai. They had not lived in the neighborhood for very long and, as with most young men, they were often just passing in and out of their home. To get to know them better, we invited them to our home for a meal to spend a pleasant few hours in conversation. Basically, it was your typical introductory meeting with neighbors.

One of the young men, Andrew, brought along a young woman, Becky, whom he had just started to date. We learned that Andrew was studying to be a music pastor and that he was the one playing the organ at weird hours both day and night. He worked for Caribou Coffee, and he and his girlfriend Becky had actually met a few years before, went on a few dates, but decided they “weren't that into each other.” She moved away, he went on with school, time passed, and then one day she walked into the coffee shop where he worked. There was Andrew in green tights. Nobody is sure why he was wearing green tights (Halloween perhaps?), but she took another look at him and they reconnected. This time it was a different story and they began to date.

That evening at our home, we talked about how Bryan and I met, our relationship, and having teenagers. We talked about Jane Austen, my furniture, the Twins, and the weird hours that he played the organ. It all seemed rather normal, strangers who share a common fence getting to know each other. For the next year, we would watch them come and go, we would wave, have short conversations over the back fence, and we became Facebook friends. Bryan and I watched their relationship become more serious, we would ask the normal neighborly questions and so on. Then earlier this year, we received an invitation to their wedding, and Bryan and I assumed all the neighbors were invited. We debated whether or not we should go because we didn't really “know” them, we didn't want to intrude on an intimate family event, you only get so many beautiful Saturdays to enjoy in Minnesota, etc.

In the end, we decided that we'd actually enjoy going, so we did. We got up, put on our Sunday best, and drove the two hours to Wisconsin. Once there, we were surprised at how small and intimate the wedding was, and that we were the only neighbors there. It was a beautiful ceremony that was dedicated to God and their love for Him and each other. I was honored to be there, yet a bit confused as to why. We knew no one except for Andrew's roommate, Tim. But we mingled and ended up having a wonderful time, as their love and pure delight in each other was evident in every detail of the intimate and slightly crowded setting. During the reception, Andrew and Becky made it a point to struggle through the crowd and make their way over to the corner where Bryan and I sat. I was surprised that they would make the effort, but got up and hugged them in congratulations.

Andrew told me how pleased they were that we came, and how badly they wanted to share this day with us. Apparently, unbeknownst to us, our conversation the year before in our backyard had impacted them immensely and gave them the courage and hope to move their relationship forward, and eventually toward marriage.

We were a bit stunned. We couldn't for the life of us remember what we said that was so profound. I am still trying to remember what I said, apparently it was gold and I might want to say it again. But I am realizing that it was not even the words we used, but the moment that God chose to use. A seemingly normal chat with neighbors was transformed by a loving God into an encouragement for yearning hearts. We never know what someone needs to hear when we enter into a conversation with them, but God knows and is always eager to give us just the right words to say even when we can't imagine their impact. I am learning more and more, that if we live with Christ-like intent, no word will ever be wasted.

Angelie

At the central intersection of our neighborhood sits a local coffee shop/restaurant/bakery. Over the past decade, this coffee shop has changed ownership several times, and has had several different names, but it has always been the neighborhood coffee shop. Today it is known as Groundswell, and is owned by two families who are part of Third Way Church. Groundswell has become “the” local hang out in our immediate neighborhood. And, it was here, while having coffee with a friend, that I first met Angelie.

I can still picture the scene. My friend and I were talking about how Third Way could become more embedded in our neighborhood when Angelie, who was sitting at the other end of a long, communal table, leaned over and said, “I need to meet you guys because you are talking about some of my favorite things.” After introductions were made, it was fun to find out that Angelie lived on our street, just a block or two down the road.

Over the next several months, we slowly got to know Angelie better, meeting over coffee, hearing bits and pieces of her story, and sharing parts of our own. It didn't take long to realize that we shared a similar love for the Church, and a desire to see fresh, new expressions of church birthed and nurtured. Angelie also joined us for our backyard barbecue and conversations that summer, where a handful of people gathered for a monthly meal and conversation about launching new churches and communities of faith.

Like the coffee shop, Angelie has been part of the fabric of our neighborhood for many years (19 to be exact), and has seen many changes. Having worked as an engineer for many years, she is now a spiritual director, life-coach, and master gardner. She was also involved in the leadership of a church plant, and was considering a position with her denomination – a process that had been going on for more than a year.

As I got to know Angelie, I could see how CRM could be a great fit for her. However, it was important for me to honor the process Angelie was in with her denomination. The focus of our team is not to make more CRM staff, but to help leaders live into their calling and passion more fully, whatever that calling happens to be. Therefore, we kept laying the relational foundation that would support a kingdom partnership with Angelie.

