A PUBLICATION OF N A Z A R E N E C O M P A S S I O N A T E M I N I S T R I E S
S P R I N G
2 0 1 5
COMPASSIONATE CHURCHES ARE CHANGING COMMUNITIES
… for those who embrace compassion as a lifestyle
He has dreams for his future. You can invest in those dreams through Child Sponsorship. ncm.org/mag/cs To sponsor a child, go online to ncm.org/cs or simply cut off and mail this form using the prepaid envelope. l I would like to sponsor a child for $25 a month. I would like to sponsor: l Greatest Need I would like to sponsor a child from:
l Greatest Need l Latin America
l Boy
l Asia l Asia-Pacific l Caribbean l Eastern Europe l Middle East
l Girl l Africa
Name / Group____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Contact Person (if different)_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Address / City / State / ZIP_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone____________________________________________ Email__________________________________________________________________ Church to receive 10% giving credit_______________________________________________________________________________________ You can mail this form to: Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Child Sponsorship 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, Kansas 66220 No payment is due now. You will receive information by mail about your sponsored child and payment options.
Table of Contents DEPARTMENTS 4
Connection Points 27
Called to Compassion 28
Love in Action 30
Snapshot
NCM Magazine Spring Issue, 2015 NCM Magazine aims to tell the stories of the church living out Christ’s compassion. Our hope is that all of us would hear the call to compassion as a lifestyle. Magazine Design: Paul Kinsman Cover Photo: Scott Bennett
Following the example of Jesus, NCM partners with local Nazarene congregations around the world to clothe, shelter, feed, heal, educate, and live in solidarity with those who suffer under oppression, injustice, violence, poverty, hunger, and disease. NCM exists in and through the Church of the Nazarene to proclaim the gospel to all people in word and deed.
FEATURES
10
Whole in One In an urban neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, people who are coming out of prison, battling addiction, and struggling to break the cycle of poverty are finding wholeness and restoration through community. At the heart of it all is Lower Lights Community Church.
14
Dreams of Hope A small church has become an agent of big change in a struggling community in Mozambique by investing in the lives and dreams of children. Turn to see what God is doing through the church’s compassionate outreach in this beautiful photo essay.
20
10
14
Come As You Are
20
On the outskirts of Manchester, England, the Ashton Church of the Nazarene is welcoming people—problems and all—with open arms, and God is using their ministry to completely transform people’s lives. You could call it charity, but they call it community.
n
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries 17001 Prairie Star Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66220 (800) 310-6362, info@ncm.org n
To sign up for a free subscription, please visit ncm.org/magazine or call (800) 310-6362. For subscription changes, email info@ncm.org or write to NCM Magazine, 17001 Prairie Star Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66220.
24
24
Hope in a Hard Place In the middle of a city torn apart by war, the Church of the Nazarene in the Philippines is living out compassion and offering hope among families who have been displaced by violence.
27
n
28
Questions? Comments? Email info@ncm.org. n
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
www.facebook.com/ nazcompassion
www.twitter.com/ nazcompassion
www.instagram.com/ nazcompassion
www.ncm.org
Connection Points.
OPENING NOTES
Already But Not Yet by Tim Bowen-Evans
“W
hat is the Kingdom of God like?” Jesus asked. “And to what should I compare it?” That’s a great question as we reflect on the Easter season. Jesus explained the Kingdom through stories, both those He told and the one He lived. For us, the invitation is to share in that story, as both storytellers and story-livers. Picture yourself walking from the Church of the Nazarene in Jerusalem to the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City through a frantic
4 | NCM Magazine
marketplace of vendors selling fruits and vegetables, Chinese toy guns, and olivewood souvenirs. As you sidestep soldiers, prostrate pilgrims, and groups of singing retirees you find yourself at the site of the Resurrection. It’s crowded, chaotic, and overwhelming. The peace you anticipated has perhaps escaped you. I used to pastor our church in Jerusalem, and almost every day I walked by the site of Christ’s empty tomb. For many, the tomb is just another religious site in
one of the world’s most religious cities. For Christians, though, it’s a constant reminder of the “already but not yet” Kingdom. It’s already because we recognize Christ as King now, but it’s not yet because we still await its fullness in the future. It is within this already-butnot-yet tension—particularly in the midst of the crowded, chaotic, and overwhelming—that the church finds its place. With one eye on the future, we have a concrete hope that the world will be put to rights and there will be no more poverty or exploitation of any kind. We hope for a world in which Christ’s kingship is fully recognized—a place characterized by a culture of inclusion, love for enemies, self-sacrifice, and compassion. Yet with one eye on the present, we actively pursue this Kingdom starting now. We have to manage this tension carefully. Two eyes on the future will stop us from acting in the present; two eyes on the present will leave us overwhelmed by the hopelessness we see. With one eye on the present and one on the future, the church proclaims Christ’s justice, peace, and redemption now and then. Wherever the church finds itself, whether in the United States-Mexico border, Israel and the Palestinian territories, South Sudan, Haiti, or anywhere in between, we are challenged to be imitators of the God of sacrificial love, incarnational living, and compassion. This Kingdom living is part of what it means to be a holiness church. Sure, you may think, but can the church really be an agent of social transformation? When we look at issues such as hunger, disease, access to clean water, and armed conflict, it’s tempting to say, “Surely that is the work of nonprofits, national governments, or the United
Nations.” Yet while others do address those issues, compassion and justice are the work of the church. What’s more, as a church that wants to see the gospel lived out, we are uniquely positioned to be agents of transformation in our communities. We, the church, are grassroots. We are not outsiders, unfamiliar with the strains of poverty and injustice. The church exists in some of the most deprived places in the world. The church is incarnational, living among those suffering injustice. We are long-term. We are not going anywhere. While outside agencies come and go, church communities remain. Faithfully. We are relational. We are not just interested in numbers, results, or outcomes. We are interested in people, whom we know and care for by name. We are motivated by love. We do not engage in social transformation for our own benefit, but out of love for our neighbor, remembering how God has loved us. We believe in Resurrection. Where many see only death, darkness, and suffering, the church sees life, light, and hope. This transformational perspective is the mark of a community that has experienced resurrection. In Jesus’ answer to His own question, the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Although the smallest and most humble of seeds, it will one day outgrow everything around it. This seed has already been planted, and by the grace of God it will grow into its fullness. This is our hope for the future. Tim Bowen-Evans lives in Wicklow, Ireland, where he serves as NCM’s coordinator of international programs. Having studied theology and international development, Tim has worked as both a pastor and development practitioner in the Middle East and Central Asia before coming to NCM in 2013. He is married to Kate Bowen-Evans, and they have one son.
CHILD SPONSORSHIP SPOTLIGHT
Extend Your World ROB & RIA KEGEL, THE NETHERLANDS
W
hen Rob and Ria Kegel’s three children were young, the couple decided to sponsor a child through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. “We wanted to teach them that the circumstances where they could grow up were not evident for everyone in our world,” says the couple, who lives in Nijkerk, Netherlands. “We were very aware that we, as parents, could give our children everything they needed to grow up healthy and follow every educational opportunity as their choice. We wanted to help an extra child with far fewer possibilities to have the same, as far as we could do that. Child sponsorship is a direct way to do that.” As their family grew, the Kegels continued
We want to hear from you! Share your sponsorship story by emailing cs@ncm.org.
to sponsor children from around the world. Today, 22 years later, Rob and Ria live near their now-married children and two grandchildren. Yet they don’t focus only on their own children and grandchildren. In fact, now that their children have their own families, they are also sponsoring children themselves. “For our family, it became a natural thing to do, a good choice. … Gratefulness became the big word in our lives, and sponsoring a child is a way to express this feeling.” Rob and Ria have been sponsoring Alexei*, a boy from Russia, for the past 10 years. They already know that when Alexei graduates from the program, they will sponsor another child. “If you really wanted to know that your money is serving the goal you donated it for, this is an excellent choice,” Rob says. “If you want to extend your world, sponsor a child.” *Children’s names are changed for their protection.
