AgapePoint Currents
The latest news from the front lines at AgapePoint!
Of Firehydrants & Guns:What Others Meant for Intimidation God Turns to Salvation
May 25, 2010
It was hot and humid Sunday afternoon here in "North City". So even though it is not supposed to happen we understood. You see there is not that much money available to the kids in this part of town;nor is there much transportation to take you to a place like a mall or park; so everyone makes the best of it the best they can. With not that much to do and temperatures and humidity both probably reaching the mid to high 80's it was a little "hot." So when the kids took the cap off the fire-hydrant and somehow managed to get what looked like hundreds of gallons of water flowing powerfully out of the metal standpipe and into the street...well, I must admit given the kind of day it was, I had to laugh inside and almost wish I were a kid again.
As I approached the joyful group they all stopped and looked at me and wondered. As I came nearer one of them, a young girl about twelve asked if I was going to turn them into the police? I assured her that I did not intend to "turn her into the police." But, I did share with the children that we needed to consider what damage or injury we may be doing to those around us. I could not help but to wonder how much water might be filling up in the basement of the house across the street since the yard there was now flooded. But there was little I could do at the moment since I did not have the tool to turn the water off. So I called the city and informed them of the situation and they responded by sending out two of our fine city employees. They were very pleasant and cooperative and even seemed as though they were glad to get away from whatever else they had been hard a work on to come and see all the smiling children's faces. There seemed to be a mutual respect from the city employees to the children and back again. It is probably because these strong men knew what it was like to grow up here in this part of the town.
What had begun as a walk for me that evening, as usual, turned into another ministry experience. That is pretty much the common routine here within a couple blocks of our little church in the city. What was a simple walk for me would become what will surely prove to be one of my fondest memories of God at work. You see, that is because there is a story after the story.
Actually, the young man who had turned on the water had somehow re-located his illegal wrench and turned off the water prior to the city workers coming on the scene. All the workers had to do was to recap the pipe, secure the valve and kindly address the children and of course have a word with me briefly to discuss what to do should this happen again. I must say that in all this the children could have all thrown a tantrum, but they did not. We treated them with respect and patience and they returned it in kind with a few questions as to why or why not they could or could not play in the water. I say we, because brother Robert showed up by now, and the two of us spent time helping the kids understand what it means to be community (something we spend a great deal of time doing).
Well, all was ending nicely. Robert and I were once again getting ready to part one another's company like we do a couple of times a day. The children found themselves back on their bicycles, scooters, just sitting on the curb or walking down the sidewalk. Then suddenly a car approached our block and drove up alongside the kids and discharged several live rounds near the children. It was if all the world froze solid for me. I heard the shots ring out and can still see the children running, diving and contorting their young bodies (as if in slow motion) to dodge the bullets, with most of them running to take cover behind Robert and myself. Just as suddenly as it had begun, it ended with the car squealing its tires and going around the corner never to be seen of again (I hope). It was not but a few minutes and everything was back to normal with the kids playing on the sidewalk and streets again.
I don't think either Robert or I jumped, blinked, ducked or were even afraid. I don't know if it was because we hear shots every day and night around here, or if for me it had something to do with my Marine Corps training that kept me from being discombobulated? Anyway, both of us seem very calm and peaceful folloing the event. We visited briefly and then finally did part for the evening with each of us retiring in our own homes and the children eventually quieted down and found rest in their respective homes.
The next morning as I returned from dropping my children off from school I noticed one of the older teenage boys sitting on the curb in front of the church not far from where the shooting had taken place. I walked over to him and quietly sat down next to him not saying anything for a couple of minutes (a hard thing for me to do -- not talking). Anyway, after a few moments I asked my young friend why he was not in school this morning and he responded by saying that school was over for the year. I, however, in all my wisdom, since I had just dropped off my children challenged the idea. To which the young man held his ground saying "school is over for the year." To which I concluded and said to him, you mean you were "kicked out for the remainder of the year." To which he replied, "Yes!"
At this point I had asked him as to why he had been kicked out and he told me it was for fighting. Ironic, isn't it. A young man kicked out of school last week for fighting; but yesterday taking cover from gunshots behind myself and Robert. Hmm! I need to think about this for a few moments...
Anyway, I asked our fine young man if he had eaten any breakfast yet this morning to which he replied that he could not remember in recent history eating breakfast. OK! "How about I take you to McDonald's in order that you might have something to eat?" To which he replied with a hearty "Yes!, that sounds great!"
Here is the cool part about this long drawn out affair: The young man who had been kicked out of school, who hid behind Robert and myself when the bullets were flying said something to me that indicated he had witnessed something far greater than bullets. What was it? The young man noticed that neither Robert nor myself flinched. The young man witnessed most of the children taking cover in the people they trusted, their missionary/ministers. And the young man (whose name is with held for good reason) made the comment that he had been searching for peace, strength and real courage but it had always elluded him. He wanted to know how we could "stand"? I told him what the Scriptures have been telling all of God's people for a thousand years. We can stand because of the One who is in us...we can stand because of Jesus! We can in the midst of difficult situations, frightening situations, challenging situation, we can stand and have peace because Jesus is with us. I know no other answer...but Jesus.
