Alive and kicking?

So what's the point? Are we fighting a losing battle?

Ok, a little background...

I work in a fairly large church in a less than ideal area of town (if you're white, can pay for your own meals and consider poor neighborhoods dangerous). Formally a shining beacon of wealth to the city, now, maybe a little more reflective of our surroundings, our church underwent a shift in direction a few years back.

To serve the community.

Kinda makes me wonder what the hell we thought we were doing in the first place, but anyway...

Under some serious vision we start caring for our community, making a difference, being real. But in recent months, setback after setback after setback...

The visionary minister dies, ok he leaves his vision in a few people which is great so we carry on with a new minister, equally noble in his quest, thankfully, although he has a massive task trying to hold everything together. But why did the former minister have to be taken away in the middle of such groundbreaking work in our area?

Then all the people who are a little frightened by the big issues start leaving, along with their generosity because they doubt that anyone else in the world could carry on the work that has begun.

So we are becoming a poor church, serving a poor community, continually losing money, resources through theft, and staff as a result of us losing money. Leaving the new minister with the added sucky task of continually bearing the bad news, I really feel for him (But it must be said he is doing a sterling job and it is an honour to try keeping the ship afloat alongside him)...

I know God is in these people, I can see it, but how much longer can we keep up the fight? How much longer can we keep the vision? How long until everyone gives up on this poor community that I have grown to love for its honesty and its 'realness' and will to dig up the fake, and tackle the truth. How long until we go back to wealthy 'white' suburban fake, make-me-feel-nice-about-myself-and-ignore-the-need-around-me churches?

Dear God I pray that we may never lose that vision...

What is your song?

Imagine if you will, that the person you are can be likened to music. I believe that a talented composer could create the most amazing melody using any one person as an inspiration.

So what is your song? What kind of music would portray your song? Perhaps a quiet and simple piano piece? Or would it be an elaborate, complex and colourful symphony? Maybe you’re a beat droppin’, dup steppin’ funky dance tune, or perhaps a leather-jeans power ballad? And what if you were a high energy, heavy metal guitar solo?

What do you suppose the lyrics would be like? Would it be a sad song? Or an empowering and inspirational feel-good melody? Would it be dark and mysterious? Aggressive and dedicated?

And who would feature in your music? Perhaps for many of us it could include a dedication to the memory of someone irreplaceable? Maybe a beautiful chorus of a large group of friends and family? Or maybe it’s just you for now?

The amazing thing is that the music never stops. It will change and have various contrasting movements elaborating as you grow. Perhaps becoming more and more complex, or possibly simplifying until it gets to the raw emotion.

Let me venture out and say that no matter what it sounds like, what genre it is or what the words are, it is a beautiful song, because it is YOUR song. No one can take it away. And whatever it is, Jesus is singing your song...

...and He’s the greatest musician I know.