Urban Mission Blog

Incarnating Jesus in the Concrete Jungle

August 30, 2009 • 07:00 5

A Discussion on Radical Urban Reform

There is something happening…something is shifting in the urban church context,and leading the way are young men who are seemingly fearless, bold enough to take what look like un-calculated risk, in an effort to see Jesus glorified, the urban church rise from the ashes, and young black men introduced to a theology of the cross rather than a theology of their own glory.

This was the concluding remark (summarized by the author) of the deep and rich conversation that a young African-American church leader and I  had over lunch on Wednesday. There was an excitement in our tone that was visible to the tables around us, as we realized that Jesus is doing something powerful, tangible, and glorious in the lives of some willing young urban church planters that will see an urban reformation take place side by side with urban renewal. The city is truly on the verge of being rebuilt, not just buildings,but people.

For generations it was only faith that aided in the survival of African-American people. Faith that pressed forward through slavery…faith that helped to endure Jim Crow laws, segregation, and the violence of the civil rights era. It seems that following those times of visible and tangible struggle that faith became a by-word. A tool to gain…riches…liberation…and our own well being, and sadly, if you listen honestly and intently, that “brand” of faith is primarily what is flowing from African American pulpits, and through African American churches today.

But, on the other side of this are young men who have questioned the means, methods, and ideologies of the generation preceding them, and sought answers from the scriptures, as to develop a rich biblical theology, as they pursue the rebuilding of the city. They are redefining what it means to be an African-American church leader, and are now on precipice of seeing real change, a new, urban reformation, that we hope will blossom into a church planting movement. Where cities all over this nation…places that have been left to be picked over by vultures preaching another gospel, will receive a surge of gospel truth, and authentic love, as missionaries who are sent to not only renew, but to reform. Let’s rebuild the city!

Filed under: Atlanta, Church, Controversy, Gospel, Mission

August 27, 2009 • 10:40 4

Ridiculous Christians Strike Again

I am not all together opposed to flyer’s, and print media…I never have been. In fact, I have used print media to promote events, concerts, and various other types of gatherings, and even and I write this, I imagine I will again at some juncture(I am after all planting a Church). But I have a problem, and the problem is the senseless ways in which Christians go about distributing their print media. There is an insensitivity that pains me, and pisses off my neighbors.

Story…last night we had a few people over for dinner that live in my building. After dinner one of them initiated a conversation in which they began to share with me how much they hated coming home every Saturday to find invite cards and flyer’s not only in their mail boxes, but also jammed in their doors. They went on about this for a while,and one of my neighbors, who is an incredible artist, is even making a piece of art depicting her disdain for the churches who flood our building with these things. Keep in mind these folks know I am “the Pastor guy who is not that weird”( that’s a direct quote from another neighbor).

Then the most shocking and ridiculous of all methods of print media distributing was introduced. My neighbor told me that once a group of Christians took folded up flyer’s and put them inside the door of the gas cap cover of a parking lot full of cars, her friend and another neighbors car being one of them. He was furious, and could not believe the violation…and that’s the point, it is a violation, if you don’t at least know, or exist among the people being assaulted with your stuff.

The latest numbers I saw were that flyer’s, invite cards, etc, yielded a 1% return to attract first time visitors. 1%! So is it really worth making people who are already hostile toward Christianity more hostile? That is the rub. The people who blanket my building don’t know my community, they don’t know the people that live there. They can’t know, because if they did, then the flyer’s would cease. Grant Park is one of the most hostile environments towards Jesus(the biblical Jesus) that I have ever lived in, and my building is probably the most hostile in the neighborhood. They do not want to be wooed into the kingdom with pithy one liners, and fancy graphics, telling them how to establish life goals. I spend 10-15 min. picking these things up off the floor every time they come through, my neighbors don’t even bother to put them in the trash. That should be a LOUD and CLEAR message. I live in a community to atheist, agnostics, skeptics, doubters, and seekers…very few biblical Christians(some spiritualists who think they are), but you can only know that if you know them.

Lest you believe it to be, this is no personal affront to me. I could care less if 100,000,000 flyer’s an invite cards came through there a week, but it becomes my problem when my neighbors tell me, the pastor guy, to call off the dogs. It becomes my problem when they lump me in with the “you people” callousness that they class all other Christians in.

