7/30
Tonight is our second night in Aruba. It has been a great experience. The people here are warm and friendly, more hospitable than I would have ever imagined.
After two nights of "revival" with the Arubian Methodist churches I have struggled to feel the Holy Spirit. I know it is here in the people we have met and the ministry they are doing and among the people in our traveling band of preachers but I am realizing, even in this beautiful place, my skepticism runs deep. I felt this the first night but was trying to withhold judgment but this feeling remains. Last night it felt that the service was manufactured and "evangelistic" by formula. It seemed just like every other revival I have ever been to minus the " if you died tonight" and sinners prayer. The songs, the cadence volume and tone of the caller are all the same. I was fine the first night until the very end when it came time for the altar call. But, I just couldn't put my finger on what it was. Tonight I felt it again. Formulaic and somewhat insincere. I have begun to realize through conversations with the others in our group that this may be holdover feelings from my previous experience at events like this, especially from my childhood.
I have been that person in tears on my knees at the front of the church. I am sure it seemed sincere in the moment but non the less unchanged..... Always, tomorrow came and it was the same as before. I realize it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the moment and the emotions run high. I have no doubt that God can work that way, and for some, sudden change may last. I am confident that God will use this experience to work miracles in this community but I remain skeptical of the formula we call revival worship, and the long term effects events like this have on individuals and churches.
I realize that some people do have Damascus road conversion experiences but mine was more of the emmaus road type of conversion experience. I have been at that altar many times but never really understood and accepted the love and grace of Christ until I had time to process and that was a slow realization for me.
I did really enjoy the messages, music and especially the personal testimonies. It amazed me how much I related to both Mark and Sheryl's stories. I love that even though God calls us each in a personal way, it is still recognizable in the stories of others.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
wait and see
We are leaving tomorrow for our trip and while I am excited about the trip, about learning about evangelism and just seeing what God has in store I am hoping that I am prepared. I feel like in general I am pretty flexible and willing to do and try just about anything but until today I had not thought about the emotional tole traveling may take on a person. I have traveled before but it has always been to vacation spots which cater to Americans. I realized today that this will be my first opportunity to experience what it is like for many immigrants who come to the states. I have thought about what people from other countries may feel like coming to the United States, not understanding the customs, language and systems of this country. I guess, this experience will be my first taste of what that is really like for them. I know it won't be exactly the same due to the fear many immigrants feel coming to the US but it will probably be the closest I get to that experience. It is always a good practice to learn empathy and be able to put yourself in someone else's shoes. My other "worry" is whether or not my current state of exhaustion will affect my ability to be flexible and maintain my mental acuity. I realize that God can and does work even when we are not at our best and often works in spite of ourselves. I know that God is at work in this trip and I will leave a different person that I arrive and with God's help it will be for the better. I guess we will just have to wait and see what God has planned!
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
What to Expect
As the time quickly approaches for our departure I am beginning to get a clearer picture of what to expect and what I hope to get out of this trip.
As we discuss faith sharing and evangelism I am really hoping that this experience will help me to become more comfortable and more effective in sharing my own faith and experiences of Christ. I hope to learn new and effective ways of evangelism and how to encourage others to share their faith.
I also am hoping to learn new ways to help ignite the passions of those in my congregations.
When I think about Paul and how often he talked about how it was impossible for him not to share the faith with others; I realize that evangelism is more than responding to a request from Christ to go, proclaim, baptise and make disciples. It is about being in tune with how the love of Christ is active in your own personal life. I think as people become comfortable with their faith they begin to forget or take that relationship for granted. Maybe people who have never known life without church forget how important and essential their faith is and have a difficult time thinking about what life would be like without it. I am hoping that I will become more effective at helping people remember and communicate their own faith stories. Once people remember why they need Christ and how essential it is for their everyday life it would be impossible to not want everyone you know to feel the same way.
We never hesitate to share our favorite restaurant, movie, music, and the tools of life we don't want to live with out. If we really feel like we can't live without Christ we should be just as willing and eager to share Christ with others too.
As we discuss faith sharing and evangelism I am really hoping that this experience will help me to become more comfortable and more effective in sharing my own faith and experiences of Christ. I hope to learn new and effective ways of evangelism and how to encourage others to share their faith.
I also am hoping to learn new ways to help ignite the passions of those in my congregations.
When I think about Paul and how often he talked about how it was impossible for him not to share the faith with others; I realize that evangelism is more than responding to a request from Christ to go, proclaim, baptise and make disciples. It is about being in tune with how the love of Christ is active in your own personal life. I think as people become comfortable with their faith they begin to forget or take that relationship for granted. Maybe people who have never known life without church forget how important and essential their faith is and have a difficult time thinking about what life would be like without it. I am hoping that I will become more effective at helping people remember and communicate their own faith stories. Once people remember why they need Christ and how essential it is for their everyday life it would be impossible to not want everyone you know to feel the same way.
