Brag Book

I'm going to take a break from our series on failure to brag on some major successes. I'm kinda feeling like a Debbie downer on the blogosphere with all this talk of how to fail, and although I love the Debbie downer skit, I don't want anyone to associate me with feline AIDS.

My little guys finished up their school year today. Asher had an amazing year in first grade and Simon finished kindergarten strongly. I couldn't be prouder of either of them. Or both of them. Or all of them, Adeline included. She had great year in preschool as well. Don't want to leave her out. All that coloring and painting is hard work!

Both the boys have come so far since August.

Heck, in August, Simon wasn't even in kindergarten!

Confession: I wanted to wait until I thought he was "ready." I looked at him, so small and vulnerable in my eyes, and I didn't want him to struggle, or to fail, or to be overly challenged before he was ready, because life in general was so challenging for him in my eyes. I wanted to protect, protect, protect.

But you know what I learned throughout the year? What Simon taught me?

He may not have been "kindergarten ready" in the classic sense, but he was more ready than I gave him credit for.

He would never have gotten over all his shyness, or learned how good he was at math, or art, or rhyming if I had waited until we could check all the boxes off on those dumb kinder readiness tests.

And he would have never learned that he is not that small and vulnerable child that I was treating him like, but a strong and capable little boy. That was the big take home.

School was a big change for Simon.

Although he was technically enrolled in a school in Uganda, he was one of about 40 students in his class that met in a very small room. His school only had paper and pencils. They had no books or teaching materials, no desks, nothing to actually assist his teacher in teaching her students. Consequently, Simon had a very negative idea of what school was.

Simon's school in Uganda:

But, in reality, that is what many of the schools are like that the world's poorest children attend. Crowded, under-resourced, and under-funded. Can you imagine trying to learn about animals without actually having pictures of animals to look at in books? Or trying to learn to read without books? Or trying to learn about much of anything without books?

There is an amazing organization called Libraries of Love whose mission is to create libraries in schools in Uganda. It was started by my friend Melissa's aunt, right here in Austin. (Melissa is a fellow Ugandan adoptive mama).  Books. Libraries. They sound like such a small thing, but they can really make a difference. Next time you are taking a haul to Goodwill or Half-Priced Books, consider donating them to Libraries of Love instead.

I am so grateful for the teachers that have poured their hearts and energy into my kids over the past year. I am grateful for all the advantages that my kids enjoy and all the resources at their fingertips. And most of all, I am proud of how they have all persevered throughout the year. I can't believe I will have a SECOND grader and a FIRST grader next year!!! Good thing we have Adeline to pull up the rear :)

(pics of Simon,  Asher, and Adeline with their teachers this year. I think I might have the cutest kids ever).

Why Orphan Care Fails: Pt 3

"For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might  no longer live for themselves , but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." 2Cor5:14-15nasb

" 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God , you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.' " Acts 4:20 nasb

Peter has always been my favorite bible dude. Gotta love that guy's unbridled passion. I always picture him drawing his sword brashly or standing up to those stuffy Sadducees with his unmatched and spirit-filled sermons. Nothing - not men in authority, threats, jail, pain - nothing could make Peter stop speaking about the truth of the gospel.

And Paul knew the key to Peter's passionate pursuit of the ministry of the gospel.

It was the controlling, compelling love of Christ.

Nothing, nothing, nothing else will ever produce a healthy, lasting ministry than lay people and volunteers that have hearts motivated by this controlling, compelling love.

However, people can not have this motivation if they are not intimately acquainted with the cross.

If you don't know what you lost and gained, then you can not find this love.

If you don't come to terms with how much sin has cost you, and how much Christ on the cross has gained for you, then the overpowering grace of God can not move you to action.

Guilt might move you to serve. Wanting to serve, wanting to please, wanting to look good, those all might motivate you. But they won't sustain you through the seventh inning stretch.

3. Orphan care ministries fail when churches are filled with people unacquainted with the compelling love of Christ and attempt to accomplish ministry with anything but people motivated by grace.

Tomorrow will be the concluding installment of this series in which I will discuss the journey of Israel in the OT.

Why Orphan Care Ministries Fail: Pt. 2

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” 
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses

C.S Lewis puts it perfectly. We are far too easily pleased. We are far too easily comforted, satisfied, and filled. As Christians, we pray, worship, and fellowship sometimes even in passing. Sometimes too quickly. Or sometimes not at all. Our spiritual discipline is too easily passed over and set aside in favor of the easy way, the lazy way and that old flesh nature, those orphan tendencies come out far too quickly. I am the first to know.

My orphan tendencies of control and anxiety and judgement. I feel them creep up and seep through and I have to go back to the Lord again. Maybe yours of anger, or yours of addiction or lust. Whatever it is, they afflict us all. Left over from before our adoption.  Are you in a place where you feel the need to sweep them away, to pretend they're not really there, that everything is really fine...

I know that feeling.

I've had periods in my life when I've been nothing but fine. Just fine. Great really. I mean, look at me, don't I look fine? Great, really?

 Fine and great are hard things to be.

For a church to have a successful orphan care ministry it can not have a bunch of just fine people going to it.

