God is at work...everywhere.

I've heard about the millions of Christians living in China where Christianity is illegal. I've read about missionaries living and dying in countries where Christians are persecuted and Bibles are smuggled in. I know a man who's sister has an underground Christian church in Bhutan where Christians are at times subjected to imprisonment and torture. God works in some of the most oppressive societies through some of the most vulnerable people on the earth so that everyone as access to Him the Devine through Christ Jesus.

It is stories like these that help me see that God is truly at work everywhere. These stories inspire me, but it is also stories like these that sometimes distract me from what may be going on in my own back yard. Have you ever heard of Christians who are homeless and live in the woods? Or let's take the question a step further; have you ever heard of Christians who are homeless, live in the woods and are constructing a church? These questions are not rhetorical since maybe you have but until last month I hadn't.

The fact that there are Christians that are homeless doesn't surprise me nor should it. The fact that there are homeless that live in the woods also does not surprise me. However what does surprise me (maybe it shouldn't but it does) is the Jesus movement coming out of the Red Cedar Nature Area (south of the Frandor Shopping Center) and taking place within the Lansing homeless community. I met Rob and Carynne about a month ago, they were introduced to me as a couple who live amongst a homeless community in the woods. So I ask, "what do you need?" and we talked. Here comes the surprising part...in our conversation I find out they have chosen to live this way in order to minister to the homeless in Lansing. What a revolutionary idea! There are dozens of programs, lunches or day centers in the area that specialize in helping the homeless but they all seam to be missing something. While their efforts are admirable and certainly needed and helpful in many aspects what most of these fail to do is present themselves as equals. Let me explain...I'm not talking about the people so much as the programs. The programs are often centered around the idea that "we want to help you become like the rest of us in society" and again there is nothing wrong with that. There are many folks that find themselves without a home and desperately want and need help getting back on their feet. There are also many many more that are perfectly content with their situations. Living as a homeless person is not the "easy way out" it is very difficult and it isn't wrong...just different. It is time that we, as a society, begin to accept homelessness, for some, as a chosen life style. We should present ourselves as equals and invest in personal relationships.

Now back to my original thought before I go too far down any rabbit trails. Robert and Carynne have chosen to be homeless and have placed themselves in the woods in Lansing Township among a community that already exists there. Once the cold weather hits many seek refuge in the local shelters but they have chosen to stick it out in the woods to handle the overflow. They are becoming a hub of the homeless community. Robert and Carynne spend a lot of time at Open Door (a great ministry to the homeless in downtown Lansing) networking. When new folks arrive into the community they are often times sent to Robert and Carynne because they can provide food, warmth and shelter...in the great outdoors. Within their camp there are two particularly useful structures. One is a very large tent used to house the many items that have been donated. The donated items are distributed in their camp and other camps along the River Trail. The second is a church. Yes, essentially a church...in the woods. It is made out of small trees and branches covered in plastic and tarps with a small opening in the roof above the fire pit. The structure is small but holds a handful of people and it is on its way to becoming larger.

You may be thinking..."why a church in the woods?" "Why not just come to church?" I would ask then... "are they not coming to church?" "Are they not gathering as Christians (and non Christians) to learn, explore and worship the wonders of the Holy Trinity?" There was a time when God was accessed in a temple but the death and resurrection of Christ unleashed God allowing our accessibility to Him anywhere at any time. Should we be so naive to believe that for one to be an active part of the body of Christ we must first enter into a "church like" building with others who live in a socially acceptable way? You see...for most of us, we live in houses, have jobs, own cars, go grocery shopping and go to church with others who live in houses, have jobs, own cars and go grocery shopping. How comfortable would you be to go to "church" in a wigwam with folks who live outside or in shelters, don't have jobs, don't own much of anything and don't fit the mold of what we believe to be normal?

Today my daughter and I had the opportunity to experience church in a manner most find weird. "That's weird" is the usual response I get when I tell people that I have been helping these folks build a "church" in the woods for us to have Bible study. And you know, it is kind of weird but it is also quite humbling. Robert, Carynne, Cajun, Chris and I almost forgot Oliver (the cat) were extremely hospitable. They were (as always) so kind, so grateful and ask for very little other than someone to take the time to provide them with Bible study. Yes it was chilly and raining and bit smoky (from the fire) but we talked about Jesus, we studied the Bible, we prayed and it was GREAT.

It is Jesus movements like this within a community of people who do not get stories written about them, who are not being persecuted for their beliefs, who have opportunities that many others around the world don't but are still in need of a way to tap into the power of Christ. It is seeing that God is caring for these folks in a way that works for them, with something so much more than monetary gifts, food or material objects, even though it seems weird to us. It is experiences like today's Bible study and the growing anticipation for the continuation of these Bible studies that, to me, affirm God's hand is at work everywhere.

