Life at Urban On the final day for the SPRINT (Seattle Pacific Reachout International Team) cross-cultural winter mission trip to Camden, New Jersey, three students, Britta, Jessica and Jon, decided to spend their last day serving with UrbanPromise Ministries traveling the Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River to visit historic Philadelphia.
I joined them for lunch at a Philly legend, the Reading Terminal Market on Arch Street. Britta a sophomore from Alexandria, Minnesota and the able group leader, began the scheduled debriefing by asking Jessica and Jon, both from Washington state, to express what they were feeling and thinking about the mission trip as it came to a close. Jessica, also a sophomore with an eye popping, heart thumping, and infectious enthusiasm for life replied, "Ravishing." Wow! I thought, What a robust word for describing how she she felt. Not a word I've heard before to describe our UrbanPromise Ministry. It really fit, especially coming from Jessica.
Jon, a senior English major, spoke of his relational experiences working with the children and staff of the ministry. Jon, who is both wonderfully expressive and intellectually inquistive, is also a fairly competent basketball player, although he would never admit it. He was able to connect competitively and playfully with the kids. Jon told us he sensed he ministered more by what he did with the kids then by anything he said.
As Britta led the group with questions and reflections I couldn't help but think how blessed I was to have shared the journey with all of them these past two weeks. I thought about seeing Britta standing in front of Ms. Ezekial's Second grade class teaching a Bible lesson on her first day at the Camden Forward School. How quickly it became apparent that she was going to have real hands-on ministry experience. Britta was ready for the opportunity nonetheless, and Ms. Ezekiel was ready for some relief from the daily responsibilities of teaching.
A mission trip to UrbanPromise brings you into an ongoing story; you become part of the "Promise." Although most of the time is spent in hand-on ministry we also share some very fruitful and meaningful time together in devotions and discussions. We look at many of the issues facing the city and it's children. What is social justice and environmental injustice, for example, and what responsibility do we have, if any, to the youth and children of Camden. We ask questions about what it means to say, "God gives but doesn't share," or why would Jesus have said that the poor will always be with us, and if the harvest is rich why are the workers so few? We discuss how to discern where it is that God calls you to be, and why it is important to understand and act on that calling.
One week or two weeks at UrbanPromise won't provide all the answers, but we invite you into the dialogue. Come to Camden; come to UrbanPromise, for this we do know - you too can become part of the story, just like our friends from Seattle Pacific University! "The harvest is indeed rich."
Shalom, for there is a joy in the journey...jim
I joined them for lunch at a Philly legend, the Reading Terminal Market on Arch Street. Britta a sophomore from Alexandria, Minnesota and the able group leader, began the scheduled debriefing by asking Jessica and Jon, both from Washington state, to express what they were feeling and thinking about the mission trip as it came to a close. Jessica, also a sophomore with an eye popping, heart thumping, and infectious enthusiasm for life replied, "Ravishing." Wow! I thought, What a robust word for describing how she she felt. Not a word I've heard before to describe our UrbanPromise Ministry. It really fit, especially coming from Jessica.
Jon, a senior English major, spoke of his relational experiences working with the children and staff of the ministry. Jon, who is both wonderfully expressive and intellectually inquistive, is also a fairly competent basketball player, although he would never admit it. He was able to connect competitively and playfully with the kids. Jon told us he sensed he ministered more by what he did with the kids then by anything he said.
As Britta led the group with questions and reflections I couldn't help but think how blessed I was to have shared the journey with all of them these past two weeks. I thought about seeing Britta standing in front of Ms. Ezekial's Second grade class teaching a Bible lesson on her first day at the Camden Forward School. How quickly it became apparent that she was going to have real hands-on ministry experience. Britta was ready for the opportunity nonetheless, and Ms. Ezekiel was ready for some relief from the daily responsibilities of teaching.
A mission trip to UrbanPromise brings you into an ongoing story; you become part of the "Promise." Although most of the time is spent in hand-on ministry we also share some very fruitful and meaningful time together in devotions and discussions. We look at many of the issues facing the city and it's children. What is social justice and environmental injustice, for example, and what responsibility do we have, if any, to the youth and children of Camden. We ask questions about what it means to say, "God gives but doesn't share," or why would Jesus have said that the poor will always be with us, and if the harvest is rich why are the workers so few? We discuss how to discern where it is that God calls you to be, and why it is important to understand and act on that calling.
One week or two weeks at UrbanPromise won't provide all the answers, but we invite you into the dialogue. Come to Camden; come to UrbanPromise, for this we do know - you too can become part of the story, just like our friends from Seattle Pacific University! "The harvest is indeed rich."
Shalom, for there is a joy in the journey...jim
posted by Life at Urban at 11:13 AM
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