Rob and Ria Kegel share, “The picture of our sponsored child has had, over the years, a place between other pictures that are very dear to us. They reflect memorable periods in our lives. It seems to us the best place for our sponsored child.”
PERSPECTIVES
Kanti’s Story
love, hope, and faith,” Kanti says. “I have learned the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice by Sunita Meshramkar, NCM Eurasia for me and my family.” At an age when children should be carefree, Although Kanti’s father still struggles Kanti’s* eyes were full of worry. Her family’s with alcoholism, he has started to show a poverty, her father’s alcoholism, and house- willingness to fight addiction, and his behold responsibilities had put a heavy bur- havior toward his family has improved. Kanden on the 10-year-old girl. Getting a proper ti’s mother has also appreciated the CDC’s meal for herself and her two brothers each awareness programs in the community, day was a challenge for Kanti, but which have provided guidance on thanks to recently opened child how to care for her family and development denter (CDC) in herself. Sivakasi, India, hope has “The CDC is truly a taken root in her life. blessing,” says Kanti’s Now, Kanti and her mother. “Not only has it brothers regularly attend helped my children, but Become the CDC, where they are it has also uplifted my a child sponso r today. able to pursue an eduhusband and my life as ncm.or g/mag/ cation that would otherwell. I am grateful for all cs wise be a distant dream. the support and attention Nutritious meals are improving my children get.” the children’s health and ability Kanti’s family is in the early stagto learn, and Kanti says the chance to play es of transformation, and though the jourgames with other children is now one of her ney toward a better future may be long, they favorite pastimes. continue to take steps, making one small The CDC has also been a source of spir- change at a time. itual light for Kanti. “The CDC has given me *Children’s names are changed for their protection.
You c change an world on the e at a tim child e.
Spring 2015 | 5
Connection Points.
Global Focus: Human Trafficking Protecting Children in Ukraine and Armenia by Jimmie Presley, reporting by NCM CIS
I
n small, rural towns throughout Ukraine and Armenia, a sinister problem has been spreading in otherwise modest communities. The tragedy of human trafficking has become an all too common issue here as parents struggle to find work and children have limited access to education and other opportunities for healthy child development. Ukraine and Armenia are source, transit, and destination countries where children, women, and men are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. Often, they’re lured by false promises of legitimate employment. The lack of economic development and limited employment opportunities in these areas
is grim. The majority of children who participate in Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Kid’s Club programs in Ukraine and Armenia come from disadvantaged backgrounds, including poverty and parents who struggle with drug or alcohol addiction. In addition, many are left behind after a parent goes to search for work in another country and never returns. Children and youth in these vulnerable circumstances are particularly susceptible to the trap of empty promises of an easy way out, putting them at risk for becoming victims of human trafficking. The issue is daunting, but through education and prevention activities, NCM’s child development ministries in Ukraine and Armenia are working to help prevent youth
Photos courtesy of NCM CIS
“What we try to teach is that God created each of them; therefore, they have tremendous value. And they should not trade their value for anything else.”
6 | NCM Magazine
The church in Ukraine and Armenia is working to prevent the trafficking of children and youth.
from falling prey to traffickers. Addressing the problem of human trafficking is a main focus of youth camps that are planned as a part of the Kid’s Club ministry. They start with awareness because trafficking is something that isn’t typically talked about in the culture. “No one seems to believe that it [human trafficking] may relate or affect them in any way,” says Andriy Tahktay, NCM coordinator in Ukraine. “And what we are trying to do is explain to children and teenagers that this problem could happen to anyone.” The most vulnerable youth are those who don’t experience love in their lives and believe they’re in a hopeless situation. “Some of the kids we work with have very low self-esteem, especially the girls,” says Iryna Galisevich, who serves as NCM’s child development coordinator in the Commonwealth of Independent States. “What we try to teach is that God created each of them; therefore, they have tremendous value. And they should not trade their value for anything else.” The camps include workshops, videos, and small-group discussions. Games are also used to explain what slavery is precisely, talk about its reality today, and explain how people become slaves and ways they can protect themselves against it. “For most of the participants the information was something new and something they never heard before,” said Anna Artsrunyan, NCM coordinator in Armenia. “The participants started to understand more about the issue and started a serious discussion.” By explaining the dangers and pitfalls of becoming victims of trafficking, the youth camps provide a new level of awareness. Camp organizers have also encouraged youth to spread their knowledge to others who may also be vulnerable.
NCM exists to support local churches in their efforts to become agents of change in their communities. To learn more about the compassionate work of local churches around the world, visit www.ncm.org/projects.
QUOTABLE “Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears. Compassion requires us to be weak with
CHANGED LIVES
Social Change: Touching the Untouchables
E
ven though the Hindu caste system has been formally banned in India’s constitution, more than 15 percent of people in India are still known as Dalits, or “untouchables,” and they regularly face social discrimination and isolation. Seon had lived his whole life accepting his fate as a Dalit—until several months ago, when NCM in India organized a drive to raise awareness about “untouchability.” Through that event, Seon learned that he is made in God’s image, and he learned how social attitudes have shaped his life. An NCM leader helped Seon enroll in training at an electrical repair shop. His hard work and eagerness earned him a job there, and his salary enables him to support himself and his family. In the evenings, Seon attends college, working toward a diploma in electrical engineering and professional certification—another step toward a hopeful future. Seon now attends church regularly and participates in its activities. He feels positive about his future and is confident that in generations to come, others who have lived as “untouchables” will lead a better life.
the weak, vulnerable
BECOME AN ADVOCATE
with the vulnerable,
There are many ways you can advocate for children in need around the world:
and powerless
PRAY. Pray for children who are at risk
with the powerless.
around the world.
LEARN. Explore the NCM website to
Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human.” — Henri Nouwen
You can also promote NCM Child Sponsorship at your church or church event. Order a free, customizable advocacy kit, including profiles of children awaiting sponsors and advocacy resources at ncm.org/advocate.
learn how you can be involved with community ministries in many world areas.
PARTICIPATE. Sponsor a child and provide him or her with the opportunity for a hope-filled future.
SHARE. Tell people about the child you sponsor. Spring 2015 | 7
Connection Points. A PUBLICATION OF N A Z A R E N E C O M P A S S I O N A T E M I N I S T R I E S
COMPASSION CONNECTION
Hope and Hard Work: A Mother’s Story
S P R I N G
2 0 1 5
by Padam Samsohang Subba, NCM Nepal
Y
amuna married Ganesh when she was young, with hopes of a bright future together in Nepal. A year later, their son, Pradip*, was born. Yamuna’s husband found a factory job in a nearby village, and the young couple saved their money carefully so they could provide a quality education for Pradip. As Pradip grew older, everything became more expensive. From admission fees to uniforms, books and supplies, the couple struggled to meet the costs. After long discussions, they decided that Ganesh would apply for a visa to work outside of Nepal in hopes he could earn more to support their family. The application was expensive, so the couple borrowed the money, expecting that Ganesh could repay the loan with a better-paying job elsewhere. The passport finally came through, and the couple’s hopes were high. When Ganesh had a required health checkup before leaving, though, he discovered he had leukemia. Disqualified for a job abroad, the couple’s hopes were destroyed. Their family income was too little to cover the cost of treatment, so Yamuna fell back on the money they had borrowed for the application. Treatment cost about $5,000 USD—it was all Yamuna had, and it still wasn’t enough to save her husband. After Ganesh’s death, Yamuna lost hope. In the face of circumstances that seemed insurmountable, she considered suicide but resisted because of her love for her child.
