This weeks post come from Andrew Miller.  Andrew just finished a year long internship with Grace Community Church, and he will be greatly missed!  He is now off to seminary in St. Louis.  These thoughts come as a result of his recent trip to Toronto on one of Grace’s short-term trips.

Holy ground hurts.

That’s what I learned on a mission trip to Toronto at 1:17 AM when our trip leader told us to “take off our shoes and socks.”

We had been walking around the city all day. We were tired, hungry, and thought we were about to get some sleep. We were wrong.

“Take off your shoes and socks.”

We stared back, not sure if the trip leader had just said what we thought he said.

He said it again – louder this time – with a smile that seemed almost mischievous.

“Take off your shoes and socks.”

“Why?”

“Just trust me. Take off your shoes and your socks.”

One other thing I forgot to mention: it’s cold – probably 20 degrees – and we were standing on rough concrete – not the smooth kind on sidewalks in the suburbs – but the gritty and gravely kind characteristic of worn down sections of the city.

I slowly started untying my shoelaces. Hesitantly, the rest of our team followed suit. Soon six sets of skin-clad feet were in direct contact with that 20-degree, gritty, gravely, holy ground.

Holy? That’s what the trip leader seemed to think. He started to tell a story from the life of Moses to make his point. So mentally transition from imagining cold Toronto night to stifling hot middle-eastern dessert several millennia ago…

When God meets Moses in the burning bush in Exodus 3, he tells him to take off his sandals, not because its insanely hot, but because the place he’s standing is holy ground.

The trip leader raises an interesting question: “What makes the place where Moses is standing holy?” The obvious answer is the presence of God. But the presence of God is everywhere, is it not?

Several other factors are significant. First, there’s the initiative of God. Here we have God initiating with Moses in a way that’s unusual. We have God talking action on behalf of his people. We have God doing something special.

Second, there’s the willingness of Moses to notice what God is doing. In Exodus 3:4 it says, “When the Lord saw that Moses had gone over to look, God called to him.” It seems like there’s a connection between Moses’ willingness to stop and pay attention and God’s decision to reveal what He’s doing to Moses in that moment.

So in this holy ground moment we have God who is active – setting something important in motion. And we have Moses who is attentive. This creates a context for a holy ground encounter. Holy ground happens when God is at work in a special way and we notice.

Next, God invites Moses to join Him in what He’s doing. Moses has a role to play – a role that will require courage, risk, and suffering. And this is where it gets interesting…

In that moment Moses is forced to face his deepest insecurities and fears. God asks Moses to return to Egypt – a place marked by sin and failure – a place he’s spent the past 40 years of his life hiding from! For Moses, this is not holy ground that is happy or harmless; this is holy ground that hurts.

Before that moment on the Toronto steets I had always thought of holy ground moments as pleasant, warm, and happy occasions. Shivering on that Toronto sidewalk, my feet numb with pain from the icy ground beneath me, I realized that holy ground moments hurt.

So often we want our encounters with God to be warm and comfortable. And we need those encounters from time to time – the kind where God reminds us that he loves us and is for us. But we need the other kind of encounters too – the kind that make us uncomfortable – the kind where we come face to face with injustice and brokenness and pain. God uses these encounters show us the things that He cares about – and then to invite us to do something about them.

This past week I’ve spent my morning quiet times doing a five week devotional from author and social justice advocate Tom Davis about sex trafficking. These quiet times haven’t been warm or comfortable, but they have been Holy Ground moments – moments where I became aware of an injustice in the world and heard God’s invitation to fight against it.

If you’re interested you can read more about this issue at www.sheispriceless.com. I’d strongly recommend downloading the 5-day devotional. These 5 minutes devos may be uncomfortable, but they will compel you towards Gods kingdom purposes!

So here’s my question that I’m going to continue to wrestle with. Am I willing to respond when I sense God inviting me to Holy Ground Moment that will hurt?

Trying to answer this question was the focus for our Summer Interns here at Grace.  We are so sad that are Summer Interns have now departed.  Here are some excerpts of what one Intern had to say about their time with us this summer.  I hope you will be encouraged by what one intern has learned through 11 weeks at Grace Community.

