Walking the Journey...

     Throughout bible colleges, churches, Christian literature, conferences, and anything else that makes up post-modern Christendom people are asking the question, "how are we to do church?".  A popular theme amongst these conversations is a return to the model of the first church (Acts 2).  Although I do agree to some extent with this consensus part of me wonders whether or not we're missing the point by striving after a model rather than the Master.  When we strive after a model, our natural inclination is to trim off the "unneeded fat" that slows down our agendas.  But if we merely seek nothing but the Master our striving, our goals, and our agendas tend to fall by the wayside and we are free to simply spend time with Him and His beloved creation.  But enough theology, let me share about my good friend Fatima!
     I met Fatima around seven months ago on the streets of Newark in the bitter cold.  At that time she was sleeping behind a gas station in Newark's South Ward.  My heart broke as she told me of her addiction to heroin, her need to "sell" herself, and her perpetual homelessness in one of the worst winters of the decade.  To make matters worse the social services for women in Newark is not a thriving market.  Immediately I started to think of things we could do to get her off the streets.  Although Fatima seemed interested, the follow-up process was/has not been so smooth.  Every week she would express her desire to be off the streets.  And to no avail I would tell her the same things every week.  After a few months it became apparent that we weren't getting anywhere.  It was at that moment where I consciously laid down my agenda to "save" Fatima and simply be her friend.  A couple of months later as I was setting up for our regular outreach Fatima came and gave me the biggest hug.  Surprised by her joy, I asked her what had happened that she was so happy that night.  She replied that she was just thankful to see her friend.
     Since that time Fatima has been in and out of jail, on and off of drugs, and sporadically homeless.  About a month ago she disappeared and I began to worry that she might have died.  But two weeks ago as I was driving through Newark I looked down an alley and thought I saw her.  I drove around the corner and there was my friend again.
     At the end of the day Fatima does not fit into any church model.  Any agenda or goal we may have had for her has failed.  But does it really matter?  Because at the end of the day there are no "services" that will save Fatima.  What she needs is dignity.  What she needs is a friend to walk the journey with her.  What she needs is the Master.  Going back, my gut instinct tells me the "first church model" just isn't going to do it this time.  So for now I continue walking with her.  I ask any who have taken the time to read this, who do you need to stop "saving" and simply start walking with?   

Baptism Video...

Please take a few minutes and cry with me as I watch this again!  An amazing video of what God is doing in Newark!! Grace & Peace...

http://vimeo.com/25521343

Organic Growth: Part Two...

Although my time as a missionary has been short, the events that took place this past Friday night will remain in my heart for years to come.  As I discussed it my last posting, a team of us have been targeting a very specific group of children in a very specific neighborhood in Newark, and the work we've witnessed God doing in their lives has been miraculous.  In the midst of the violence, drugs, prostitution, and poverty we are seeing light piercing the darkness.  We are seeing kids come to Christ!  A couple of months ago during their weekly Bible study the topic of baptism came up.  Some of the kids wondered out loud whether something like this was actually possible.  That's when the idea was formed.  Why not bring baptism to them?  This past Friday night we had the honor and privilege of baptizing ten children and one of our volunteers!  The Spirit's presence in the air that night was electrifying!  Witnessing the baptism of these children, some of whom we've worked with for years, was truly an amazing experience.  As Tyree (the first to be baptized) came up out of the water I felt tears of joy rushing to my eyes.  As a "seed-planting" missionary it gave my heart joy to see with my own eyes the actual harvest!  Please continue to pray for these children.  And please pray for the city of Newark and the work we do that neighborhood.   The Relief Bus has essentially evolved into the actual resource for these children,  it has turned into the church this community so desperately needs.  The Master is on the move in this city, there is no denying that.

Grace & Peace...

Lance

Pastor Paul Yushack prepping the kids.

Tyree leading the way.

    

Organic Growth...

