High Hopes - Global Connections

Michael Parker, a member of Ames Memorial UMC in Baltimore and Minister to Youth at John Wesley UMC in Baltimore, is currently a part of a student delegation traveling to several cities in South Africa. Here some of his reflections sent to me from South Africa on Friday, July 10, 2009.


"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice EVERYWHERE!" - The Late Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.

I decided to also send this to my District Superintendant to give him an idea of what we are doing over here. I know he will enjoy this because he is HUGE on Social Justice and Inner City Ministry. So, today was quite the adventure and experience. I have about 5 pages of notes from today's visitations, which were the Central Methodist Church and the Apartheid Museum. I will write about them each separately.Our first site visit was to the Central Methodist Church in the inner city of Joburg. The church is pastored by Bishop Paul Verryn, who also serves as Episcopal Leader (or Presiding Bishop) for the area. Bishop Verryn is the man!!! He has opened the doors of his church to over 3000 refugees from Zimbabwe. When I say "opened his doors" I don't mean that he welcomes them or greeted them. I mean he has literally opened the doors of the church to them to live inside the actual building. Yes!!! 3000+ individuals live in the actual church building, occupying EVERY room in the church as living quarters, Main Sanctuary included. Those that can't fit in the church sleep outside the church on the sidewalks. Now, Bishop has not received accolades or commendations for his action. In fact, he has received TOTAL opposite. A few months ago the South African Police Department raided the church and arrested over 300 of the refugees, including two pregnant women and a blind man. As we entered this church building, it was apparent that the building is in bad shape. There was trash everywhere. Bags and bags of clothes lined every hallway, closet, window ledge, and many landings. Those that weren't occupied by bags and personal items were being occupied by people, adults, children, the elderly, and even children. My heart melted as we stepped over people asleep on steps and balled up in corners. As we climbed the steps to the fifth floor office, I clearly heard God say, "Could you and would you trust and serve me if I sent you here?" I literally had to fight back the tears. We had the honor of meeting Bishop, who spent about 20 minutes talking to us about what's going on there. He started by saying, "violence is an infection." He went on to tell us that the refugees are there because they fled from the upheaval which is occurring in Zimbabwe. No one else would assist or take them in, so he felt called to be prophetic and do so, at a MAJOR cost. He was been threatened. The police have come by and sprayed these people with sewage water and human waste products. They have and continue to be beaten. The children are being rapped because the president here has made a public statement that to rid oneself of HIV/AIDS, have sexual intercourse with a virgin and take a shower!!! Needless to say, these people have limited resources and next to no income. Healthcare is a major problem for them. Bishop has partnerships with a few medical agencies, but the increase in disease and illness rise. Since their arrival, they have had four deaths, three of which were babies!!! Bishop has instituted a full-time school right in the church to educate the refugees, children and adults. In addition, he holds service DAILY at 7pm, which draws a crowd of over 1000 each night. And, he presides over a whole slab of churches. Talk about faith. We walked into a nursery which had babies literally laying on the dirty, cold floor. We walked into a chapel turned classroom which had two grades occupying the space. There were also two classes being held in the Main Sanctuary. The most disheartening stop was in the kitchen. When we walked in it was totally dark, and mothers were struggling to change diapers, feed babies (many of them newborns), and prepare food for the entire group. They were able to fix the light problem, and we were then enabled to look at the faces of these people. One of our group members was asked, "Why didn't you bring any clothes? We really need clothes." I watched a mom try to console her baby and just wanted to grab the baby and walk him around. I was stunned to the point that I felt empty inside. We were then led to a classroom where children were being taught the fundamentals of typing. That was sigh of relief. So often we think our problems and set back are the worse the world has ever seen, but God has an interesting way of showing us otherwise. In comparison to the current situation of these folk, we have dream lives. It's funny because when we first went to Diesploot and saw the conditions there I thought that was the worse. Even that is a palace compared to what I saw today, and most of you saw the pictures of Diesploot (the shacks and children walking around). I left there with so many emotions running through me, from being sad, to being angry, to being repentant, to being confused. As I tried to reflect spiritually about it, God brought to me Galatians 6:7, "you shall reap what you sow." If we sow love, generosity, compassion, we can expect to reap the same. However, if we sow anger, violence, disrespect, and violence, we can expect to reap that. The reality is that at any moment South Africans (and the rest of the world) could be in the situation that the Zimbabweans find themselves. It's only God's grace that they and we are not. I don't care what we think of anyone, they still deserve to be treated with respect and love. At the end of the day, we are all connected through the bonds of humanity. These are humans I am talking about not animals. The even sadder thing is that the Church (universally speaking) has not stepped up and made a prophetic (comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable) stand and declaration against this. There is no reason that Bishop Verryn should have to stand alone, but as Dr. King said, "in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends." It makes me think of the injustices I see going on at home that I have not spoken out against, such as homelessness and the fact that there are people who will be sleeping across from City Hall tonight, such as hate crimes towards certain races, genderism, and those that live alternative lifestyles, such as the fact that Baltimore City is closing schools faster than they are opening them. Like the three babies that have died at Central Church, who will cry out for these people? Who will break their silence and be the voice in the wilderness?