Holistic

This concept seems to be the biggest theme that I will take away from this summer. Living a life on mission with God is something that totally encompasses our years here on earth. As Jesus expressed in Matthew 6:10, we are to pray that God’s “will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Being missional isn’t something we turn on and off; rather, it is an attitude or stance we adopt out of a response to God’s unconditional love for us.

Rhythmic

Similar to the holistic approach we’re called to adopt, finding a rhythm to allow the kingdom of God to break into our lives is a key part of missional living. Sitting under a tree in Toronto, God opened my eyes to the concept of askesis, or a posture of space to experience the Creator and His creation here on earth. Askesis becomes a rhythmic framework for God’s story to play out in our lives, an idea central to being a part of God’s mission. A personalized and purposeful strategy to notice God’s voice in our life is a concept that frees us from the guilt and obligation that often comes to my mind when I think about a lifetime of “quiet-times”. Being on mission with God is so much more than merely checking thirty minutes of time spent with Him off our to-do list. It’s about tuning our heart to the rhythms that God has a propensity towards- love, social justice, grace, etc.

Present

Asking God to reveal what He is doing in our current circumstances becomes central to following His will. We can be on mission for God regardless of what our outward circumstances dictate.

Deconstructive

I write this because it was one of the greatest themes to my summer, a combined result of time spent at Grace and also time spent in Toronto. Being on mission with God means being open to change and growth and new experiences. We must allow our hearts to continually break for what breaks God’s heart.

Relational

Part of following and experiencing God’s mission is expressed through true and authentic community. God never intended us to walk with Him alone, but rather alongside other believers who can encourage us, challenge us to holiness, and speak wisdom into our choices/decisions. Living into this community is central to God’s design for our lives and the Church as a whole.

I experienced authentic community throughout the summer, both at Grace and especially in Toronto. It’s amazing to me that a church of over 5,000 people with over 100 staff members can feel like home after only a few months of being here. Much of that sensation comes from the relationships I’ve developed with the other interns, fellow staff members, and the larger Access community. God has used the friends I’ve made here (especially the other interns) to remind of His love time and time again and I can’t thank Him enough for that. Comparing my attitude at the beginning of the summer when I still felt isolated and disconnected to the intense sense of joy I’ve felt over the last two months is an amazing opportunity to remember God’s mission includes others.

Palms-Up

This posture is central to living on mission with God. Even though the Lord has blessed us with free will, the power of choice can often become an idol in our lives. We can choose paths that offer instant gratification or worldly satisfaction, but yet offer little or no eternal impact. We can choose to serve the attractive fallacy of the American Dream, rather than the God of the universe. A missional lifestyle is one in which we offer the tension between worldly desires and the will of the Kingdom up to the Lord on a moment-by-moment basis. It’s a continual process of dying to self and living in light of God’s kingdom here on earth. As Mark 8: 34-38 so wonderfully articulates, we must lose our way to better serve God’s way.

This was a theme that resonated through my entire summer so I can’t quite pick out an individualized moment. As you already know, coming to Grace was not necessarily what I expected or had planned. However, it’s been amazing to watch God meet every need, every request and every challenge that has come my way. When I remain palms-up before the Lord, He can do something with my nothing.

So, to sum up what I have come to understand as the essence of living on mission for God: adopting a posture of love and openness to God’s work and God’s heart in our present circumstance (regardless of what they might be or not be) and seeking His will as a Christ-following community of believers.

This is what one Intern has said…what would you say it means to live on mission with God?

Today’s post comes to us from Trey Sullivan, an Intern on the Worship team at Grace Community Church. Check him out in Sojourn this weekend as he leads us in worship. Trey recently went with Access to Toronto on a short-term trip. Here are some thoughts from his trip…

Tired feet in Toronto

It’s late at night: 2 or 3am. My feet hurt from walking, and my mind is beginning to fog over. I am walking with two friends through the rougher part of the homosexual district of Toronto. The streets are fairly clear of people, until our constant footsteps bring us to the main road that we turn onto. We intuitively stop talking, closing our mouths so that we can open our eyes, ears and hearts. Two ladies, well dressed, talk casually to each other on the street corner under the lamppost, exchanging the normal friendly banter. Transvestites. Selling their bodies on the street for a few dollars. A “lady” in a red dress curses at her feet while she messes with white high heels that are obviously too high and far too small for her feet. She calls her all-white-dressed, blonde friend over to her, and asks for help getting her shoes back on. From the conversation that follows, it’s obvious that this is not the first time she has asked for help. The lady in the white dress is happy to oblige. Community; friendship; personhood; dignity.

