In an effort to provide an advocacy for our local churches to reclaim a theology and practice for missional service to the homeless and disadvantaged in our communities, I will be posting a series of blogs. These will be somewhat a compilation of several papers and discussions over the last few years. I hope they will generate discussion in your sphere of influence and in our churches.
Reclaiming Missional Service with a View of Rescue Missions - Final & Works Cited
~ © by Rev. Jim Lewis
Incarnational Effort
When efforts are not incarnational, little of lasting note gets done – this can lead to negative issues . . . and those seeing themselves in the “crosshairs” of perceived do-gooders begin to see themselves as “targets” rather than in community (2003b, 108). Becoming part of the community through assimilating culture and context takes time and effort, which is necessary in order to build a missional bridge of any permanence. This integration will take visionary church leaders who are able to assess the needs of the community, as well as considering the strengths within a congregation, and to build individual team leaders who can lay the groundwork for a safe and appropriate missional outreach (2006b, 32). I mention “safe” as there is danger in not considering the full impact of an urban environment when developing programs. This type of missional outreach can allow people to step beyond the “soup-kitchener” experience and into a more personal and contextual missional expression of their faith and lifestyle. Such change can only come through a concerted effort of our church leaders, ministries and community agencies in creating a bias for action through educating congregants in missional stewardship of all that they control – time, treasure, and talents (2009).
In keeping with our Core Purposes, a new effort of Long Beach Rescue Mission will include communicating more fully the needs around us, the missional responsibilities of our local congregations, and the available programs in which they may participate. A corresponding effort will be made with other service providers, assisting in the reduction of duplication of services and identification of the appropriate methodologies of program outreach. Christians must begin to see that the return on their investments will be realized eternally as well in the present, as they see the changed lives of men, women, and children that are impacted by their stewardship – and the grave loss from not investing in the effort (2002, 295).
Missional Implications
The result of this study will lead me to facilitate our Senior Leadership’s examination of our guiding documents and establish whether or not LBRM is indeed contributing fully as part of the Christian Church in an effort to share the love and grace of Christ through its ministry. As I believe that we are not alone in the community—of the city and of our faith—I feel that this evaluation needs to be two-fold. We draw both church and community to us as a resource for, and preparation to mission . . . and we reach out into the community to serve homeless men, women, and children. This is a picture of incarnational ministry as we provide both justice and salvation – intertwined in a manner that they cannot be separated; one is dependent on the other. As several authors through my work at Fuller have spoken about the interaction of faith and social justice, I continue to struggle with aspects of each—faith and justice—and how they work together and/or balance each other.
There are distinct implications for my ministry, as my staff and I spend much time considering how our services and programs fit in the context of our current culture. The manner in which we communicate and present ourselves as the church to our clients, and to the churches for which we provide resources, is critical to our mission and success. Our ministry to homeless people and those in need are, to us, the community to which God has directed us to serve. How we perform these services in the context of the wider community indicates to that community who and what the Church is. This work has made me consider more deeply the sociological, historical, and political conditions in which the Church—and our ministry—must be the visible expression of God to the world.
REFERENCES CITED
Bosch, David J. 2005. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Maryknoll: Orbis.
Drane, John. 2008. After McDonaldization: Mission, Ministry, and Christian Discipleship in an Age of Uncertainty. Grand Rapids: Baker.
Frost, Michael, and Alan Hirsch. 2003a. The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church. Peabody: Hendrickson.
Guinness, Os. 2001. Doing Well and Doing Good: Money, Giving and Caring in a Free Society. Colorado Springs: NavPress.
Kleist, Patti. 1998. "Saving Grace: A History of Long Beach Rescue Mission". College Paper, Rescue College, Kansas City: AGRM.
Lewis, James K. 2009. "Christian Charity: A Call for a Return to Missional Stewardship." Course Final, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena.
Linthicum, Robert. 2003b. Transforming Power: Biblical Strategies for Making a Difference in Your Community. Downers Grove: IVP.
Lupton, Robert. 2007. Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor. Ventura: Regal.
Okoye, James. 2006a. Israel and the Nations: A Mission Theology of the Old Testament. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.
Paul, William E. 1946. The Romance of Rescue. Minneapolis: Osterhus.
Pohl, Christine D. 1999a. Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Roxburgh, Alan J. and Fred Romanuk. 2006b. The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Sider, Ronald J., Philip N. Olson, and Heidi Rolland Unruh. 2002. Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works. Grand Rapids: Baker.
Stevens, R. Paul. 1999b. The Other Six Days: Vocation, Work, and Ministry in Biblical Perspective. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Reclaiming Missional Service with a View of Rescue Missions - Final & Works Cited
~ © by Rev. Jim Lewis
Incarnational Effort
When efforts are not incarnational, little of lasting note gets done – this can lead to negative issues . . . and those seeing themselves in the “crosshairs” of perceived do-gooders begin to see themselves as “targets” rather than in community (2003b, 108). Becoming part of the community through assimilating culture and context takes time and effort, which is necessary in order to build a missional bridge of any permanence. This integration will take visionary church leaders who are able to assess the needs of the community, as well as considering the strengths within a congregation, and to build individual team leaders who can lay the groundwork for a safe and appropriate missional outreach (2006b, 32). I mention “safe” as there is danger in not considering the full impact of an urban environment when developing programs. This type of missional outreach can allow people to step beyond the “soup-kitchener” experience and into a more personal and contextual missional expression of their faith and lifestyle. Such change can only come through a concerted effort of our church leaders, ministries and community agencies in creating a bias for action through educating congregants in missional stewardship of all that they control – time, treasure, and talents (2009).
