What is your Samaria?

And He must needs go through Samaria.John 4:4 KJV
 What is your Samaria?
Mike Herman

I was born in Tucson, Arizona.  Tucson is known for its beautiful desert landscapes and breath-taking sunsets, not its downtown skyline.  Tucson would never be mistaken for a big city. 

            
Now I live in Compton, California, a city often noted for its gang violence, high poverty rate, and gangsta rap.  Compton is 55% African-American and 45% Hispanic.  Moving into the community is not without issues or concerns.  Working in an African American church is not without issues.  However, God didn't command us to live a comfortable life but to follow His example.

            
People wonder how a white man ended up in Compton.  Sometimes it still amazes me.  Why in the world did God choose me, a white boy from cactus country, to go into the city to stand in the gap for Him?

In John chapter four, we find the story of Jesus traveling through Samaria.  I think this passage best summarizes the answer to the question of why God sent me here.  Verse four is simple but has an often overlooked, profound message.  Here we find that Jesus "had" to go through Samaria on His way to Galilee.  According to a map, this would seem to be the obvious route, as Samaria lies directly between Judea and Galilee.  However, Jesus' path had nothing to do with geography. 

If you study Samaria you'll find it was considered to be a place of outcasts, a home of mixed breeds, of the “impure.”  The Jews were known for their racial hatred toward the Samaritans. The conflict was so great that Jews walked around Samaria -- over 20 extra miles-- simply to avoid the place and the people.

So the path Jesus chose was intentional -- and against societal norms.  The call to reach out cross-culturally was strong that He "had" to go there, even when others chose not to.  As a result of His time there, we are told many came to faith in Christ.  Surely His mission would've been incomplete had He not spent time in Samaria.

In our society, we have many Samaria’s.  Compton is a Samaria.  The inner-city is a Samaria.  Sometimes a person can be a Samaria.  It is anything that we don’t feel comfortable dealing with, that we try to avoid at all cost. 

But our Lord would have us go through our Samaria, even if you're a white man from Tucson going to Compton.  He is more concerned with our character than He is our comfort.

What are your Samarias?  What does God want do deal with in your heart that you’ve been trying to avoid?  Go through Samaria.  You’ll find that Jesus is not only walking beside you, but He’s already been there waiting for you.

 Lord, Thank you for leading the way into places like Samaria.

Take me out of my comfort zone, I'll go where you want me to go, Amen.

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Great Learning Tool Graphic on Privilege & The Economic Opportunity Myth

 

Via - http://thewireless.co.nz/articles/the-pencilsword-on-a-plate

 

From the Liquor Store into the Garden…

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When we first discovered the lot where the Compton Community Garden now resides, it was neighborhood blight. It had been trashed and scarred by years of neglect and misuse. As we began to excavate the lot with plans for a new landscape and a new purpose, we had no idea that God was doing a similar work in a life around the corner.

DJ was a 36 year-old man who had grown up in the neighborhood. He’d had a tough childhood, a series of unhealthy and broken relationships, used coping mechanisms of drugs and alcohol. But like most people here, there were many gifts and talents hidden beneath that story. DJ was born bold and ambitious. Gifted with a quick mind and an even quicker tongue, he was able to overcome a lot of his challenges and build a successful career as a mortgage broker. He became a family man with a wife and children.

However, when life hit him, as it does all of us, he was thrown back into old patterns of self-destruction.  A combination of the mortgage industry and his marriage both taking a dive devastated him.  In the process, he also lost his relationship with his kids. He found himself frequenting the liquor store on a daily basis, which meant that everyday on his way, he walked right past the Compton Community Garden!  

For two weeks he would walk past the garden and watch us work. He assumed (naturally) that those of us who were white had to be in law enforcement (why else would we be there?), so in the beginning he intended to stay clear. Eventually, though, his curiosity (and the Holy Spirit) got the best of him, and he walked through the gates.

DJ sharing his story at a Garden Day event.

“What is this garden place?”

“What’s going on here?”

“Why are you people even here?” he wanted to know. 

We told him about the mission to provide healthy food, nutrition classes, and gardening plots for the community. We shared with him the vision to create jobs in order to address our community’s desperate need for more employment opportunities. And then we explained that the real reason behind all of it is to honor God and demonstrate His love here in our city.

DJ began to come around regularly. He hung out and was paid for a few small jobs here and there, still checking everything out. And then, suddenly -- he was all in. He started attending a weekly Bible study, rededicated his life to Christ, gave up some of his normal escapes, and started working with us every chance he could get. Slowly, DJ began to heal.