Are you getting my drift?

If a church wants to create an environment that fosters an atmosphere for ministries such as orphan care (but really any ministry that focuses on healing to the whole person) then it must be brave enough and willing enough to face whatever comes out when people begin to discover their true spiritual conditions. Their true orphan tendencies.

Orphan care ministries can not operate successfully without authenticity.

One reason I treasure my adoption community is because we all know where we stand. There is no pretending. There are no perfect mom awards going around. We all know we have kids fighting through broken places, and we are right there in the thick of the fight with them. Sometimes that can look really ugly. Sometimes it can look really sad. It is amazing when it looks joyful. But we could not stand through it all with them if we hadn't already fought through our own battles. Recognized our own stuff. Been there already.

Thankfully, somehow, we all figured out that we weren't just fine.

So, from earlier, we have:

1. Orphan care ministries fail when churches have a quick fix mentality, or define success by numbers. Churches must be willing to do the hard, slow work of fundamental transformation in order to be ready to engage in the messiness of orphan care.

And now today we can add:

2. Orphan care ministries fail when churches foster an environment of inauthentic community based on the perception that everyone is fine masked as authentic community. When authentic community is able to take hold and people are able to dig into and share their orphan tendencies with one another without shame, a community of broken but healed people can together begin to do the work of gospel.

And tomorrow we will explore the difference between guilt and grace and how that affects the success or failure of a ministry.

Why Orphan Care Ministries Fail: Pt 1

This post has been rolling around in my head for a while now. As much "gumption" as some of you think I might have, I admit I have been hesitant to pull the trigger on this one. I want to make it very clear that this is not about any one ministry in particular, or indictment against any specific church. God has blessed me in  some observational and deep thinking skills, and has brought this at the forefront of my mind. I know He must really want it out there, because the more I delay writing and posting it, the more it weighs on me. I offer this up, hoping it will move the discourse in a positive direction.

Having just finished out an exhausting three years of orphan care ministry, largely with limited success within a large evangelical church, I feel like I have some perspective on this topic. As a ministry we tried big massive city-wide events. We tried small discussion forums. We tried short small group lessons. We tried partnerships. We tried photo galleries. We tried prayer days. We tried, well, just about everything. Meanwhile, I saw other churches in Austin with growing, flourishing ministries. What was the difference?

Why do orphan care ministries within churches fail so often? Why do some flourish and others flounder? Is it the leadership, the dollars, the creativity of the team, what? Why do the ones that make less impact fail to capture the hearts and minds of congregants when, clearly, caring for orphans and the oppressed is so central to the heart and mind of God?

If our adoption, arguably the most radical adoption initiative ever, was the purpose of our redemption, made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus, then God is the ultimate orphan care leader. We know He is the ultimate father, for through our adoption, through our son ship, we not only call him Abba, but we also stand as coheirs next to Jesus, our older brother.

And just in case we miss all that theology, He made sure to record all His feelings towards orphans, the fatherless, the oppressed, the refugee, the widow, and the migrant down for us in the bible so that we could all be really clear.

So we all KNOW. We do. We know we are supposed to care. That's not the issue.

The challenge is, that participating in orphan care ministries is hard.

It takes time.

It sucks away your physical energy.

It sucks away your emotional energy.

It can suck away your money.

It's lonely.

If you engage in it, you will miss out on other social events (see the other above points on reasons why).

Orphan care is not about coming to event on a Saturday and volunteering for a couple of hours. Orphan care is not about making baggies of hygiene items to send overseas. Orphan care is not about sending shoes to kids in South America that need them.

Orphan care is not about you.

Orphan care is not about making you feel like you have served, have made a difference, or accomplished something.

Orphan care is not something you can do on a weekend.

Orphan care is not about the church being a buffer between the congregation and the orphan. A drop-point, if you will, for old clothes and bags.

Orphan care is about so much more.

Orphan care requires fundamentally changing who we are as people, what our hearts are after, so that we can invest in relationship building with children who desperately need relationships.

Shoes, while helpful to protect a child's feet, won't heal the heart of a boy abandoned by his mother and father. That boy needs relationship. With his heavenly Father, but with an earthly one as well.

Clothes, while they keep the children warm, don't keep the nightmares at bay for the kids in foster care that desperately want forever families.

1. Orphan care ministries fail when churches have a quick fix mentality, or define success by numbers. Churches must be willing to do the hard slow work of fundamental transformation in order to be ready to engage in the messiness of orphan care.

Because orphan care is nothing if not messy, slow, and transformative.

But its good. So, so, good.

Hot, Long, Lazy Days of Summer

Long summer days beg for good books. Whether you are travelling and need a book for your plane or road trip, or you are one of those lucky people who actually get to sit by a pool or on a beach and concentrate on reading, books and summer go together. 

I just downloaded  a slew of new books with lofty plans on reading them all before the summer is through. 

First up? I just cracked open Unladylike: Resisting the Injustice of Inequality in the Church by Pam Hogeweide. I can't wait to share my thoughts on it with you. So far, I am loving her stance. 

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Also on my summer reading list are:

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

Soooooo, what will YOU be reading this summer? Anything on your reading wishlist? Please share!!

