“The Neighborhood Became our Classroom” – Part 2

NieuCommunities Group Pic

In my last post, I explored why we are to take seriously our role as Good News in our neighborhood.  As pilgrims participating in the Mission of God, it isn’t always about going farther around the world; more often it is about going deeper in your current context.  In order to be Good News in our neighborhood we have to know the good and bad news of its past/present.  The neighborhood must become our classroom.

The faith community I am part of (NieuCommunities – see pic) took this seriously and began to research the story of our neighborhood, Golden Hill.  Through interviews, library research and connecting with local businesses, we discovered a dark past that explained much of its current dysfunction and brokenness.

As a neighborhood that received societies unwanted (homeless, addicted, immigrant, etc…), Golden Hill was termed a “dumping ground.” Further, it experienced fatal violence on a regular basis that stemmed from gang activity.  Looking through past newspaper archives, it wasn’t uncommon to see 3 or 4 murders in any given week.  Largely a symptom of the societal oppression and violent actions of the previous two dysfunctions, domestic violence was rampant as family structures deteriorated in such a volatile environment.

Having been known as “Heroin Hill” as recently as 7 years ago, it was becoming exceedingly clear why Golden Hill has some of the issues it does today.  To be Good News in this neighborhood, we are called to step into the dysfunction with the transforming hope of Jesus.

But we are not alone.  Through the history of Golden Hill, there were individuals and organizations that didn’t give up on being Good News in their neighborhood.  They chose to be seeds of hope in a field of brokenness.  Resilient citizens that started half-way homes for those that filled the “dumping ground.”  Community centers and urban farms for the members of broken families.  Instead of painting over gang graffiti with white paint, they hired artist to paint murals that told the story of the neighborhood.  As a band of Jesus followers who are shaped by God’s Mission of redemption and restoration, we simply join in the chorus of Good News that is already playing in Golden Hill.

Our neighbors across the street are a sweet older couple who have lived in Golden Hill for 13 years.  They are Jewish atheists and are fascinated by our community of Jesus followers who have moved into the neighborhood.  Over a recent meal with them, and a handful of other neighbors, they said, “There’s something different about you guys.  We used to have great community here in Golden Hill, but it’s been awhile.  I think it’s coming back.”

I pray they saw the Good News.

What if every Christian viewed their neighborhood or suburb as a classroom?  What if we all began grassroots movements of community engagement with the Good News of Jesus?  What does this mean for the Church and how do we mobilize such movements?

 

“The Neighborhood Became our Classroom” – Part 1

I was recently praying along side a few other people in our missional community when a picture developed in my mind of what the Good News might look like in our neighborhood.  Trusting that the Holy Spirit is already present and embracing our vocation as mediators between God and humanity (of which Jesus passed on to us when he was resurrected as King of the Kingdom), I could see our band of Jesus followers walking through our neighborhood and each place we entered the Good News was extended and seen.  People were drawn to the Story they could see being lived out in our lives.

Grocery store; Good News.

Park; Good News.

Half way homes; Good News.

Refugee community; Good News.

Liquor store; Good News.

Back ally’s; Good News.

The Good News was spreading like a holy virus in our community through the hands and feet of those Jesus’ called to take up their cross and follow.

In this context, what does it mean to follow?  If the Good News is truly good news, shouldn’t our greatest desire be to share this Good News (through word and deed) to those we live among; our neighbors?

For this picture to be made real, it required that we be present in these contexts.  Not to only pray for these people and places, but to walk alongside them.

So often we get in our cars and drive away to go “do ministry” somewhere else (I’m looking at myself), when our neighborhood is in desperate need of healing and reconciliation.

It’s not about going somewhere else; it’s about being present right here.  It’s not about going farther; it’s about going deeper.

My friend Mark Scandrette and his family live in the Mission district of San Francisco.  He recently said,  “When we moved to the Mission, the neighborhood became our classroom.”

To advocate for God’s Shalom (peace, salvation, healing, reconciliation); to be the Good News, we have to also know the bad news of our neighborhood.  We have to know what stands in the way of Shalom (chaos, desperation, brokenness, pain).

