Wherever You Are, Serve Well

Three Urban Plunge participants serving at Heartland Hope Mission!

 

  Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to help lead a round table with some college students.  Various ideas were passed around the room, but the discussion seemed to center around two main ideas.  Is there such a thing as a "calling"?  Is reaching the unreached people groups more important than bringing the Gospel to those in the U.S.?  Those in the room came from a mixture of backgrounds and experiences, and they all held to their own opinions on the debate.

     I recently wrote a post titled "Reaching Our Jerusalem".  In that post, I referenced Acts 1:8, which directs us to serve our community and city, our nation at large, and then the ends of the earth.  I think that much truth can be found in that verse.  Where we are now, is just as vital as the ends of the earth.  While we should never diminish the significance of going overseas, I think that sometimes we can get caught up in the hype of the overseas missionary.  Relevant Magazine has an excellent article that discusses this very thing; it's called "We Need Boring Christians", and it's a very quick read.  I would encourage you to take a moment and read it.

     Based on my understanding of Jesus, I know that He loves everyone in the world equally, and He died for all.  He desires that each one of us should come into a saving faith.  Thinking about it this way, it means that the unreached people groups that have never heard the Gospel before are just as important as those in the U.S. who have potentially heard the Gospel message many times.  And the reverse is also absolutely true: Americans need to hear the Gospel and the love of Jesus as much as or even more than the unreached.  I think that we need to be careful not to classify non-believing Americans as unworthy of hearing and receiving the Gospel.  The mentality that, "Well, they've had their chance to hear the Gospel, but they rejected it," should be refuted.  Someday, Jesus will return.  How will we answer Him?

     I would probably be classified as a boring Christian.  Growing up in a Midwest farm family, the furthest I've ever traveled was to Florida when I was six.  I went to a local Christian University, where a big emphasis was placed on intercultural ministry, especially if it involved going overseas.  I distinctly remember several conversations I had with different students who were Intercultural Studies majors.  They just couldn't seem to understand why I didn't want to go overseas.  I'm not in the slightest against going out of the country someday on a short-term mission trip, if the timing is right.  I don't feel called, however, to do long-term mission work out of the country.   After one mission conference session, I was talking with a student in the lunch line.  I was honest with him and said, "While listening to the guy share his incredible stories is really cool, I just don't feel that burning in my heart that God's calling me overseas."  Take it or leave it. 

     I am a big proponent of being missional locally, marketplace ministry, and being present and active in the here and now.  I know of people with grand plans to serve God overseas someday.  It's wonderful that they feel God leading them to Africa and other places.  The problem, however, is that they are not present where God has them now.  All of their energy and focus seems to be on getting overseas someday, and they miss out on the opportunities available right where they're at.

Let not our longing slay the appetite of our living. - Jim Elliot  

 
I think that Jim Elliot was spot on.  We are called to serve well, wherever we are.  Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  1 Peter 4:10 states, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."  And one more verse, found in 2 Corinthians 9:7b, which easily can relate to serving: "God loves it when the giver delights in the giving."  I don't think any of these verses talk about putting your serving on hold.

Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him?  Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him?  I'm not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things -- things which would be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him." - Oswald Chambers

     I'll be the first to admit that it's not always easy to remain present and active in the here and now.  I'm a dreamer, so I have a tendency to squander my thought life thinking about a glorious, idealistic future.  God is faithful, however, and he continually brings people and opportunities into my life to ground me in the present-day.  Christ For the City offers plenty of ways to serve, both in your community and around the world.  If you're interested in going out of the country, get a group together and take a short-term mission trip to a Latin country. Or, go as a short-term individual for one month to a year.  You can even get involved in the U.S., through our Urban Plunge program.  Just by going on an Urban Plunge, you are guaranteed exposure to at least 7-9 ministries and organizations.  We make it easy to reach out and serve.  If you don't know where to start, just start small.  The more you serve, the easier it becomes.  And, I can resolutely say that God will bless your serving ten-fold.

     Wherever you are, serve well.  

Be blessed,

 Julie

Testimony from Tyler

We always love to hear testimonies from our individuals on the field.  Tyler Champagne, one of our Short-term Individuals, is serving with us in Bolivia until April 5th.  Last week, we received the following email from him and wanted to share it with you all.  He wrote about how his life will change upon returning to the states.  Enjoy, and be inspired by what Tyler is taking away from his experience in Bolivia!

Lifestyle changes.  Where to begin....  I think the biggest thing will be putting God number one in my life, all the time.  This is very hard to do as a 26 year old in the states.  There are many distractions and temptations.  This experience has really put my focus into place.  How this will transcend into back in the states?  I'm not sure if I told you about the International Outreach my church does at a local university.  I plan on getting deep into this when I return.  I want to really get after the Spanish speaking students and get them to come to church with me and form great friendships.   

