Emergence

Disclaimer and Warning: Loooong post ahead. But I think it's worth it :-)

One of the core values we hold at emergence is to be "on mission." When pressed we attempt to clarify that by saying that the mission we are on is "Jesus' mission of redeeming and reconciling all things to himself." (Col. 1:15-20) And we talk about that A LOT at emergence. It's the foundation of the gospel, so we should.

Yet, it's a huge and rather vague concept, this whole idea of us being used by Jesus to redeem and reconcile 'all things' to himself, especially when you try to get down to the "so what does that mean for me?" part. It's no surprise that practically speaking many (if not most) of us have a really hard time trying to envision (much less enact) what that truly means.

I believe strongly that a big percentage of that difficulty lies in our ability to imagine. As believers we simply can't imagine ourselves as God's agents for bringing hope, healing and forgiveness to a desperate world. If we could imagine ourselves in that role (and in so doing believe the scriptures which declare that we are) we are on our way to the solution.

An acquaintance recently told me, "if you want to find out what mission God has made you passionate for ask yourself 'what, when I see it, makes me weep and pound the table and want to see a change?'" That's a great question for every person and every missional community at emergence to be asking of themselves... constantly.

So then, another big piece of the puzzle is being able to "see." The ability to see with God's perspective the world He has created, it's current state of brokenness and His sacrificial and unconditional love for it. It also really helps to "see" (and hear) the stories of those whom God is using in that way. Perhaps it's because of our cowardice, or our disobedience, or maybe just due to our shrivelled imaginations, but we seem to need stories from those who have been obedient to God and have seen Him work to move us to action. Somehow seeing and hearing stories sharpens our ability to sense God speaking to us saying, "I'd like to do that through you, too."

I received this story in an email from someone at emergence. It is powerful and inspiring - especially since the person who wrote it is not in any program or ministry emergence has manufactured to help people serve. She didn't wait on me or anyone else to help (or even suggest) her to serve. However, she is a passionate "table pounder" who wants to make a difference for Jesus.

I share her story with you for a few reasons: to inspire you to prayerful clarity and passionate embrace of your roll in Jesus' mission, to pray for the "rescued" individual, and to provide you the opportunity to connect with the author of this account. Please contact me here.

On Wednesday night I went to Paterson (in the rain) & met up with the Outreach Director and 3 gals from the Walter Hoving Home. (Garrison, NY)
We started by Rosa Parks Blvd. around 8:30 PM & wandered down Broadway, past the Good Shepherd Mission and wound up by the Library.
We had spoken to 2 women on the street, when this gal with a broken umbrella started to walk by us.
Rebecca (the Outreach Director) asked her her name and that started the whole series of events.

"Jane" (not her real name) started crying and told us that she was homeless.
She had been on the streets for 4 days and was wearing clothes that someone had given to her.
She was in a bad way physically.
Her husband had just been sent to jail for a LONG time....she hadn't eaten in 3 days and she was scared.
She is in her 30's and struggling with multiple physical, mental and emotional issues on top of some addictions.
She also has children, somewhere.....
She had $3 on her and her plan was to go buy herself one last drink and then kill herself.
Rebecca, another gal currently in the program, and myself just started talking truth to her and telling her about the Home and how God loves her.
We got her to go up the steps of the Library to the entrance area and out of the rain where we did the majority of the counseling.
She prayed with us and then said that she had "some things she needed to attend to first; then she would call the Home hotline #."
(very typical - they don't want to leave what they know, even if it's really bad.)
We watched her go down the steps and the gals both said "Oh, we were soooooooo close" (to getting her to come back with them)
"Jane" did say she might "change her mind" so we told her we would be out walking around for a while in case she had a change of heart.
As she got down to the sidewalk, I don't even think she took 2 steps when she turned right around and came back up to where we were still standing and said "I need help and I need it now."
Praise God!
We just kept hugging her and telling her it would be OK.
They kept showing her the brochure with the pictures of the Home and all that is available there for the women in the program.
I kept telling her that God loves her, that He wants her to have her life back, that He wants to give her hope, that He has a plan for her life & that we all come to God on our knees...broken and humbled...so true!
She did tell us that she has an Aunt who wanted her to go to a Christian rehab...well THERE was a prayer answered!!!
Rebecca made the intake call, they spoke to her right then and there, took her info, and one of the gals from the Home volunteered to be her "Big Sister."
Everything was approved, so we just praised God, in the RAIN, and started to walk back to the van.
She was thirsty, so I got her a Dr. Pepper and then we went to our vans.
I had made a dozen muffins for them to enjoy on the way back to the Home (quite a drive).
I was glad at least she would have something to eat.
Meanwhile they were busy @ the Home prepping for her arrival.
She was given the bunk underneath where her Big Sister sleeps.
It was completely amazing watching her get into the van and go off with the 4 gals from the Home.
It was 9:30.
We had been out on Broadway for an hour.
I cried tears of joy all the way home, arriving soggy from the rain and from my tears....ALL GOOD!!!
I had prayed beforehand that God would give us just one girl or woman that night and HE DID!
What a night!
Another lamb was rescued from the mouth of the lion, snatched from the fire.
This is God's calling for all of us: to rescue the perishing and care for the dying.
Jesus is amazing!