Church in Toronto

It’s the next day: the afternoon. I’ve just finished praying through the penitential rite at a large and very ornate Anglican church. Gothic architecture and the history of the Canadian church adorns the walls – it feels like a Catholic church in its grandness and splendor. I have prayed for forgiveness of my sins. I am judgmental. One foot in front of the other, out into the gardens that separate the church from the St. Lawrence market. As I walk alone, I see three ladies who seem oddly out of place strolling through the garden laughing together and talking to someone on the phone. More transvestites. Looking closely at them, their faces become familiar. I am in the presence of the same transvestites that had been selling their bodies only the night before. They are still together and still cross-dressed, though less seductive in their outfit choice. They laugh and banter together as friends do, speaking of shopping and of visits to mutual friends. I am witnessing a community. I am witnessing persons who are not defined by their career choice. I am witnessing, in a small and broken way, the love that marks the King, and His Kingdom. I am witnessing the image of God.

Summer Interns at Grace are a very special groupNot only to they contribute mightily during their summer here, but they go on to do amazing things.  Of the 110 interns since 2001, More than 1/3 are in vocational ministry…the rest are still college students, are in graduate school, are staff here at Grace, are overseas missionaries, or are committed volunteers working in the world.   All of them are part of our legacy here at Grace.

Welcome to our four Interns who recently started with us this summer.

Amber, Kendra, Trey & Janelle

Here is a story that comes from a former Summer Intern, Joe Reed. Joe and his family are serving in South Africa and recently participated in a conversation called Amahoro.  (It is interesting to note that Nairobi Chapel, one of our three strategic partners, sent two representatives to participate in this conversation.  And Remember, South Africa is where our strategic partner Loving South Africa is focusing their efforts).

Here is an excerpt from a recent blog post of Joe’s.  What an amazing story of reconciliation!  We are so proud of Joe and all our interns! Enjoy:

This past week, we attended a continent wide conference called “Amahoro”.  It’s a word that holds the same meaning as “Shalom”.  In parts of Africa, you would greet someone with this word repeatedly until you feel the connection with them.  It’s quite a beautiful thing to read, but to experience amahoro… I may begin using this word in my speech more often.  I’ve been quite overtaken by the significance of it.

Once upon a time, a man named Adriaan Vlok (pronounced Flok) was the minister of the police in South Africa.  In his brigade was a fiery young officer named Sean.  Mr. Flok instituted a great number of raids against black people.  There were bombs set off in buildings, raids on people’s homes, people hunted down by the police (of which the young Sean was part of).  At the end of Apartheid, Sean found himself dealing with serious post-traumatic stress disorder.  The counselors told him he needed to stop carrying the weight of what happened solely on his shoulders and find someone to place that blame on.  He blamed Mr. Vlok.

“Whenever I would swear, I would never use a swear word, Mr. Vlok.  I would use your name.”

Three years ago, Mr. Vlok met Jesus.  Things changed.

I believe that Jesus changed the heart of this once cold heartless man because he sought reconciliation. He went to find people he had hurt and not only asked for forgiveness for what he had done, but asked if they would be willing to let him wash their feet (literally).  He has made a life of reconciling his past.  Confessing his sins to those whom he sinned against.  Many would say that’s not necessary if Jesus forgave him of his sins.  I think the way of Mr. Vlok’s journey is a much deeper experience of salvation though.  He is bringing healing to countless others in his experience of the resurrection power of Jesus.

“I’m so sorry that I caused you this pain.  I think this pain you’ve been experiencing for the last 15 years needs to end now.  Sean, first, can you forgive me?  Second, can I please please wash your feet?”