In time, Pradip became her new source of hope. She decided to live for her child and work to give him a bright future. Five months after Ganesh’s death, Yamuna purchased a food cart and began to sell tea and snacks like samosas (vegetable pastries), momo (meatballs), and chaumin (noodles) along the roadsides of their city. Soon, she began to draw an income, which has since increased to 500 to 1,000 rupees ($10 to 15 USD) each day. Today, Pradip is 13 years old. For the past four years he has been attending an NCM child development center (CDC). While his mother works to provide for their needs, Pradip works hard at his studies and has won the Best Student Award for the past two years. Yamuna’s own efforts have paid off, too. Thanks to her business, she is paying off the debt from her husband’s work application and medical treatments. “Hope and hard work are essential to making dreams come true,” says Yamuna, whose dreams may have changed, but whose determination is stronger than ever. She still clings to hope, still dreams of a bright future for her child. When CDCs provide education and meals for children, it is a blessing not only to them but also to parents like Yamuna, who work hard and sacrifice to make possible a better future for their families.
COMPASSIONATE CHURCHES ARE CHANGING COMMUNITIES
… for those who embrace compassion as a lifestyle
NCM Magazine is now available on your iPad and iPhone. Download your copy through Apple’s Newsstand today.
*Children’s names are changed for their protection.
STAY CONNECTED! Photo courtesy of NCM Nepal
8 | NCM Magazine
We want to stay connected. Sign up for NCM’s email updates at ncm.org.
Photo courtesy of Dash Gualberto and NCM Philippines
PRAY WITH US DEAR LORD, as we think about Easter and all that it means in our lives and our world, we reflect on Jesus’ words when He left the wilderness and returned home to present himself as the Messiah. He went to the simple synagogue where He had always gone on the Sabbath and said these words: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) After He said those words, the people there were filled with rage. Lord, even today, if we’re honest, there’s a temptation to become angry when You ask us to think beyond ourselves, to take steps that feel uncomfortable. So we pray for the courage to bring good news that is more than empty words and to proclaim freedom through actions that fight against oppression. Lord, once when You were invited to the home of an important man for a meal, You noticed that he had invited people he thought were also important. And you said, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors. … But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed” (Luke 14:12-14). We pray to see others through your
compassionate eyes. May our homes and churches be places of welcome, and may we go beyond inviting people with needs to a meal to inviting them into our lives as friends. Help us to also recognize the poverty in our own lives, particularly spiritual poverty. Lord, throughout the Gospels You were filled with compassion, which led to Your reaching out in action. When a man with leprosy begged You to make him clean, out of compassion, You touched him and healed him (Mark 1:40-41). When blind men cried out for mercy, You were moved with compassion and healed their sight (Matthew 20:29-33). When a widow’s only son died, You had compassion and brought him back to life (Luke 7:11-18). In these examples, and many more throughout the Gospels, You provided a physical healing, but just as important, You offered relational healing as well. You touched a man with leprosy, a man who was considered unclean and repulsive by the others in his community. You gave dignity to blind men who had to spend their days on the side of the road begging. You showed concern for a widow in a time when widows were particularly vulnerable, having no rights and few resources, forcing her to be dependent on others. Lord, we pray for a sense of compassion for those around us who are experiencing loneliness. Make us aware of those who may be suffering silently, and show us ways to reach out, both in physical ways and through the gift of relationship. Shape us, Lord, into people of compassion. AMEN.
How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? — 1 John 3:17
GLOBAL 4/14 DAY Please join us on April 14, 2015, to pray for children ages 4 to 14 around the world. On this day, there will be 1 million Christians around the world praying for 2 billion children. For a free prayer guide or to learn more about Global 4/14 Day, visit global414day.com. Spring 2015 | 9
WHOLE IN ONE Finding Restoration
Through Community
in a Columbus, Ohio, Neighborhood
by Beth Clayton Luthye, NCM Communications
“We are the body of Christ to the least of these, and in return, the least of these are Christ to us.”
At Lower Lights, Gene says, “I don’t feel like a project, like I’m looked down on.”
“I
t was the first time I felt compassion,” Gene says of the time he met Birdie Dayton, who works at Lower Lights Ministries, a compassionate ministry center started by Lower Lights Community Church of the Nazarene in Columbus, Ohio. “I felt love,” he adds. “When I couldn’t love myself, I felt love.” Gene had been a drug addict since his early 20s, and he was looking for a new life, some stability, and the chance to build a better relationship with his family. He was offered a place to live the Light the Way Home program, which helps families break cycles of poverty and addiction while working toward homeownership. Gene wasn’t there long, though, before he started using again. Birdie, who directs the program, had to ask him to leave. Ironically, Gene says it wasn’t until he was kicked out of the program that he actually began to understand true community. “When I left, they still prayed for me and loved me,” Gene says. “I was still accepted into community. This was home.” A family in the Lower Lights church allowed Gene to live with them, and he still attended the worship services and went to Bible study. He also attended meetings at the church for Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered 12-step program. Seven months later, Birdie asked Gene if he wanted to come back. He told her yes.
“Jesus teaches love,” Gene says. “All the things Jesus taught His disciples, they live here. Here, I don’t feel like a project, like I’m looked down on.”
Photos courtesy of Lower Lights Ministries and Beth Luthye
FROM BROKENNESS TO WHOLENESS Gene’s story is remarkable, but it isn’t uncommon in the area where Lower Lights resides in west Columbus. From the outside, Franklinton looks like just another urban neighborhood pocked by poverty, whose streets showcase dilapidated homes, crack houses, and women for sale. If you take time to look beyond the surface, though, you’ll see the deep restoration taking place in the lives of individuals and families. If you pass by Lower Lights Ministries, you might see just another nonprofit organization trying to do good. Again, though, if you look deeper, you’ll find that it’s far more than just another do-good ministry. You can’t spend 15 minutes here without hearing someone use the word community and talk about the way God has used Lower Lights to change a life. Before working at Lower Lights Ministries, Birdie came here to live at Rachel’s House, a residential re-entry program for women coming out of prison. “Community means family to me,” she says. “You’re accepted for who you are.” According to Flo, a woman who has been at Rachel’s House for a year, the acceptance is an active form of support. “This is my family,” she says. “I didn’t have that before. All I had were drug associates and people who wanted what they could get from me. I’m glad to be somewhere I have a fighting chance.” Beth is a graduate of Rachel’s House. “Lower Lights is a part of me, and I’m a part of it,” she says. “I love the community here, even if I don’t always like what they tell me. This is home. … I’ve learned the importance of walking a journey with another person.” It seems one of the main things that sets Lower Lights apart is how honest the community members are with one another and themselves. There’s an understanding that everyone here is broken and in need of wholeness—and that no one is beyond restoration. “My life has so completely changed,” says Beth, who came to Rachel’s House with a history of addiction and a long rap sheet. She shares that after her fourth time going to the penitentiary, she knew she couldn’t take care of her children, and she felt suicidal.
Beth (front row, left), Janet (front row, right), and Flo (back row, 3rd from right) gather with Rachel’s House alumni, residents, and staff.
Lower Lights Community Church is at the heart of the neighborhood’s transformation. Light the Way Home residents share a meal.
