Computer down

Hey everyone,
If you're reading this I thank you for caring enough to keep checking in on my blog. I was away last week and even wanted to post, but my computer crashed on day 1 of vacation, and I was unable to. I'm still offline, so please check in periodically to catch the news when things get straightened out.

--ed.

Syd kissing Aunt Ariel goodbye

Opened Eyes

On Sunday my sister, Ariel Rainey, preached at PAG. It was a message that had been growing on her heart for sometime, and it was I'm sure a difficult message to preach. You can easily shake the dust from your feet when you preach in an environment where no one knows you, but to preach to people you've grown up with, or played in thier backyards... That must be altogether harder.

Her message was on racial ingorance (not to be confused with the common Baltimore word "ignert") and missions. Not around the world, but right here at home. Her challenge was that demographically Anne Arundel county is changing to include less white families and more minority families, and yet PAG has stayed the same. (almost 100% white) It was not Ariel's contention that there was an overt racism rampant in our body, but much more subtly there was an ignorance of the missionfield in other races for us as Christians.

She conceeded that it is only natural to group among those who are similar, but the gospel wasn't intended for only those similar to us rather to everyone. Her proof text was Acts 1:8 (the bedrock text of any A/G church) Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the world. The Samaritan part of the equation was probably a difficulty for the disciples. There were some similarities, like language, but most of the cultural uniqueness of the Jewish people had been long abandoned by the Samaritans and the Jews wanted nothing to do with them. In light of the imigration problem in our country and an underlying proof (look at the pews) that we're not reaching out to people of other ethinicity, there is a demonstrated ignorance of others.

I was challenged by this message. I'm not a racist. I love people of all colors and have friendships with many of different races, but in the comfort of my church I have developed a blind spot for other races. They're welcome, I just don't invite them.

This is the part that really showed up on my radar Sunday. Ariel related that as an american missionary in France she was all alone. There was no one who is a native English (American) speaker. And based on the discrimination she has felt and received in France, she asks the question, "If I was lost, would any of these french wittness to me?" The answer is NO. Anytime we ignore someone because they are different, any time we cassually dismiss someone, or racially prejudize someone we as Christians are essentially saying, "You can go to hell, because you're not worth the gospel." I've been inviting a neighbor of mine for house 2 house (a neighborhood outreach) and things keep coming up to keep him away, but Sunday I thought about a Latino family that lives about 6 houses away. I realized that I'm not sure that I've ever seen another car come and visit them. I have an awareness of everyone else receiving guests, but not this family. What if they feel as lonely as Ariel does in France. What if I ignore them like she is ignored in France. They had never even entered my mind as people with whom to share the gospel.

This is not a post about "white guilt" (with respect to Shelby Steele). It is about the challenge of the gospel. Are we aware of the needs of others for Christ?

I received an e-mail from a missionary friend who had found out about the church plant. She said that she was glad for it, but knew the area. She hoped that SRC would not be an ordinary church. Our target area has enough of those. She hoped that we would reach out to those that the ordinary church were ignoring. The ones that the ordinary church didn't really want. I immediately thought, "Yeah, like the kid with the blue hair, or the one with the spiked collar." You know who I was thinking of reaching in our area? Rich white kids. Ordinary.

I hope that I'll open my eyes to Samaria. Holy Spirit help me. (Isn't that what Acts 1:8 is about?)

--Ben

His Name is "God Will Provide"

Today I'm proposing our $102,000.00 annual budget for approval by our oversight board. (the deacon board of PAG) Budgeting is a written plan that makes your money work for you. (It shouldn't be to make you work for your money) God is more than able to provide this money for Severn River Church. Let me tell you what he's already done.

1. Currently SRC has $12,000+ in the bank.
2. Some churches have already partnered with monthly pledges. (I believe more will as we launch)
3. God has given us a dedicated launch team.
4. A special story...

Yesterday, someone gave me a check. They knew about our need as a church,
and went to their business and asked that the business make a tax deductable
donation to SRC. She was dissapointed and apologized that there wasn't
more, and handed me a check for $1000.00. I was blown away. I told
her that the amount was fine, and that God was going to supply all we
need. I believe He will.

If you would like to help, please solicit donations to be paid to Pasadena A/G and memo the check "SRC". It will be given entirely to our church and will qualify for a tax deduction and home missions credit with the Potomac District of the A/G.

She laughed at me

Last night I met with Janet Reinhardt. She is our Large Group manager, and is in charge of our Large group gatherings. We met to put together an equipment list, and go over other responsibilities she has .

We started by walking through the strategic plan. This is a written snapshot of what the service should look like in 3 months. As we were going through it she started to laugh at me. She said, "I've never known anyone who can articulate their imagination on paper." Then she laughed again.

Just because I want the music at SRC to be inspiring like U2's "Still haven't found" or Casting Crowns lifesong...

Anyway, I'd like to believe that I could put my imagination down on paper. I take it as a compliment. Habbakuk was told by God to write clearly the vision that he would see so that everyone would know what it looked like. That's what I'm trying to do. For experts in this consult Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Rowling.

--Ben

Meeting with Drew

Yesterday I had a meeting with Drew. Drew is our Technologist. His responsibilities include overseeing the website, and use of Technology in our large group gatherings. We talked about what that might look like, and I felt we had a good discussion of ideas, which he had worked on by the time he saw me later that night.

Now Drew works for a government contractor and invited me to his building to come and visit. He gave me the address, and said, "I'll let you map your own directions" Which is great except that Google maps told me to exit off 295 on the NSA exit. Yes, that's the one that says, "EMPLOYEES ONLY". But I had google maps! It clearly showed that at the top of the ramp I would make a right, and the building would be not far. So I exited, came to the top of the ramp, and saw a sign that says, "No Right Turn". So I bore to the left hoping that there would be some kind of traffic circle to bring me around, only to find that I was corralled into the clutches of meeting with the Police of our National Security Agency. They were very kind, and after a discussion on the reason for my visit, they let me go. Although, I think there have been black helicopters following me ever since. No really it was fun, I think anyone who has grown up in this area, and is starting a church here, ought to get off on that exit, just for the experience.

Anyways, I went and met with Drew. He wanted to know why I was late. I told him that I was dealing with matters of National Security. He roled his eyes.

--Ben

Open Letter to Matt and Laurie

Matt and Laurie, we missed you last night. I wished that you could have been there. It was a very special meeting. A bit of a change of pace. Last night we discussed our core value of missions, and hosted Ariel Rainey (missionary to France)to talk about missions and being a missionary. She spoke for about 50 minutes and then we discussed what it would look like to value missions. It was great because last week we discussed our value of "growth", and we believe that Growth and Missions are linked. The more we give and participate in missions worldwide, the more our mission at home will be blessed. A lot of people there last night left with a whole new perspective of missions, and a heart to support missions around the world.

Congrats!!

On Saturday, our church had the first of many special experiences. Two of our Launch team, Andy and Sarah, got married. We officially have 2 less singles now, and have added another couple.

We're very proud of you, and love you very much.

(It should be added that Sarah is my sister.)