 

Is it for a Good Cause?

Hi Rachel,
When you choose to buy "justly" do you always order from Christian organizations or any organization as long as they have a good cause? Just curious. My mind has been thinking on those things since talking about stewardship at church in the Fall.
-Emily

What a great question! And thanks to my friend Emily for bringing it up. 

I think there are a couple of facets to this question, so let me get started breaking it down. 

1. What determinates a Christian organization?  

         a. Is it stated in their core beliefs or purpose statement that the organization is Christian?

         b. Is it that it is run by Christians? But if this, then how can you know unless personally affiliated with the organization?

         c. Must this organization be a gospel-sharing organization?

         d. Is it an organization that cares for the things Christ cares about, but might not outright say it?

If the consensus answer is D, then I buy a lot more from Christian organizations than if the answer is A. The truth is, most businesses don't outright say, "Hey! We are Christians over here!!" I mean, that would be kinda weird. But it can be pretty obvious by looking at their name, purpose statement and where they are working. Most people not affiliated with Christ wouldn't go into Indian brothels and employ ex-slave prostitutes as seamstresses in order to give them a new life and a new hope. (thanks Punjammies and International Princess Project!)

And I won't buy something just because the organization is Christian either. For me it is a definite mix of my need at the moment and which organization has the best business and community development model. Some of the best models may or may not be Christian organizations. Take one of my favorite shoe companies, Chooze shoes. Both Adeline and I love these shoes for her. They are cute, whimsical, playground and everyday wearable, and best of all she can get them on all by herself. Their anti-poverty program is FAR superior to any other shoe options, which are all basically handout programs. Now, I have absolutely NO IDEA if Chooze is run by a bunch of nature-worshiping pagans or a bunch or God-fearing Christians. I do know that I am helping lift women out of poverty. And I feel better about that than buying another pair of TOMS which perpetuates the cycle of dependency on the West. 

2. What is a "good cause"?  

Wow. This one is even trickier. What is good? A strict theological interpretation of good would take us to something along the lines of "whatever brings God the most glory".

What about a definition of cause?  Living in Austin I know all too well that pretty much anything can be a "cause." Is reforestation a cause? Sure. What about people? Are they really causes? I don't like to relate to my fellow brothers and sisters like that. Lets call people community. 

So, we have community building organizations and cause organizations. Now for combining the "good" with the "cause."

Can a non-Christian organization working on creating fair working conditions for laborers in the garment industry in China bring God glory?

What about a an organization run by Christians although not outright Christian, working on fair trade products and subsequent poverty relief, but not engaged in any sort of gospel sharing mission? 

What about a Christian stated organization focusing its efforts on something completely off the wall? Rescuing Atalantic Sea Slugs or something? (I do believe that environmental efforts are good cause worthy, by the way, just trying to think of something zaney). Is that organization bringing glory to God? They are not focusing on the least of these (well, now, maybe the Atlantic Sea Slug really is the least of the least...), but they are doing it in God's name. 

Is the cause of Christ the only one you consider good? 

Shopping justly is a mixed bag of a whole lot of different ethos swirled together. I have found, though, that the majority, have the heart of Christ at the center. It is, however, your money. Spend it how you will. 

So there you go Emily, everything you ever wanted in an answer. Short, succinct and to the point. 

New Life, Africa style

When I was a sophomore in high school I went to a Third Day concert with my friends from youth group. Our youth leader drove us there and we totally rocked it out. Yes. That is what happened. At some point during the concert Third Day guy stopped singing and started talking about sponsoring a kid through Compassion International. He really sold it. So much so that a couple of my friends and I went in together and sponsored a kid. That was my first ever experience with sponsorship.

I don't quite think my friends and I were Third Day guy's target demographic that night. Or Compassion's for that matter. We never wrote our kid, or sent care packages, and I'm pretty sure we missed sending in our check some months. We were high school kids after all. But that early exposure to sponsoring a child has stuck with me.

And now I have the joy of getting to sponsor a child through the BEST organization out there. Hands down. Africa New Life, while not the biggest or the best known (but we're going to fix that!), is growing and giving the children of Rwanda a new future. They are doing it through national leadership, education, the gospel, health care, community development, food, and you and me.

When you sponsor a child you completely change the trajectory of that child's life forever. When you sponsor a child through Africa New Life, you give her access to the BEST school in Rwanda, you give her government medical coverage, regular meals every day, spiritual mentorship, and best of all, she gets to stay in her home country, with her family, so when she grows up she can become one of its educated future leaders.

Sponsorship is an amazing way to carry out God's heart for caring for the fatherless. Many of the children in the sponsorship program live in extended family or single parent households. For most, sponsorship is their only hope for education. I love that the little boy we sponsor wants to be the president of Rwanda when he grows up. I LOVE that he dreams big!

I am dreaming big right along with him. Dreaming big dreams for Rwanda, a country I love so much. Dreaming big dreams for Africa New Life, an organization that has already done so much in that country and that will surely do so much more.

This video shows you more than I could ever tell you how much sponsorship means to a child. It captures the moment that Grace was told she was getting a sponsor. I dare you not to cry...