Life IS Ministry

The last few months of our ministry at New Beginnings have been challenging. We have had three young women transition into our home and a few others whose stays were brief as they were unable to complete our program. During some of the more difficult days during one woman’s stay, (to be vulnerable) I had thought that maybe I wasn’t cut out for this kind of ministry. But in those moments of prayer and desperation, God was whispering to my heart, “This is real life, and the issues you’re dealing with are real life issues. This isn’t a ministry issue.” I realized I couldn’t blame my lack of patience or endurance on the circumstances, but on my depravity and need for more of God’s Spirit in my heart. The issues I was struggling with weren’t going to be solved by switching jobs, they would be solved by the transformation of my own heart—that was humbling!

This did something deeper in my heart, too. The more I think about Jesus' life and ministry, I see the line between life and ministry blurring. Jesus' life WAS ministry--or, to use a better word-- love. Wherever we're at, we're called to love. Whatever fully occupies my time for the rest of my life, to love is my job. I can't run away from my mandate to love, whatever job I or anyone else has. 

None of us are excused from a life of ministry. But we are free to partner with our amazing God wherever we choose to go in loving people into the kingdom of God. We all get to live a glory-filled life of loving our God and loving His people. How exciting!

Conflict Can be a Blessing

I have always hated conflict. Being a part of or seeing a disagreement between people has always seemed to bring about the sweaty palms, quickened heart rate, and surge of adrenaline. I have spent my adult years (because we all know that youth thrive on conflict with siblings) trying to avoid misunderstandings at all costs, or if impossible than to at least help both parties to come to resolution as quick as possible. 

I'm not sure where all this came from. I do intend to get to the root of that issue someday soon, and perhaps a valuable lesson learned today will help me along the way.

We have had a young woman living with us for nearly three weeks now, and we're still working on figuring each other out. I had felt the rumblings of frustration all day and was quite anxious in anticipation, when  after dinner the volcano of anger erupted. My heart rate shot up and I leaned over and rested my elbows on the counter in an effort to still my shaking hands. Then something seemed to take over; I let her speak until she was done voicing her frustrations and concerns long bottled-up, and I suddenly wasn't anxious. I was relieved! I was so thankful to hear this woman's heart and honest opinions even through her expressed anger. The discussions took several minutes (which is normally enough to break me), but what I was astounded to find was that I actually loved this woman more after our argument than I did before! I was thankful to have been able to go through the vulnerability of anger and come out on the other side with mutual understanding. I now have more of a heart to serve her because I see where she's coming from but also how I can personally grow to become better at what I do.

So, I got in an argument today. And I am blessed.

 

Seeking After Jesus, the Bread of Life

I'm reading from John 6 this morning. Here's the plot summary: Jesus had just fed 5,000 from five loaves and two fish. He ran away from the crowd, hid on a mountain for a while, then walked across the lake to Capernaum in the night. The same crowd from the day before was very eager to find Jesus. They were hungry for more gracious words, and perhaps some free breakfast. When they found Him in Capernaum (how did he get over there without a boat?, they wondered.) Jesus takes the next 20 verses and shatters their theology in pieces.

"I am the bread of life." 

"For I have come down from heaven..." 

"Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." 

"My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink." 

"[I am] the bread that came down from heaven."

Because the crowd was looking for another sign, and not accepting the man Jesus as the Messiah who was written about, these words offended beyond reconciliation and many quit following him that day. But before condemning this crowd for the shallowness of their hearts, shall we check for the plank in our own eye? If Jesus simply requests that we, like this crowd, come to Him for the bread of life, where are the places where we're settling for the manna of men?

If men have no more to show for their love to Christ than their running after sermons and prayers, and their pangs of affection to good preaching, they have reason to suspect themselves no better than this eager crowd. But though these people were no better principled, and Christ knew it, yet he was willing to be found of them, and admitted them into fellowship with him.  

 Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, John 6:22-27

Praise God that He is merciful and gracious. He is so gentle and patient in drawing us near. That's a good shepherd!

When the Enemy Comes in Like a Flood...

Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases!
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
² They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;
With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

I've been pondering how to communicate my heart about justice and righteousness, as I've been learning SO MUCH over the past couple months. During my commute home tonight, an IHOP-KC Prayer Room clip began playing on my iPod that put words to these revelations of my heart. The song is spontaneous, and the singer begins with the above plight of Psalm 12. Where have all the righteous people gone? The ones that, when they see an injustice actually have zeal and authority to do something about it? 

There are millions of oppressed women and children in the world crying, "Help, oh God!". And who will answer them???
This battle is real, and we must all enlist.

So many Christians are powerless to spiritually fight for justice because they have a divided heart. According to Psalm 12, the fruit of a divided heart is powerless words (when they speak, nothing happens). Many believers lack authority to fight darkness because they themselves are still in agreement with immorality. The dangerous reality is that most in this place don't recognize the condition of their own heart. But good deeds and good intentions do not equate authority. 
When I was beginning prostitution ministry in South Africa two years ago, I didn't make it through one week of outreach before becoming so sick that I could no longer eat or get out of bed. After four days, I suddenly had a revelation that there were generational sins of immorality that I had not dealt with in my own life (I can explain this concept in more depth if necessary). I verbally renounced these sins, received the Lord's forgiveness, and was immediately healed. Within 24 hours I had all my strength and appetite back. You see, I had good intentions but no authority yet. 

What is the solution to a powerless church? WAKE UP!!! Put on your armor, raise the flag, and wage war against immorality, beginning with your own heart. Isaiah 59:19 says "When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard [a banner of war] against him." 
If we choose, we can partner with the Holy Spirit in this battle against darkness in the world. In place of exploitation, we can serve and honor. In place of the orphan spirit, we can adopt. We can look at a pile of ashes and declare beauty. We can speak hope into the disillusioned soul. 

Is She Worth It?

I was spending some time this afternoon at one of my favorite coffee shops (shout out to Anthem in downtown Puyallup!), working on my newsletter and other "catch up" tasks. As the shop got crowded during a busy time, 3 middle-aged folks came and joined me at my table. We started chatting, and they asked more about the work I do as a missionary and worker of justice. We talked about human trafficking, and they quickly resolved that there is simply no hope for the ending of the issue, nor for the restoration of survivors. I shared with them about the importance of involving God's heart through prayer, and that justice is possible through Him.
I then shared with them my philosophy on servanthood: a pastor of a South African church and leader of their weekly sex trafficking outreaches cast vision for the very first street outreach I had ever participated in. He told us that these women and children are God's treasure, and that these women are worth being rescued no matter the cost. I will always remember him saying, "If you get in a fight over her, get in a fight; If you lose an eye, lose an eye for her; If you get killed; let yourself be killed. And even if all our years of work is to change ONE LIFE, it's worth it."
(Now, before you fall off your chair in fear for me, let me explain a few things! While street prostitution ministry can be frightening & even dangerous at times, the "die to yourself" message should be considered in light of the "she's worth rescuing" truth. Use Jesus as your example, who "for the joy set before Him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). He didn't have the happiest ending to his life, but Jesus chose the path that led to eternal life and eternal reward. So I had settled in my heart that night as I met and prayed with prostitutes for the first time, that these women truly are God's precious children and my beloved sisters. And if my sister needs help, I must help.)

My new friends in the coffee shop were appalled at what I had just said. The woman tried talking me out of making any sacrifices for their sake, reasoning that MY life is worth something too. I know she had good intentions, but her advice to me was misguided and frankly not biblical. My life is worth a great deal, and so I choose to offer it in this way.

I have counted the cost, and she is worth it.