One thing I love about Cochabamba and my friends here, we all hang out together all weekend.  This hanging out mainly includes church related activities.  This keeps us focused on God and away from weekend temptations.  I have a great group of about 7 or 8 friends that are all near my age.  On Saturday nights, we have service together.  Many of them play the music for service on Sunday mornings, so they rehearse both Saturday night and Sunday morning.  For Saturday, everything goes from around 4:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.  Then, we all get dinner together before calling it a night.  We meet back up at 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning, rehearse, have prayer time, service time, then go out to eat as a church.  We're done at 2:00 usually.  But then, we meet back up at 4:00 to play sports together and get dinner after.  I return home around 9:00 on this evening. 

I absolutely love my Sundays!  I hope to bring part of this back to the states.  As Americans, we are content with just giving one hour per week to God and thinking that's good.  I have learned this is far from enough!  I hope to have success with the International Outreach back home.  We do an open house thing on Sunday afternoons from 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.  My goal is to eventually get many people to show and to have a great outreach.   

To summarize, I am more focused on keeping God as my top priority at all times when I return home.  This was not the case before my trip.  It most certainly will be after.

 Thanks for sharing, Tyler!  We're so happy God is working in your life!

New Blog and T-Shirt Giveaway

Christ For the City International (and Urban Plunge) is excited to announce our new blog! Through our blog, we hope to share our heart with our supporters. Our plan is to share updates on our bases, pictures and videos, devotionals and encouragement articles, news from the central office, and much more. To celebrate, we are giving away a free Christ For the City t-shirt.

There are instructions for entering.

1. If you have a blog, please follow us! We want to start building our follower base. If you followed us, leave a comment on this post, letting us know that you are a follower.
2. Share our blog with someone. Tell your friends on Facebook about us. Share us through word-of-mouth. Pass on our blog in an email. If you share, leave a comment letting us know that you shared our blog.
3.  You must answer the following question in a comment: What does Christ For the City mean to you? If you have participated in the Urban Plunge, you may answer: What does Urban Plunge mean to you?

The giveaway will run through the end of March, and on April 2nd, we will select one blessed winner. :) Depending on the number of entries, we may close the giveaway early. 

Reaching Our Jerusalem



Last summer, celebrating my
25th birthday!

Hello, dear blog readers! I am Julie Timm, and I am blessed to be able to work with the Urban Plunge Program. While my official title is Urban Plunge Scheduler and Development Administrator, you can find me doing anything from office work to participating in community activities. In college, I volunteered extensively with some of the ministries the Omaha Urban Plunge promotes. I now have the wonderful opportunity to be on the other side. I get to help others experience inner-city ministry! For many of them, it is their first taste of what life in the inner-city is like.

I would like to share with you some of the feedback that we received from Plunge participants.

"The Plunge really opened my eyes to the needs our country is facing--and so near to home. We help other countries, but what about our own people?"

"Sharing watermelon with people at the Siena Francis Homeless Shelter really impacted me. Seeing all those people, and hearing their stories. I looked down the street, and there stood the Woodman Tower. I can see the other side of that building from my neighborhood. I never knew there was this world so close to mine."

"It opened my eyes so I could see things and people differently. It made me fee like I was 'living in Disney World' back home." 

"It made me want to go back home and serve others, not worrying so much about my wants. It gave me a passion to serve others and be a person of prayer."

Did you know that as of 2010, racial minorities made up over 18% of the Omaha, Nebraska population? Two years later, that number continues to climb. Check out these demographics on the greater Omaha area, taken from Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership.

Recently, a co-worker and I, along with several students from Grace University, had the chance to sit down and talk with Ron Dotzler, founder of Abide Network in North Omaha. Ron has a big vision for transforming our city.  He breaks down demographics into the following:

• Helpless: children in a situation they can't do anything about or dominant immigrant population--Latinos, Sudanese, Korean, and first generation Somalians--to name a few
• Homeless: those on the streets
• Hopeless: people who feel that they are hopeless to get out of their community

This pie chart shows immigrant demographics for Omaha. 

chart from 2011 Silicon Prairie News article 

Omaha has had a huge influx of immigrants and refugees. We are home to the largest Sudanese refugee population in the U.S. Vast numbers of Somalians are settling here. And we can't forget about our Hispanic population, which makes up over half of the immigrant population count.

Do you know the commonality between all these people groups? They all need help, hope, and Jesus Christ.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. - Acts 1:8

While we are commanded to go to the "ends of the earth", we are instructed to go to our Jerusalem, first. With our rapidly growing immigrant population, what better way to reach the world than in our own community? The majority of these immigrants and refugees are being placed in North and South Omaha. Cheap housing is one of the factors, but the main issue is cultural and racial divides. There is a line drawn right through the middle of Omaha, and only the few and brave will cross it.

The Urban Plunge is one of the groups that are helping to change this. We offer participants a chance to hang out in the inner-city and serve "the least of these." They get to see that it's not so scary, and they are given tangible ways to show hope and love to those in poverty. Many leave the trip convicted and inspired, like the ones mentioned above. If you've never experienced the Plunge before, what's holding you back? We would love to have you!

If volunteering with our immigrant and refugee population intrigues you, I'd like to invite you to get in touch with these organizations doing awesome work in Omaha.

Lutheran Family Services: Immigration and Refugee Services

 Open Door Mission

Heartland Hope Mission 

Abide Network

Be blessed,

Julie