In keeping with our Core Purposes, a new effort of Long Beach Rescue Mission will include communicating more fully the needs around us, the missional responsibilities of our local congregations, and the available programs in which they may participate. A corresponding effort will be made with other service providers, assisting in the reduction of duplication of services and identification of the appropriate methodologies of program outreach. Christians must begin to see that the return on their investments will be realized eternally as well in the present, as they see the changed lives of men, women, and children that are impacted by their stewardship – and the grave loss from not investing in the effort (2002, 295).
Missional Implications
The result of this study will lead me to facilitate our Senior Leadership’s examination of our guiding documents and establish whether or not LBRM is indeed contributing fully as part of the Christian Church in an effort to share the love and grace of Christ through its ministry. As I believe that we are not alone in the community—of the city and of our faith—I feel that this evaluation needs to be two-fold. We draw both church and community to us as a resource for, and preparation to mission . . . and we reach out into the community to serve homeless men, women, and children. This is a picture of incarnational ministry as we provide both justice and salvation – intertwined in a manner that they cannot be separated; one is dependent on the other. As several authors through my work at Fuller have spoken about the interaction of faith and social justice, I continue to struggle with aspects of each—faith and justice—and how they work together and/or balance each other.
There are distinct implications for my ministry, as my staff and I spend much time considering how our services and programs fit in the context of our current culture. The manner in which we communicate and present ourselves as the church to our clients, and to the churches for which we provide resources, is critical to our mission and success. Our ministry to homeless people and those in need are, to us, the community to which God has directed us to serve. How we perform these services in the context of the wider community indicates to that community who and what the Church is. This work has made me consider more deeply the sociological, historical, and political conditions in which the Church—and our ministry—must be the visible expression of God to the world.
REFERENCES CITED
Bosch, David J. 2005. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Maryknoll: Orbis.
Drane, John. 2008. After McDonaldization: Mission, Ministry, and Christian Discipleship in an Age of Uncertainty. Grand Rapids: Baker.
Frost, Michael, and Alan Hirsch. 2003a. The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church. Peabody: Hendrickson.
Guinness, Os. 2001. Doing Well and Doing Good: Money, Giving and Caring in a Free Society. Colorado Springs: NavPress.
Kleist, Patti. 1998. "Saving Grace: A History of Long Beach Rescue Mission". College Paper, Rescue College, Kansas City: AGRM.
Lewis, James K. 2009. "Christian Charity: A Call for a Return to Missional Stewardship." Course Final, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena.
Linthicum, Robert. 2003b. Transforming Power: Biblical Strategies for Making a Difference in Your Community. Downers Grove: IVP.
Lupton, Robert. 2007. Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor. Ventura: Regal.
Okoye, James. 2006a. Israel and the Nations: A Mission Theology of the Old Testament. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.
Paul, William E. 1946. The Romance of Rescue. Minneapolis: Osterhus.
Pohl, Christine D. 1999a. Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Roxburgh, Alan J. and Fred Romanuk. 2006b. The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Sider, Ronald J., Philip N. Olson, and Heidi Rolland Unruh. 2002. Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works. Grand Rapids: Baker.
Stevens, R. Paul. 1999b. The Other Six Days: Vocation, Work, and Ministry in Biblical Perspective. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Appendix A
Invisible Neighbors
Plan: Develop relationships with local churches to facilitate their hosting a six-week Sunday School lesson utilizing this curriculum
Purpose: To initiate discussion on the Church’s role in hospitality, and provide resources for them to reach-out into their local area and the urban center
SESSION 1: Who is my neighbor?
“Hey, we’re neighbors!” An unusual encounter with a homeless man that changes everything A culture of “cocoons” and “clans” The impact the loss of social capital now has on our every-day lives The Samaritan saga A fresh, in-depth look at one of Jesus’ often-repeated parables
SESSION 2: Nations of neighbors in need
Concerning statistics Facts and figures regarding our most heart-wrenching social issues “This is my story” Getting acquainted with two very typical invisible neighbors The next ten years What the days ahead might hold if things continue as they are
SESSION 3: The question of responsibility
The government’s burden? The very complicated role of government in caring for the poor The church’s responsibility? Why the church of Jesus Christ is not as involved as it should be Under the Overpass Two transients tell of their experiences with Christians on the streets
SESSION 4: Love your neighbor as yourself
A biblical perspective on the poor What scripture says about the poor and the obligation of believers Jesus and the Year of Jubilee How the Son of God brings back to life a forgotten Jewish custom The Matthew 25 upshot The meaning and ramifications of a popular passage on kindness
SESSION 5: Embracing radical hospitality
The New Testament model What biblical hospitality really means and how one patriarch lived it Community, then houses The right priority for addressing homelessness from a faith perspective Christ, then programs Why the Gospel needs to come before enrollment in social programs
SESSION 6: Missions to the rescue
A perfect place to start What rescue missions have stood for and what they continue to do Your invitation for involvement Ways you can serve a rescue mission and what it will do for you Don’t forget the words A final word on communicating the life changing truth of Jesus
Ashmen, John. 2011. Invisible Neighbors: If You Don't See Them, You Aren't Looking. San Clemente: Cross Section. http://www.agrm.org/agrm/Invisible_Neighbors.asp
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