I think of Paul having conversations with religious leaders and local business people while walking the streets of Athens in Acts 17.  He engaged in hands on study of his context before speaking into their story.

As a faith community commitment to submerge deep into our neighborhood (Golden Hill) with the hope of Jesus and his plans for renewal, we (NieuCommunities) have turned our neighborhood into our classroom.  Through study in our local libraries, interviews with long standing citizens, engaging local business owners and joining neighborhood councils, we are starting to get a glimpse of how to engage the story of Golden Hill with the redemptive Story of God.

As followers of Jesus who have joined in God’s Mission, we aren’t always going to be called to go far, but we are always called to submerge deep.  We are all missionaries in our own context.

So what does this look like and where might it lead?  Have you made yourself a student to your neighborhood?

I will unpack some of the tangible realities through the telling of a couple recent stories in “Part 2” on Friday.

 

What My Muslim Friend Taught Me About Jesus

Ali is my good friend and one of my hero’s. He has taught me so much. Let me tell you about him.

Ali grew up a Shi’ite Muslim in Iran. In an effort to complete his studies as a doctor of neurology, he moved to the United States about three years ago. His whole life is in Iran; family, religion, tradition, friends, home.

After moving to New Orleans, Ali met one of the couples who are now on staff with our NieuCommunities team in San Diego. Although coming from two very different backgrounds (Iran and Washington state), they immediately connected and became close friends. More than anything, Ali became intrigued by this Jesus their lives revolved around. Within his Muslim tradition, Jesus is a prominent and highly respected prophet, but to believe in him as God is to commit shirk (holding anything/anyone as equal with Allah/God); the worst sin of all.

In fact, Ali became so intrigued by the Jesus he saw in his friends that when they moved to San Diego to go on staff with NieuCommunities, he asked if he could come with them and be part of their missional church community. After finding a neurology position in San Diego, Ali packed his bags and not only moved to San Diego, but moved into our neighborhood of Golden Hill (where all NieuCommunties participants have committed to live).

It is there that I met one of the most brilliant, yet humble and devoted men I have ever encountered. As a doctor, Ali was frequently getting published in highly respected medical journals, but as a friend he would always be the last to walk through the door. He set aside three times in his day to pray out of devotion and reverence. Anytime I saw him pray (no matter the setting) he would turn his palms face up as if opening and surrendering himself to whatever God may be speaking. For Ali, presence and devotion to his faith could be second to nothing and his life reflected that.

Although a brilliant doctor and having lived a life devoted to Islam, Ali was a humble learner who made the most of every opportunity to hear and experience the Jesus of his friends. Ali dove deep into our Christian community as he prayed, worshiped, listened and practiced alongside of us. He wanted to encounter Jesus, so he chose to expose and submerge himself deep into a band of believers whose lives had been submitted to their King, Jesus.

Ali became a very good friend of mine. Recently, I have spent a lot of time studying Islam as I seek to engage people like Ali and develop my role as peacemaker in the Middle East conflict (see this blog for more on that). Despite my occasional ignorance, Ali would listen to my questions and share insight into his sacred traditions.

Ali became my friend and dialog partner in the areas we each held most sacred. It wasn’t a competition for whose religion was more “right,” it was a dialog of mutual respect and reverence. After all, Ali wanted to experience the truth of Jesus and he asked that we intercede on his behalf.

Through the lives and worship of his new friends and the profound work of the Spirit, my friend Ali did encounter Jesus in his time here in Golden Hill. After a recent worship gathering, Ali looked at me as said, “Yes, I am a follower of Jesus.”

Having accepted a position at Temple University in Philadelphia, Ali moved away from his new family in Golden Hill last week. While it was hard for us to say goodbye, both Ali and our community knew this was not the end of our story together.

After taking Ali surfing for the first time in his life, we all gathered for a meal just hours before his flight took off to Philadelphia. We shared the ways he had impacted us and thanked him for all that he had taught us. He came to us as a student, but his humble devotion ended up teaching us so much.