Eventually, nearly a year after first meeting Angelie, I felt the nudge of the Spirit to invite her to explore the possibility of coming on staff with CRM. After several conversations, I invited her to the CRM world conference, an event that only happens every four years. I figured it would be a great opportunity to get to know CRM as a whole, and an important piece in making a decision regarding CRM staff. At the end of the conference, I spoke to Angelie and she told me that she had finally found her “tribe”.

Angelie with her new teammates.

Although we felt like Angelie would fit well on our team, her call to a Spanish-speaking context near the US-Mexico border led her to explore other options within CRM. She has since joined ReNew, a team based in Southern California, who walk alongside pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses, to help them experience rest, renewal, and restoration in the midst of the ongoing demands of life and ministry. Being part of this team will allow her to live in community with other ReNew staff in a predominately Spanish-speaking neighborhood of San Diego.

As we walk alongside leaders in the Twin Cities, we love helping them embrace their giftedness, and gain clarity in their calling. In the grand scheme of things, we played a small part, but for her, the ReNew team, and those she will minister to, it has huge implications.

The Art of Neighboring

Sometimes you hear or read something that you just can't shake. Something that gets under your skin and becomes a part of you. Often times, it's something very simple, yet it has a profound impact on the way you think and live. The following story is one of those moments for a group of pastors, and, in their retelling of the story, it became one of those moments for me. 

In 2009, a group of pastors in the Denver area gathered to think, dream, and pray about how their churches might join forces to serve their community. They invited Bob Frie, the mayor of Arvada, CO, to join them, and asked him a simple question: How can we as churches best work together to serve our city?

The discussion that followed produced the typical list of social problems that many cities face: at-risk kids, areas with dilapidated housing, child hunger, drug and alcohol abuse, loneliness, and elderly shut-ins. The list went on and on.

Then the mayor said something that stopped these pastors in their tracks:

“The majority of the issues that our community is facing would be eliminated or drastically reduced if we could just figure out a way to become a community of great neighbors.”

The mayor's words that day were convicting, as the pastors considered his words in light of the words of Jesus to “love the Lord with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind,” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.” What if we did this with our literal neighbors, who live next door? As they wondered at the genius of Jesus, a joint-church movement was launched.

The (Lost) Art of Neighboring 

Partners in the art of neighboring.

Neighboring (or being a good neighbor) seems to be a dying art. I often hear people express a longing for deep meaningful relationships, and I hear Christians express a longing to share the Gospel and create kingdom realities in the communities where they live. However, in the midst of the busyness of life, it is easy to allow these longings for good things to remain just that... longings and not a reality.

Third Way Church recently asked me to help their three house churches to grow in sharing the Gospel with neighbors and co-workers. At the time, I was reading a book, The Art of Neighboring, and it felt like the right place to start. It seemed wise to work on building the kind of relationships with our neighbors/co-workers that would create the context to not only share our words, but our lives as well. 

In the book, two things really hit me. First of all, the authors ask people to think of the eight families that directly surround their house/apartment (see picture). They then ask: 

1) can you name each neighbor? (10% of people can name all eight) 

2) do you know anything about them, such as where they work? (3% can do this for all eight) 

3) do you know something of a personal nature, such as struggles, needs, dreams, desires, spiritual journey? (less than 1% can do this for all eight) 

Secondly, I was encouraged by the countless ways neighbors began to practically love and care for one another as they established deeper relationships. As people moved along the continuum from stranger to acquaintance to relationship, they began to invite one another into the more intimate and challenging areas of their lives. People began to taste of, and experience firsthand, the realities of God's kingdom and His love. 

The definition of incarnating is “to personify; to give human form to; to realize in action or fact.” There is nothing more beautiful than seeing the incarnation of the Gospel. We see it in Jesus, but we also see it when Christ-followers enter in, live out, and share the story of the great love of God in the person of Jesus. 

May it be so in our neighborhood as well as in yours.

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Although he grew up in the suburbs of Denver, Michael found himself in Texas addicted to drugs and living in a house frequented by members of the notorious gang, the Crips. After years of running with a pretty rough crowd, and several run-ins with the law, it was in 2009 in a county jail that Michael gave his life to Christ. He now lives in Visalia, CA, where he serves in a ministry home for children, and attends Bible college.

Michael engaging some personal development.

One of my roles as a team leader is recruiting like-hearted people to join us in launching young leaders, who will launch fresh expressions of church. For the past few years, I have been getting to know Michael. I’m always drawn to people like Michael, who don’t seem to fit the mold, have an insatiable desire for God, and a natural way of inviting others to experience the good news of Jesus.

