Taking the Message to our Neighborhood

It is a short stroll down East Street in Flint, Michigan from where we gather on Sunday morning for our weekly celebration. There we find a white house with a big front door open to the street and in plain sight of the University of Michigan Flint Campus. Here Kate Robinson, a New Wine member, and other young adults have opened a little Friday night coffee house called "The White House Student Cafe". Here for the last few weeks and until the semester ends from 6pm to 10pm the doors are open to students and young adults free of charge. Owned and remodeled by the Riverside Tabernacle, and in conjunction with IVCF campus ministry, we are forming a ministry team to host these student venues. One or two musicians share their talents as warm coffee and pastries are served. It is the vision of the ministry team that this becomes a regular gathering place for students on Friday nights. Here friendships will be made and good conversation will be had, and on occasion we trust that conversation might focus about the hope that brings joy to the Christian heart. Its happening just down the street in our neighborhood, in Kate's neighborhood.

In my neighborhood of Flushing there is a senior apartment complex called Elmcrest. Actually there are a few former church members from when I served in the Episcopal church in town who live there. They invited me to come over to share communion for those who cannot get to church on Sundays. Pat Self or I make it over there about once a month. We have had as few as six but more than a dozen on any given visit. The Scriptures say that when we break bread like this, Christ is proclaimed. Right here in my neighborhood.

Jim and Joan just got back from a winter trip to Texas. The surprise is that in the weeks they were away, next to where their Wednesday Cell Group meets at Taecken's Terrace, a new apartment complex called Ballard Village is being quickly built. Jim and Joan know the Ballards whom they went to church with in Davision. Jim shared with the group last Wednesday: "It is so good to see the new apartment going up and they are already putting on the roof. It looks like our next mission field is just about done!" Jim has caught the vision of taking the message to his neighborhood.

As I look over the New Wine flock each Sunday morning, I not only see "sheep" who have been and are being redeemed, but I see in each of them a potential missionary to their neighborhood. Each one of us are potential bearers of good news. I am one who is sold on the value of forming small groups, cell groups, house churches, or whatever else you want to call them, in every neighborhood. I see each member of New Wine as a potential cell church leader in their neighborhood. How will we help Christ transform the world? We will do it one person, one neighborhood at a time.

If this speaks to you,  try something simple and take a walk in your neighborhood. Pray over each house, apartment or condo. Let the Spirit inspire your prayers. Do not do it just once but now that the weather is getting better, do it regularly. Do it until the Lord gives you a chance to talk to a neighbor, respond to a need with an act of kindness, or just opens a door to a neighbor's heart. Then let Him lead you as to how you can share the hope that is within you with your neighborhood.

New Wine, let's keep taking it to our neighborhoods!

Airbags & Safety Nets

Last week I had an accident at about 45 miles an hour.  The seat belt and airbags saved me.  Physically, though sore and a little bruised I did alright.  It has been much tougher emotionally and mentally.  I keep reliving the accident in my mind and find myself very jumpy as I now drive.

It happened so quick.  I do not remember hearing much of an impact or the airbag deploying.  I think the air bag muffled the sound.   Without the safety equipment it could have been a very different outcome, which reminds me how fragile life really is.  I have had to spend a significant amount of energy focusing on what I have rather than the losses.  The car was totaled.  I was cited for failing to stop.  Two other cars were involved and a young man broke his leg.  But we are all alive.  Stuff can be replaced.  I have another day to be with my family and more time here to serve the Lord.  A friend has loaned us a car and I had liability insurance for a time such as this.  How I wish the accident had not happened, but it did.  With the support of those around me and leaning into the Lord, I trust I will get through it as hard as it is at this moment.

It seems to me that my walk with the Lord is a lot like the airbag.   I owned the green van for nearly 10 years.  There was a label on the steering wheel that said the van was equipped with an airbag, but I never saw it. It was built into the car.  In my moment of need it deployed.  It softened the blow, and may have even saved my life or prevented permanent injury.  When we accept the Lord and put our trust in Him, there is often no outward manifestation of His presence.  He is unseen, as if built into our hearts.  The Holy Spirit and His gifts are like the label, outward signs, that assures us of His presence.   And though He does not prevent every bad thing from happening to us, His promise is He will be there in our time of need.  It is my experience that He is there to cushion the blow as we are buffeted by the things of this world.  By faith I know that nothing in this world can separate us from the Father.  Nothing, not even death, can ultimately conquer  us.   Even if our enemy does his worst, he will not overcome us, for we are the Lord's.  He is in us  and we are in the palm of His hand.

I cannot imagine trying to travel through this life without our unseen "Airbag".  I am so thankful for my "Airbag" and "Safety Net".   Are you?

New Wine Report - March 2012

Spring has come early after a very mild winter here in Michigan. New Wine seems to be going through a Spring of its own. Spring is when we see new life bursting forth. It's when the sleepy quiet of winter suddenly is replaced with activity and life across the entire creation. This past month we have had a flurry of visitors on Sunday. It started with the visit from four men who had heard about us over a year ago when Bishop Augustus visited us from Rwanda. As a result, when a recent ministry had to close its doors, several from that fellowship have come to see where God is at work in us.

Being an extrovert, I personally have been energized by meeting about a dozen new people over the past few weeks. More importantly, as we share our story, we hear their story of God at work. Often we hear how God has worked in them and given them a heart for worship and service. Their story is such an encouragement to us. We also, however, hear of struggle and pain which keeps the story real. Our God is a gracious and healing Father. We love to hear how He is at work in others and gives us hope that He will work in us and through us in the days to come.

A recent highlight for New Wine was that we had a good start to two new cell groups. The first is a group that is looking at personal finances using Biblical principles to bring order to this part of one's life. There have been around 10 people involved in this Tuesday night cell group. Another group started in the Roxbury Senior Apartments. Here I am working with one of our members exploring the issues of loss and grief through a program called Griefshare. This group meets bi-weekly but we have consistently had around a dozen in attendance. Several of the participants have come even from beyond the apartment complex. With the addition of these two new groups to our other four existing groups, we now have 6 cells meeting on a regular basis. There are now over 50 people meeting weekly in our groups. What is so exciting is that the vision of becoming a church made up of cell groups which impact our immediate communities is finally taking shape. I see every person at New Wine as a potential cell group facilitator who might work on gathering family, friends and neighbors for the purpose of spiritual support, growth and service. This past month it feels like we have taken this to a new level.

At the end of February, on the first Sunday of Lent, we celebrated 6 years of gathering on the Lord's day. After recounting the journey in pictures during our service that day, we held an extended reception time. For those who have been with us from the start, we can look back and see time and time again the Lord's provision and how He has directed our path. It is clear that the call to build a new work around relationships and service is a long slow road to travel. But we can now look back and say it has been well worth it. Church planting is not for the weak of heart or those who expect to reap a quick harvest. This early Spring has proven to be a season of great joy and delight. It makes one eager to see what is just around the corner for the people of New Wine.