(Below is an email I sent out to my small group on March 30, 2009)
Okay... so I'm officially a week late in sending this out, but when you're grounded, you're grounded, whether you have a small group to email or not. Please forgive the delay!
Of course, I missed small group last night. I was in Elizabeth City, NC at Roanoke Bible College, doing placement testing at the college preview weekend. For those of you who don't know, I am headed off to RBC this fall to major in Cross-Cultural Ministry (Missions) and Biblical Exposition and minor in Counseling. I'm very excited; my course schedule as it stands right now is very full, but I can't wait to get started! Placement testing went well, by the way. I smile.
However, I did have my fair share of thoughts after the little 'field trip' we took two weeks ago. The one big thing that I thought we needed to address was our attitudes. I'm not going to name any names, so everybody shouldn't freak out and quote the apostles (Surely not I?), but I was rather upset by those who were stereotyping the residents of the trailer park and making jokes.
Visiting that trailer park was kind of like a walk down memory lane for me. When I was about eight years old, my family spent some time living in a 20-foot long Weekend Warrior in a very small trailer park in California. I don't remember ever thinking that we were poor, or unfortunate, or that we were deserving of pity. I'm not sure I would have understood if someone had called me 'trailer trash' or made fun of me because I lived in a trailer park, but I would certainly have been hurt and angry. We don't know why the people in the trailer park are living there. We don't need to know. But we cannot look down on them or treat them as though we are doing them some great favor out of pity. We need to treat them like neighbors, like friends.
I was equally upset by those who were goofing off. We should always approach ministry opportunities with a serious attitude and a joyful heart. I'm not anti-fun, but I do think that we have not yet grasped the seriousness of our mission here. God is opening doors for us--that much is clear. He wants us to offer ourselves to impact our neighbors in that trailer park. We need to take hold of that opportunity, and work with all our might, treating it like the precious thing that it is.
"Act like people with good sense and not like fools. These are evil times, so make every minute count. Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do."
-Ephesians 5:15-17 (CEV)
I know that the tone of this email is somewhat harsh--I do that, from time to time. But make no mistake: I believe that you are growing and changing for the better, taking on the 'Do Hard Things' mentality for your own. I'm just trying to help you along. I am looking forward to this summer with great anticipation. I can't wait to see how this opportunity to serve and minister is going to grow you all and impact you for eternity. The best part is, even as you are learning and growing, great things are being accomplished for the kingdom of God.
I love you guys.
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