With tears in his eyes, Sean responded.  The sins of the generation were broken… right in front of my eyes.  Countless Afrikaaners in the room were in tears as they were given words for pain they had been feeling as well.  Hope was extended for a wholistic reconciliation of South Africa.  It wasn’t just racial reconciliation.  It’s generational reconciliation, gender reconciliation, economic reconciliation… it’s the reconciliation of all things that MUST happen in South Africa.  It’s the wholistic reconciliation that I believe is precisely what God has in mind for ALL of his creation… Americans, Congolise, Kenyans, British, etc…

The way I see the world has changed pretty drastically in the last year. In order to tell you about it, I need to share a little bit about where I’m coming from. I grew up in a typical upper-middle class suburban family, where our two great goals in life were to be good people and for our family to seem as put together as possible.

This view was radically shaken during my senior year of high school when I began a relationship with Christ.  I learned that it was because of Christ’s sacrifice that I was able to experience forgiveness for the wrong things I had done and enter a relationship with God. Not only that, but God was inviting me to be involved in the work of allowing others to experiencing this joy.

When I arrived at college, I got involved in an on-campus ministry that was primarily focused on telling students about Jesus and helping people to grow in their relationship with the Lord. My experiences there helped me draw closer to God and grow as a new Christian. At the time, if you’d have asked me what a Christian was supposed to do, I would have likely said, “Share the Gospel and help people grow.”

After a one year internship with that same organization, I was accepted to an internship on Grace’s Outreach and Leadership Development team. As I stepped into the role, however, I discovered that Grace’s view of outreach didn’t fit into my nicely constructed box.

I remember showing up for my first Sunday at Wheeler Mission. I hadn’t started the internship yet, but I heard there was an outreach going on, so I decided to jump in. I’d been to an urban mission once before to drop off some clothes to donate, but I’d never thought much about interacting with our homeless neighbors. While I spent most of the afternoon hiding behind the broccoli on the food line, I was amazed how everyone around me treated the men like genuine friends. Later, I was shocked when we wrapped up our time there, and no one stood up and shared the Gospel. I thought we were coming to do outreach. What was this?

As the weeks went by, I saw the same pattern over and over. We spent hours tutoring kids at Shepherd, collecting crates of food in Grace’s parking lot, and playing Euchre with our new friends at Wheeler. At Wheeler, I got to meet Greg, a recovering heroin addict with a heart of gold and a desire for God; Walter, a displaced Katrina refuge with the desire to give back more than he had; and Jeff, a guy who has great stories and infectious laugh.

Not once was there an altar call from the front, a four point tract, or an expectation set out that the people who we were befriending needed to change. At first, this made me very angry. As Christians, I thought, we must be sharing the Good News of what Christ has done. However, I slowly began to realize that our time spent in service was not so much about what Christ had done, but about what Christ is doing.

I realized that Jesus talked about a lot of issues, aside from people being “saved”. I’d never thought that Jesus was just as serious about Luke 4:18-19 as he was about John 3:16, and that John 10:10 is not just about a perfect eternal life, but a life full of meaning, punctuated by compassion, justice and truth, that begins now and extends into eternity.

Now, I want to take one moment to back up the bus, because I’m guessing there are some people reading this who are thinking “Heretic!” That was actually the word I said out loud the first time I heard this idea. Let me assure you, I firmly believe that God isn’t impressed by our good deeds, even works of justice that are close to his heart. Spreading and believing the message that my sins and yours were paid for on Calvary’s cross is, and always will be, central to the body of Christ. It is among the most powerful demonstrations of love I have encountered. I firmly believe that most churches, especially Grace, must do a better job of making this truth clear and relevant in the lives of people who don’t know what it means to have a relationship with Christ.

But, let me pose a question or two. Is the Gospel we are hoping in something that doesn’t kick in until we reach the other side of eternity? Does it seem that something is lacking from this Good News for the life we’re living now? Isn’t it possible that as we trust in Christ for our eternity, we can also be following His lead, leaving our comfort zones and loving all people, not just those who look and think like us?

Is there really such a separation between living forever and loving now? Can’t we do both?