“I sat on a step and thought, ‘I am a waste of a human life.’” Soon after, Beth was arrested again and sentenced to four more years. She had lost everything but says she had a “shred of hope” that she could be reunited with a daughter who was living in a foster home. “I made a choice,” she says. “I’d never tried the God thing. I always believed in God, but people made fun of Christians. So I thought I’ll try it and if it doesn’t work, I’ll give up. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I just surrendered and God took over. At prison, Bible studies were an optional activity, but I wasn’t hustling this time. God grabbed a hold of me and I was a little sponge. I had fallen in love with Jesus.” Another woman in prison invited Beth to a Bible study led by women from Rachel’s House. After serving her time, she says, “I
knew how to survive on the streets, but I didn’t know how to follow Christ outside of prison. All you know are addicts or drug dealers or enablers. I didn’t know other people. After 18 months, I came to Rachel’s House. It was hard at first. It was scary, and there were internal battles … but it taught me what family is. It taught me to trust, it taught me love, it taught me friendship and acceptance.” These lessons came through the hard work of entering into deep community. Every week at Rachel’s house, the women who live there sit down together for a time they call “Community.” “It’s sacred time,” Beth explains. “We share everything—fears, joys. We’re completely open. It’s every Monday, and we’ve started an alumni gathering, too. … I saw things I didn’t like about myself—hard truths. And I learned that dealing with the most painful things isn’t Spring 2015 | 11
going to kill you. It actually brings healing. … I never really wanted to die—I just didn’t know how to live. Jesus gave me my life.” For Beth and Gene and the others who have come to Lower Lights, it has been a community where people who are broken can find wholeness. And at the heart of this restorative community is Lower Lights Community Church.
COMING TOGETHER In 1988, the congregation at Bellows Avenue Church of the Nazarene in Franklinton was struggling. With only a handful of members left, some would say it was dying. When Pastors David and Jane Fulk came to the church, they looked around the neighborhood and decided they would lead the church in helping women in the neighborhood. In 1991, the church, then with about 30 members, started
Lower Lights Ministries. What began as a food pantry and soup kitchen has grown into a compassionate ministry center focused on holistic community development and transformative relationships. In addition to Rachel’s House and Light the Way Home, Lower Lights hosts Project AIM, which is a mentoring program that helps individuals and families work toward self-sufficiency through a range of services, including addiction recovery support, career coaching and job skills, financial literacy training, educational tutoring, case management, and spiritual formation. The fourth program, Bright Lights Kids, focuses on giving confidence and opportunities to children ages 6 to 13 through tutoring and one-to-one mentoring. In 2002, the church continued asking, “What are the unmet needs in the neighborhood?”
“I never really wanted to die—I just didn’t know how to live. Jesus gave me my life.”
The Bright Lights Kids program pairs children with mentors.
Lower Lights Christian Health Center provides holistic health care in Franklinton.
Janet (left) and Beth (3rd from left) participate in the annual Garments of Praise fashion show fundraiser.
12 | NCM Magazine
The answer became the Lower Lights Christian Health Center (LLCHC), which is now a federally qualified community health center designed to provide health care to those who are underserved or underinsured. Today, the clinic serves 9,700 patients a year through five separate sites. Dr. Dana Vallangeon, who serves as CEO of the health center, explains that, like Lower Lights Ministries, the mission of LLCHC is to live out Christ’s gospel by ministering to the whole person—meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The center accomplishes this through integrated, patient-centered care. The main site, located in a 48,000-square foot building that formerly housed a candy factory, brings together access to medical doctors, dentists, an optometrist, a pharmacy, dieticians, counselors, mentors, and spiritual care volunteers who offer to pray with patients. LLCHC is also in process of adding a nonprofit grocery store, a critical need in a neighborhood that’s a food desert. On weekends, the building is also used for children’s activities and a second church site. Vallangeon recalls going to other community health clinics that felt “less than” and were not relational. “From the outset, we wanted to focus on community,” she says. “We want to provide sustainable, high-quality, and holistic care.” According to Vallangeon, who is married to Mike Vallangeon, the senior pastor of what is now called Lower Lights Community Church, the intentional, community-focused ministry that takes place at both of the compassionate ministry centers “are about the church’s desire to see transformation. The church is the heart of it all.” Jan Ruark, CEO of Lower Lights Ministries, says that even though the church and the two centers are separate organizations legally, the community members don’t make those distinctions. “People here see us as one,” she says. “It sounds easy,” Ruark adds, “but it’s not. It takes a lot of effort to work well together. Our three entities have had hard times, but we love God and others enough to die to pride and the need to be in control.”
TWO-WAY MINISTRY There’s an old hymn titled “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” that uses the image of a lighthouse. The bright, upper lights of a lighthouse point sailors toward the harbor, but it’s the lower lights that guide weary travelers through the final, often dangerous, process
of coming ashore. This is where Lower Lights gets its name. Don’t get the wrong idea, though. In this community, ministry is not a one-way endeavor. “We are the body of Christ to the least of these, and in return, the least of these are Christ to us,” Dana Vallangeon says. Stories of program participants moving from brokenness to wholeness are commonplace at Lower Lights, but Ruark insists that the greater stories of transformation often take place in the lives of staff members, volunteers, and church members who come in from the suburbs. “People discover their spiritual poverty here,” Ruark says. “I am a life that’s been transformed here. I came with a college degree from middle class America to ‘help poor people.’ But I’d been here six months, when Jesus said to me, ‘Don’t you get it? You are poor people.’ … I’m a hot mess and a redeemed life. I’m just letting Him live through me.” When Ruark first came to work at Lower Lights, she was on staff at Rachel’s House. She says the women she had come to minister to wound up ministering to her as well. “I was always trying to make things happen, and the women [at Rachel’s House] called me on it,” Ruark says. “They would ask, ‘Isn’t God in charge? Why are you trying to make things happen?’ I began to really understand holiness of heart and life—as [John] Wesley discovered, the only way God can use us is to transform our lives. Otherwise, it’s all just superficial.” This two-way dimension of ministry is something that everyone at Lower Lights understands. Janet, another Rachel’s House alum, explains, “We’re all broken. My being there could be for someone else—not just what I get from it. At our church, it starts with the basics. It’s not that I’m broken just because I’m an addict or because of my childhood. Sometimes it’s something I know I’m not ready to surrender. Then I’ll go to the altar and another woman will say, ‘How can I pray for you?’”
TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP Lower Lights recognizes that part of supporting others on a journey toward wholeness means helping them develop their own leadership potential. “We will give people food, clothing, housing, training, and good news, but rarely the power to lead,” Ruark says. “But one of our core tenets is that divine love always makes the beloved stronger. … It’s not done until
Light the Way Home provides a path to homeownership for families.
Dr. Dana Vallangeon (right) directs Lower Lights Christian Health Center.
Jan Ruark (left) and Birdie Dayton serve together at Lower Lights Ministries.
“I came with a college degree from middle class America to ‘help poor people.’ But I’d been here six months, when Jesus said to me, ‘Don’t you get it? You are poor people.’” we’re all leaders in the kingdom of God. People talk about teaching a man to fish, but we’re not happy until they can buy the pond and teach others to fish themselves.” Lower Lights Ministries has built a Holistic Leadership Center in order to invest in leadership. According to Ruark, one of the goals of the center is developing leadership through community. “We want to see people who seek God and seek to do what He wants, and in the process they become transformed,” she says. Birdie Dayton is a great example of this kind of transformational leadership. She came to Rachel’s House when she was in her late 40s, after spending a collective 12 years of her life in prison. “When I came here I didn’t know what the Bible said,” she says. “I hadn’t been to church in 35 years. At 48, I was in AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] for the first time, and I learned of a higher power. But God had been working on me all along—it was that prevenient grace thing.” Birdie came to live at Rachel’s House, and after graduating from the program, she
served as a manager there for five years. For the past three years, she has directed Lower Lights’ Project AIM and Light the Way Home programs, and she leads the church’s Celebrate Recovery program. Since returning to Light the Way Home, Gene has also had the opportunity to develop his leadership abilities. He uses his background in corporate banking to teach finance classes, and he was recently hired as the program coordinator for Project AIM. “I found purpose in Jesus and want to give back,” Gene says. “Jesus brought sight to the blind man—that’s my story. Now it’s my time to tell others.” n
To learn more: lowerlightschurch.org lowerlights.org llchc.org To support: ncm.org/mag/lowerlights Spring 2015 | 13
DRE AMS OF HOPE A CHURCH IN MOZAMBIQUE WORKS TOWARD CHANGE BY INVESTING IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN
1
Words by Admirado Chaguala Photos by Scott Bennett
I
n southern Mozambique, near the Swaziland border, sits a rural
village called Namaacha. In this place, the problems are many: a growing HIV and AIDS rate, poverty and hunger, declining agriculture production, and fractured families. And in this place a Nazarene church is working to build community and live out compassion. Their focus is investing in the lives of chil-
2
dren. Pastor Admirado Chaguala has been leading the congregation for the past seven years. Here, he shares their story alongside photos taken by Scott Bennett, who spent time with the church while leading a LoveWorks team from Point Loma Nazarene University last summer. 14 | NCM Magazine
[1] In Namaacha, 95 percent of the church’s adults are unemployed. With few job opportunities in the village, informal commerce has become the main way of earning a living locally. Men and women purchase goods in Swaziland, avoiding border posts where customs taxes would be enforced, and then re-sell the items in Mozambique. Because of this, many family homes have become storerooms for goods purchased abroad.
