September 03
September 24, 2003
Our food has just arrived to the table as we celebrate the Florida Fall at a local restaurant on the Boulevard. The day is beautiful and the celebration of reunion is special. My phone rings once and then a second time. I don’t recognize the number so I pass the call to voice mail. Now with the third ring I realize that someone is serious about getting a hold of me. It’s Kellie. She asks if I could hear her. Her voice was crackling with emotion. Ken she said, I am at Chase’s school and we have been robbed. The food, the company and the beauty of my setting shrunk into a narrow panic. I am 3000 miles away, why now God? I quickly ran down the details and confirmed that she and Chase were ok. The broken window and the stolen purse were the extent of the damage.
This happens each and every day all across the world and yet until it happens to us, we are truly unaware how hard hit our emotions are when another violates our lives. We live in a broken world. No matter how hard we might try to soften this reality it is a reality that looms and one that will continue to exist until God fully in Jesus Christ restores order. Understanding our world to be this way, the question we ask is how then should we live?
As Christ followers we are learning what it means to turn around and walk in a new direction. To place our hope in a new way and a new authority, one that is not run on the currency of this world but a currency that cannot be harmed or taken. Seasons such as this bring perspective to our faith. Funny enough, amongst all the call made to creditors, banks, phone companies and the rest we made no call to God. He knows, He promises to take care of it, vindicate, protect and provide. It is in bearing this cross that often we proclaim our allegiance to the way. Is this God’s way of teaching us and proclaiming Good News to the world? Through times like these I seem to grow most and yet these times seem to profess to others our relationship to the Creator. By the end of the day in complete exhaustion we thanked God for the trial and the lessons learned through it.
Aside from this incident, our return to San Francisco has been another testament to God’s goodness as we live under His rule and reign. Here are some points of celebration…
Housing -- as we arrived in the city a friend phoned us and offered temporary housing at reduced rate. Within the month we received a second phone call from our previous home in San Francisco. The owners who are also our friends wanted to let us know that the house was available again! What a miracle to think that we could live in the home and on the street that has become so dear to us! The timing and circumstance are truly of the Lord.
Schooling -- while Kayla was not able to re enter the Spanish immersion program, she was accepted in our first choice of an English school. We love the school and have found it to be a great San Francisco community to be a part of as we seek to be light in our city.
Chase also was accepted to Glendridge. What a privilege to continue to nurture a relationship in this community of over 50 families. With Hannah coming up behind Chase we have a five-year outlook with Glenridge.
Kellie is happy to be home. While our season in South Florida was a tremendous blessing and one of clarity, Kellie truly left her heart in San Francisco. Together we have been visiting with our ministry network and also our friends from the Bernal Neighborhood. Reconnecting and experiencing the fruit of God’s movement in the city harvested in our absence is amazing.
As we look to the future we see seasons. We believe that God will move us through many different seasons right here in San Francisco. For this season, we see ourselves learning to live strategically and sustain ably from the soil. Several existing churches have asked us to pray about possibly helping them restart or start as churches. We are excited to serve God’s people this way as church planters. We also have been praying about the transition from full time ministry support to developing business that might be strategic to evangelism, while also serving as a source of funds for ministry.
As a friend and a partner to our work here, you play a special part in this new season of ministry. Many of you have graciously continued your support and we thank you. This is a blessing to us. But most of all we would covet your prayers. In the New Testament there was a story of a child that the disciples could not heal. After Jesus healed the child the disciples asked why they couldn’t accomplish that task and Jesus said that this healing could only come through prayer and fasting. In many ways we see this as a similar reality for our city. A place that will require a life lived and poured out for God’s glory combined with our prayer and fasting. Only the power of God can break the hard soil and unlock the spiritual prison that so many live in.
Ephesians 4 has been a rich well of learning and inspiration for me over the past month. The words of Paul have haunted me with the reality that my role is truly to serve by preparing others for works of service, and that together in unity we pursue all things like Christ and grow to Maturity. Whether 20 or 1000 people we must grow mature together in order to fully experience and engage the work of God for where live.
It is a privilege to be your sent out ones to cities and San Francisco. We look forward to fully experiencing all that God has for us in our city. We also pray for you and deeply desire God’s best for you and your church. While distance often separates us, our faithfulness to our calling in Jesus brings future hope of celebrating together in His presence.
Many blessings,Kenny
posted by Ken McCord @ 6:12 PM
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