Mission and Transformation: While on our mission trip to Guatemala, I challenged the eight other travelers to think about how God may be transforming them through their experience on the trip. We don’t have to be totally, comprehensively recreated, I told them. If even a small part of us is changed, then we are changed.
I’ve been thinking about the answer to that question for myself. In Guatemala, I saw the same kind of poverty I’d seen in Africa and Mexico, as well as the irrepressible joy of so many of the poor, even in the face of their poverty. I’d seen effective mission organizations as well as the not-so-effective (Common Hope is VERY effective). So it was none of those things that changed me.
Then, this afternoon, on the way home from seeing Sue Aviaz at the nursing home in Huntersville, I stopped into Bubba’s Barbecue for a bowl of Brunswick stew to warm me up. A Latino man and woman sat down at the table next to me. The man started making calls on his cell phone, speaking in English in one call and then in Spanish on the next.
I’ve heard plenty of Spanish in our city’s public places. But, after 10 days of trying to understand and speak even a little Spanish in Guatemala, I found myself listening more closely to the man. It became clear he was working, calling ahead to his customers to update when he would be there and calling other customers back to make sure they were satisfied. Like me, he’d just stopped in for a quick bite of barbecue in the middle of a busy day.
He reminded me of several young Guatemalan men I’d met the week before. They plant, nurture and harvest coffee and do odd jobs in between to feed their family. Like the man at Bubba’s, they are hustling, too, trying to get ahead and provide a better future for their families.
So, what’s the point? Perhaps my small transformation is that I returned from Guatemala even more aware of the common interests of all people – to gain a little knowledge or skill, to find opportunity and to be free enough to pursue it. Forget about what language we speak or whether we are fifth-generation or first-generation Americans, perhaps like my acquaintance at Bubba’s. What we have in common is that we are all children of God just looking for a fair shake. May God help us all find each other on this common ground.
Bienvenodos los niños: I hope you didn’t race past the great good news on the front of the newsletter. For the three years I’ve been a part of the Caldwell community, this congregation has been looking for the right partner to use our empty Price Education Building. Now, after conversation with the congregation, lots of due diligence and perhaps even more prayer, we are moving forward to open a satellite location of the Central Avenue Bilingual Preschool in part of the building.
One in five children born in Charlotte hospitals today is Hispanic. Few, however, will begin life on equal footing with other children in our city, on track to succeed in school and then in life, presumably in America, very likely here in Charlotte. The children that will soon be on our campus – and their families – may or may not identify us as Christians. But what better response to the gospel of Jesus Christ can we offer than to help them make as positive a start as possible?
Stay tuned for more information about how you can get involved.
There at the beginning: Three instrumental leaders of the Caldwell renaissance will soon rotate off the Session and their leadership deserves special mention. I have joked with Kevin and Tovi Martin that they are the “Adam and Eve of Caldwell.” They happened to be present on a Sunday in the fall of 2006 when Interim Pastor Rev. Charlie MacDonald announced the church would be closing. Thanks to their quick work in helping rally their friends in Christ, along with a strong shot of divine help, Caldwell was saved.
Jeff Sinn has been an unwavering voice for social justice since the first day I met him. Caldwell is better because of his leadership in that way, to be sure. But Jeff has also worked tirelessly on the sometimes less interesting but vitally necessary work of administration and finance as Caldwell again started from scratch. Caldwell is better for Jeff’s leadership there, too.
Ann Alford represents another segment of our membership – those who read or heard about the “new thing” at Caldwell, showed up and dove in head first. When asked, Ann readily accepted the tough job of chairing our Buildings and Grounds Committee. Ann has worked with Jimmy Todd and Fred Powers, among others, to address the most pressing needs of our century-old campus, keeping us warm, safe and dry, and saving tens of thousands of dollars along the way. In bricks and mortar – and in other manifestations of the kingdom of God on earth, Ann always who strives hard to live and lead according to the Gospel.
Kevin, Tovi, Jeff and Ann won’t stop leading here, for sure, but we are deeply indebted for their excellent leadership and hours upon hours of service in God’s name.
To all who serve, study, worship and share fellowship here, Merry Christmas! Alleluia! Amen.