Dayton’s Bluff is known to be one of the “rough” neighborhoods of St. Paul. By rough, I mean higher crime rates, people living around or under the poverty line, more rentals/less ownership, and multiple families/generations occupying one house. Dayton’s Bluff is home to our newest missional community, Ekklesia, which is being led by our teammate, Tony.

emˈbed/ verb - to fix firmly and deeply in a surrounding mass; to implant within something else so it becomes an ingrained or essential characteristic of it.

As our team has been preparing for the launch of Ekklesia, we often talked about being embedded in the Dayton’s Bluff community. We want Ekklesia to be fixed firmly and deeply in the surrounding community. We want it to be an expression of the Body that isn’t just in the neighborhood, but one that is of the neighborhood. A group of people ready to be/bring the good news, yet ready to learn from the neighborhood, and woven into the very fabric of neighborhood life.

Free Yard Sale

Knowing that Michael is someone who connects easily with others, especially those who come from “rough” backgrounds, we invited him out for an internship for the month of August. Our hope was that he would help to connect Ekklesia relationally in the neighborhood. During August, he lived in the core community house of Ekklesia and spent a majority of his time living alongside and getting to know the people of Dayton’s Bluff.

Michael did a great job helping to organize and host neighborhood events like National Night Out, where neighbors gather on their street to share a meal and get to know one another. He also helped organize Ekklesia’s Free Yard Sale. This event runs on the premise that “some are able to give from their excess, and others are able to give by only taking what they need,” and it was wonderful to see people honor the spirit of the event.

Some days Michael would set out with a lawnmower to bless the neighbors by cutting their grass, which often led to deeper conversations. One teary-eyed, single mother was amazed that this young man would willingly come and help her in this very practical way. And, finally, he simply lived daily life with those who live on the block, deeply connecting with one house in particular where an extended family of 17 people lived.

Some significant steps were taken this August in helping Ekklesia become embedded in the neighborhood. For Ekklesia, the challenge now is to move forward in these relationships that have been started, and to continue to presence the kingdom of God and bring the good news of Jesus in word and deed. Please join us in praying that this would indeed be the case.

Natalie’s Hurdle: Others’ Love and Respect

Natalie stood at a critical juncture in her life and didn’t even realize it. Quite frankly, I’m not sure that others realized it either. Natalie’s heart and passion were on the line, but all of this could have so easily gone unnoticed. It was going to take someone who knew Natalie well to see the importance of the decision she was about to make.

Natalie has an inviting spirit and wisdom beyond her years. She naturally leads others, and has a sense of loyalty and responsibility that defies her age. Although she is only 25 years old, she has been a vital part of launching Thirdway Church. She has served in leadership for more than five years and is loved and well-respected. And, this very love and respect became one of Natalie’s biggest hurdles to following God’s call on her life.

Daleen and Natalie

Over the past five years, Natalie has grown in her understanding of God’s call upon her life. She is a natural builder of deep, intentional community among God’s people. She also has a love for sustenance farming, and envisions bringing these two worlds together in an urban setting. As clarity came and Natalie started pursuing her calling, an opportunity opened up at a church in Illinois that runs a local farm. In this setting she could continue to grow as a leader, and also gain invaluable experience working on the church’s farm.

Natalie began to share about this opportunity, and her desire to follow God’s leading. However, this began to cause dissonance for the people who love and value Natalie. Of course they were excited for her clarity of calling, but they certainly didn’t want her to move away. People began trying to convince Natalie to stay in St. Paul. And, for someone who is deeply loyal and responsible, this created a confusing situation.

Enter Daleen

Daleen has been meeting weekly with Natalie for the past 3 years. During that time, Daleen has listened to, prayed with, challenged, guided, and encouraged Natalie in her walk with God, and in her growth as a leader. With that foundation, Daleen was ready to step in and help Natalie gain perspective, and navigate this transition into a new season of life.

“...if I had made that choice, I think it would have stifled me,

and snuffed out the fire in my spirit.”

Natalie recently told me, “As long as I have known Daleen, she has encouraged me to GO. Not only physically, but to also go towards God and to not let fear stop me…I have a tendency to think the “right thing to do” is to settle down, and keep the home fires burning. But, if I had made that choice, I think it would have stifled me, and snuffed out the fire in my spirit.”

In the end, Natalie was able to embrace her calling, and confidently move into this new stage of life and development. Not long after Natalie moved, she wrote these words to Daleen:

You have certainly changed my life for the better...You have encouraged me to dream of something better. You have helped me to know my own freedom and confidence. You have spoken into and brought forth the best of who I can be. You’ve helped me to realize who I am. You’ve spoken about walking alongside women and I can attest to your gifts in that area because I feel truly gifted by you.