That was several months ago. Yesterday (March 30^th) DJ participated in week three of our current cycle of Leadership Development Academy classes. He had lunch with the other interns and three mentors (including me, Mike). He and I have been working on 2 business plans -- he has amazing entrepreneurial dreams, and we have turned those into goals. There is a restaurant across the street from the garden that is now up for sale -- he plans to purchase it with another local mentor, Ralph. (Ralph is a retired businessman and chairman of the Garden Community Board.) DJ has become a leader among our other interns. He has been stepping out and taking initiative in ministry -- he’s been given some significant responsibilities and now is an associate member of our staff team!

What's made all of this possible? DJ is following Jesus!

Each day is a journey for DJ, as he strives to maintain his new commitments. He has replaced his old, unhealthy coping mechanisms with new, life-giving ones. He is praying, encouraging others and growing in Bible study. He is building community around him, and receiving support from others each step of the way.

God has transformed DJ in a powerful way. And He will continue to transform him, as He does with all of us.

This is what discipleship looks like here. It’s a process, an ebb and flow. Every day, and practically everything on the agenda -- even something as simple as a Home Depot run -- is an opportunity to build into someone and care for them. Not everyone moves along as quickly as DJ has. Some folks take years to make the kind of changes DJ is making. But God is faithful and powerful and trustworthy!

The Concept of the Flâneur (or Flâneuring)

I learned a new concept today. 

The idea of the Flâneur was invented in 19th century Paris. The word carried a set of rich associations: the Parisian man of leisure, the idler, the urban explorer, the connoisseur of the street.

In todays terms it could be considered ‘intentionally wandering in your city’. We are so adapt at getting as quick as possible from Point A to Point B. It’s so routine and utilitarian that we constantly miss all the city, all the life, between those two points. We are busy. We are not experiencing or feeling the marvelous tiny details of our neighborhoods.

I'm very guilty of this. My day typically exists of this type of busyness, running back and fourth to numerous places trying to be as speedy and efficient as possible. Even after driving some of my cities streets for twenty years, I'm still discovering things I have previously missed.

I love my city. I love the people that live here. I love the parks and streets. I love all the cultures represented. I love the change and transformation. I love the hidden secrets. I love the quirks and nuances. 

I want to experience more of that. I’m going to become more of a Flâneur.

Opening Day ignites new Hope!

An article from our December Newsletter.

Admittedly, I (Tonya) was a bit skeptical when the Lord dropped this community organic garden on us. I am a big believer in eating healthy, in community development, and in ministry to the whole person. After all, Jesus fed the thousands and healed the sick -- who would we be to deem such things not important? But there was still that niggling voice in the back of my mind -- would we really be able to see spiritual development happen because of a garden?

Our team leaders had great vision -- of relationships we could build through the garden, of spiritual, life-filled conversations that could happen there. And as God kept providing and moving (sometimes it felt more like shoving!) us forward, it became very clear that this was on HIS agenda. I was excited as I saw the way God was obviously moving, but I still had my doubts...

The day of the garden opening was a beautiful SoCal fall day -- sunny blue skies and mild temperatures. Almost 200 people came out to celebrate with us -- ministry partners, volunteers, students from nearby universities, and most importantly -- people from the neighborhood! We had music and delicious food, face painting and crafts for the kids. We rented garden plots and sold t-shirts with “Compton Organic Community Garden” on them. The garden was spoken over, prayed over, and dedicated by a host of special guests who had invested financially, spiritually, and physically in the process (including our new mayor!).  It was a day full of joy and excitement and triumph.

As we were finishing the last of the cleanup, Betty (name changed) approached me. Betty is a woman who lives next door to the garden. In the city, those who have had life the roughest wear that truth visibly all over themselves. I don’t know many specifics about Betty’s life, but it’s clear she’s one of those folks. In that moment, though, Betty came with a huge grin on her face, tears in her eyes, and a request.

Could she become a volunteer? Could she water the garden boxes of those who couldn’t get there every day? Could she clean up around the garden? Could she keep an eye on the place and chase off any vandals? She was offering to help in any way she could -- she was just desperate to be a part of it all.

“You all have such a beautiful aura about you -- and it’s over this whole place! Every since you’ve been working in here -- and seeing all this happen...well, I’m out there, doing a lot of bad things. But in here -- this place -- it makes me believe that maybe I can get back to being the old Betty once again.”

It didn’t take long before Betty’s tears had become my own. We stood for a few minutes, her talking about her life and me sharing about mine. I told her that the hope she was describing had, in turn, filled my own heart with hope. That that’s how it is with God -- He uses us to bless each other, no one person being more important or “better” in His Kingdom, but all of us learning from and needing each other. This was the beauty she was sensing in all of us.

