The Journey: blog

Prayer Force United prayer walk heads to Bessemer for June walk... next Saturday (18th)

Next Saturday, June 18, 2011, the Prayer Force United prayer walks will pick up in Bessemer... This time last year, the group multiplied- now, prayer walks happen on the 3rd Saturday of each month in Birmingham and in Bessemer. We'll join forces this month- just as we did this time last year when their walks were inaugurated on the west side of town.

Walk starts at 10:00 a.m.-  you can join us an hour early for a pre-prayer walk prayer meeting at 9:00 a.m. 

All details are on the pdf flyer, attached: Prayer Force United  Flyer 6-18-11- Bessemer prayer walk

In July, we'll be back in Woodlawn- at The Dream Center.

The animal kingdom knows it must pool together to rescue the weak and wounded.... or they won't make it.  I was struck by this- and the parallels we see in the Gospels- as I watched this video- and read through the biographies of Jesus. The prostitute, the tax collector, the leper... even the spiritually despondent and oppressed felt safe with Him- and knew He was there for their rescue.

May the Church of Jesus rally together to seek and deliver those in bondage in our city! May the addict find deliverance with us, may the prostitute find deep love, may the modern-day leper find someone who will embrace him, may the oppressed find peace...

 

These five people... and the people they will help train... are going to help bring change to our city. I'm grateful for their friendship, and humbled to be standing behind them.

Mark, Alexa, John, Gene, Keith... Thank you. The overflow of what the Lord is doing in each of you- and through each of you- is glorious and beautiful!

Shot for the Pepsi "Refresh Everything" grant- would transform one of the apartment complexes near the Carraway Hospital site into an apartment-living situation geared towards 18-year olds aging out of the foster care system in Jefferson County. They would live on-site, with a roommate... with "dorm parents" living down the hall in another apartment unit. And, they would participate in a program which would consist of life-skills training, vocational development / opportunities, and even college classes through a local university. More to come.

The voting starts on November 1, on the Pepsi "Refresh Everything" website. Links and details will be posted in the next few days.

Two local police chiefs at outdoor prayer meeting with us this morning. Fire trucks, police cars, ex-gang members, former drug addicts, recovering Pharisees... local mayor... and hundreds crying out to God to change our city!

Incredible. Next month, the prayer walks multiply again. Last year, we walked one route per month; now we send out multiple teams at each monthly walk. As of June, another shift will happen- another team will begin walking in Bessemer! Crime continues to plunge, neighborhoods continue to be blessed... God is very good to us.

The good people from the New Orleans Dream Center are bringing hope to the urban areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Years later, there is still much work to be done to rebuild the city- and, more importantly, much hope to be offered to the people. They are in the middle of the city (renovating the historic building above), running free dental and medical clinics... adopting the city block-by-block... We had the opportunity to visit with a few of them at The Village Friday morning, when they blew through town for a quick look at a few urban ministries. Pray with us for their continued favor and blessing as they seek to do the Gospel- with words and deeds.

 

The city looks different from the streets of the city...

That's 500 people praying, arms outstretched, for our city. And, they're praying (not from the comfort of a sanctuary or the confines of a home) from the streets... 

The city looks different when you walk through it- not when you glance it at from the highway while looking in, not while you look from a distance from your home... not while you peer through the television screen while the "latest breaking news" buzzes the screen.

Almost two weeks ago we prayer-walked the downtown area with about 500 others- of different colors, different socio-economic backgrounds, different denominations (and varying theological stripes) and ways of worshiping the same Jesus. And the city looked different.

Many people believe that the biggest stronghold over Birmingham is racial division. I don't.

The biggest grip, I believe, is religion- or, at least, the "system" of it that we have created. Some of us have created systems that look traditional; others of us have created molds that look more contemporary; others of us have gotten creative and created even other structures and labeled them something clever. But, they are molds, containers, and boxes... many times.

* "Worship" has become a genre of music (i.e., Gospel, Modern, Contemporary, Worship) instead of a way of life.