Now get a load of this. Just the day before all this took place, Robert had asked the young man to step up and be a man in Christ and take on the kind and quality of leadership that would be fitting for one living in the kingdom of God. He did not show much interest. However! Today! Following this incident the young man came to me and asked, "When does the training begin?"
I don't know quite what to say, but several scriptures come to mind, and one of them is from James. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4, NIV). I think Robert and I saw the Lord take us through a couple of difficult things that night. We could have spoken to the children in a manner that was harsh and received their wrath and disrespect concerning the water-hydrant. But everyone remained calm and courteous when it could have easily went the wrong way. So, the Lord saw us though that. The Lord saw the city workers through their relationship with the children as well. And the Lord saw the children and us through what could have been a very tragic situation and in spite of it all the glory of the Lord was revealed by his own power and presence in the whole situation; and a young man who had been expelled from school just days before, witnessed something that may have been life changing for him. God is leading his people to maturity. God is leading those who are not his people to become his people as they witness his marching up and down the streets of North City. God is in the business of drama! The drama that dramatically "transforms" lives to be "conformed" to the very image of Jesus Christ himself. What Satan meant as an act of intimidation has been, by the power of Christ turned into the seeds of Salvation. Praise be to the name of the Lord.
Would you with me, be transformed?
Still on the street,
Keith
The Ball Is Still There!
April 10, 2010
I’ve seen a few rough nights and days here in what we call “North City”. Crime seems to be a part of the culture here in this part of St. Louis. It is nothing to hear someone scream during the day, or hear a shot (actually a series of shots; or semi-automatic weapons) go off during the night. Sirens can be heard every hour in our neighborhood. Occasionally it seems that the sirens run through one hour into the next. I have often thought of just sitting my recorder up in the window of my upstairs living room in the rectory and letting it record the sounds of the neighborhood. All at the same time you can hear children playing, hip-hop music, a woman screaming, someone starting the engine of their automobile, the sound of cars passing by on interstate 70 (oblivious to what is going on down here), while a sweet and gentle wind blows a dog barks, and then suddenly in the midst of it all, the all too familiar sound “pop, pop, pop!” Some times I tell my self it is a car backfiring, but deep down inside I know it is not. Someone has just unloaded a few rounds from a revolver and for a moment, everything stops, but not for long. For most part, I don’t think anyone gets shot, but far too often someone does.
The other day when a number of children came over to play in the yard (as they do nearly every day) we stopped for a few moments and talked about all the shootings. There were about seven young people from the neighborhood in that day; and every one of them shared with me how someone close to them had been shot or killed. They had lost a father, an uncle, or someone close to the family. Often times they talk to one another as they go up and down the streets about how they are going to “pop” someone. On one occasion after I ran three boys out of a parked car, one of them turned and repeatedly shouted how he was going to “pop” me. Just hold that thought now, as I am trying to set the stage for something I thought was remarkable (I know, I will get to it in a minute).
On top of all this, as I understand things; nearly 60 percent of the boys and 50 percent of the girls will not graduate high school. A great many of the girls will end up pregnant (some more than once), and without a man to lead and provide for the family. As far as the men are concerned, many of them will not even make it to old age because for one reason or another the streets will have claimed their lives. And then, there is the stealing. I know about the stealing because I was only here a few days and some young people had stolen two of my little girls’ bike and scooter.
But, when I got up the other morning, something strange (at least for what I was witnessing) had happened. Or, maybe it is strange that it did not happen. I saw something, and realized something, that I thought was almost a miracle! With all the murders, shootings, rapes, stealing, and all sorts of other things going on, the ball was still there! It was still there, tucked nicely between two pieces of cement under the (of all things) portable basketball goal! The ball was still there. How many times I have seen or heard of them stealing the bikes, scooters, other toys, computers, or whatever. But basketball is always there, all night long, all day long, and into the next day, and so on, and so on. Anything and everything is up for grabs, but not the basketball!
Everyone knows that you can steal the bike, the scooter, the television, the car and have some measure of fun for some time to come by yourself with these things. But, the basketball brings by far, the greatest amount of pleasure only in the context of community! If you steal the basketball, you steal community, you steal your own pleasure, you steal from yourself life! Somehow, without anyone preaching, without anyone teaching, everyone knows, you can’t steal the basketball.
It is quiet under the goal at the moment, but in a few hours, there will be young boys and a few men under the goal playing basketball, just like they do everyday. In the midst of a broken world, a broken city, with broken lives I have witnessed countless times healing take place and community restored (at least for a moment) while young men played a game called basketball. And just before darkness falls on the city, before I once again hear a shots in the night, the young men will without reservation, regardless of the stealing and shooting, they will faithfully place the basketball between two pieces of broken cement under the goal knowing that in the morning, the ball will still be there!