        One of my assigned sites that I've grown quite fond of is in Newark, ministering to the Seth Boyden Community.  This is a neighborhood in desperate need of change and restoration.  Its ridden with violence, drugs, gangs, prostitution, and poverty.  It seems as if every week I go there I'm told of another shooting that took place.  About a month ago there was a shooting while we were actually there, about three blocks away in the projects.  But in the midst of this darkness an organic movement of hope and light is growing amongst the children in this neighborhood through the Relief Bus.
        A little over a year ago two of our volunteers decided to follow the calling God put on their hearts and start a bible study for the children of this community.  It is a integral part of this site that is specific to this site.  Slowly, but steadily it has been growing.  This simple act of obedience on the part of these two women is starting to make a visible impact on the children of this community and their parents.  Every Friday night children come flocking to the bus to hear the good news, sing songs, play games, and be loved on.  And through the work of these two women our potential to reach the adults of this community has exploded.  The number of parents and other adults seeking prayer, encouragement, and hope has gone up over the past few months.
        More recently these two women have decided to take their mission to the next level and expand the outreach.  Together they have decided to begin a monthly bible study on Saturday mornings.  Just this past week we hosted it for the second time and it was nothing less than an outstanding success.  It has been an honor and privilege serving along side these women and our other Newark volunteers!
        Please pray for our outreach to these children, that they would continue to seek the love of Christ.  Please pray for myself that I would be able to continue connecting with the men and women of this community.  And please pray for the great city of Newark.  Pray against the violence that has plagued this city for decades.  Pray that God would open up the doors to expand our outreach to this city.  Grace & Peace to you and your family...
Lance   

Kelly: One of the Seth Boyden pioneers!

Darcy: The other pioneer who answered the call!

Rocking out with Tyree!


(All photos taken by Caitlin Stiefel) 

   

A Short Documentary on the Relief Bus

This was made by some Columbia Grad School Students...

my new friend john...

A few Saturdays ago I was at my regular site in the South Bronx.  Nothing out of the ordinary was happening that day.  The kitchen was being well managed, volunteers were giving out clothes and praying with people, and I was catching up with some friends of mine.  In the midst of the outreach a gentleman by the name of John stopped by and asked about getting into a drug rehab program.  Immediately I brought him into the bus office to determine how ready he was, which program would fit him best, and to encourage him in this step of faith.  He shared with me that he had been struggling with addiction for almost 25 years.  He also shared with me that within the past few years the addiction was leading to severe depression and hopelessness.  That day was also his 49th birthday and wandering around that day he told me he wondered if he would make it to 50.  But he said that the Bus's presence was God's confirmation that he would make it and that it was time for radical change.  Very rarely do we get men and women that are ready to enter a program the way that John was.  I told him that if he was ready then so were we.  I had John take the next few days to wrap up his affairs in the Bronx so that we could connect him to a life change program here in Jersey.  That Monday he excitedly called the office saying he was beyond ready!  I drove our van into the Bronx the next day to pick him up and am excited to announce that John is still in the program working towards freedom!  Please continue to keep this son of God in your prayers! And as always please pray for myself as well as the rest of the organization.  At times its very easy to feel worn out and discouraged.  Please pray that God would sustain us and keep us encouraged as we continue bringing light into the darkness... Grace & Peace...
Lance

     

Out of Options... But not really...

        Our goal as a missions organization is to bring help and healing to everyone that comes to the bus.  Although we work very hard at this, unfortunately sometimes we can only do so much.  When I come across these times of running out of options the only thing I can do is give it to God in prayer.  And He never seems to fail...
        I had one such encounter this past Saturday in the Bronx.  There is a woman named Karen that I've been working with for about a month now.  A Bronx resident, Karen is in the city shelter system desperately looking for an SRO (single room occupancy).  For about a month now I've been working with her to make this a reality.  Unfortunately we've been running into a few dead ends.  She came to the bus this past Saturday for lunch and to say hello.  Despite the fact there were no new developments this week, she greeted me with a smile and a big hug.  As we were talking I felt an anger come over my spirit.  I was angry at myself for not being able to provide the right resource.  As we continued talking one of our regular guests , Connie, butted into the conversation.  She informed both of us of different resources and organizations in the south Bronx.  Everything from attorneys to co-ops, Connie seemed to know exactly where to send Karen to get her a permanent place to live.  Furthermore Connie gave Karen (a complete stranger) her cell phone number just in case she had any questions this week.
        As I saw this unfold right in front of me I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.  As I alluded to in my last blog, our job is not to bring healing, but to facilitate what the Master is already preparing.  He never seems to stop reminding me of this... Grace & peace...

                                             Myself with Connie and Karen