This is a video shot in Detroit by my friend Befkadu during our planning visit last week. A big shout out to Bef — he is able to squeeze water out of a rock! It will be shown in the services at Riverview Church this weekend. In this video I talk about the role of Acts 20:24 (among many things God used) in the call to plant Restore, why Detroit of all places, & four ways you can advance the gospel in Motown.
Sunday July 25 2010 we attended Mack Ave Community Church in Detroit. Eric Russ preached the final message in the book of John series.
A particular point made during the message that really hit me was the difference between Vocation and Occupation. In our western society we think of our occupation as our vocation. But what truly is our vocation?
At Soma School this spring one of the themes we kept hearing was that we are all missionaries for Jesus, we just get our paychecks routed through different businesses. Some may get their paychecks through Intel, General Motors or through a church, but we are all to be missionaries for our God.
There is a difference between occupation and vocation. Vocation according to Dictionary.com is “a calling, a synonymy is pursuit.” Vocation is more about the “grand purpose” in your life.
Occupation according to Dictionary.com is “a person’s usual or principle work or business, an activity in which a person is engaged.” Occupation is about how you put food on the table, and what you do to make a living.
In reality every person, whatever their occupation, has the same vocation. Every person in this universe is to bring glory to the God of the universe. So whether you are a Christian or not, you are to bring honor to God.
We now as Christians have had a revelation of our vocation. As a believer we “finally” get it. We are to be “fishers of men & feed lambs.” Before conversion we do not understand what is our true vocation. As Christians do we truly get our vocation?
MATTHEW 4 as well as MATTHEW 21 talk about being Fishers of men.
What is the focus of your life? Would you describe your life as being about fishing for men and feeding the lambs? That is our vocation (our calling). That is what brings glory to God. We must be about evangelism and discipleship. Those two go hand in hand and are often the very same thing. If we are all about building portfolios of wealth, having the best educated kids, having a comfortable existence for our family, or being safe, we are not truly living out our intended purpose.
So as we seek to bring God glory in Detroit we must be about the “right” vocation. Are we FISHING FOR MEN and FEEDING THE LAMBS? I pray we get our vocation right.
We arrived back from Detroit late last night but apparently my body forgot I was back on the west coast & woke me up early, real early. After working on some projects for Restore Church I downloaded on my Ipod the message on “The Missional Christian” (Part 1) by Eric Mason of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia & went for a run. Wow! (if there is any doubt, the wow is for the message not the run!) God used Eric’s talk on the comprehensive scope of I Peter 3:15 to create 4 things in my heart.
1. More jealousy for God’s glory to be known.
2. More hunger for knowing my context & faithfully bringing the gospel to it.
3. More desire for pursuing Biblical holiness & reflecting Christ.
4. More confidence in the awesome reality that it is Christ who does the work through us, not us through us!
You can find the message here under 02/08/2009. Well worth the time! Tomorrow I listen to Part 2.
After a really goofy picture (You can tell John is thinking, “I’m standing next to these guys!?”) there are 5 pictures from this last trip to Detroit — Darrell (a native Detroiter who has spent many summer days fishing for Blue Gill on the water front), some new friends (looking forward to getting to know them!), some good friends from when I served in Indiana, the eastern market (starting in 1891 it is one of the oldest open air markets in the country), & Corporal Milton at the meat market (I have immense respect for this gentleman – as a Marine he was part of the attack force at Iwo Jima. He talked about cooking out together when we move home to Detroit).
So Clete & I made our 3rd (& hopefully last trip before we permanently move) to Detroit. After 58 hours, lots of laughs, a beautiful drive along the Clear River in Idaho, reading & discussing several chapters of Acts, Clete almost driving off the road, listening to a few great sermons on prayer & mission, barely missing a deer near Missoula, a rest-stop cat nap, a comedic run out of diesel fuel episode at 4AM (my fault), lots of Gatorade & coffee, and a stop at the world renowned “Corn Palace”, we made it to Detroit.
As many of you know, my 7 year old daughter severed the tip of her finger in a door after we left. It killed me not to be with Claire, Susan & the rest of the family during this time. I was very encouraged by the help & prayers of so many. God’s grace abounding has been evidenced by Claire’s calmness in all this (she is a lot tougher than her daddy!) & Susan’s strength in handling the events of the week.
Today (Thursday) I worked on a video (coming soon) in central Detroit (once again I got to sift old Tiger Stadium dirt through my fingers!) while the Bontragers walked through a home they are considering purchasing in our ministry area. In just a few hours I head to the airport to pick up Susan!! Then in the morning we are walking through a house that we are considering restoring.