All I’m saying is this. The gospel will offend, trust me, it offended me for years. If the gospel is already an offense, why would we, as God’s ambassadors, go out of our way to be an offense…before the gospel even has a chance to. If you you don’t know the people of a community, or know someone who does know those people, maybe you should reconsider your “print campaign” for your “new series” until you do. Incarnation is always an option, then the gospel can offend, and not a 5×7 semi-gloss laminated card.

Filed under: Atlanta, Church, Controversy, Gospel, Grant Park, Renovation Church, Worldview

August 25, 2009 • 20:19 2

Vantage Point

Today we had a young lady visit who was a part of our young adult community in rural Tennessee. The first thing she said to Breanna was, “I didn’t know y’all lived in the ghetto,” with typical southern drawl.

Vantage point matters…it matters in how we often interpret all facets of life, and depending on what vantage point we have, we may see two completely different pictures.

Example… the neighborhood in Atlanta that I live in and am in the process of planting Renovation Church in is Grant Park. Grant Park is the largest neighborhood in the city, and a historical landmark community. The neighborhood is experiencing great change and urban renewal. Young professionals live here, and more are moving in. We are 32% above the national average for residents making over 100k a year, yet there are many homeless people I see everyday…living outside my loft, and involved in our gospel community. This creates a beautiful tapestry of different peoples when you add to it the people who have lived in this neighborhood for 20 plus years.

Also interesting is because of the renewal of this city neighborhood, my family can not afford one of the $300,000 bungalows in our own neighborhood. This is the starting price for a 3/2.

Here is the point, where we see a beautiful neighborhood, a great life in the city, and a chance to incarnate Jesus in the concrete jungle,our visitor today saw a place to be feared, or as she said, “the ghetto.”

So the big idea…vantage point helps determine worldview. In the greater scheme it has implications for everything, even faith.

What do you see when you look at God? A chance gain things or a chance to gain Him? What do you see in the Church? A chance to serve or a chance to be served? How do you see your city? As your personal playground or a mission field?

Filed under: Atlanta, Discipleship, Grant Park, Life, Renovation Church, Worldview

• 16:40 0

Got a little Fight Club Press

August 25, 1:39 PMAtlanta Evangelical Perspectives ExaminerMark Lamprecht

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The words “Fight Club” usually make one think of the 1999 movie starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. The movie brought men together to fight each other.  Armed only with bare knuckles. No gloves, no pads. The movie spurred countless real fight clubs around the country. So, how about a fight club in church too? Church?

On August 1 over 350 men gathered together at the Journey Church in Atlanta, GA for Fight Club 09. They went prepared for battle with weapon and armor in hand. The Fight Club instructors were there to guide them into battle. Were the participants ready? Could they handle all six rounds of fighting? They could. They did.

This was no ordinary fight club. Their weapons and armor were the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were lead through six sessions of  fighting for Gospel transformation in different areas of their lives.

Session 1 : Fighting for Gospel Transformation in your Church.

Session 2: Fighting for Gospel Transformation in your Family.

Session 3: Fighting for Gospel Transformation in your Job.

Session 4: Fighting for Gospel Transformation in your Time.

Session 5 : Fighting for Gospel Transformation Over your Flesh.

Session 6: Why the church needs fighting men.

The men in the movie Fight Club were transformed by taking and giving beatings. The men at Fight Club 09 were transformed by the abuse Christ took on the cross. The idea of a fight club theme for transforming lives in the church is an interesting idea. The idea is for men to stop being wimps in the world and to fight for their lives in Christ for which He died. A call to stop making excuses.

Atlanta church planter Leonce Crump Jr. laid down some hard challenges in session 3, Fighting for Gospel Transformation in your Job. One of his examples of living for Christ was to consider how Christians witness to those in their workplace. Crump touched on something as simple as how Christians spend a bonus check. To paraphrase Crump. When asked by co-workers, “What did you do with your bonus check?” The Christian should be in a position to say, “I feed 100 starving kids in Africa.”

Fight Club 09 was a powerful, challenging event. The first of more to come. Unlike the movie, one will not come away from this kind of fight club with bruised hands and a blood face. However, one might come away with a bruised ego and bloody knees from praying and repenting before a holy God.

Be sure to check out the free audio and video!

Filed under: Acts 29, Atlanta, Gospel, Renovation Church

August 20, 2009 • 23:25 0

The Changes (Reiterated)

New layout, new name, new reason for writing…something shifted inside me, and so did my focus on what I share.

