Uffizi Mission Project

I was listening to the Nick Beeson radio show on am 1340 on Sunday afternoon.  I hardly ever hear someone on the radio talking about the homeless situation in Santa Barbara, but lo and behold someone cares! 

He had a guest on from the Santa Barbara housing authority, who shared that on any given day there are 6,300 homeless people in Santa Barbara.  Now this number includes all kinds of people, including individuals and families, who are sleeping on floors and couches with others, but nevertheless it is a daunting number.

After two years of meal sharing with these men and women, I can remark a bit about the challenge and some potential solutions… but I think the main need is for men and women to get involved personally and build friendships, and see where it goes from there.  Over these few years, some of our solutions are developing organically and because we are together - a process is developing.

Here is where we are headed:

#1 - We are committed to friendships.  This is first and foremost, because friendship is redemptive.  This is the wonder of the incarnational way, of the leading of Jesus.  Other things may grow, but we won’t leave this simplicity.

#2 - We are moving from relief to betterment and development.  We have set for ourselves the goal of developing a community that cares for itself and is empowered to do so.  This will take some time, but it is where we are going when fall 2008 hits.

#3- We are considering developing a church for our friends without homes.  We will keep meal sharing the way it is at the parks, but a few of us are considering a place where are friends can gather more specifically for relevant and culturally saavy prayer, teaching, worship.  This dream has come from talking with them as much as from the organic leadership which is developing.

#4 - The dream is no homeless friends on the streets.  There are no homeless in heaven, which is the model for earth.  Who can forget the memorable words - “on earth, as it is in heaven.”

Today I talked with a friend outside North Star coffee who is willing to work, but his construction skills are not necessarily needed.  Two Wednesdays ago I met a family who lost their home, and found us by chance on their way back to the midwest to live with family.  And recently I talked with a friend with a mental illness who drinks because he cannot afford medication, and drinking softens the voices.

Remember, there is no one story, so don’t believe those who don’t have friends who don’t have homes.  Come join us Wednesday night at 5:30 at Pershing Park and keep the dream of God alive.

I remember watching the old Bugs Bunny cartoon with Pete Puma.  Bugs Bunny asks him how many lumps he wants in his tea, and wallops him five times on the head when he says, “oh, three or four.”  (see the complete story at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045063/quotes)  I am sure some of you have seen the cartoon and get the whole idea…

I often find myself in this tug of war within the current church culture.  What kind of a prophet is God sending?  Does she or he need to be cold, luke warm, or hot?  Does the prophet come in fluffy silent slippers or with a hammer and a garbage can lid?  No, I am certainly not advocating violence, more just wondering what does it take to wake us up?

The argument for me comes from Ephesians 4 (a very biblical passage) and the idea that we need apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the maturing of the church.  I still argue that the pastors and teachers get a pretty good say, but what about the prophet.  I am not speaking about offices here, but ordinary people who are being swept up by the Spirit in unique ways.

My sense on the streets, via the sacrament of conversation, is that many of those who are having problems with current church models (though still loyal to the church Jesus died for, and lives for) are having issues because the apostle and the prophet have to be silent.  If we just keep the talk local - why is there such a difference between Montecito life and West Side life? (though a mere 5 miles separate them); what do we do with brothers and sisters who live on the streets?; what do we do with the disappearance of the middle class in our city?

People I know are receiving their lumps (hopelessness, addictions, being weathered by outside living, spiritual darkness, etc…).  Admittedly, each of us must take responsibility for our own lives.  I believe that - we can’t fix everyone and everything.

As a church, we are taking our lumps as well (not being effective missionally, having fears of “the other,” being isolated, etc…)

These five (and more) giftings must spin a web back to themselves.  We should revive the voice of the apostle and the prophet, while not disarming the pastors and teachers.  The apostle wants to press the kingdom of God to the fringes, and the prophet cries out to be very practical in our living out of the gospel.  We can talk about the heavenly and the very practical together.

I went on a prayer walk with my friend Hans on Sunday at the Village.  We were about to have a pancake breakfast there, and we decided to pray around the area beforehand.  We met three women who were trying to pack their car before leaving on vacation.  We were able to help them fit far too many things in far too small a vehicle.  A very practical gospel thing.

I am willing to take my lumps and move forward.  I don’t believe in a cosmic Bugs Bunny with a mallet - no I believe in a loving Father and a world in need of salvation.  The lumps are just about being human.  We can’t avoid them.  I hope the church can take the lumps from its prophets - whether cold, luke warm or hot.

Invite a prophet over today…

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