So, we left there and headed towards the Apartheid Museum. We saw a great exhibit on Nelson Mandela and many interesting facts and artifacts about the Apartheid. When we arrived, we were issued ID badges. Some said "WHITE," and others said "NON-WHITE." We had to enter the museum according to the classification you were given. Each classification had its own entrance. Sound familiar? This was done to give us the sense of how people lived just 15 years ago here. We saw photos of people hanging from trees. We saw people being beaten and attacked. We saw employment inequality. We saw racism at its highest point. I had no choice but to consider the fact that if I lived here, I would have had to endure 10 years of this. There were many powerful images here. The most powerful thing for me at the museum were the hundreds of quotes we saw. A lot of them hit me at the core. I will list a few for you to chew on...

"To be free is not merely to cast off ones chains but to live in a way that enhances and respects the freedom of others."(Nelson Mandela)

"I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds there are many more hills to climb."(Nelson Mandela)

Hope in Hard Times - Ministry with the Homeless

The following article appeared in the June 24, 2009 edition of Leading Ideas produced by the Lewis Leadership Center at Wesley Theological Seminary (www.churchleadership.com).

Leading a Ministry with Homeless People By Rudy Rasmus

When Jesus walked on earth, he taught about the kingdom while he healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, and fed the hungry. Today, we are called to meet the physical as well as the spiritual needs of people—all people—in our communities. In fact, hurting and hungry people won’t believe we care if they only hear our words but don’t see our actions to provide tangible help for them.

Many of us drive by hurting, hungry, and homeless people every day without giving them a second thought, but when God touches our hearts and motivates us to care for "the least of these," we want to get involved. In fact, we have to get involved because we have a sense of urgency to help them. But we shouldn’t rush into this ministry. We need to do our homework, clarify our goals, and find good resources so that our efforts will be successful. To have a strong, vibrant ministry to the homeless, incorporate these five "Cs":

Common Sense. The streets are a tough place with real risks. Many street people are courteous and kind, but some are addicts who consider robbing people because they desperately need money for their next hit; some are unstable because they suffer from chronic mental illnesses; and some are hiding from the police or parole officers because they have broken the law. Be aware of your surroundings and go in teams, with a good blend of men and women to be sure women aren’t unnecessarily vulnerable. Early in our work with homeless people around St. John’s, some of our volunteers were robbed so we hired security guards for our homeless ministry.

Collaboration. Local government and non-profit agencies offer a wide variety of resources for hungry and homeless people, such as mental health services, clothing, food, and legal assistance. Discover the help that’s available, and team with agencies that can assist your efforts. These agencies have been providing assistance to the disadvantaged in your community for years. Enlist them to train your volunteers and ask for their advice as you clarify your strategy for your ministry.

Commitment. People on the street may look like they don’t have a clue, but they can tell if people who come to help them genuinely care, or if they are on a one-time social experiment to earn a merit badge. For this reason, be sure that the leadership of the church "own" this ministry and give plenty of emotional, spiritual, and tangible support to those who are helping the homeless. Blending spiritual care with physical assistance is a powerful ministry, but most homeless people trust others very reluctantly. It will take time and tenacity to earn their trust.

Consistency. Look for people, agencies, and corporate partners who will join you for the long haul in this ministry. People on the street need to see familiar faces on a regular basis so they can believe that you truly care about them. As they see you and your team as consistent and reliable, you’ll earn their respect. At that point, they might listen to your message of hope and forgiveness, and they might take steps based on your loving advice.

Contributions. Donations to this ministry come in all shapes, in all sizes, and from all sources. Our church’s confirmation classes collect socks and warm caps each winter to give to homeless people. Others give toys, clothes, blankets, and money to meet needs of street people. St. John’s has a corporate partner whose employees give their time one day each month to feed the homeless. Look for additional sources of help from other non-profits and businesses in your community. Make the need known, and ask people to be generous.

Beginning and developing a ministry to homeless people on the street is rewarding, but it can also be exhausting. Set clear goals and establish a workable strategy. Ask plenty of questions, build a great team, and look for resources to help you. If your heart is broken because you see the needs of men, women, boys, and girls on the street, enlist the leaders of your church to pray and help you communicate God’s love in a tangible way to those who desperately need it. As God leads you to build your team and find resources, take action to touch the lives of "the least of these." It will be one of the most fulfilling things you’ve ever done.

Rudy Rasmus is co-pastor with Juanita Rasmus of St. John’s Downtown United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. This congregation has grown to thousands of worshippers in recent years. Often a third or more of the worshippers are homeless or formerly homeless. The two articles in this issue are adapted from his book, Touch: Pressing Against the Wounds of a Broken World, (Thomas Nelson, 2007) and used with the author’s permission. Touch: Pressing Against the Wounds of a Broken World can be purchased at Amazon or Cokesbury.