Since that conversation, I have spent a lot of time thinking about Betty and how she sees the garden. Located in a place that is arguably one of the ugliest, most crowded and run-down parts of our city, the garden is becoming a place of beauty and life. And for people who see little other than their local surroundings day after day after day, beauty brings hope.

I am thankful for Jesus and His simple spirituality -- boiling it down to much more basic concepts than I want to create in my privileged American mind. I am thankful for what He knows about the people He has created, the needs that they have, and the places where He can best meet them. I’m especially thankful that, in spite of my ignorance, He lets me be a part of His meeting them. After all, those connections are the places where beauty, life, and hope shine brightest in my own life.

I look for Betty every time I visit the garden now. Inevitably, if she’s there, we end up having a spiritual conversation along similar lines to the one we had that day. She usually has a story to tell me about something that’s happened at the garden, and God will give me another chance to tell her how much He loves her. We shed a few tears, we hug, and I leave with a very full heart -- filled with the fullness of the love God has for this woman, and with the generosity she has to share her life with me.

We also want to say Merry Christmas, from our family to yours! May God bless you and minister to you all during this special time.

We pray that your family time is meaningful, rich and full of joy as we take the time to focus on each other and our Heavenly Father.

So, Merry Christmas from Compton, CA!

Preparing a Downtown LA Urban Hike

I love downtown LA. I don't get there very often anymore. But during our first few years here our Director and I developed an extensive walking tour to take mission groups through.

Tomorrow I get to do it again!

Check it out.

Our Africa Trip in AIA's Magazine

The Spring edition of the Every Athlete Magazine included a really nice article on our December trip to South Africa!

Here are the 4 pages of the article in image form. (Click to enlarge)

page 1

page 2

page 3

page 4

As the official trip photographer Tonya took 95% of these photos!  

Wer are so blessed to have been able to participate in this experience and see God work in some many different ways. 

We are grateful to all of you that partnered with us in this trip! We love you!

South Africa!

2012 AIA Pro Soccer Tour 

I, Mike, have a confession. When I was asked to chaplain one of our professional MLS soccer teams, I had ulterior motives. I was not that interested in working with pro athletes as individuals -- I really just wanted to get them mentoring kids in Compton. As the team chaplain I could push hard for this to happen.

Now though, I realize the full blessing of getting to know and grow together with some amazing players. When Justin and Michael gave 3 years to come and mentor Compton kids, I had a front row seat watching God do incredible things in their own lives. Even after they were both traded to other teams, we have been able to still build into each other.

In October, I challenged these guys and a newer player, James, to participate in Athletes in Action’s first ever missions trip for pro athletes. Michael and James accepted! Together with our whole family, another 4 pro players, a trainer, a girlfriend, and handful of AIA staff, we headed to South Africa in the middle of December.

During the first half of the trip, the players stayed in homes of several pro African players, followed them in their team schedules, and led Bible studies with their teammates. Having US players present drew more South African players to the meetings. We were able to have significant ministry impact with four pro teams -- great relationships were strengthened or launched! At the Bible study Zach and I attended (with the BidVest Wits from Johannesburg), a record was set for attendance!

The second half of the trip was spent in some of the poverty-stricken townships. We visited two churches, two orphanages and an AIDS hospice, with kids ranging from infancy to 19 years old. We were blown away by the vitality and life of these kids that were all taken in from the streets! After we served at these facilities (cleaning, cooking, playing with the children, etc.), the players would have a game with kids from the facility or the local neighborhood. Afterwards, players shared their stories to all those who had gathered, testifying of how God had worked in their lives and encouraging the kids to trust in Him.

In the times that Michael shared, I could see from his expressions that God was working in him even then. He shared about playing on dirt fields at age 5 in his home country of Sierra Leone, and how God provided the only immigration lottery pass available for him to move to the US to be with his mom. He shared about God providing soccer opportunities that kept him from getting into trouble, about how much his mom sacrificed to keep him on quality teams, and how God touched him at a low point his freshman year in college. It seemed as if playing on the African dirt brought him back full circle and opened his eyes to see how God had constantly worked in his life, though he often had missed it at the time. This unique glimpse of God’s sovereignty and provision effected Michael in a profound and permanent way. This is a moment I had prayed to see from the first time I challenged him to come, a most special of many great moments on the trip.

Michael sharing his story at the first orphanage.

We are so thankful for how God worked in Michael, as well as all the players. Three of them were so impacted by their time as “pro missionaries” that they asked to be baptized in the hostel pool on the last day of the trip! They wanted to make a public declaration of their commitment to put Christ above everything else in their lives. What a privilege to share this moment with them -- and for our children to do the same. An ongoing partnership in is the works with AIA in South Africa, where the we would continue to send pro players there on an annual basis. What a privilege to be a part of pioneering such a ministry!

