Change

What a difference a year makes! I can’t imagine two more disparate January’s than 2011 and 2012. Last January God was taking me through a very lonely and financially vulnerable place.

Relationships were near impossible to build while my neighbors (and myself) were hunkered down against the cold. I was still getting to know the people at Fusion Church. My close friends were miles away. My closest relationships were with people in my Forge Chicago residency group.

Fundraising was torture. Income was small and non-sustaining. To my thinking, how can I fundraise when there was so little happening? Yes, there were plans forming, learning happening and the crucial component of simply being present occurring. Yet I was still so much in the modern church mode of production that I lost the heart of missional living, which is to be among and one with my neighbors. I forgot that this takes time and is a part of any missionary experience. I did not have the “luxury” of being overseas in mission. I was in people’s back yards. It felt “less worthy” somehow. Fortunately, God did supply some supporters. Faithful friends and partners who understand the heart of God for the lost near and far. (Thanks, my friends!)

January 2012 is a vastly different place. I and others from Fusion Church are in growing relationship with my neighbors. Since May we have been meeting nearly every Wednesday as a family, welcoming people freely. We have been present, not expecting people to come to us. By being a resident of Woodland Village, I am an anchor and a constant presence in the neighborhood. Weather and lack of relationship no longer separate us. I am known and I know my neighbors, at least some of them. We can get together in each other’s homes easily. I have a growing group of people around me who care for my neighbors and have a heart to reach them with Christ’s love.

Financially God has been gracious to bring me some strategic clients to help me pay the rent and provide my basic necessities, making it possible for me to be present. Fundraising has been horrible, though. Part of that is because of my busy schedule. It’s rather a catch 22: I am so busy doing mission and working to provide for that mission that I don’t have sufficient time to make the mission all that God would want or to raise the necessary funds to free me up. This is where more change must come.

As my Crazy, Busy, Awesome Week attested, I am constantly on the move. While that kind of week usually happens only once a month, the other weeks have slowed little. There is so much more to do! So many more people with whom to engage and build relationship! I simply do not have the time with driving all over the northern suburbs. I believe God provided those clients for a time, but I can also see how he is wanting me to be more present in my neighborhood and to make disciples. I see a clear need to focus on Woodland Village and Wauconda, as well as providing exposure to a missional community for other believers and church leaders in the area. I can’t do that as things currently stand.

So what does 2012 look like? 2012 will see an increase of intentional personal fundraising which will allow me increased relationship with my neighbors (see About the Mission). I will maintain some clients and release others. I will maintain some ministry opportunities and relinquish others. 2012 will see an increase of communication to people who I am already in relationship with as well as those with whom I have yet to meet.

One of the biggest changes to 2012 is starting from a place of rest. With all the drama and crisis that comes with being involved in people’s lives, I find I need more time to be emotionally, mentally and spiritually up to the task. I do not thrive off drama but that is where I have been placed for the last few months. I need adequate rest to meet those challenges and pour out love sufficiently. Jesus is a perfect model of taking the time to hear from God and to find refreshment in the midst of other people’s drama. I need to model him in that, as in all areas.

So as God brings me to your mind, I ask you to pray. Pray for rest. Pray for finances and opportunities to speak. Pray for new ventures and greater exposure. Pray for my personal relationships and support system. Pray for those in the initial stages of relationship and those who are moving forward as disciples. Pray that I model Christ’s incarnational mission in this world.

Pray His kingdom come, His will be done in 2012.

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