Hope in Hard Times - Manna House

"The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a habitable land..." (Exo. 16:35)

Among the many organizations doing important work in service to the people of Baltimore is Manna House whose stated mission is "To offer assistance and support to the homeless, poor and needy of Baltimore with services contributing toward their independence and stability." On a recent visit, it was shared with those of us who were there that Manna House has been in existence for over 43 years, and today serves over 175 persons per day with services such as hot meals, clothing, showers, and health screenings. We also learned that there continues to be a need for support from church and community organizations, as well individual volunteers and donors. To find out more about Manna House, go to their website at www.mannahouseinc.org. May God continue to bless those who serve the poor and powerless in the city.

High Hopes - It Takes a Village

I recently received information on an exciting and powerful partnership between the Women of Good Shepherd UMC, an inner city Baltimore church - and the The Community School of Baltimore.

In late 2008, the women began their partnership with the school which is an academic and mentoring program, based in the Remington Community of Baltimore City, for 14 young people who want to advance their education, improve their lives, and better their community. Upon leaving a visit school last summer, the women were moved to support the teens, ranging in age from 15-18 years in every way possible. A decision to “adopt” the school for one full year resulted in monthly visits with programs and donations by the Good Shepherd UMC membership. Included among Good Shepherd’s support were trick or treat bags for Halloween, warm apple pies for Thanksgiving, Christmas gift bags that brought surprises (and resulted in hugs from the students), spaghetti lunches, and financial backing for a student learning trip to Canada and Niagara Falls.

The Hampden/Woodberry/Remington/Mt. Washington Community US-2 worker, Greg Little (who lives in the Good Shepherd UMC Mission House), has become a volunteer tutor for the school, and works there every Thursday afternoon. The women report that the children of the school and Good Shepherd volunteers have laughed together, shed tears of joy, and have been surprised and amazed by each other. They share that it has been a fantastic year, watching the children change, grow, mature, and respond to the adults from Good Shepherd UMC with warm smiles and hugs, hugs, and more hugs. On May 31, 2009, five volunteers from Good Shepherd UMC, Rev. Amy Lewis, and Greg Little were invited to the Closing Year Ceremony for The Community School of Baltimore, held at The Glass Pavilion at Johns Hopkins University.

Finally, the Women of Good Shepherd report that this effort has been the most fulfilling adventure ever undertaken by the circle of women. “We came to give, and we received. We came to make changes, and were changed. We came to love, and we have been ‘out-loved’ at every opportunity. Our original plan to adopt the school for one year has changed BIG TIME. We now want “full custody!”

High Hopes - Discipleship

Check out the General Board of Discipleship pod casts on discipleship at http://methodistdisciple.podbean.com/. These are based on Dr. Craig Miller's recent book The 7 Myths of the United Methodist Church and feature several leading urban practitioners, including Tyrone Gordon (St. Luke's UMC, Dallas), Rudy Rasmus (St. John's UMC, Houston) and Duane Anders (Stillwater UMC, Dayton). It's good stuff...

A Prayer for Baltimore

The lead article in the Baltimore Sun today points out that Baltimore leads the nation in homicides, and is, according to data compiled by the FBI the most dangerous large city in the nation. While the city had fewer killings last year than in any other in the past 20 years, Baltimore's murder rate was the highest among cities with a population of more than 500,000. There were 37 murders per 100,00 residents compared to Detroit which had 34 per 100,000 residents, and ranked second. This year, in Baltimore, there have been 95 murders to-date compared to 82 during the same period last year.

The church's first calling is one of continuing to pray for each of those families affected by violence, and to pray for those responsible for leading the city and its communities. May God grant us the courage and wisdom in the days ahead to address the violence that affects all in the city.

Crisis in the Village-The Challenge of Restoring Hope

Dr. Robert Franklin, the president of Morehouse College in Atlanta in his most recent book, points to what he refers to as Crisis in the Village. For Franklin, the challenges facing many of our communities today are contradictory to the very nature of the foundations upon which communities have historically been shaped. Franklin, himself a product of the South-side of Chicago near the Robert Taylor Homes, which before its demolition was the largest public housing project in the world, points out that much of the demise and crisis in the proverbial village today is evident in the lives of our children.

Franklin shares the sentiments of Dr. Marion Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund. Edelman states: "We are at risk of letting our children drown in the bathwater of American materialism, greed and violence. We must regain our spiritual bearings and roots and help America recover hers before millions more children – Black, Brown, and white poor, middle-class and rich – self-destruct or grow up thinking life is about acquiring rather than sharing, selfishness rather than sacrifice, and material rather than spiritual wealth..."[i]

Marion Wright Edelman goes on to state that we must learn to reweave the rich fabric of community for our children and to re-install the values and sense of purpose our elders and mentors have always embraced… A massive new movement must well up from every nook, cranny, and place in our community involving millions of parents; religious, civic, educational, business, and political leaders; and youths themselves.[ii]



[i] Robert Franklin, Crisis in the Village: Restoring Hope in African American Communities (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007), p 20.
[ii] Ibid., 21.