Month: January 2020

Pure Heartache

Larry Atkins (Abundant Life Community Church) & Chris Branigan (Renovation Community)

One month after the Charleston shooting at an all-Black church, a black congregation moved into the church building where I serve. Their first Sunday was July 12, 2015.

A fellow Black pastor, who loved me and wanted to protect me as a young pastor, warned against this move. This wise mentor understood the sad historic divisions between White Churches and Black churches, and said sharing space would only end in problems.

Abundant Life Community Church, a large historically Black church, quickly needed a place to stay until they could build their own building.
I pastored a historically white church.
Grace Tabernacle (formerly Wedgwood Church of the Nazarene, started in 1964), had once been a thriving neighborhood church. But the neighborhood began changing faster than the church could keep pace. Repair bills mounted. Attendance dwindled.
By the time I arrived, leadership had twice discussed closure and/or merger with another church.
Eventually, we did announce Grace Tabernacle’s closure. A few of us stuck around to restart the very unique church known as Renovation Community.
Through that restart process Abundant Life was in the building, paying much-needed rent, repairing broken a/c units and parking lamps, and cleaning the facility. And, they raised the rent *on themselves* TWICE. Who does that??

For 4.5 years, we shared space in a beautiful relationship. They had their inaugural service in their new building today. The Pastor asked me to attend and speak a little.
I cried through almost the entire service, and cried the entire time I spoke.

God used Abundant Life to pay the bills on a building our church couldn’t afford.
God used our relationship to break old racial barriers.
God used the way we shared space as an example to others who thought it couldn’t be done well.

In a way, that wise Black pastor was right…this relationship did end in heartache. But it’s only the pure heartache you feel when dear friends move away.
I’m sad for the move, but I rejoice with them on the completion of their new building.

Today, I’m thankful for Pastor Larry Atkins and Abundant Life Community Church.

Race Car

Each week, I work with a 1st grader struggling to read. I want to cry after most sessions. A couple times, he’s cried.
This Monday, he told me about his Christmas. Did he get presents? Yes. Three.
He named two pieces of clothing and a remote control car.
“Wow! A remote control car? So cool!”
“But my _________ broke it.”
For the next two minutes, I dissected his account with questions. The apparent truth and details never changed…an adult family friend threw his new toy and broke it.

Ok. Accidents happen.
Did he receive a replacement car?
“No.”
I pray the truth is far different from what I heard.
We quickly returned to reading before tears started flowing.

Hidden in the closet

Since Christmas Eve, this inexpensive remote control car remained hidden in our closet–a last minute gift for one of our boys. But he received an identical one from grandparents.

So, during tomorrow’s school drop-off, I’ll leave this car for a boy who needs a present more than I need cash. The office staff will know who gave it, but not him.

I’ve previously shared when my little friend talked about his dad’s girlfriend who screams at him and when he said his mom “doesn’t miss him.”
I’ve written about the well-researched trajectory of boys like him and in Renovation Community’s summer day camp and feeding program: academically-behind, emotionally-injured ethnic-minority males from impoverished single-parent homes.
I’m not competent to address remedies for such complex social issues.

But I can give my time at a struggling elementary school, working with a struggling 1st grader.
I can give him a listening ear and compassion.
And I can give him a $20 toy instead of returning it to the store.

You can, too, with children like him.

Be kind to the poor.

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17

Worthy of Respect

The doorbell rang tonight while I was getting our boys ready for bed. It was the homeless friend I’ve known for almost 7 years. On the front porch, I learn he’s been sick in the hospital twice since Thanksgiving. He’s still recovering from his last illness.

Many people on the streets tell me what they think I want to hear. But this man has always treated me with refreshing honesty. He’s honest about all his darkest struggles, honest about wanting to stay on the streets, and open about his own self-hatred. He doesn’t like the man he’s become.

My friend is a talker 😀
Our 3-year-old comes looking for me. “Hi Mr. ________.”
The boys know this man. Our youngest asks about him when we drive. Our oldest prays for him at night.
Now dressed for bed, the boys put on slippers and played out front as I heard stories from my friend’s hospital stay. He smiled as they ran around; our 3-year-old talked to him about his shoes.

Our family has a strict policy against opening our front door when I’m not home.
You learn the importance of “boundaries” when serving the chronically homeless. We teach our boys safety. But we’ve also taught them that homeless people are just that…people, not monsters to be feared.
And so, when Daddy’s around, our boys play near this homeless man and speak to him without fear, the same way they would speak to any saintly grandmother in our church.

He asked for a shower. We walk over to Renovation Community’s gym door by our Parsonage front yard. Our boys run inside the gym and continue playing for a while. We eventually leave for bed, locking my friend inside the empty building.
At the door both boys yell, “Bye Mr. ________.” He smiles and says a quiet goodbye.

This man may not respect himself. But tonight two little pastor’s kids reminded him he is worthy of respect.

“Show proper respect to everyone…” 1 Peter 2:17

Humbled

I’m humbled to consider the many people from near and far who regularly pray for Renovation Community and my family, financially support the ministry, and serve alongside us.
Thank you, beloved friends, for this gift.

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” Philippians 1:3-5

He is faithful.

Listening to God’s Voice

I recently turned down a small TV interview about our church without even stopping to consider it. The invitation felt flattering, but didn’t feel from God. I explained why, with my arrogant past, I don’t trust myself to properly handle spotlight. I’m sure my response sounded absurd.

Speech Making

This morning, I quite randomly began mentally preparing a speech. What would I say about Jesus to a hypothetical ‘men’s ministry’ gathering?
These thoughts came completely unexpected, without any logical explanation. I caught myself and laughed at my mental exercise.
I’m not known for my great speaking abilities. No one has ever asked me to speak at a gathering like that. And I’m not exactly your stereotypical “men’s ministry guest speaker.” [Think athlete or military hero, beard, owns 6 firearms, kills his own meat, etc. 😀]

After realizing the absurdity of suddenly planning a speech no one asked me to give, I quickly moved on to other things.

A Surprise Phone Call

But 20 minutes later, I had a phone call. Someone is planning a Christian event for men next fall. They’d like me to share Renovation Community’s story during one of the speaking slots. I accepted, without even stopping to consider it. God already gave His answer.

Many thoughts feel totally random. My senses clearly inspire many other thoughts…a conversation, smell, touch, or sight creates a semi-predictable neurological chain reaction.
But I’ve found, when I’m listening closely, God also guides me with thoughts, words, and plans from Him.

The prophet Isaiah mentioned the “voice” guiding from behind. Jesus spoke of his voice guiding from out front.

Lousy Listening

Perhaps you feel like me…that you’ve spent more time listening to your own voice than God’s. God will forgive you as He forgave me this morning (and as He’s forgiven me countless times).

Never stop listening for God’s voice. He’s always speaking.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”” Isaiah 30:21

“…he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” John 10:4

“…the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things…” John 14:26