We consider walking alongside leaders like Natalie to be a privilege and a great responsibility. In a context where only 20% of American Millennials (pre-teens to 30 year olds) believe that church attendance is important, the role of these young leaders is crucial. Our goal is to develop leaders, who are not only confident to move into their personal calling, but are bold enough to lead the Church into its future as well.  

Changing Demographics

Three-quarters of students in St. Paul are people of color (African Americans, Latinos,

Native Americans, and Asians) and speak more than 100 languages.

Minnesota’s Tomorrow: Equity Is The Superior Growth Model,

a report by Policylink and USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity

In 1980, 96% of Minnesotans were white, many with Scandinavian roots. However, over the past decade, Minnesota experienced the seventh-fastest growth of people of color among all the states, a large proportion of which are refugees. When our family arrived in Minnesota just three years ago, we were pleasantly surprised to find such a rich mix of cultures in the neighborhoods of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Last month, I attended a symposium on Minnesota’s changing demographics at the University of Minnesota. Minnesota’s long history of active volunteerism in immigration and refugee resettlement, as well as active involvement from faith-based organizations, helped to establish Minnesota as a major refugee gateway in the Midwest.

Minnesota is currently home to the largest Somali community in the country (more than 30,000) and the second-largest Hmong community (more than 60,000), many of whom live within 5 miles of our home. And, although the largest refugee communities in Minnesota have historically been Hmong, Somalis, Vietnamese, Ethiopians, Liberians, Cambodians, and Bosnians, more recent refugees include Karen people from Burma, Nepali-speakers from Bhutan, and Iraqis.

 “We must face the sad fact that at the eleven o’clock hour on Sunday morning when we stand to sing, we stand in the most segregated hour in America.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

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Much of our daily life is shared with people from around the world, who look, think, act, and dress differently from us. Living and working alongside people from other cultures often creates cultural stress, which can magnify our differences.  Tolerance has become a buzzword of our day, but tolerance rarely leads to deeper relationships. However, when we learn to actually celebrate our diversity, it can open up wonderful opportunities.

Here in the Twin Cities, we have the privilege of working alongside pastors and leaders, who are embracing these cross-cultural opportunities.  Pastors like Touger, a second-generation Hmong, who is planting a multi-cultural church community in our neighborhood. Organizations like SALT (Somali Adult Literacy Training), who are bringing the Somali community and local churches together in language learning and friendship. And leaders like Jim, who pastors Bethel Christian Fellowship, where six different ethnic churches share one building and function as a family of churches.

As noted above, 75% of students in St. Paul are people of color, and by the year 2045, whites will no longer be the majority of Minnesota’s population. As we look to the future, I believe that the Church can learn much from the youth of today. Daleen and I are amazed at how easily our children connect with their friends, who come from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

If we’re not attentive and intentional, the changing demographics of our cities can be unsettling. As part of our work, we encourage and challenge local leaders to pioneer new church communities and initiatives that will transcend cultural barriers, and allow people to hear, experience, and be transformed by the Good News. I believe the changes in the cultural makeup of our cities is just another invitation to the missionary heart of God, and an opportunity to celebrate the beautiful diversity of the kingdom of God that will be our eternal reality.

The Beloved Community

But the end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the beloved community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opposers into friends…It is an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return. It is the love of God working in the lives of men. This is the love that may well be the salvation of our civilization.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“The Role of the Church in Facing the Nation's Chief Moral Dilemma,” 1957

St. Paul, like all cities, is a city with scars. There are events, moments and people that have shaped St. Paul. Some of them have been good, and some have left painful scars. In our neighborhood, one of the visible scars is I-94, the freeway that runs about ½ mile south of our home. When construction began in the 1960’s, nearly half of the residents of the Rondo community were displaced. The Rondo neighborhood, a vibrant African-American community in the heart of the city, was shattered, and I-94 was an ever-present reminder.

Just as the city of St. Paul bears its scars, the Church has also suffered its own fractures, and reconciliation and restoration are necessary if we are to reflect the Beloved Community of Christ. Therefore, in addition to working with young leaders and church planters, our CRM team, Launch, has been working to foster a spirit of collaboration and unity among the Body of Christ. For the Church is not called to simply tolerate one another, but rather to live and work together in unity – a powerful sign to a watching world.