A New Adventure

Today is the day, my first day working in full-time ministry. First order of business, make Bigby Coffee Holt my new office. Yes, that is where I'll be when I need to be online. Originally I liked the idea of working from home until I realized there are too many distractions like T.V. and the fridge. But seriously, I'm excited but the whole idea really hasn't set in yet.

I've been asked several times by people; are you excited that you are done working at NTB? Are you excited about the new venture? Do you have any anxiety about leaving your job? Are you nervous about the drastic change in your working situation? Well let me break it down. Anytime you leave a job and the people you work with there is some anxiety. Especially if you worked at place for, let's say seven years. For me the situation is still very surreal. I'm very excited about this ministry opportunity and the adventure that will come with it. I'm very faithful that God will provide the support I have not yet raised. So I'm not worried, I'm not anxious and I'm not nervous. However I will miss my co-workers dearly. It's time to get this party started!...I know I'm a dork :-)

The Big Mac

The Big Mac? Yes the Big Mac. What I'm referring to here is the, one and only, longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere, Mackinac Bridge. Not the popular double beef(so they say)burger with "special sauce"(thousand island dressing)exclusively sold by McDonald's. As Michiganders it is quite easy to take a landmark such as the Mackinac Bridge for granted. Thinking of it as common and uninteresting. On July 31st around 2:30 PM, being in the presence of 60 or so men, women and children who had never before seen this bridge, I gazed upon this amazing structure with new eyes. To think, all the human imagination, ingenuity and hard work it took to make the seemingly impossible possible. Each and every person from engineers to laborers were instrumental in its successful completion. Each person unique in their own way gifted with attributes breathed into them by our creator and lord Yahweh.

In late June, my friend Thak came to me with a request. Many folks from within his community of New Americans (Bhutanese refugees) were expressing great interest in going to see the Mackinac Bridge and were wondering if I could help make that happen. With the resources God has provided myself and our church, this request was a big CAN DO in my book. So after a few weeks of planning and six new tires on the bus we were on our way to Macinaw City at 9:30 am on July 31st. We stopped a couple times along the way before arriving in Mackinaw City around 2:30 pm. We parked at a local park where we all shared food for lunch. After lunch the group unintentionally split, some going to the beach by the light house and the other going to a beach just east of the bridge. After spending some time at the beach areas I led a large group to one of the ferry boat companies so they could ride to Mackinac Island and back. We all eventually met back at the bus and departed for Lansing around 6:45 pm. During the time we were hanging out in Mackinaw City I was asked several times by different folks; "is it getting too late?", "do we need to leave now?" and my favorite, "are you getting bored waiting around for all of us?" My answer was no, no and absolutely not. You see the trip was for them, not me, their joy was my joy. It was a shared experience and a trip well worth taking.

There is one specific story I would like to share. A story that tapped into my fascination with human interaction. Let me explain something first. Although I am human and I do occasionally interact with other humans, the necessity and mystery of what drives human interaction has always fascinated me. Also another important piece of information to understand. Whenever I spend time with these folks they speak English when talking with me but when talking to each other they speak their native Nepali language. This often leaves me wondering what is going on but I do enjoy listening to them. So here we go. When the two groups split, Thak went with one group and I went with the other. After awhile I went back to the bus with a gentlemen who was looking for his wife. When we arrived back at the bus there was one woman left at the park where we parked. She looked at me and said "you lost Thak" to which I responded "yeah kinda". She motioned for us to follow her and led us in the area Thak's group went. On the way she was speaking quite passionately in Nepali to the gentlemen who was looking for his wife. When we reached the beach where Thak and his group had been, no one was there. Her passion increased. It appeared she was getting frustrated. We turned around to head back to my group. On the way back we met up with a guy, Indra, whom I have met a few times previously in the past and a little girl, I assumed was his daughter. When the women saw him she began speaking to him and waving her arms around. Her array of passionate communication continued until we ran into a small group of folks from my group who had apparently been following us at a distance this whole time. Her apparent frustration now was being directed at them. Once she was done I looked at Indra and asked him "is this your daughter?" she and the others turned and smiled. He answered "yes this is my daughter and she(the passionate speaking women) is my wife." A slight pause and he continued "my wife... she is crazy". With that comment his wife and the rest of the group exploded in laughter. You had to be there. You see there is something inside us that yearns for human interaction. Whether it is kind loving words, an expression of frustration, a deep meaningful conversation or a short conversation with a stranger. Almost all living things interact in one way or another. But speech, facial expressions, the look in someone's eyes, the touch of another person and how these things make us feel are unique to human creation. Yes human creation(another tangent). To think we are all a result of random arrangements of molecules and/or evolution makes no sense to me, a rational person(some may disagree but I do consider myself rational). After all, cats are still cats, dogs are still dogs elephants are still elephants and apes(yes even apes)are still apes. All are an individual part of creation. So what drives a human, what causes us to feel and be felt? What produces passion and compassion?Could it be the breath of God that continues to breathe, move and stir inside all of us?