Psalm 73 Justice

When thinking about issues of injustice, there are two parties involved in the matter: the oppressed and the oppressor. The transition from injustice to justice also includes the role of the rescuer. I'm sure one can easily call to mind a classic damsel-in-distress-meets-bad-guy-but-is-rescued-by-handsome-prince story. This type of plot excites our hearts because it is actually based on the truth of the Bible, of who God is. We really have a rescuer God--if you don't believe me, check out Psalm 18.


It happens quite often that I watch even 30 seconds of the evening news on any given day and become discouraged to the point of tears. Another sexual abuse scandal. Another kidnapping. Another nation in extreme poverty through political oppression. We know that there are certainly wonderful moments of justice served in our world today, but questions still arises in my heart when it seems that there is more bad news than good. How is the bad guy getting away with it? When is the good guy showing up?

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
But what a difficult task it is!
Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, 

and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. 

Truly, you put them on a slippery path 

and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. 

In an instant they are destroyed, 

completely swept away by terrors. 

When you arise, O Lord, 

you will laugh at their silly ideas 

as a person laughs at dreams in the morning. 

Psalm 73:16-20, NLT


I think God's Word speaks for itself.

The Power of Prayer

Well, our outreach is done. I leave the country on Wednesday, and our team is getting in some last minute shopping and lion-petting before we go. It's been amazing, and here's another testimony:
Just as last week's all-night "Urban Campout" with the Salvation Army yielded much fruit, this past Friday was amazing as well. Around 50 people from the Salvation Army, YWAM, and Exodus Cry came together on the streets of a neighborhood in Jo'burg. We started worshipping and praying around our campfires at 11pm, and prayer walks started around 12:30. Groups of about 12 at a time walked through the neighborhood praying and talking to those on the streets. I went with a team of YWAM Argentina folks around 1am. After walking a few blocks from the base we spotted a girl standing in the shadows in front of a house. As we approached, she turned around and walked inside the gate. As I gestured to say hello to her, I found that she wasn't alone- she was standing behind her pimp. I left my hello, and we kept walking. As the team behind us stopped to talk more with them, we stood on the sidewalk and prayed for what to do next. One of our girls didn't feel safe on the dark street we were standing on, and as we were praying and discerning what we should do next, a girl came out of the dark, crossed the street, and said hi. She seemed to be under the influence of what we later found was drugs. She stood before us in her mini skirt while we were shivering with our coats, gloves and scarves. We talked with her for a while, putting together her story. She is 32 years old, and has two children that were taken from her a while ago. She's been here on the streets for about 10 years, and at the time was living with a Nigerian down the street who was supplying her drugs. As the conversation went on, we asked if she wanted to be here and liked selling herself, and her answer to both was no. While under a street light, she showed me the bruises on her thighs which she got from the pimp down the street. Charles, the man in our team, was persistent in telling Nadia that there is a way out. Eventually, breakthrough happened, and the reality of leaving the business hit her. She finally said that she was ready to leave, and she wanted to go to the Safe House. She wept as our people went to fetch the vehicle that would take her away to safety. Life came into her eyes as she began dreaming again. Her biggest dream was seeing her children again. She also got excited at the idea of getting a job, getting off drugs, and seeing her mother again. During the 45-minute ride to the Safe House, we prayed for her, affirmed her dreams, and I got to chat with her woman-to-woman. During our conversation, she reached into her dress and gave me her drug pipe. She was done.
Her favorite color is pink. Her favorite song is a South African song that I can't pronounce and she was too shy to sing.
We arrived at the Safe House at 3am, and left Nadia and her rose, covered in prayer and love.
A testimony about prayer: When asked why she decided to leave tonight instead of the many other nights she's been given the same opportunity, she said, "I don't know, something just felt different in my heart tonight." Her heart had changed. She could feel it changing as she spoke, she knew something was different. We told her that was God speaking to her heart, and she smiled a beautiful smile. She knew that God was with her. Just that morning in prayer, we had prayed for God to go before us and prepare hearts. We prayed for changed lives. This woman was ready, and her life was changed.