Better Together

For the past year, I have served on the leadership team of a cooperative kingdom effort called Mission St. Paul. The thrust of Mission St. Paul is city-wide transformation as the whole church brings the whole gospel to the whole city. Groups of pastors gather weekly to pray for one another and for each other’s churches, and a wider group of Christians gather once a month to systematically pray through the city, precinct by precinct. And, occasionally throughout the year, Mission St. Paul will host an event to help nurture this spirit of collaboration and unity within the Body of Christ.

Mission St. Paul recently hosted a city-wide celebration at the Union Gospel Mission on Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. The theme of the gathering was “Better Together: Becoming the Beloved Community,” where we celebrated the rich diversity of God’s people in St. Paul through worship, prayer, communion, God’s Word and personal testimonies of spiritual and racial reconciliation. Daleen and I were asked to coordinate the serving of communion to the group of more than 300. And, in the spirit of the evening, we asked eight pastors and their spouses from different ethnic and denominational backgrounds to serve communion alongside of us. What an encouraging, and powerful, evening.

As beautiful as events like this can be, the real beauty lies in the relationships that are forged and lived out day-to-day. So, just as there are currently several groups of pastors praying in various neighborhoods of St. Paul, we will soon begin gathering with pastors and leaders in Hamline-Midway, our neighborhood of 12,000 residents. Wherever these groups of pastors are gathered, we see healing and restoration of racial and denominational fractures in the Church. Competition also begins to diminish, and in its place, collaboration and kingdom initiatives take root. And, when the Church is living in this spirit of unity and commitment to prayer, we can expect to see our neighborhoods, and our city, transformed.

walking alongside

“You are the only older, wiser people, who have stuck it out as long as you have with me. Everyone else, who has expressed the desire to walk alongside and mentor me in my vision for church planting, has abandoned me along the way.”

These words were spoken to Daleen and me at a recent staff gathering by our teammate, Tony. Although these were encouraging words for us to hear at one level, they were bittersweet because they carry a deep level of pain for Tony. As a matter of fact, it’s due to similar stories that we’ve heard over the past ten years that our commitment to younger leaders has grown. 

As you may remember, a few years ago, Tony gathered several friends and moved into one of the “roughest” neighborhoods in St. Paul. For two years, this group of young men pursued an intentional life of discipleship together, and a life of mission in their neighborhood. Not only were they a light in a dark neighborhood, but they were also a new lens for many of their friends to see their city with fresh eyes. And, after a hiatus to finish seminary, Tony is once again re-forming this intentional community, known as Ekklesia, and moving back into the neighborhood.

Although young leaders like Tony are full of passion and vision, they often lack the resources or encouragement to see their vision become a reality. These leaders are trying to reach their generation with the Good News of Jesus, and, therefore, think outside the box of familiar forms of church. They are experimenting with forms of church that have meaning in the world in which they live where authenticity, social justice, and downward mobility are important values. They pursue the ways of Jesus in everyday life that run counter to our prevailing American culture, and often times, counter to our prevailing church culture.

Our teammates, Tony and Tiffany.

Unfortunately, young leaders are often left to their own devices. The support of pastors, churches and denominations that began with enthusiasm can often wane and slowly disappear as the church plant begins to blossom and take shape. The passion and vision that was once so exciting, can now feel threatening. The church plant that was once highly anticipated (and celebrated) is now left to find its own way.

Daleen and I long to see healthy, vibrant churches being led by healthy, vibrant people. That’s why we walk alongside these young men and women as they break new ground and plant churches. And, not only will we continue to work with the leaders of future generations, but Tony will do the same. We are working hard to cultivate a group of young men and women, who will not only be practitioners and leaders in their own neighborhoods, but will have the vision to share what they are learning by walking alongside and encouraging other young leaders. We invite you to join us in prayer and partnership as we move forward.

Please pray for:

• ·        Tony and his new wife, Tiffany, who were married on September 21^st, and will be moving into Dayton’s Bluff in early October. Pray for them, and the leadership team of Ekklesia, as they re-launch into Dayton’s Bluff this month. Pray for Daleen and me as we walk this road with them. 

• ·         Young leaders full of passion and vision to join our team here in the Twin Cities. We are praying for at least two more people to join our CRM team, Launch, in the upcoming year. We would love to eventually have a whole network of young church planters learning from one another and expanding God’s kingdom throughout the neighborhoods of the Twin Cities and beyond.

Daleen

I write the following because Daleen never would. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t know that I am writing this newsletter about her. It all started at a recent leadership retreat for Thirdway Church, where I was struck by the affirmation my wife was receiving for the role she has played over the past couple of years. It was then that I knew I had to share what Daleen has been doing to strengthen and extend the Body of Christ.

