It's time for The Sing again! This is one of our favorite things--a gathering that brings people together from all over the city to pray for the city, to offer worship to the King, and to connect with a need in the city and begin to meet it.
And we'd love to see you there. Sunday, February 26th, 6-8p.m. at Frontline Church, Downtown Campus. You can find out all the details at www.thesingokc.com.
Luke 22:24-27
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
It was in 2008 that the scripture you just read completely rocked my world. The same chapter I had read literally dozens of times throughout my life was finally becoming part of my life. There was a unique and interesting perspective I gained that day as to what Jesus was communicating to his disciples. Up until that day I had an understanding of the words he spoke, but the understanding was only with my head. The reason that it became a game changer was because I began to understand the words with my heart. Often times we'll focus on one OR the other. Examples of this would be head knowledge OR heart knowledge, or the idea of meeting physical needs OR spiritual needs. We separate the two out of ignorance, convenience, or just lack of revelation. Two things happened that day when reading through the scripture. The knowledge in my head collided with my heart, and the idea of meeting physical needs became intertwined with the pursuit of meeting spiritual needs as well. To illustrate what changed for me that day I'll share my before and after perspective.
Perspective Before: I used to go pass out sandwich sacks once a month to the homeless in San Diego, CA. The whole ordeal took about 2 hours. This stemmed from knowing I needed to do something good for someone else. Every day while on my way to work, I would drive past people without homes who looked hungry and thought "wow, they could use my help". So, I would commute down and pass out lunch sacks once a month. They needed my help and obviously I didn't need theirs. Many times I was disappointed when those I was helping would complain or not even be polite enough to tell me how awesome I was. I thought, "come on now! I'm taking time out of my day to help you...You're Welcome". I would drive away discouraged and relieved that I didn't have to go back for another month. But I was doing something good and felt good about the fact I was helping someone in need.
Perspective After: A couple years later I found myself living on California Avenue in Oklahoma City, OK. The apartment that I chose to live in was located directly across the street from the City Rescue Mission, and I had many neighbors that were without a home. When I read this verse my eyes were opened and my heart was broken. In verse 25 Jesus talks about the idea of lording over someone and how this was the perception in culture of someone who was great. Then in verse 26 he clearly says "but you are not to be like that". Well, that was exactly who I was. I was coming in a place of authority. These people needed my physical provision, and my position in the world was greater than theirs. Jesus then says, "I am among you as one who serves" and literally turns the table on who is great by sitting us down at his table. Essentially I was sitting at the table, in a place of authority, serving myself. I was living out his Kingdom only when it was convenient for me and only if I could fit it in to my schedule. And the thought of pursuing a relationship to meet spiritual needs never crossed my mind. I wasn't willing to sacrifice my time or comfort. My monthly mission was measurable in the form of 2 hours and 10 lunch sacks, and that was all I cared about.
Loving our neighbor involves loving with both our head and our heart. It also involves recognizing both physical and spiritual needs, and being willing to give and receive. Relational ministry requires consistency, sacrifice, and more than a convenient block of time. Loving Jesus by loving our neighbors requires our life.
Luke 9:23
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."
--Joe Quinlin, Community Coordinator for Spero Resource Center
I've been in a reading frenzy lately. Lots of new material to soak in. But sometimes I have to go back to some old favorites. It's my grown-up version of a security blanket, I think. I'm re-reading "In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership" again. I've lost count, but I'm guessing it's around the 428th time.
Needless to say, I recommend it. Here's one of my favorite passages:
"What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life. Jesus asks, 'Do you love me?' We ask, 'Can we sit at your right hand and your left hand in the Kindgom?' (Matthew 20:21). Ever since the snake said, 'The day you eat of this tree your eyes will be open and you will be like gods, knowing good from evil' (Genesis 3:5), we have been tempted to replace love with power. Jesus lived that temptation in the most agonizing way from the desert to the cross."
This sums up LOTS of things we're learning here at Spero about being engaged with under-resourced populations. It's easy to schedule controlled giving. It's easy to make plans for controlled generosity, to offer drive-by advice to people who we think need it. It's not easy or convenient or predictable to love people well or to ask people to love us well. But, it's to that which we are called and to that end we will endeavor--personally and as an organization. It's worth it.
--Kim Bandy, Director
Last night, my 4-year-old son gave us a scare. He's prone to respiratory problems any time he gets sick and he had gotten a stomach bug. A few times, I thought his breathing got a little too slow or troubled and I was about to jet to the emergency room.
Thankfully, his breathing was regulated and we made it through with a trip to the after-hours clinic. We left with these resources:
--A prescription for medicine that would keep him from being so nauseous.
--A phone number to call at any time during the night and talk to an on-call nurse.
--A list of symptoms to look for that would cause us to go to any one of the FOUR Emergency rooms within easy driving distance of our house.
And, once again, I felt the weight of being in America. The balance of gratitude that my son has so many options to keep him safe and of hurt for moms all around the world without any of these options. I just can't imagine what it's like to watch your child become dehydrated without being able to help. I can't imagine not being able to tell my son that we're going to do something that will make him feel better.
I don't ever want to take these things for granted. I want each time that I feel the weight to cause me to pray and pray and pray for the moms around the world that don't get these opportunities. I want it to cause me to rethink how much I can do to support these moms through agencies and ministries that bring life-saving clean water, medicine, and more. And I want it to stir in me an even deeper longing for His Kingdom to come to earth as it is in Heaven.
Join me in praying?