Both Saturday & Sunday we are meeting with people who have expressed interest in Restore Church. Looking forward to hanging with fellow Jesus followers passionate about the gospel advancing in Detroit!
This morning I read again two touchstone texts in our call to Detroit – Acts 20:24 & Revelation 7:9-12. If you have a chance please take a moment & pray through these passages as you think of the birth & beginning of Restore Church.
Thanks much for checking in!
Way back in ’92 I went through Marine Officer Candidate School. Not exactly summer camp with smores & singalongs. In fact, the second week there I raised my voice to one of my Drill Instructors & before I knew it I was experiencing multiple DIs in surround sound. But I made it through & went on to serve 5 years, being blessed with the 2 greatest “discoveries” of my life–Jesus & my wife Susan (a student at ECU).
Recently I came across an article on the warrior ethos of Marine OCS training. The goal is to create leaders who are more passionate about accomplishing the mission than attracting a fan club. I was reminded of Paul’s single-minded passion expressed in many places in many ways. Here are a few:
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor 2:2)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Rom 1:16)
Here’s an excerpt from the article. You can read the full post here.
One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen on leadership was about the Marine’s Officer Candidate School… they discussed the warrior ethos of the Marines. In fact, they emphasized the love of their culture that each Marine has. It’s essential to everything they do. Marines don’t just do their job–they love their job. They love everything about it and the whole ethos that goes into it. This ethos is so deeply entrenched in their culture that typically only people who identify with that ethos are drawn to it. To others, it’s repulsive. But that’s exactly what the Marines want. Makes sense, right? They’re not trying to build a fan club. The Marines have a specific job that requires the warrior ethos. It’s not to be taken lightly, so why not build a culture that attracts the kind of soldiers who aspire to it?
So that application for you is about what kind of culture you’re building. Are you building a culture of leadership where you actually attract the kind of people who will love the ethos of your team and want to perpetuate it? If you’re not, it may be important to weight the costs and benefits of that, and how much sideways energy is required to do it that way.
And then we have the orders of our Commander & Treasure Himself:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:18-20)
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matt 9:37-38)
And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:23)
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
Jesus endured the cross & accomplished His mission for joy! (Heb 12:2) We are to accomplish the mission of making Him known for joy! (Matt 13:44, John 15:11)
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OK, in the first pic I am smiling on the inside 
In between working on Restore at home & traveling I decided to go to the local labor pool for 2 reasons:
1. To slow the burning of our savings (barely! pay is minimum wage, $8.40!) as we await the sale of our house & continue sharing our vision to potential partners.
2. To be with people I would not otherwise be with for the sake of Jesus.
The friends I met during the in-processing reminded me afresh of how difficulty opens people to spiritual things. First, I spoke with John. He is on work release from the county jail & shared that 20 years of bad decisions should motivate him to change the tattoo on his forearm from “My way” to “God’s way”. Then David, also on work release, shared that he had been attending the devotional time at jail & that he was a follower of Jesus. Later, after a test in which they ask you 50 different ways if you are a druggie or a drunk, Mike, a college graduate who just moved from Iowa, was rejected because of alcohol abuse. I watched him walk out of the labor pool head hung low. My heart was heavy for him so I ran after him. After chatting a few minutes he gave me his number so we can connect. Pray for him.
The brokenness of those around me in the labor pool & the need to bring the gospel to them reminded me of the words I had just read the morning before from Matthew 9:36-38.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Are you seeing the helplessness around you & entering the harvest fields with the good news of Jesus? I am convicted by how often I do not. May gratitude motivate us & the Spirit empower us to have the heart of our great Shepherd Jesus & wade with Him deep into needy humanity.
On our last trip to Detroit we were accompanied by our good friend & fellow worshiper of Jesus, John Johnson. John’s call to move to Detroit & be part of the Restore Church launch team was confirmed on that visit. I’ve asked him to share some thoughts about his time in the D so here they are…
Matthew 9:37 … the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
By the grace of God, I was invited to visit the neighborhood of a future church plant in Detroit. The experience opened my eyes to the incredible need there. For example, with numerous unwed mothers, fathers not taking responsibility for children, and couples living together, a relationship between husband and wife that models Christ’s love would shine like a light in a dark cave. Detroit needs the Gospel, laborers for the harvest, and support…all for God’s glory!