Public Speaking

I know...me and public speaking seems like a bit of an oxymoron but sometimes I even surprise myself :) Of course the audience plays a big role in how comfortable a speaker feels.

Sunday July 11th I was graciously invited to speak briefly at Calvary Baptist Church in Webberville, MI about my ministry efforts. The goal was to raise awareness of my ministry to Bhutanese refugees in Lansing and gain financial support to allow this ministry to grow. This was my first opportunity to speak at a church and needless to say I was very nervous about the whole thing.

Immediately after walking though the door my family and I felt a sense of belonging. The folks at Calvary were very welcoming and accommodating. It was like this: as soon as I walked through the door my nerves were instantly calmed. God was present...I could feel it. I spoke after the first set of worship songs and then enjoyed the rest of the service. I got some really positive feed back on my presentation and was introduced to some folks who were really interested and excited about my ministry. All in all, it was a very relaxing and productive morning.

My hope is that God will provide me more opportunities to speak at other churches in the Lansing area. It was delightful to meet new people and participate in their worship service. I'd love to extend a huge "THANKS!" to Pastor Scott and the folks at Calvary Baptist Church. You guys rock!

Bhutanese Refugees

Up until the spring of '09 I little knowledge of what a refugee really was. At Barefoot we were doing Social Justice movie nights over the course of a few months that were opened to the public. To tie into one of the movies our pastor Noah suggested we read a book called "Of Beetles and Angels" written by an Ethiopian refugee Mawi Asgedom. Let me tell you, that book really opened my eyes. The book is a short read but is info packed and I highly suggest reading it if you are interested in understanding more about what it is like to be a refugee in America. Unlike immigrants refugees come to the U.S. and other countries not by choice but due to unjust circumstances out of their control. Refugees are settled by different organizations and careful steps are often taken to ensure their transition is successful. In the early summer of '09, through a series of unexpected events, I was introduced to some Bhutanese refugees here in Lansing. I give thanks to God for that introduction and for the wonderful friendships that have developed.

The story or the Bhutanese refugees is quite unique. In the late 1800's groups of Nepalese were brought into southern Bhutan(a Buddhist country) to work as farmers. They are known as the Lhotshampa people who mainly speak the Nepali language and practice Hinduism. By the late 1980's and early 1990's the southern Bhutanese population had grown to nearly 100,000. This began to be seen as a threat to the "elite" or northern Bhutanese leading to the exile of around 100,000 people to U.N. refugee camps in eastern Nepal. The Bhutanese claim they are illegal and the Nepalese claim their economy can't absorb them. The Lhotshampa people were left in refugee camps with no country to call home from roughly 1992 until 2008 when resettlement finally began. Today over 80,000 remain in the refugee camps awaiting resettlement. For more detailed information on the Bhutanese refugees including testimonies and a camp tour please visit www.bhutaneserefugees.com.

There are over 400 hundred Bhutanese refugees living in Lansing/East Lansing today and more continue to arrive. They have many needs but the most important need is friendship and the love of Christ. The New Americans I know strive to work hard for an education and earn income to provide for their families. They are generous, loving and communal in nature. There is a lot they can learn from us and a lot we can learn from them. I am honored to be part of a community that, after nearly 20 years, can provide a place for them to call home.

Bowling For a Cause

As some of you may know, a group of fellas and myself organize, pickup and play some sort of activity with our Bhutanese refugee friends a few times a month. We usually play soccer or cricket and over the winter we started a Bible study. Well last Sunday God provided us an opportunity to do something a little different and for a cause.

A fellow Barefooter and friend, Art, is part of a group of individuals who will be going on a medical mission trip to Cameroon Africa. To raise money for this venture Art organized a bowling fundraiser. This fundraiser just happened to fall on a Saturday that we were planning an activity with our Bhutanese friends. I thought to myself what a perfect opportunity. I figured most of our (I'm going to refer to them as New Americans now) New Americans have never bowled...and I was right.

Welcome to America we're going bowling...Bowling didn't originate in the U.S. but was popularized here in the states. In fact the first standardized rules were established in New York City in 1895. My wife, Amanda, says I'm full of useless information and she's right so beware when reading future blogs. Anyway if you are new to the U.S., going bowling is a must in order to understand our culture. Americans love to throw balls down a wooden (or synthetic) floor and knock over little people looking things called pins. Just admit it Americans love to bowl. Nothing wrong with that it's a lot of fun.

The New Americans had a blast and it was fun to watch just how much they enjoyed themselves. As usual I made myself look like a fool knocking down only 50 pins by the eighth frame. Overall it was a great afternoon. I got to hang out with my friend Thak who I hadn't seen in quit a few months. We got to take our new school bus on its inaugural run and showed our support to a friend who will be going on a much needed missions trip. If it weren't for how expensive bowling can be I'd love to do this more often.

Peace,

James