With Hope,
Kim Bandy
Director
Last week we gathered with a group of churches who are actively engaging with the refugee community of Oklahoma City. And I wish I could express well enough on paper just how amazing it was. As far as meetings go, it certainly wasn't spectacular. We didn't even have any multi-media presentations…how 1990's of us. But, what WAS absolutely spectacular was seeing a room full of networked churches who are choosing to very practically and very supernaturally love their neighbors from all over the world.
All of us at Spero know that no program can fully meet the needs of this community. They aren't 'problems.' They are PEOPLE who are new to America and need one thing to make it here: relationships.
So, to hear stories of American families who are sharing meals, holidays, life with their Iraqi neighbors; to hear mothers who are just as passionate about the education of their Burmese friends' children as they are the education of their own children; to hear the ways that these families are using their LIVES to share the steadfast love of Jesus--it was overwhelming.
It's why I know our organization is appropriately named. "Spero" is Latin for "hope." And HOPE is all that I see coming from a small gathering like we had last week.
"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." Psalm 82:3
I've heard this Scripture associated with foster care, adoption, and/or caring for international orphans many times. And it has always stirred me--how could it not? So direct, to the point.
And sometime recently, this passage has come to life in a new and additional dimension for me. I remember very clearly one day when I read it quickly on a piece of literature for an organization serving children. I felt the Lord ask me, "Do you suppose you get to choose which fatherless to defend?" Ouch.
There are many, many mothers and fathers of children in the foster care system who grew up (and are still today) fatherless in the earthly sense. Many, many of these mothers and fathers were in the foster care system themselves as children. Can I choose to have compassion for, engage with, and support only the fatherless that I deem 'innocent'?
I am becoming more and more convinced that the part of my heart that wants to help the vulnerable that "don't deserve this" is not a full response to God's command for me to love. My compassion must also be available to those who have had some years under their belt to make mistakes, to cause harm to themselves or others (much like I have in many ways). So, I'm praying the Lord gives me a desire to do these things out of a love for Him above all else. If I'm doing it for the response I get, the feeling I have, or the 'result' that happens, I will always be prone to serve only those who I deem worthy. And that's a place of judgement I have no business being in.
Why MARKED?
Why MARKED? Because it's time.
Visit www.markedokc.com to find out more about Marked 2012.
Our friends and neighbors at American InfoSource are always quick and eager to give back to their community. It's been so fun getting to know their staff and to learn how much generosity is woven into their company culture. An inspiration!
To help us prepare for the Holiday food deliveries, each department competed against each other to try to bring the most canned goods. So, Spero ended up being the clear winner out of such a competition, because the combined donation was over 3,000 cans!
And it doesn't stop there. The department who won gets the "prize" of some time away from work serving in our warehouse in preparation for grocery delivery to elderly families and low-income neighborhoods. Did I mention they like to give back?
We're so grateful for companies who decide to commit to a cause together and see it through to the end!
We've all heard that "it takes a village to raise a child." And, that may never be more true than when that child is involved in the foster care system. These children come with unique backgrounds and needs that make caring for them a large task. A foster family, in addition to the responsibilities involved in caring for any child, must also meet with case-workers, make visits to biological families, attend court on behalf of the child, and more.
Many friends of Spero have been and still are families that have welcomed foster children into their home. We've been in awe of the joys, the spiritual growth, and the life-change that mark these families. But, we've also been made keenly aware of the struggles involved.
So, here's our challenge: if you're in the village of a family with a foster child, act like the village!
Offer help and support to those ministering to children in need. Becoming an adoptive or foster family isn't what the Lord is calling everyone to do, but caring for orphans is a Biblical mandate that none of us can ignore. So, take a look around: your neighborhood, your small group, your church…is there someone in your 'village' that's serving in this way? Care for orphans by caring for them!
The next few posts will help you know some ways you can support them. We Americans aren't always great at asking for help, so Spero is going to ask for them! We've polled our friends and have come up with some simple ways to help.
Simple Idea to Serve #3: Provide a Ride!
Simply providing rides to or from school, lessons, or play dates can make a big difference, especially if there's a young baby or two that would have to get loaded up in the car otherwise! Offer to take your friends' children to and/or home from school a day or two a week to give your friend some time to catch up on laundry, cooking, or--better yet!--a little bit of rest.
If you are transporting a child in the home that's in state custody, you'll need to check with the agency that's responsible for the child to find out what's required for transportation. It's likely a volunteer application, a background check, and a copy of a driver's license. Just a small price to pay for making someone's day!
We've all heard that "it takes a village to raise a child." And, that may never be more true than when that child is involved in the foster care system. These children come with unique backgrounds and needs that make caring for them a large task. A foster family, in addition to the responsibilities involved in caring for any child, must also meet with case-workers, make visits to biological families, attend court on behalf of the child, and more.
Many friends of Spero have been and still are families that have welcomed foster children into their home. We've been in awe of the joys, the spiritual growth, and the life-change that mark these families. But, we've also been made keenly aware of the struggles involved.
So, here's our challenge: if you're in the village of a family with a foster child, act like the village!
Offer help and support to those ministering to children in need. Becoming an adoptive or foster family isn't what the Lord is calling everyone to do, but caring for orphans is a Biblical mandate that none of us can ignore. So, take a look around: your neighborhood, your small group, your church…is there someone in your 'village' that's serving in this way? Care for orphans by caring for them!
The next few posts will help you know some ways you can support them. We Americans aren't always great at asking for help, so Spero is going to ask for them! We've polled our friends and have come up with some simple ways to help.
Simple Idea for Serving #2: Have a mow-down!
Cheesy title aside, it's a pretty helpful thing to do! Give the family you know the gift of extra time to spend with each other. Just offer to take an afternoon and do their lawn care routine for them. Consider making it a family affair by having your children help in age-appropriate ways. It's a great way to teach the value of serving!