borders Swaziland, a country in which more than 25 percent of the population is living with HIV or AIDS, the community also faces significant health risks. Many children in Namaacha have already been trafficked, while others have lost one or both of their parents to AIDS. The local church has begun to lead awareness campaigns, teaching children to identify different types of risks and offering the community valuable health training.
[2] As a border village, Namaacha falls within a human trafficking corridor, leaving local children exposed and vulnerable to exploitation. Because it also
[3] The only source of water in Namaacha is six small dams that capture the rain during the wet season. Once this supply runs out, water is scarce, and village
4
residents may spend up to two hours a day transporting 20 liters of water, accounting for a significant dip in church attendance. [4] Namaacha’s young women and girls are especially vulnerable. In addition to the threat of trafficking, girls are often married off at 11 or 12, sometimes becoming second wives to men from larger cities who have come to the area to work as border guards or government employees. Pregnancies soon follow, and the girls are forced to drop out of school and learn how to parent when they are still children themselves. Spring 2015 | 15
3
5
6
7
[5] Boys in Namaacha are expected to do some manual tasks at home, such as cleaning the yard, but they are encouraged to attend school and pushed to study hard in order to become successful in the future. [6] Though many children attend school, the literacy levels in Namaacha are very low, in part because the teacher-to-student ratio in the classes is 1 teacher to 80 students. The new Namaacha Child Development Center, which is run by the Nazarene church, comes alongside the school to fill in gaps for the students. For children who can’t afford uniforms or school supplies, the center 16 | NCM Magazine
8
provides them. And for students who can’t attend school, tutorial sessions help them learn basic skills. [7] Ten-year-old Olinda* lost both of her parents to AIDS. She now lives with adoptive parents who work all day, leaving the daily domestic duties to Olinda. The young girl spends the day gathering water, cleaning the house, cooking the meals, and looking after baby Gabrielle.* Because of her responsibilities, Olinda frequently misses classes, and her education has suffered. Although she is in third grade, she does not read or write well, and even though her caregivers are aware of the
9 situation, they insist nothing can be done to change it. Olinda savors opportunities to enjoy simply being a child. On the rare occasions she has free time, she enjoys playing in the yard with other children, jumping rope or playing soccer. [8] Girls in Namaacha are rarely encouraged to attend school. The accepted local belief is that girls should learn skills from their mothers that will allow them to take good care of a husband in the future. From a young age, girls expect a domestic future of household work: cleaning, cooking, gathering water, and tending the garden.
10
[9] Attendance fluctuates dramatically at the Nazarene church in Namaacha, as members frequently leave the area in search of work, crossing the border for job opportunities in Swaziland or South Africa, or taking on work in other cities in the region. Young adults have few opportunities to attend a university after they graduate from high school. Since 2007 the church has lost 35 young people to other cities and countries. [10] The church has been accepted in the community because of the impact its ministry to children has had. Because the church is investing in children, many
11
people are coming to church and experiencing positive change in their own lives. People are becoming open to learning more about ministry, and the church now has two preaching points with more than 40 children each. Soon, one of these preaching points will become an organized church. [11] The children in Namaacha aspire to be someone important in the future. They express dreams of becoming skilled adults who can contribute to their country and world. Many of them express dreams to be medical doctors, engineers, lawyers, professors, pilots, or nurses. Spring 2015 | 17
12
13
14
[12] Discipleship is an important part of the CDC’s work, giving children like Olinda the opportunity to experience worship, fellowship with other believers and participate in Vacation Bible School. [13] Children come to the CDC either right before or after school, depending on whether they attend their classes in the morning or afternoon. Tutorial classes are held every day in the center to ensure the children do their homework and have the help they need on reading and writing exercises. 18 | NCM Magazine
15
[14] The Namaacha CDC currently ministers to 95 children and is a safe haven for Namaacha’s youngest residents. Children have the opportunity to be educated, to gain important life skills, and to have support toward a positive, healthy future. Namaacha is a small, needy community with a lot of potential for growth, but the government has not yet invested much there. By investing in these children, the church is helping to build a better present, which will have a positive impact on the future of the community.
[15] Roadside graffiti in Namaacha requests “More love, please” in Portuguese. As a church, we plan to continue responding to that request. n *Children’s names are changed for their protection. To support church-based child development ministries, you can give to the NCM Global Child Development Fund at ncm.org/mag/children.
7 Ways to Change a Child’s Life 2. Help him on a path
God 3.Help her 1.Show her that
out of poverty. 1 billion of the 2.2 billion children in our world live in poverty.
loves her.
2.2 billion children live in our world. That’s 2.2 billion children who are all made in God’s image and all loved by God.
STAY IN school. When a girl receives 7 or more years of education, she marries 4 years later and has 2.2 fewer children.
4. Help him ACCESS
CLEAN WATER Every 21 seconds, a child dies because of water-related illness.
5. Teach her to Dream of a brighter future. Sociology studies show we need 3 things to teach children the “capacity to aspire”: 1) resources, 2) time, 3) a teacher or role model.
6.Make sure he has 7. Nurture her
nutrition to grow up healthy. 1 in 4 children in developing countries are underweight and at risk of severe effects of malnutrition: physical disabilities, developmental delays, learning disabilities, and risk of premature death.
You can change 1 life today
through child sponsorship
leadership potential. A study of 1,382 children in Bolivia, India, Indonesia, and Kenya showed that children who were a part of a child sponsorship program were more likely to become community and church leaders.
ncm.org/cs
Spring 2015 | 11 | 19
Spring 2015 Sources: UNICEF; Genesis 1:27; Population Council; UNFPA; Steffen Schindler (Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland); worldhunger.org; younglives.org (research by Paul Glewwe, Phillip H. Ross, Bruce Wydick)
S
Rosemary (left), a New Hope participant, works on imporving her literacy skills with Trish, a volunteer.
COME AS YOU ARE HOW COMPASSION IS CREATING COMMUNITY AT A CHURCH IN MANCHESTER, ENGLAND
by Simone Finney, NCM Communications
20 | NCM Magazine
tanding amid the abandoned storefronts, boarded-up properties, discount businesses, moneylenders, and gambling shops of Ashton-under-Lyne’s center, it’s hard to imagine a time when the town wasn’t in decline. Located a few miles east of Manchester in England’s industrial north, the once-thriving mill town’s factories closed when manufacturing moved overseas in the middle of the 20th century. As industry dwindled, unemployment rose, along with debt, gambling, alcohol and drug addiction, social isolation, poverty, and homelessness. In the thick of it all is Ashton Church of the Nazarene. Within that church, you can find traces of compassion everywhere. On the second floor, in a multi-use room with high windows and polka-dot table coverings, a mint-colored wall is covered with a collage of photos and phrases. This is evidence of the church’s efforts to meet some of the greatest needs in its community, from rehabilitation and affordable housing to job training, social support, and education. At the top of the collage, a sign bears an image of two hands extending toward each other with a simple phrase: “Welcome to New Hope.” That invitation is to a compassionate ministry of the church as well as the desired outcome for each person who comes through the doors.