Thirdway Church began three years ago after several families moved into the Hamline-Midway neighborhood of St. Paul. The original vision for Thirdway centered around the University Avenue Corridor, a 10-mile stretch that links the downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis. University Avenue is built along the historic path that people took to get from the docks of the Mississippi River in St. Paul to the flour mills in Minneapolis. It has become one of the most diverse areas of the Twin Cities.

                                                                                                        

I recently sat down with the founding leader of Thirdway, Seth, to hear his thoughts on Daleen’s role and impact. As we started talking, he immediately mentioned that, although Thirdway had dreams and vision for the University Avenue Corridor, it had become stuck in how to move forward as a church. He saw Daleen as a person who came alongside him, and the community, to implement some foundational building blocks for a strong missional community. He saw her contribution in the following ways:

·        Covenant groups – Thirdway is a covenanted community, which means we have committed ourselves to pursuing God, one another and our neighborhood in a very intentional way. Daleen was the driving force in establishing covenant groups, where small groups of people gather to create more sustainable rhythms of life together. It is also through these groups that new people are assimilated into our community over a one-year process.

·        Mentoring – Daleen has poured herself over the past two years into a group of young women within Thirdway. She has also played a significant role helping individuals, couples and groups navigate difficult life decisions. According to Seth, she has become a motherly figure, who has brought care and stability that has lowered the sense of anxiety within Thirdway.

·        Creative space for spiritual formation – whether it be creative worship through dance, helping others to understand how they connect deeply with God, or by leading a Passover Seder meal, Daleen has brought a fresh perspective to spiritual formation. From what I have seen, she has been the most intentional force in helping members of Thirdway grow more deeply in their relationship with God.

·        Heart Team – for the past 15 months, Daleen has been one of four part-time staff people at Thirdway. She gives leadership to the Heart Team, which facilitates pastoral care, hospitality, and spiritual formation. When Thirdway started seeking someone for this role, I recommended Daleen because I knew she was a great fit for the job. As I have watched her lead this team, I realize that I was spot on in my assessment.

Our team’s mission is to walk alongside churches, leadership teams, and individuals, helping them to live out their calling. These churches are missionally-minded, intentional about creating sustainable rhythms of life together, and are embedded in local neighborhoods that are often antagonistic towards church. They are filled with young people in their 20’s and 30’s, and many times lack the financial and human resources of larger churches. In light of this, I’m realizing how invaluable it is to have people like Daleen on our team because I believe that the greatest asset our team has to offer is our staff themselves.

tilling the soil one step at a time

It’s a Tuesday morning around 9 a.m. It’s January, and the weather is a brisk 25 degrees. I’m bundled up from head to toe as I walk a two-mile loop down my street and back again. The snow crunches under my shoes with each step I take, and my eyes are attentive, my mind engaged, and I am listening. Something shifts in my spirit and I find myself praying for a family as I pass by their house. What, Lord, are you busy doing in this home, on our street, and in this neighborhood? Who are the people, Father, whose hearts are ready to receive your good news?

For some time now, God has been speaking to me about the importance of prayer in the spiritual receptivity of a neighborhood, city, region and country. Most of us wouldn’t argue about the importance of prayer, yet I find that I don’t always give the time and energy to prayer that would demonstrate its importance.

I have started to dedicate several hours a week to the practice of walking the streets in prayer. And, as I prayer-walk, the picture that I keeps coming to mind is one of tilling the ground, preparing the soil for the harvest that is to come. I am also praying for specific people of peace, who are seeking God and are ready to receive the Gospel, and who will connect us into their sphere of influence and relationship.

Essentially, there are four places/people groups I feel lead to pray for at this time:

·        Hamline-Midway neighborhood – I’ve had a strong sense that I am to start right here where I live, work and play; therefore, I am specifically praying along a one-mile stretch of Van Buren Ave. I have also been praying at Groundswell coffee, which is located in the center of our immediate neighborhood and serves as a hub for this community.

·        Many Somali families work and shop at the Walmart, which is located just a half mile from our house. In 2009, there were 103,000 Somali in the U.S. with more than ¼ (28,000) living in the Twin Cities. As I prayer-walk the aisles of Walmart and engage people in conversation, I am praying/looking for people of peace in the expanding Somali community.

Dayton’s Bluff is the area just outside of downtown St. Paul where our teammate, Tony, will be planting a church later this year. The area has a reputation for being low-income and rough, but God has been/and is doing great things in that neighborhood. Again, we are tilling the ground, exploring what God is already busy doing, and considering the specific neighborhood where the church will be located.