In the Christian community we often experience a different kind of violence. The violence in the family of God, in the church is no so overt, is more difficult to see; but for the one’s who have felt the pain of broken promises and violated confidences and betrayed trusts in the middle of the night, will we allow the ball to still be there in the morning. Just as a broken city with broken lives finds a little bit of healing and a little bit of community under the goal when they gather to pick the ball up once again and laugh and smile and play and occasionally give a high five and a hoot-hoot for well aimed shot that was nothin’ but net! We who are in Christ must learn to leave some things behind at the cross, and when we return in the morning after a long nights rest find our faith is still there at the feet of a resurrected Jesus, and we can once again laugh (even with those dear one’s that may have offended us); we can live (even though our hearts had once been broken; and we can in love give a spiritual high-five to the one who yesterday seemed as an enemy, but today in Christ is our brother or sister. And when the night begins to settle in, we can once again, together lay our burdens down, knowing in the morning our faith will still be there (just like the ball)!
I will see you in the morning under the goal!
Keith
Completely Filled Please!March 31, 2010
Today, one on of the young boys came by needing air in his tires for his bicycle. Both tires were completely flat. I had filled up his tires yesterday, but still had the thought he would be back today for another fill up of air. I thought this might be a good teaching moment so I went for it! I asked the young lad how he liked his tires? Meaning, flat, half-full or completely full of air. He did not hesitate to share how he wanted his tires completely full of air because that made the bike faster! I then shared with him that the Greek word "pneuma" stood for both "air" and "spirit". I then shared with him that just like his bike tires worked best when they were filled with "pneuma", God had created him, as a young man, to be filled with "pneuma" (Spirit) in order that he as young man could be everything that God had created him to be! I think he liked the lesson. When we were done, he flipped his bike over, put it on the side walk and rode off down the street. As he rode off he raised his right hand, looked back over his should and yelled thanks! And then, somewhat to my surprise, he yelled, "Pneuma!" Might we all be filled with the Spirit of Christ.
Filled with Spirit,
Keith
With A Bullet In My Pocket!
January 2010
Everything is moved into our new home. Our new home is the Old Catholic Church Rectory! There was a lot of gun fire during the night as it was New Years. In the morning we found a bullet that had landed five feet away from one of our Jeeps! A little scary, but not too bad.
Back to the Rectory (our new home). It is kind of cool. The place is probably about 90 years old and it has a tunnel that connects it to the old Catholic Cathedral where we have Bible Study and worship. It all belongs to what is now known as the North City Church of Christ. And we are here, in part, to help minister along side with Robert Lawrence. He is a neat guy that does the preaching around here and kind of serves as the granddad for the community of Mark Twain (a St. Louis neighborhood). We are really fortunate that Robert was interested in us coming along side to minister with him. You will find his sermons encouraging and uplifting, yet challenging and down to earth. It is not unusual to find Robert on the street working with the families and kids helping to return stolen property and help young people to learn how to get along. He has a quality about him that is rare. Within minutes you will believe you have known him all your life long.
We are planning to spend the month getting the home and office set up. Also, we will be taking some time listening to the members of this small church and the members of this community. There are many stories here of lives lived out in the city. The area here is rough and challenging for the families that are trying to make a go of it. But the folks here are down to earth, and they have a genuine honest quality about them. We look forward to further getting to know the people of the Mark Twain area of St. Louis. Certainly there are many adventures ahead for all of us.
In the St. Louis city we will be setting up small groups, developing community relations for the North City church and spending a good deal of time on the streets getting to know the people and leading them to Christ. We will be working closely with other helping ministries to ensure that the needs of the elderly and those in need have resources to survive. Also we will be helping folks prepare for the work force. Another part of our work is something that we have been somewhat familiar with for a number of years is having others live with us in community. The North City Church has provision in the Rectory (our new home) for up to four young men living with us, family style. We share meals and responsibilities and encourage the young me to participate in trade school and/or college. We help the North City Church in mentoring them as they develop into leaders in the kingdom of God.
Out in St. Louis county we will be developing small group ministries that will serve as a place for folks to have Bible study, develop leadership skills, share their lives and be mentored. It is here that deeper levels of friendship and fellowship are taking place. There is even some interest in our ministry from three corporations, and we give God thanks for such.
On the whole there is a lot interest in what we are doing and will be doing here in St. Louis.
So here we are in St. Louis, Missouri! With a bullet in my pocket, a Bible in my hand and faith in Jesus in our hearts! We seek the Lord's protection, providence and divine guidance as our ministry and AgapePoint take on a new direction. Please keep us in the prayers as we seek to minister to this area for the cause of Christ. And if you feel led by the Lord to do so, we greatly would appreciate your financial support.
Thank you and blessings in Jesus,
Keith