Many of you received a letter from Sydney and Zach, as they had to raise their own funds (a great experience!) to attend this trip. We are SO GRATEFUL for the generosity of so many of you that blessed them abundantly and let them see firsthand that God is able to provide for all of our needs! We asked them to each write a paragraph sharing their own perspective on the trip:

Sydney

South Africa was an experience I will never forget. I got to see God’s work firsthand in everyday life, yet a life that isn’t mine. I saw God work in ways I don’t see in the states. I saw wild animals up close and experienced majestic beauty in ways watching TV will never accomplish. I got to feel a lion’s growl deep inside my veins, see his teeth, and all his might. I experienced hospitality that my US-acculturated self literally couldn’t believe. The beauty of the people and the culture whacked me in the face and I was astonished. Not only were we blessed by the people who welcomed us there, but also with the people we got to go with. God blessed us with a trip of a lifetime, one that came at a young age. Therefore, I’m spoiled. Great, first missions trip, and I’m spoiled! God’s good right?! All I can hope now is that I will be able to go back!

Zachary

My favorite part of South Africa was the townships and the animal park. I liked them because they were fun and interesting. I had so much fun in South Africa. In the animal park, I got to pet baby lions and tigers and saw a baby rhino. The township was fun because we connected with so many kids. I learned that life is different everywhere, but God is ever present.

Pray for us that this experience with extreme poverty, soccer outreach and cross- cultural ministry would continue to impact us and help us be exactly what God wants us to be here in Compton. Also pray for Michael that God would continue to use this experience to strengthen his walk and prepare his heart for all that God has for him.

Mike & Tonya, Sydney and Zach

More favorite pictures!

Video of our first game 

Video of Dasan having fun with the kids!

End of the Year Gift?

Do you need an end of the year gift for 2012?

Well we have an opportunity for you!

As you can see in the post previous to this, our family is raising financial support to go to South Africa next month on the inaugural professional soccer player mission trip with Athletes in Action.

We each need to raise $2500 to participate. This money will cover our airfare, living expenses, and the equipment the group will need for our outreaches. Would you consider making a donation of $25, $50, $100, or even more? Please keep in mind that any gift will help us towards our goal!

If you are willing to make a donation and/or pray for our team, please fill out the commitment card and send it back to us within the enclosed envelope. All funds are due to AIA before December 1st.

(Or you can give securely online at http://give.cru.org/0667823)

Thank you so much!!

Mike

Our family to South Africa!

I (Mike) have been asked by Athletes in Action (AIA) to assist with the first ever pro soccer mission trip going to Johannesburg, South Africa this December! We will be taking professional soccer players from North America to partner with Athletes in Action SA staff to help build relationships with soccer players, fans, coaches, and officials to help accelerate their ministries.

Also, our whole family is able to go! We are thrilled for the opportunity to involved our kids in overseas projects. Tonya will be doing communication for the project and our kids will assist as equipment managers.

During the trip (Dec 5-17), our group will work alongside the players and their families to share the love of Jesus through soccer. We will help facilitate soccer clinics for kids, distribute water and aid within townships, and help start soccer ministries in various cities.

We each need to raise $2500 to participate. This money will cover our airfare, living expenses, and the equipment the group will need for our outreaches. Would you consider making a donation of $25, $50, $100, or even more? Please keep in mind that any gift will help us towards our goal!

If you are willing to make a donation and/or pray for our team, please fill out the commitment card and send it back to us within the enclosed envelope. All funds are due to AIA before December 1st.

(Or you can give securely online at http://give.cru.org/0667823)

Thank you so much for your consideration!

Sincerely,

Mike

Who said this?

'Few of their children in the country learn English. The signs in ourstreets have inscriptions in both languages. Unless the streamof importation could be turned they will soon so outnumber us that all theadvantages we have will not be able to preserve our language, and even ourgovernment will become precarious'.

Who said this?

It was Ben Franklin, deploring the wave of Germans pouring into the colony ofPennsylvania in the 1750's. 

http://www.historycarper.com/resources/twobf2/letter18.htm

Hey, wait... I'm German! 

It reminds me of things being said now about Mexican immigrants. There are so many myths that are so readily believed, much like Franklin did here. 

For a great source on many of those myths see The Justice for Immigrants link below.

If all these false suppositions were boiled down, it reveals a deadly and profound and ungodly disease often referred to as the "us vs. them" mentality.

They are us and we are them. Be it Germans, Mexicans, Polish, Jews, Blacks, Persians or one per-centers, 99 per-centers or any other division we could come up with, the fact remains, God sent His only begotten som for all of us.

That and that alone should be the prevailing fact in how we perceive and relate to each other.

Then we can deal with the whole denomination issue!

http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/documents/immigration-myths.pdf