Becoming the People of God

As we train our LAUP interns for urban ministry this summer, our hope is to root them in the biblical story of the world’s brokenness, and God’s choice to enter in and redeem. After beginning with the reality of the world’s brokenness (see previous post) we laid out the role of Jesus, entering into our world to conquer death and brokenness, and giving people access to the Kingdom of God. “Much like a massive explosion at the base of a dam,” LAUP teacher Chris Harry taught, “Jesus’ death and resurrection struck the death blow to brokenness. The dam hasn’t come down yet, but if you look closely, you can see the cracks.” Using this image, we invited students into participation with God in “pulling apart the cracks” to let the power and reality of God's kingdom come rushing into their lives, and into the inner city.

In the midst of this vision, my (Scott’s) hope from the beginning has been to nurture a sense of community that would embody the Kingdom of God: that our group of 60 would be a safe place for honesty and encouragement where God’s grace became tangible.

I put this hope into action--as previously mentioned--by making a point to share very vulnerably about my own brokenness and weakness, even in the midst of leading the entire project. At the end of day one, I went home feeling naked and second-guessing the wisdom of sharing so vulnerably in the midst of establishing my leadership of a group of students for the summer.

To my surprise, day two ended with a spontaneous time of training students in listening to God’s Spirit, and as they did so, a consistent theme of God calling students to be refined by him emerged. One woman saw a mental image of a hand being slowly twisted off, convicting students that in the midst of serving the poor this summer, we ourselves needed to be refined and transformed over a period of time. Students left engaged with their own issues of character.

Fast-forward to our last night of orientation, Thursday. As we wrapped up the week, we made space for students to share what God had being doing in or around them. Having never had a time like this during the week, and knowing that students were drained by the amount of content and input, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As the time was opened, immediately one student shared how he had been feeling spiritually flat and had just been revived with joy and hope, supernaturally, just minutes before. Another man stood and confessed his struggles with lust and pornography, followed by a woman who confessed the same thing. For the next fifteen minutes, student after student shared honestly, vulnerably, and hopefully about God’s work in their own character, and their awareness of his grace.

As I sat, listening, I realized that what had been a fragile hope was actually coming to life right before my eyes. We spent the rest of the evening in joyful worship of God, collectively aware that—in the midst of our own issues, and the brokenness of the world—God, indeed, was present, offering healing, hope, and redemption.

I leave our first week surprised by the depth and potency of what is already happening. I look forward to see what is in store as we move forward into serving the youth and families of urban Los Angeles.