AN INVITATION Dean is one person who has found hope there. In December 2013, he was stuck. Living in an apartment full of mold, with drug-addicted neighbors and debt he couldn’t manage, a friend’s invitation to eat Christmas dinner at the Ashton church came as a welcomed change. “I thought, ‘I need someone to turn to, to give me guidance,’” Dean says. “And I loved it. So many people made me feel welcome.” Two of those people were John McNeil, the director of the New Hope ministry, and Anthony, one of the volunteers. Through them, Dean learned about the church’s life skills program, which is designed to give personalized support to people tackling issues such as homelessness, limited education, and addiction. Dean knew this program was just what he needed. Four days a week, New Hope’s volunteers work directly with participants to set and meet goals that will improve their lives and well-being. The focus is on practical skills, including literacy, math and finances, health and hygiene, computer skills, and job hunting,
along with social interaction and service. Ten months into the program, Dean is enthusiastic about the changes in his life. “New Hope is helping me to find a job, improve my maths and English, reading and writing, cooking and independent living,” Dean says. “Without it, I’d probably be in more debt, and be really skinny and poorly.” Through New Hope, Dean has also become a regular at Ashton’s worship services, he volunteers with a shelter the church hosts once a week, and he frequents the church’s coffee shop. He has also asked to be baptized in the next year. “The love and the warmth, being around all the people—being involved at church is the best thing,” Dean says.
LONG-TERM APPROACH For 12 years, the Ashton church had been offering dinner on Sundays to people facing the realities of unemployment, addiction, or homelessness. But four years ago, some of the church members began to discuss the gap between the meals they were providing and the
circumstances in which the participants were living for the rest of the week. “We thought, ‘The meals are great,’” McNeil explains, “‘but are we really helping solve people’s problems?’” Tiny was the perfect example. He regularly came for the meals and had been embraced
“We thought, ‘The meals are great, but are we really helping solve people’s problems?’” by the congregation, but he was still “living rough,” a result of low literacy levels, drug addiction, an inability to budget, and a chaotic lifestyle. When McNeil visited a Christian bookshop in Manchester in search of material to help Tiny understand the Bible, a woman at the shop suggested that he simply teach Tiny how to read.
The sessions that followed planted the seed for compassionate work that could make a long-term difference in the lives of some of the church’s most vulnerable neighbors. In February 2011, five participants became the first New Hope Ashton group. A handful of volunteers worked with participants to set and achieve their own goals over the following months. “Our one stipulation for people when they join us is that they need to be ready to make a change in their life,” McNeil says. The group meets for four hours, four days a week, to work on goals each participant sets. Some goals are as simple as reading a sentence or preparing a meal; some are as ambitious as overcoming an addiction. When these goals are achieved, a team member will suggest new ones to build on what’s already been accomplished. With more than 20 people who have come through New Hope since it opened, the team has a lot to celebrate. One man, a recovering alcoholic, was homeless and had been unemployed for 15 years when he started at New
Photos courtesy of New Hope and Simone Finney
Tiny (right) inspired the Ashton church to find ways to help people solve their problems.
“Being involved at church is the best thing,” says Dean, a New Hope participant.
Nathan (second from left) is part of the worship team at the church.
Spring 2015 | 21
Paul’s time at New Hope has given him a boost of confidence.
“I know I have almost too many reasons to be grateful,” Nathan says.
Hope. After eight months, he had secured an apartment, learned to budget his finances, found a job, and maintained his sobriety. One woman began her time at New Hope with no home, low literacy, and little self-confidence. Her goal was simply to write a letter to her child. After seven months, she could write to her child, she was living in an apartment, and she had developed the confidence to speak in front of a group.
COHESIVE COMPASSION Housing is a huge challenge for the Ashton community. When New Hope participants make significant changes in their lives, returning to problematic living situations or unsupportive landlords can mean the loss of progress. Secure, safe, and clean living arrangements are critical to long-term change. “When you’re at the bottom of the ladder, you need landlords who don’t mind that you haven’t got a clean rental history,” explains Carl McCann, pastor of Ashton Church of the Nazarene. “What we need is some social housing at New Hope: a place where people can live for at least six months while they’re in transition, build healthy life skills, save money, live on a budget, stay away from pitfalls, and be surrounded by people who love and support them.” As a solution for housing, the church is 22 | NCM Magazine
working toward purchasing a disused nightclub next door. The idea is to move their children’s and youth activities to the new building, freeing up space in the current building for New Hope and other compassionate ministries. “We don’t want the compassionate ministry to become detached from the church,” McCann says, “and the building next door is a unique opportunity to keep it cohesive with the ministry of the church.”
“While I used to feel poor, lacking, and weak, I now know I have almost too many reasons to be grateful.” TOO MANY REASONS TO BE GRATEFUL At the Ashton church, compassion isn’t simply a program or an event on the calendar. Compassion is rooted in who they are as a community, and New Hope participants become key members of the congregation. On a Sunday morning, for example, it’s
not unusual to be greeted at the door by Paul and Kevin, two familiar faces from the New Hope family. Kevin’s connection started with regular attendance at the Sunday meals. Then, three years ago, McNeil invited him to New Hope to work on his literacy. He was skeptical in the beginning, asking if McNeil was trying to convert him. “I told him, ‘Kevin, I’m going to be honest, that would be great,’” McNeil says, “’but either way, we’re just glad you’re here.’” Since then, Kevin’s reading has improved, he’s now a regular in the kitchen, and he recently secured a job after a long search. He and Paul, another participant, often work together during New Hope sessions, and both attest to the change Paul has experienced. When Paul first came, he barely made eye contact with anyone, let alone spoke. Five months later, he’s writing, cooking, joking, and serving in ministry. “I used to be dead quiet,” Paul says with a grin. “Now you can’t shut me up.” On a Monday morning, Paul works on his personal profile for New Hope. He pens these words with precision: “I started coming to New Hope nine months ago because I was bored and going through the same routine. I like New Hope because I am learning new skills. Those
THE COFFEE FIX:
This church is all abuzz about empowering youth
O
include maths, English, laptop [computer] and cooking, as well as housekeeping. I also met new friends and changed myself.” Paul is tired, having stayed at the church the previous evening to help at the night shelter they host once a week. But he is diligent. “It’s humbling and inspiring,” says Nathan, another New Hope participant, of the changes in his own life as well as those around him. “It’s the people, the small stuff we take for granted.” Nathan is also a member of the church’s Sunday morning worship team, and during a recent service, he shared a few thoughts from his own life with the rest of the church. “I want you to know that you’re celebrated, loved, liked, and unique in Christ’s kingdom,” he said, encouraging the community that has come alongside and encouraged him and others in similar circumstances. “While I used to feel poor, lacking, and weak,” Nathan says, “I now know I have almost too many reasons to be grateful.” n
To support church-based compassionate ministries, you can give to the Ashton Compassionate Ministry Fund at ncm.org/mag/ashton.
n Saturday mornings, there are at least three teenagers in Ashton-under-Lyne who aren’t sleeping in. By 9:30 a.m. they’ve taken over the small kitchen at the Ashton Church of the Nazarene, switching on the espresso machine, wiping down counters, taking stock of ingredients, and updating the specials board. During the week, the space is home to Coffee Lounge, a café run by members of the Ashton Church of the Nazarene. On Saturdays, though, it becomes the Melting Munch—a café designed, curated, and staffed entirely by young people. Sisters Lyse and Lysette have been working at the Melting Munch since it opened in May 2012. Today, Ketsia is on her first shift. Despite the early hour, the girls are buzzing with energy as Lysette walks Ketsia through her job responsibilities. “When a customer comes in, you say, ‘Hello, welcome to the Melting Munch. What would you like to order?’” Lysette explains. “Always start with that and a smile. The smile’s very important.” As Lysette walks Ketsia through the routine, customers start arriving, including church members, area regulars, and a local board games club that takes up residence there twice a month. On a misty morning, the staff are soon busy delivering orders from the ultimate comfort-food menu. “Toasties are definitely a British favorite,” says Lyse, who helped create the menu. “We decided on the name Melting Munch because you eat here,” Lysette adds, “and the food’s quite hot, and it has cheese in it.”