For over a year now I have been writing under the title “There is no spoon”, but since this move to Atlanta, and the shift in my focus, and change in my environment, I felt compelled that it was time to write more about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, a missionary, in the city. To share the personal struggles, doubts, and fears of what that life looks like, and all surrounding victories and failures.

It really isn’t vastly different from what I have been writing, it is now just labeled accordingly. I hope this doesn’t sway you (whoever you are) from continuing to journey with me in my pursuit of Jesus, and desire to show Him off to the world.

You can read this in the about section, but I will include the new blog description to expedite that for ya…I know, I am so kind -;)

When I began to follow Jesus I realized something…I was now part of an ancient story. One that has been unfolding for centuries, for generations, and now Jesus had invited me to peer into this unfolding mystery. How is that God becomes man, but remains God? How is that God loves man with such ferocity that He would come to earth as the Great Missionary, on the Great Rescue Mission for His children? How is it that on this mission He would live perfectly, die unjustly, and return victoriously? How is it that He, who stood before creation, with eternity in His hands, would give Himself over in an act of selfless love? Why would He subject Himself to His own creation? And how is  it that I would be chosen to be a part of this epic love story, and because of it, be invited to then share this story with the world.

This blog is a place to express my continually becoming…continually becoming what He is making me,and shaping me to be, and the struggles, fears, and doubts inherent in this journey. This is also a place to express the fears and failures of sharing this epic love story with other urban dwellers, disconnected from their Father.

Once called to Jesus, we are all invited to do as He did. To incarnate ourselves among a people,and share the love and passion of Christ and His gospel with them…not only in word, but in deed. Not only with our voices, but with our lives. I am an urban missionary, incarnating Jesus in the concrete jungle.

I hope in this you too will come to follow this Jesus and His way, becoming a part of His story, sharing His gospel as a missionary to your world?

Filed under: Gospel, Growth and Journey, Mission, Renovation Church

August 18, 2009 • 09:00 2

30 People, 9 Ethnicity’s, Brunswick Stew and Jesus

Last Sunday I saw something amazing…there were nearly thirty people in my home, and among them about 9 different ethnicity’s were represented, only Jesus could construct something so beautiful. A true tapestry of His creation, of His children. God seems to be shaping something much bigger than talent or ability to contrive.

We ate together, shared our lives, read from the scriptures, and worshipped with songs and prayer. It was altogether beautiful. My hope is that as we grow together, in true gospel community, that we would begin to not only invite people to be a part, but extend that reality into every arena of life. This would bring true change to the city.

Filed under: Atlanta, Community, Grant Park, Renovation Church

August 7, 2009 • 22:10 1

Frankie say, “See the Special Man” This is a Must See

There are few things so funny, and so shameful that I laugh until it literally hurts. I found this first video and posted it on twitter, then I saw there was a second….I had to share them with the world. Welcome to Frankie and Johnnies furniture store, where the special man says, “Let em have it.”

Filed under: Random

August 4, 2009 • 13:51 0

Like a Child

In Matthew 18 the disciples ask the most ridiculous question…after seeing Jesus do amazing things, things that they could never have imagined, the only question they are left with is, “Which one of us will be the greatest.” In reference to Jesus’ coming kingdom. It was amazingly ridiculous, but not uncommon to any one of us.

Jesus’ response was even better. He says that in order to even be a part of His kingdom, that they must become like children. so what does that mean? Do we begin to whine and cry and beg for what we want, thinking that we need it. If that was what He meant then I and every other person on the planet has it down, we are going to be a part of His kingdom. In reality though, I think it is more likely that He meant that we must become helpless, and let go of our self-sufficiency and self-reliance, totally and completely depending on Him…just like a child would on us.

I have a daughter and one on the way. When Eva is born in November, there will be nothing that she can do without me except sleep and even that I will often have to assist in by rocking(I love being a daddy). She will need me for absolutely everything, and without me she can not survive. This is how we are supposed to be in order to be a part of Christ’s kingdom. Helpless, and needing Him completely, unable to do anything without Him.

Sunday night in Renovation’s gospel community we had a great time talking about what it means to be like a child, and people began to come from behind their veil, and their masks and lay their heart open. It was beautiful…it was amazing, to see people get it, and get the gospel, and respond by being real and open and genuine about where they struggle, fear, and doubt. They show their need to rely on God…like children. Will you?

Filed under: Atlanta, Gospel, Grant Park, Growth and Journey, Renovation Church

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