Detroit needs the gospel
Matthew 9:12-13 … those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.
When I was young, I grew up in a church that practiced Christianity more like a cultural event then a lifestyle. Naively, I believed that Christians were those who went to church on Sunday and were good people. Though I grew up in church and professed salvation at an age of seven, I believe true salvation didn’t occur until 17 or 18. On a church mission trip to the Bay Area Rescue Mission in California, I met a man in a drug rehab program who met Jesus a year before. He spoke of his addiction to drugs at 13, drug dealing at 15, being kicked out of his house at 18, and almost meeting death shortly after. God lead him to the Rescue Mission where he heard the gospel for the first time. He repented, bent his knee and gave everything to Christ. With blazing fire in his eyes he told me of the joy he discovered in reading, serving, and giving all to the work of Christ. He only wished to he had known Christ when he was young, that his years were not wasted. God used this man to expose my self righteousness and hypocrisy. His words cut me like a sword. I had his wish and knew I did nothing with it. I, like the pharisees, believed that I was righteous. People in Detroit are bleeding like a open wound. Even public schools are asking for help. A man who works for a Christian organization offered to teach a finance class. They ask him to teach the bible instead! In other places the ACLU would be all over this but Detroit needs help, they need the gospel. Jesus as the great physician went to the sick because they understood their desperate need of Him.
Laborers for the harvest
The economy is crumbling, the unemployment rate is through the roof, boarded and abandoned buildings abound, and God is working in Detroit. During my stay in Detroit I met a drug dealer. At 33 he just began working his first legitimate job in lawn maintenance. He rejoiced in being a part of a team, receiving a pay check, and gaining a respectable identity. This was shocking to me as I began working at 16. The abundant opportunities and options available to me were not available to him.
Lately, I’ve been troubled by a false dichotomy between an urban and foreign missionaries. Many respect and admire those who will forsake their lives and the safety of their families to move into a dangerous tribal region. One of the most famous examples is Elisabeth Eliot and the death of her husband Jim. How is a foreign missionary different from an urban? Other than language I don’t see a difference. People in foreign places & people in our country both need the gospel & every Christian has been called as an ambassador (2 Cor 5:20) to reach them. Everyone is called to proclaim the gospel to those around them. I pray that more laborers will come to the harvest in Detroit. I’ve heard it said, God whispers us in good times, speaks in trouble, and screams in tragedy. I believe many are ready to listen and turn their lives to Christ.
Support
Restore Church is in need of support, not only financially but through prayer. Please consider partnering with us for the glory of God. That all people, black, white, Arab, men, women, might gather around the throne of God to worship. What mattes in life is not wealth, status, or a nice house but abounding in the work of the Lord. There is joy in experiencing and witnessing God working for His own glory!
Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
$10K profit per big SUV. Profits were up. How long would it last. We all know it did not last forever.
Gas price spikes, housing lending crisis, and a global economic crisis put the triple whammy on Detroit.
The golden goose has died.
Now 33.8% of people in Detroit live in poverty.
So what to do? Urban farming is growing in Detroit. One of the fastest growing movements in the USA. Detroit is on the leading edge of this.
What we see even in the death of something new life can grow out of that death for a betterment of an area and people.
How many heroes are there in the Bible?
One. There is one hero. Just one.
“But what about Abraham?” He pimped out his wife. Twice.
“But what about David?” He knocked up another woman & then knocked off her husband to cover his tracks.
“But what about Paul?” He murdered Christians.
“But what about Peter?” He denied Jesus 3 times & later had fear of man & racism issues.
There is one hero – Jesus.
To forget this is to preach powerless moralism. The fruit of such preaching alternates between pride (“Look what I did!”) & despair (“I can’t do it!”).
To remember this is to preach the gospel of hope & connect broken, bad, & self-centered people like Abraham, David, Paul, Peter, you, & me with the transforming power of grace!
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
Remembering that it is all about Jesus & his performance, not ours, is what ignites mission.
Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,we do not lose heart…But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (2 Corinthians 4:1, 7)
THE MISSION ~ The what
To display and declare the gospel to every boy & girl, man & woman in the 48202 and 48206 zip codes multiple times in multiple expressions. The goal is to see people discipled to Jesus & deployed by Jesus so that they can be the church on mission that truly displays & declares the gospel in all of life saturating the city with the presence of Christ.
THE VISION ~ The how
To plant a gospel-centered, incarnational, missional, multiplying movement for the marginalized & unevangelized through the discipleship & deployment of indigenous converts.