·        There is a substantial American Indian population in Minnesota.  My interest in Native Americans began when I was young, and has resurfaced since moving to the Twin Cities. The two major tribes in Minnesota are the Ojibwe (Chippewa) and Dakota (Sioux). I know there are strong Christians within the American Indian population, but I am praying for fresh expressions of church that will capture the hearts and imaginations of the younger generations.

As I learn and move forward with prayer-walking, I am inviting others to join me. I would also like to invite you to join me as well in praying for fertile soil in the Twin Cities. From a vibrant Arts community to a large immigrant and refugee population, and from dying neighborhoods to young, urban hipsters, the untapped opportunities abound. Our call is to identify and walk alongside leaders and churches as they move into these neighborhoods and networks of people with fresh expressions of God’s timeless Church.

Meet Tony

Missional is a way of being that leads to a way of acting. - Ed Stetzer

What I enjoy about working with young leaders is not only their vision of a transformed world, but also their gumption to move toward that vision in ways that often challenge and stretch me. In 2010, while visiting the Twin Cities, Daleen and I began hearing about a small band of young, idealistic men, who called themselves Ekklesia.

Although most were born and bred in the suburbs of St. Paul, this group of 20-somethings felt moved by God to relocate to a decaying neighborhood called Dayton’s Bluff just outside of downtown. Even though their new apartment was located on one of the most notorious corners in the city, known for its crime and violence, these young men began to incarnate into their new neighborhood. They quickly realized that true incarnation isn’t flashy, but rather it’s quiet, subtle, constant and powerful. Incarnation looks like the Gospel lived out in everyday life.

For two years, these young men lived a life of discipleship, simplicity and shared possessions. Moving beyond their initial fear, they began to live an alternative, Jesus-centered life, seeking to be a constant presence as advocates of the urban poor. The poured deeply into each other, and to those who lived around them. Before long, others from the neighborhood (and beyond) began to join them. The group finally disbanded (on good terms, mind you) when several of the guys left to finish their university/post-graduate studies.

In 2010, as we considered moving back to the States, it was stories like these that sparked our interest and gave us hope. Having lived in intentional community for 10 years, we were amazed that a group of 20-somethings could navigate the challenges of deep community life in a high-risk/high-need neighborhood for such an extended period of time. And it was the opportunity to work alongside such missional communities that was an integral part of our decision to move to the Twin Cities.

Tony

Once we moved to St. Paul, we began meeting people, who were involved in Ekklesia. During our conversations, we kept hearing about Tony, who was a key figure in starting and maintaining Ekklesia. In April of this year, I finally met Tony face to face, and it didn’t take long for us to realize that we had a similar dream – a city transformed by missional bands of Christ-followers spreading through the neighborhoods and networks of St. Paul. As we continued to meet, it became clear that God was moving him to not only partner with us, but to join our staff team so that we could pursue this dream together.

Tony finished his seminary degree in Community Ministry Leadership in June, and just last month he officially joined our CRM team here in St. Paul. In addition to starting Ekklesia, he is on the leadership team of another church plant called The Gallery, where he continues to lead worship on occasion. And, although he has a heart for urban areas, Tony loves fishing, bow hunting and just about anything else that happens in the great outdoors. He describes himself as a Daydreamer, Fence-burner, Wall-mover, Cross-bearer, and Revolutionary.

Over the past 15 years, Daleen and I have counted it a privilege to walk alongside young leaders, helping them grow into the men and women God has created them to be. Therefore, it’s with great anticipation that we welcome Tony to our team as he pursues his dream to re-launch this tight, Christ-centered, formational community in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood.

Love Thy Neighbor

“Some neighbors are easier to love than others.” There’s a good chance that those words would have escaped my mouth if I were present when Jesus gave the two Great Commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It wouldn’t have been my proudest moment, but it would have been an honest one.

Our street.

We love the street we live on and the neighborhood that surrounds us. We have some wonderful neighbors, who live next door and across the street. We even love the close proximity of urban living. However, there is that one house on the block, which sits across the street and two doors down. It’s a rental. There are parties four or five nights a week, which spill onto our street around 3 a.m. with loud talking and occasional fighting. There are people stopping by throughout the day to buy marijuana. The police usually end up being called several times a month. Some neighbors are easier to love than others.

Yes, I’ve called the police…numerous times. Yes, I’ve spoken with my other neighbors about what we could possibly do to remedy the situation. Yes, I’ve silently hoped for an eviction notice. Yes, yes, yes. To be honest, the police are aware of the situation and have an officer on the case, but have not solved the problem. My neighbors yearn for this family to just pack their bags and get out.

