Monthly Archives: October 2011

I was part of a team of faculty presenting some information on the 40 Assets to several youth service organizations (YMCA; Douglas County Juvenile Services; Southwest Area Health Education Center/Mercy Medical Center; several schools; and other assorted interested individuals). The 40 Assets area strategy for helping communities and individuals think in terms of helping young people build on their strengths and the strengths of their community. The Search Institute (go ahead, google them…) has developed a list of 40 Assets that can help young people succeed. Half of them are internal assets and the other half are external assets. I have been involved in helping move the various non-profit youth serving agencies in our county towards using the 40 Asset framework for talking about and strategizing ways of helping children and young people succeed.
It was an amazing day of networking and connecting with people from these county groups that are all primarily interested in helping kids succeed – not just in school, but in life.
There are numerous places for churches to connect with these 40 Assets. But the primary way I have used this framework is to secure a place at the table with other agencies for faith groups.
Helping students succeed is a huge undertaking. Making a difference in even one young person’s life can and will make an impact for the Kingdom of God.

Earlier this week Thom Rainer posted a column about church and state (you can find it here:http://www.thomrainer.com/2011/10/church-versus-state.php. As I thought about his post I decided to try to explain why I am involved as deeply as I am (perhaps too deeply) in government. First, although Oregon is a fairly liberal state (voting Democratic in the last several presidential elections; being the first state to legalize physician assisted suicide just to name a couple of issues) and not very evangelical (which goes against our founding as a state…Jason Lee, a Methodist missionary was crucial in developing Willamette University (est. in 1842) and in the initial steps of statehood), there are strong evangelical undercurrents in the state (I know this is anecdotal, but I was privileged to open the Oregon State House of Representatives in prayer on a couple of occasions and was surprised by how many legislators thanked me for praying ‘in the name of Jesus Christ.’). Douglas County, my home for over 20 years, is solidly Republican and well represented with a wide variety of evangelical churches. More importantly there are evangelical Christians in county leadership positions both elected and appointed. Our Governor has embarked upon a radical reform of education and health care. While many of the elements carry hints of social engineering there are some interesting pieces to his attempts to prioritize budget resources, and to break down barriers between state agencies.
Second, as a result of pastoring the same church for over 20 years and raising our two children here, my wife and I are accorded a level of respect -even from non-believers. The past 10 or 11 years I have been drawn more and more into city, county, and even state issues. Part of the reason is what I call the ministry of just showing up. My wife and I showed up at Parent Club meetings, at Booster Club meetings. A little over 10 years ago two 13yr old boys died (one died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the other death was ruled accidental though it is believed the young man was playing ‘Russian roulette’ ) I was asked to show up at the Middle School and assist in the grief counseling after these tragic events. I was asked to show up at more and more meetings till now I jokingly call myself the token community representative for the local school district. I can honestly say that numbers of others have now become involved, hopefully because I was willing to set an example.
Another reason I am involved has to do with what I see happening in our state, and to some degree in our nation. Christians have been marginalized, too often because we have withdrawn instead of getting engaged in the issues. While I may not always choose my battles wisely, I refuse to be sidelined. As a taxpayer, as a citizen, as a pastor who has stood besides numerous families in various states of crisis I see a social service system that is rapidly failing. As a pastor to many families over these 20 years and as a parent who sent his kids to public schools (yes, there was a Christian School nearby, but my wife and I wanted our kids to attend public school) I see the dissolution of our school system’s funding mechanism coming sooner than later. Simply put, I want to be there when the system collapses so I can help rebuild a better system.While I cannot agree with every article in our Governor’s platform to reshape education and health care, I agree that the current system is broken. My tiny efforts may not and probably won’t draw statewide attention our county’s systems will be more consumer friendly and more user accessible and more directly accountable for the resources that are used.

Finally, I am involved because too many of the people I serve as pastor have been intimidated by unwieldy state systems and confused by the constant insistence of government agencies to use acronyms for everything (of course I can’t help but think of BYPU; TU; SS; CT; DT; WMU; RA’s; GA’s LMCO; and AAEO for example). If I can disentangle some of the layers of red tape, if I can help explain what the acronyms mean, perhaps others will take courage from my example.

Well, there are some of the reasons I am engaged. I have met some wonderful and marvelous believers along the way. I have learned a great deal about myself and my capacity as well. I have become intrigued by the potential for development even in a rural community that is suffering with an unemployment rate that is staggering. I am encouraged because nothing is impossible with God- not even state social service and education systems!

Recently our church called an associate pastor (our first paid position outside of pastor; part time secretary and part time custodian). I have repeatedly said this will change the culture of our church and have repeatedly stressed, we must change the culture of our church in order to effectively penetrate the community to which we are called. The challenge: After serving as the pastor for 20 years, am I the hindrance to changing the culture or am I the catalyst for changing the culture? It usually takes less than three years for a church to reflect the personality of the pastor (at least that is what Dr. Lawless stressed to me when I was doing my DMin work at Southern Seminary). So, after 20 years, is it possible to change?

Added to this is the occasional visitor in my life: depression. It comes at the most inopportune times, like last week when I had lots of uncommitted time (that is to say, blocks of time I had set aside for prayer and study). Perhaps it was the rain that invited this visitor in, perhaps the general change in the weather. Whatever the cause, I certainly don’t enjoy the visit.

Putting that aside the challenge still remains, how do we go about creating a culture that enables us to effectively engage the world in which we live?

This week I have met with county elected officials, I will meet with city officials today, and then spend an hour or so at the local high school helping host a community volunteer fair (all high school students at our school) are required to serve 25 hours a year in community service. Then, tonight I facilitate a monthly finance team meeting, and lead in prayer and Bible study.

Am I perpetuating a certain culture? Of course I am. Can I more effectively use these meetings and events to strategically make the gospel a reality? Of course I can. The real question: Will I? To change the culture is more than merely wishing change. It requires a clear and compelling vision of the kind of culture we need to be. So, part of my prayer life includes asking God for a clear and compelling vision of how the gospel through my life can change the culture of our church and our community.