We never hesitate to share our favorite restaurant, movie, music, and the tools of life we don't want to live with out. If we really feel like we can't live without Christ we should be just as willing and eager to share Christ with others too.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Evangelism
I admit I am one of those people who when I think of door to door "evangelism" I immediatly think of the Mormans and Jehovah's Witnesses. And I openly admit that if I realize who it is in time I won't answer the door. I respect what they do and I understand thier motivation behind it but it is not an interaction I enjoy. I have always been one who could talk to just about anyone and one of my first jobs out of college required me do this. For some reason, I could knock on a stranger's door and within an hour they would be sharing the most intimate details of their sex life and drug use. (I was a Syphilis and HIV investigator). I was always amazed at how quickly people would open up when it meant saving their life or the lives of the people they know. I am not sure why this same concept is so hard when you are talking about someones eternal life? For some reason, I seem to have bought into the same concept as many in society that religion is a personal matter. I am open to talk with anyone who brings it up or if I am generally having a conversation with someone and they want to talk about it fine. When it comes to going door to door though it seems intimidating.
As a pastor, I wish we could come up with a different word for evangelism. Just the word seems to send people running for the hills no matter what it actually looks like. Maybe if it had another name with less baggage and history people would at least entertain the idea instead of being immediately turned off. Faith sharing in general seems to be a difficult task for a lot of people. They have long bought the idea of "actions speak louder than words" and will often quote St. Frances "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words." It is much easier to just be nice to people and call it faith sharing and yet often times, no one ever knows the motivation behind why the kind deed was done. The church has long catered to people's reluctance to truly encounter people where they are and allow and many times encourage their members to "Go" by sending UMCOR kits, money, and other hands-on mission opportunities instead of actually meeting the people. I realize that these services are beneficial and not everyone can go into a disaster area but it seems to have become a crutch for those who want to feel good about themselves without getting their hands dirty.
I am hoping that this trip and participating in the seminar will help me learn how to combine missions and evangelism in new and exciting ways, to ease people into new ways to witness and interact with people and to learn to be more comfortable with faith sharing myself.
As a pastor, I wish we could come up with a different word for evangelism. Just the word seems to send people running for the hills no matter what it actually looks like. Maybe if it had another name with less baggage and history people would at least entertain the idea instead of being immediately turned off. Faith sharing in general seems to be a difficult task for a lot of people. They have long bought the idea of "actions speak louder than words" and will often quote St. Frances "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words." It is much easier to just be nice to people and call it faith sharing and yet often times, no one ever knows the motivation behind why the kind deed was done. The church has long catered to people's reluctance to truly encounter people where they are and allow and many times encourage their members to "Go" by sending UMCOR kits, money, and other hands-on mission opportunities instead of actually meeting the people. I realize that these services are beneficial and not everyone can go into a disaster area but it seems to have become a crutch for those who want to feel good about themselves without getting their hands dirty.
I am hoping that this trip and participating in the seminar will help me learn how to combine missions and evangelism in new and exciting ways, to ease people into new ways to witness and interact with people and to learn to be more comfortable with faith sharing myself.
Monday, July 1, 2013
one month to go
It is hard to believe that in one month, I will be in Venezuela.
My books for this class came today so I am going to be busy reading over the next four weeks. I am supposed to be "reflective" about this trip and prayerful about what is in store for us. While I am praying about it, I don't feel like it is part of my nature to be deeply reflective. I try to be open to where the spirit is leading me and take advantage of the opportunities given to me. I learn from my experiences and am excited about all that I will learn, see and and experience while on this trip. I am hopeful that the books we have been assigned will offer new insights, lessons and information that will be helpful in my own spiritual growth but also in my ministry and in the lives of the churches I serve. Although I have known "evangelism" is not something that comes naturally to me or I feel at this point I am well equipped to do, it became even more apparent as two 10 year old Jehovah's Witnesses came to my house today. It is hard enough to communicate your beliefs, feelings and faith to people you know and who are interested, I can't imagine how uncomfortable and challenging it is to cold call on people who may reject your message out right and will most likely not be kind in their reaction. Maybe this experience and the other classes I am choosing to take while at Candler will give me more confidence and willingness to go out on a limb with my faith and help me teach and encourage others to do likewise. At this point I feel like a sponge ready to drink in this experience and and see how it will impact God's work through me.
My books for this class came today so I am going to be busy reading over the next four weeks. I am supposed to be "reflective" about this trip and prayerful about what is in store for us. While I am praying about it, I don't feel like it is part of my nature to be deeply reflective. I try to be open to where the spirit is leading me and take advantage of the opportunities given to me. I learn from my experiences and am excited about all that I will learn, see and and experience while on this trip. I am hopeful that the books we have been assigned will offer new insights, lessons and information that will be helpful in my own spiritual growth but also in my ministry and in the lives of the churches I serve. Although I have known "evangelism" is not something that comes naturally to me or I feel at this point I am well equipped to do, it became even more apparent as two 10 year old Jehovah's Witnesses came to my house today. It is hard enough to communicate your beliefs, feelings and faith to people you know and who are interested, I can't imagine how uncomfortable and challenging it is to cold call on people who may reject your message out right and will most likely not be kind in their reaction. Maybe this experience and the other classes I am choosing to take while at Candler will give me more confidence and willingness to go out on a limb with my faith and help me teach and encourage others to do likewise. At this point I feel like a sponge ready to drink in this experience and and see how it will impact God's work through me.
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