* The talk on "community" in the last few years has moved the church from the sanctuary to the homes- but not to the streets.

* The talk on "missional" has... well... created talk. And more talk. And more talk.

But it's not worship unless it engages all of life and hits the streets; the purpose of community was to invite outsiders in (not to let insiders simply do life together only); the purpose of mission... was to walk among the people.

Next prayer walk is Saturday, March 20, in the Princeton neighborhood- near Princeton Hospital. More details on the Prayer Force United site.

Prayer up; crime down; join us on February 20th, downtown

Read some great news in The Birmingham News this morning... caught a glimpse of the front page while waiting for the brew at the local coffee shop. "Birmingham goes a month without a murder," the lead page said...

We've been praying with Chief Roper- and the entire Prayer Force United team for some time now... I've met the chief multiple times, eaten lunch with him... He is such a humble and gracious man. And, I'm excited to see his labors- and the labors of the prayer warriors are reaping a harvest.

Chief, who leads Bible studies at his church, repeatedly reminds us that his officers must work and patrol... but that we must continue praying. "Both are important," he reminds us at each meeting (FYI, the next planning meeting for the next prayer walk is Monday, February 15. The walk downtown is on February 20, a Saturday. Details here). "We must see God's hand move... and, we must be present."

I see the police officers quite a bit. Through some of our work with ex-offenders and addicts at The Village, I come in contact with them. And, the fact that the intersection where our office sits tallies 2-3 wrecks per week brings them to our front door step on what seems like a daily basis.

Last week, I ran into Officer Amir again- I got to know him when he patrolled my neighborhood a year ago before being deployed to Iraq for 12 months. I was directed traffic around a wreck, waiting for the police, when he showed up. He took over, cleared the scene, then we caught up.

"Chief loves you guys," I told him, after Roper's name came up.

"We're really behind him," he said. Then, "The man is not afraid to work- to put on his own uniform and hit the streets with us. And he is so humble and gracious as he leads..."

Well said. 

Glad to see Chief is doing his part- and inviting us to join him- in bringing the numbers down. And, I'm excited to see that God is honoring his labor in this area. Less murders is less mothers and daughters who are hurting; it is more sons who will grow to be men; it is more life and vitality and everything else that can make a city great.

The top five: where I am now

 

Over a month ago, I resigned from The Downtown Church- a ministry my wife and I helped launch years ago. After stepping from the day-to-day rigors of "church work," several people have asked what I'm doing now. The short answer is that I am still leading The Village- but doing so as my sole focus right now, rather than dividing my time between the church and the non-profit ministry.

The longer answer is this: The week I resigned (I resigned on Sunday, December 21, 2010), the Lord gave me 5 specific areas of focus. This is where I am right now.

1) Focus on shepherding the staff of The Village- several opportunities have presented themselves in the last month that would allow us to grow exponentially. I need to lead- and empower them. That can only happen as they are led well- and then released to fulfill their calling. They are pastoring, discipling, and leading those we touch each day through the ministry; I am focused on leading them.

2) Learn-- everything I can about prayer ministry; learn what I can about the DNA of a life-giving church (God is already opening up relationships from which I have learned and am learning so much).... and take the time to learn and rest, rather than lead.

3) Write my thoughts about city transformation. I have piles of notes that I've put together over the past few months- and enough jotted from the Book of Nehemiah to get me started. Rather than writing sermons during this season, I'm writing this...

4) Establish a team of overseers for myself personally, that can help establish accountability personally and ministerially for this season.

5) The BIG ONE: Focus on the family. So, I've been taking the girls to 6am prayer meetings with me, I've been "sneaking out" late at night with the boys to go to Waffle House, Starbucks, etc... we've built a lot with Legos... and Cristy and I have spent more time together. And, when we've done ministry things (prayer, preaching at the midnight service for New Year's, etc., lately, fire-station- like the pic above), we've been taking the kids with us.