Extra Shots The Ashton church opened its Coffee Lounge in 2007, offering quality beverages in a community-friendly atmosphere. Among its regular volunteers was Robson Dodd, who, at 16, helped secure a £25,000 (GBP) grant from Barclay’s Bank to launch a spinoff youth café. The young adults at Melting Munch gain valuable work experience, which is important in a community where unemployment is high and morale among the younger generation is low. “Youth unemployment was huge when we started, and it’s still pretty bad,” says Robson, now one of the youth café leaders. “But we’re offering exactly what our young people need: someone who cares about their experience, who cares about their skills.” Even for those who don’t want to work in the food service industry, there are plenty of transferrable skills to be gained through the café. “When the leaders give us independence, a job or task to do ourselves, that’s how it’s going to be,” Lysette says. “It helps you not to get nervous when you’re put in a similar situation in other areas of life.”
Common Grounds Not only does the Melting Munch encourage young people to work together, but it also keeps them interacting with the rest of the church. “There are lots of different ages, and I like to chat to them,” Lysette says. “And they like to know about our lives.” According to Robson, “It does feel like community. People see young people serving others, and that’s exciting.”
Lysette has become a leader at the Munching Melt, where she’s worked since 2012.
Spring 2015 | 23
HOPE IN A HARD PLACE In the middle of a community torn apart by war, the church in the Philippines is living out compassion by Leody Tan Echavez and Jimmie Presley
I
n a transitory site in the southern Philippines, a young man named Juvy* dreams of escaping the trap of poverty and making an impact in the world. He has lived at the site since September 2013, after an armed conflict broke out in his hometown, Zamboanga City. Despite losing everything, Juvy remains hopeful, saying, “The war may take our material things, but it will never steal our dreams and aspirations.” Also known as the “City of Flowers,” Zamboanga became a battleground as the Philippine army and an anti-government faction clashed for three weeks, displacing more than 120,000 people and causing the deaths and injuries of numerous civilians. Schools were destroyed, and more than 10,000 homes were burned. Within days of the start of the war, the Nazarene church in the Philippines had sent members of its Nazarene Disaster Response (NDR) team to Zamboanga. Through partnerships with other local churches, the NDR team responded with health, hygiene, and sanitation services; food assistance; and child protection. They also provided trauma and stress debriefing for the children and adults caught in the deadly conflict. Unlike other groups, though, the church’s team did not leave after their emergency response efforts were over.
the reality is most will live in a transitory site for at least several years, and for some it will likely become a permanent circumstance. Living conditions in transitory sites are harsh. Food and water are scarce, educational opportunities are limited, and children are vulnerable to exploitation. In response, the church in the Philippines is expanding its work in the transitory sites through comprehensive WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) assistance, training skills for out-of-school youth, and Bible classes. The port of the coastal city is also known to be a hub for human trafficking, so the church is also implementing a program called STEP-UP (Stop Trafficking and Exploitation Through Unlimited Potential), which is designed to prevent trafficking and exploitation of youth through job training. Because the transitory sites are located extremely far from any formal schools, the children are stuck with no access to formal education. The NDR team has responded to this need by setting up Temporary Learning Spaces where children can go to learn basic mathematics, literacy, and hygiene practices. In the transitory site in Mampang, 60 percent of more than 2,000 children living there do not know how to read. The Temporary Learning Spaces have become centers of hope, serving as a school where children can learn as well as interact with one another. Nine-year-old Isabelle* is one of the children affected by the conflict. “The war took
“The war took everything from us. It destroyed our house, our source of living, and our peaceful life.”
A SPARK OF HOPE As people who have been displaced are waiting for the Philippine government to relocate them to better land with improved resources, 24 | NCM Magazine
Photos courtesy of Dash Gualberto and NCM Philippines
The church is providing water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance in the transitory sites in Zamboanga.
The majority of families in the Mampang site are from the Badjao ethnic group, also known as “sea gypsies.�
The conflict left more than 120,000 people homeless.
Spring 2015 | 25
everything from us,” she says. “I was scared during the war. We ran away as fast as we could so we would not die.” The war and its after-effects have been hard on Isabelle, but the Temporary Learning Space brought a much-needed break from the reality around her. After her first day she left with a smile on her face. “This made me happy today,” she told the church’s disaster response team. Creating a spark of hope in the eyes of displaced children and showing the love of Christ is one of the ultimate purposes of the NDR team and local church partners in these transitory sites.
GLIMPSES OF GOD’S GOODNESS
“Badjaos only takes what the sea is giving us,” Juvy says. But the people group is also considered by others in the Philippines to be of the lowest status. The group is continually marginalized and discriminated against, and many of Badjao families live in extreme poverty. “The war took everything from us. It destroyed our house, our source of living, and our peaceful life,” Juvy says. “My greatest dream is to go back in our home where we truly belong. My dream is that we will sail and fish again so that I can contribute in building back Zamboanga.” The work of the church and local partners has helped provide a sense of hope with Christ at its center. Juvy is a Muslim but has seen the love of Jesus through the work of the Christian church. “I am very happy that you came here,” Juvy told an NDR leader. “I also listen to your activities and stories that you are conducting
“I learned about your God and learned how good He is in the lives of the people.”
The majority of the youth living in the Mampang transitory site, including Juvy, are from the Badjao ethnic group. Also known as “sea gypsies,” the group are known to be a peaceful tribe who live as fishermen dependent on the sea.
to the children. I learned about your God and learned how good He is in the lives of the people. Thank you for coming and being with us.” As the hands and feet of Jesus, we must practice compassion as a lifestyle, not just in words but in tangible actions. It all starts with us. n *Children’s names are changed for their protection. Leody Tan Echavez III is a graduate of Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, and is the current Nazarene Disaster Response team field leader in Zamboanga City. Jimmie Presley graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University and is a freelance journalist based in San Diego, California.
Work like this is possible through NCM’s Global Emergency Relief Fund. To support other church-led efforts in the midst of crises, you can give at ncm.org/mag/relief.
Called to Compassion.