It is easy to spout out a quick prayer before a meal and quickly conclude, “In Jesus’ name, amen.” Although some of us have heard and said Jesus’ name so many times, it must not lose its sacred power and authority. Ali reminded me of that. To come before God is sacred. It is not to be done in complacency, but with reverence and devotion.

Before Ali walked out the door to catch his flight, we all turned our palms to the sky and thanked Jesus for our friend; our brother.

This is a reflection first posted on my family/ministry blog: North of the Border

Video Book Trailer #3: The Philosophy of Storytelling

So why should we teach through story? We live a culture saturated by stories. We all live unique stories. In an environment where polarizing rhetoric often tears apart the unifying stories of humanity, teaching through story has the ability to transcend the rhetoric and invite others into God’s Story. Further, storytelling creates a medium for students to not simply hear a message, but to imagine themselves as part of the story

My book is currently available in Kindle form on Amazon.com.

It releases in paperback next month and is available for pre-order in the Youth Specialities Store.

As I continue to walk faithfully forward in writing, I feel called to serve the global Church and give a voice to the stories that are often forgotten.  It is a clear reality that I can’t be faithful in sharing and advocating through my writing without the support of others.  I need your partnership.

Here are two very simple ways:

1. Click here to “Like” my Facebook “Jon Huckins Writing” page.  This platform will focus solely on my writing.

2. Share this blog and/or share the book trailer video. Here is a link to the YouTube Channel with all the videos.

 

Travel as Pilgrimage #6: Maybe Things Aren’t That Bad

Note: Sorry to miss last week’s post! If you are just jumping into the “Travel as Pilgrimage” series, here is a link to the intro blog.  Otherwise click the link on the right column for all the posts.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Tucked close to its neighboring countries of Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and lining the coast of the Adriatic Sea, Croatia is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been.  When Jan and I arrived in Dubrovnik – Croatia’s most famous city – we knew very little about the country and its people.  It didn’t take long for our interests to peak and our worldview to expand as our pilgrimage had inspired so many times before.  We really wanted to make our way into Bosnia, which was just 8-10 miles away, but unfortunately we ran out of time.

After joining a guided tour we strolled around the city, which is completely surrounded by massive stone walls which bumps up against the ocean that stretches across to the east side of Italy.  The guide, a women in her late 20’s, shared the history of her city with pride.  When she got to the events of 1991, things became much more personal for her. In the 1970’s, Dubrovnik completely demilitarized in an attempt to remain at peace.  Unfortunately, after declaring independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it became the target of violence.

Bomb holes in wall of Dubrovnik

Reflecting somberly on the experience, our guide explained that 56% of the buildings were hit by bombings over the course of 7 straight months of attack.  She pointed to a nearby hill (See Pic: Bosnia is on the other side) saying that she and her family were in hiding for a year and a half during the war.  This was no longer history, it was her reality. She was 12 years old at the start of the violence and said she would look out the window of her hiding place to see the smoke of bombs on a daily basis. (Pic: Walls still had holes from bombings)

At 12 years old, my suffering was not getting the name brand basketball shoes I wanted (I wanted the Reebok Pumps, but had to get the Voit knock-offs…poor me!).  Yes, I did have real issues, but none of them were life and death.

Listening to her, I realized there was no way for me to understand the terror of her childhood, but I could choose to grow from the new perspective.

It made me wonder how big my issues would be if I placed them in proper perspective.  My world can become so small and revolve around so few people that I begin to believe my issues are much worse than they really are. When put into the perspective of my new friend who had grown up in reality of daily violence, does being 15 minutes late to a “really important’ meeting deserve my frustration, anger and anxiety? Should I really get that bummed out when the Giants lose four straight?  How about when that car doesn’t start moving after the light turns green or when the check out line just doesn’t seem to move?

If I fail to look outside my own story, I fail to put my issues in the perspective of humanity.  So many of our brothers and sisters around the world haven’t known a day of peace in their lives.  May we be thankful for the peace that is offered to us today.  May that thankfulness be reflected in our ability to place our story inside the bigger story of humanity and realize things may not be as bad as we make them out to be.