Dirty Hands
April 26, 2004
Dear Heart of City Friends,
Are your hands dirty? Probably not if you are reading this letter. Do you remember the last time your hands were REALLY dirty? Were you building, planting or fixing something? Behind every dirty hand is a story of someone who invested time laboring on something (hopefully something worth while J).
When we think of church, we don’t think of dirt, do we? We think of clean. In fact in my experience when one is not clean, the church becomes alarmed and uncomfortable. Yet it is the dirty hands of ministry that create the environment for the gospel and inspire its understanding and practice. By dirty hands in ministry I mean “surrendered to the mess of life”.
There are two truths that stand out about my life. First, that my destiny has been redeemed by the gospel, a gift delivered by the hands of those who sacrificed for me. As a result I am now a child of God, living in His realm with an eternal hope. A second truth is that my growth in the realm of Jesus has always required dirty hands!
If these things are true for me and for you, why then do we so often hide from the dirt and fight to keep our hands clean? I won’t try to answer such a profound question, as I am seeking to understand that about myself. But I have learned, as a follower of Jesus, that life comes from surrender and abandonment to His authority in this world. You and I are the hands and feet that reveal and deliver the love blow into the soil of this world. It is our love that invades that soil.
As we continue our fourth year in the Heart of the City, we can now better understand the phenomenon of loving a world that we are no longer a part of. By living, learning, and loving, we continue to see God’s work revealed. Is there a blueprint? Ha! I wish. No room for the pragmatic personalities. But one step at a time God continues to reveal Himself.
While we have not officially launched the Casa de Barro church publicly, we rejoice over the report from Easter Sunday. We had over 80 adults and kids! Can you believe it? Truly the work of God. Each and every week the life transformation is evident in the lives of those who are encountering Christ. Many are seeking, others rediscovering their faith, and some have professed Jesus. As we evaluate and assess our reality, we continue to hone in on what kind of church Casa de Barro will become. Please pray for wisdom as we consult with Edward and our Free Methodist brothers in this process of deciding. Our commitment has extended through the summer of this year. From there we will continue to discern God’s leading.
Heart of the City continues to form as the work in Hollywood and San Francisco evolves. Partnerships with Guy Melton, Jeremy Cox and those who lead on in Hollywood provide a tremendous platform for learning and networking. David and Marcia Lantow have joined in as we partner in the Casa de Barro church start with Edward Paulino and the Free Methodist. While the dream of Heart of the City continues to form, and the horizon could be our lifetime, it is a joy to see the beginning pieces to the puzzle take form.
God continues to water our burden and call for cities with a renewed vision. We look forward to sharing more as it forms later this year. This we know, our cities will require the helping hands of those who live on the outskirts. While not all of us can live in the complex urban reality, we need prayer and resources invested with a long-term perspective.
I continue to make many plans, yet it is God who truly directs my steps. No business has been started, no new support raised, yet so many of our churches and friends have felt led to continue to support our family and work. For that we thank you. According to my calculations, our funds should have dried up, but God through many of you has revealed that He has, and will continue to provide. Praise the Lord! As we continue to transition and work with the church, at least through the summer, we will trust God to provide monthly. For those who are able to continue support and participate during this season of transition, First Baptist of West Hollywood continues to oversee our work and ministry. Checks can be made payable to FBC of West Hollywood to the attention of Heartofcity, 1708 N 60th Avenue, Hollywood, FL 33021
Our family is growing and prospering. For those of you who have raised kids, you know the speed at which time moves. Kayla is finishing the first grade and is excelling in school. Reading has been her great achievement this year. She loves to read. What a blessing! She is such a witness to those she lives amongst, and her little tribe of friends experiences the love of Christ through her presence. Oh yes, she is also playing soccer and loving every minute of it. One of the great treats of living here is the beautiful scenery. Can you picture her playing on the Marina green with the Golden Gate Bridge on the horizon? God is good. Amongst the many challenges of urban living, He graces us with the beauty of the water, mountains, and the magnificent sunset shinning over the Golden Gate Bridge.
Chase is completing his first year at Glendridge, and is approaching his 4th birthday. It is amazing to see his growth, energy and spirit. He, like Kayla, is also quite the athlete and just recently discovered the joy of a bicycle.
Hannah is our little roadrunner…full steam ahead! She is full of energy and charisma. Her intensity excites and challenges us all.
Kellie, well what can I say? Mom, wife and friend. She is truly a life entrepreneur. She seizes every moment of the day to enhance the life of our children, a friend or a neighbor. She diligently serves the women of the church, carrying the burden of being alone during this season of start-ups, believing that her faithfulness will inspire those she influences to live a new kind of life.
Me? Well, I am humbled by the complexity of life, ministry and the city. This combination is as challenging as any I have ever lived. However, I am reminded that at the end of the day, dirty hands share a story, one of a family hard at work in the Heart of the City. Do I always like to have hands in the dirt? Not really. But at the end of the day I am certain that I was made for this, and that this is exactly what Jesus meant when he said, “Follow me.”
A fellow follower of Jesus,
Kenny
posted by Ken McCord @ 6:18 PM
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