Time to Move Is God asking you to take steps toward compassion? by Brooklyn Lindsey
T
Photo courtesy of Barry Friedman
here used to be an ornate Tudor-style home in my neighborhood. She sat perched, facing the trail where I exercise. If you need help imagining her, think of English nobility, think of castles, think of storybook houses. My family and I like to think that Snow White lived in the one here in our town. After all, we are just minutes from Disney World. When I learned the house was going to be demolished, I thought, How sad that something so historic, so iconic, so seemingly permanent could come down in a day. Then, one day when I was jogging by, I saw her. The Tudor. She was sitting in the middle of the street, up on steel beams surrounded by workers, trucks, and lifts. Someone had decided she was worthy of being saved, Someone had moved, and restored with a decided she was new purpose. worthy of being There was a banner on the saved, moved, and front of the house that simply working together with read, #SAVETHETUDOR. restored with a one mind and purpose. And that’s what was hapnew purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t pening. She was whole, even try to impress others. in her state of mess, and she Be humble, thinking of others as better than was in a position to be repurposed. I am learning this is the way of compas- yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own sionate people. We start out very set, very se- interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that cure, very functional in our faith. We feel content, comfortable. That is, until God breaks Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, into our reality with a vision for us to carry His he did not think of equality with God love and care into the world together. He has as something to cling to. more for us. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; There will be a day for all of us when God he took the humble position of a slave says, “It’s time to move. It’s time to shift from and was born as a human being. viewing your life of good works as simply good When he appeared in human form, behavior to viewing the good works in your life he humbled himself in obedience to God as an extension of My wisdom and glory in and died a criminal’s death on a cross. the world.” The Bible paints a picture revealing the Jesus isn’t a stranger to the uncomfortmost supreme act of love that ever was. The most humble steps God ever took. In Jesus’ able. Jesus moved. Jesus became human. Jelife, we see the habits of His mind, heart, and sus left his Tudor-like life, secure and safe, for life that we can learn for ourselves. Philippi- our benefit. Jesus suffered with us. The habit of Jesus was to enter into those painful moans 2 (NLT) puts it this way: Is there any encouragement from belong- ments—believing that restoration is possible. God called me to be compassionate, to ing to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your give my life to it, when I was 16 years old. It hearts tender and compassionate? Then felt a little strange. To say yes to something so make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheart- uncertain seemed reckless to some, even to edly with each other, loving one another, and me at times. I felt like workers were lifting me
off a set foundation and taking me to some other place for some other purpose. But I knew that Jesus’ habit of being compassionate was meant for me, for all of us. And I committed to take the first difficult steps, and then the ones that followed. It isn’t always clear exactly what we should do and when. But God is with us. It doesn’t always feel good. But it’s better. It doesn’t always benefit me. But it benefits someone. It doesn’t always feel convenient. But it makes someone else’s journey less difficult. I may lose some of me along the way. But that’s OK, because I’ll gain more of Jesus at every single loss. When we decide to say, “Yes!” to compassionate lives, we need support. We’ll need cheerleaders telling us, “You can do this!” We’ll need prayer as we walk into someone else’s pain or sadness. Let’s make this shift together. Daily. Let’s agree that our good works are meant to bring God’s wisdom and glory into the world. Let’s start with compassion. The habit of Jesus that reveals the greatest levels of love. n Brooklyn Lindsey serves as the global justice advocate for Nazarene Youth International. She blogs at brooklynlindsey.com. Spring 2015 | 27
Love in Action.
The Way of Love
How a Friendship Pushed the Limits on the Camino de Santiago by Callie Radke reporting by Beth Clayton Luthye
T
o complete the Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of Saint James, requires months of planning. The most popular route spans about 500 miles from southern France to northwestern Spain, crossing the Pyrenees Mountains and vast plateaus along the way. For Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray, the planning started with a simple phrase: I’ll push you. The Camino is considered by many to be a spiritual journey, and people have been traveling it for centuries. Each year thousands of hikers, also known as pilgrims, make the trek,
Steves travel show about the Camino. A seasoned traveler, Justin knew it was unrealistic to consider completing the trail solo. Due to a degenerative autoimmune disease, Justin no longer has the use of his arms or legs, so he approached his lifelong friend, Patrick Gray, who would be able to function as both caretaker and companion. The two had known each other their entire lives and had grown up in the same Nazarene church outside Boise, Idaho. Patrick was on board immediately, saying the simple words that became the theme of
“Relationships are crucial. God doesn’t take away the barriers. He gives us community to help us get over those.” which ends at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. From the beginning, though, Justin and Patrick knew their journey would be different from those of other hikers. That’s because Justin is in a wheelchair, so Patrick would have to push, pull, and carry his friend the entire way. STEPS OF FAITH “When you open yourself up to letting God take the ring, it’s amazing where that will take you,” Justin says. “I had so many people tell me I was stupid and it was not a good idea and I’d never make it—and I ignored them. … I knew this was something I needed to do.” Justin got the idea while watching a Rick
Above: When Justin Skeesuk (middle) invited his friend, Patrick Gray (back), to go on the Camino de Santiago, Patrick answered with three words: “I’ll push you.” Right: The two completed the 500-mile hike in 34 days.
28 | NCM Magazine
their trip: “I’ll push you.” The planning and the journey were not always easy, but the Camino was something both men felt they were called to complete. “The tendency is to over-plan and over-think and undermine God’s plan for your life. As humans we have that self doubt or fear, and I chose to ignore that,” Justin says. “It was going through whatever door opened, Patrick and I. That was the common thread from beginning.” The two travelers encountered mountains and rocky trails before they even left the United States. Only two weeks before their scheduled departure, they were short on the funds they needed. But, like the other obstacles
Along the Camino, other travelers stopped to help Justin and Patrick. It took 17 people to help Justin over one especially difficult mountain pass.
they would encounter, God was faithful. Within an hour and a half someone had donated $1,000—enough to cover the gap. Justin also emphasized that the barriers were not always financial. The Camino would require faith, mental preparation, and commitment as well. Prayer became foundational. “Patrick and I were at the altar, just letting it go and letting it go, over and over and over again,” he says. “Luckily we weren’t stressing out at the same time. I’d pick him up, and then he’d pick me up. Live in faith—that’s what you do.” TO HELP AND BE HELPED During the 34-day journey, the two friends were each other’s constant companions. Justin and Patrick have known each other their entire lives, but along the way, they discovered a depth in their relationship they hadn’t known before. In part, Justin says, that’s because “the core of our friendship is Christ-centered.” Many other pilgrims also stepped in to help along the way. In fact, Justin made a promise to himself prior to leaving that he would always
accept offers of aid. One particularly arduous ascent required the help of 17 people, both friends and strangers. Without help, they would not have been able to complete the 500 miles. “The amazing things were the relationships we developed for weeks or even just hours—they were all authentic and genuine,” Patrick says. “They were being Jesus’ hands and feet and didn’t even know it.” Continually, they learned the compassion that comes through both giving and receiving help. Learning to help and be helped, to love and be loved, can be a mountain in and of itself. Both require vulnerability of self and compassion for others. “The mountains we face in life, the trials, the obstacles, whatever they may be—it may be cliché, but our journey was a metaphor for those things,” Patrick explains. “The only way we adequately meet those with grace and dignity is when we allow others to be the strength when we’re weak. Relationships are crucial. God doesn’t take away the barriers. He gives us community to help us get over those.
For Justin and Patrick, the journey along the Camino was about more than a hike, or even making the impossible possible. It was about faith and love and relationships. “It’s truly amazing to learn when you set out and live in faith and in prayer and in God’s will and you allow yourself to be loved; it’s an amazing experience that will change your life,” Justin says. “Of course, you don’t have to go on the Camino and walk 500 miles to allow God to work in you.” n Callie Radke is a writer living in Los Angeles, California, after studying the art at Point Loma Nazarene University. She loves seeking out tales of hope, compassion, and joy.
Justin and Patrick are currently in the process of transforming their story into a documentary film. To learn more, visit illpushyou.com. Spring 2015 | 29
Snapshot.
Children play a game at a Kid’s Club camp in Ukraine. Most of the children who participate come from disadvantage backgrounds, including poverty and parents who struggle with addiction. Children and youth in these circumstances are vulnerable to human trafficking. The camp teaches children that God created each of them, and, therefore, they have great value. To learn more about the Kid’s Club ministry in Ukraine, turn to page 6.
30 | NCM Magazine
MAKE YOUR SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS GO FURTHER with an endowment through the Church of the Nazarene Foundation
With a relatively small initial deposit, you can establish an endowment and increase your ministry impact on your sponsored child (and many others). For more information, contact: Church of the Nazarene Foundation 17001 Prairie Star Pkwy Ste 200, Lenexa, KS 66220 • 866.273.2549 info@nazarenefoundation.org • www.NazareneFoundation.org
NAZARENE COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES Church of the Nazarene 17001 Prairie Star Pkwy Lenexa, KS 66220 (800) 310-6362 info@ncm.org
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
General Board of the Church of the Nazarene