Our Neighbor, Julie

Then there is Julie. Julie is a social worker for the county, and lives directly next door to the problem house. Julie is a Christian. On the way back from the bus stop a couple of months ago, Julie told me of her efforts to talk to this family. She is the only person I know, who has actually gone to the family and talked with them face-to-face. She’s the only neighbor that I’m aware of, who has invited this family into her home. And, although change doesn’t happen immediately, Julie has chosen to engage the situation in a direct, honest, hospitable, loving way. As we spoke that morning, I was convicted.

I began to ask myself what it means to love this family. It seems passive-aggressive to talk with everyone on my street but them. It seems futile to wait for the police to “fix the problem.” What does love even look like in this situation? How do I look out for the best interests of my family and other neighbors, yet still love this family? The short answer is, “I don’t know.” What I do know is that in the Gospels I see Jesus loving the “unlovable”  – a Samaritan woman, a leper, a tax collector, etc., etc.

Loving my neighbor is sometimes complex. Loving my neighbor can make me uncomfortable. Loving my neighbor will cause me to risk. Loving my neighbor moves me beyond myself and what I am capable of on my own. Loving my neighbor calls me to be as wise as a serpent and as gentle as a dove. Loving my neighbor is for all my neighbors, and not just the easy ones.

Of course, in the economy of God, the definition of neighbor extends well beyond the people on my street. And, there are times when I am called to move into those situations that are farther from my home. However, I find that I don’t have to look far for opportunities to partner with God in his kingdom work among my neighbors. It often takes little more than walking out my front door.

incarnation

Evangelism is not a word that is used all that much among young adult Christians. As a matter of fact, I find that many young people cringe inwardly when confronted with the word. Social justice, sure. Missional, sure. Loving others in the name of Jesus, sure. Partnering with God in His Kingdom work, sure. Evangelism, not so sure.

I serve as part of the teaching team of Third Way Church, and, as we move into the summer, we are talking about evangelism for a couple of reasons. First of all, it seems as though we need to rediscover the word evangelism. Unfortunately, many have come to see evangelism as a program, methodology or tool (especially of the 1970’s and 80’s).  Rarely is evangelism seen more holistically as an intentional lifestyle that permeates the everyday relationships in the places where we live, work and play. Thus, evangelism is not always viewed as necessary for the equipping of Christ-followers, and for the building up of the Body of Christ (see Eph. 4:11-13).

with our next-door neighbor, Rachel, at the local seedling distribution

Also, we have noticed that most Minnesotans don’t readily invite others into their homes, especially if they don’t have an established relationship. This presents a significant challenge for getting to know our neighbors because most people are holed up inside their homes for five months during winter. The summer months become an important time to establish deeper relationships with people because the days are long, and most people are out and about enjoying the nice weather. Our hope is to establish solid relationships with people during the summer months that will continue inside our homes during the winter months.

The Word became flesh and blood,

 and moved into the neighborhood.                (John 1:14)

Jesus’ incarnation is a perfect example for us as we seek to incarnate into the neighborhoods where we live. Jesus’ incarnation wasn’t complete just by becoming a man, but by being fully engaged in life with those, who lived around Him. In the book of Matthew alone, we can see how this played out in His life: Jesus was born, was baptized, was tempted, preached that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, invited people to follow him, went throughout all of Galilee – teaching and proclaiming the gospel, healed, was with the crowds, forgave, dined with many tax collectors and sinners, prayed, withdrew to be by himself, fed the hungry,  had compassion for people, warned his disciples of insincere religious leaders,  spent time with children, spent time alone with his disciples, touched the untouchable and the sick, allowed himself to be questioned, spent time with the outcasts, allowed himself to be betrayed, allowed himself to be judged, allowed himself to be put to death, was buried, and was resurrected. Jesus fully incarnated into the human reality.

  

So, how do we incarnate into the neighborhoods where we live, work and play? The following matrix has been helpful for me as I think about living on mission in my everyday life:

	Listen	Submerge	Invite
Live
Work
Play

As I begin to listen in the areas where I live, work and play, I find myself asking:  What is God already busy doing? What is really going on in others’ lives?  What would my neighbors consider to be a blessing to the neighborhood? Submerging requires time and margin in life that allows us to go deeper by intentionally seeking others out, and sharing our own life and challenges. And Jesus was the master of the invitation. He often invited others to come and see, or to come and be with Him. He also accepted invitations from others, even when it was socially awkward or unconventional. Daleen and I found ourselves being hesitant in accepting invitations from others, so we have made it a policy to “just say yes” whenever possible.

It isn’t enough that we “moved into the neighborhood,” our hope is to become part of the tapestry that God is weaving together in the lives of those, who we call neighbor.