During these past two years at Mission Adelante, I have learned many new things and I’ve grown in many different ways...
Where Do We Go From Here?
I M A G O D E I
Special Eight-Week Series:
Where Do We Go From Here?
by, Darryl Answer, Co-Pastor of New Community Church
In 1967 Dr. Martin Luther King asked a question in the title of his book “Where do we go from here: Chaos or Community?” Though that book was written 53 years ago, this question is hauntingly relevant in our current moment of heightened racial tensions, not only in America, but in other nations where White Supremacy continues to be the framework that people of color must navigate and even survive. As I have pondered Dr. King's question, read the words of the Biblical and modern-day prophets, cried with my black and brown sisters and brothers, I humbly submit my answers to the question, “Where do we go from here?”
Repent (of white supremacy):
The Greek word for repent is Metanoia. This is not only a turning from old behaviors that are out of alignment with God (sin), but it is a change of mind, a paradigm shift. It is an invitation to see with new eyes, and in doing so move forward with renewed vision and purpose. When it comes to conversations about race, for some there is a visceral reaction to the words “white supremacy.” It conjures up for many images of burning crosses, men in white hoods, and the lynching of black bodies.
These overt displays of racism feel far removed from our current realities in 21st century America, but if we look at white supremacy with eyes of repentance, we will recognize how this social construction has shaped our current reality inside and outside the church. With new eyes, we will see how white supremacy not only dictates our racially segregated neighborhoods and schools, but also our racially segregated pews and pulpits. With new eyes, we will seek righteousness and do justice in ways that center those on the margins and does away with white saviorism. With new eyes, we will see all people as image-bearers of God, and no longer live into our racial hierarchies.
When we become a people who are on a journey of repentance, we will see better, we will know better, and we will do better.
Listen (to women of color):
In light of our current moment, there has been a desire to learn more about how race and white supremacy have led us to this moment. There has been a surge in racial bias trainings, book clubs, and webinars, all with the desire for knowledge that for the first time will result in racial healing. I am grateful for this. In this moment I have witnessed my wife go deeper into her studies as a white woman desiring to engage other white folks who are resistant to the work of uprooting white supremacy. In the midst of this mad dash to learn, I have noticed that the elevated voices, those who are often quoted and asked to speak, those whose books are sold out or on back order, are white. The sad reality is that in the midst of our racial endemic, white people who desire to learn are more likely to listen to other white people. This too is a form of white supremacy. There are many reasons for this, but what I want to encourage white people to do is listen to People of Color. Especially Women of Color. Our African American, Latina, Asian American, and Native sisters continue to be overlooked in the fight for justice while they are the very ones putting their bodies on the line day in day out for freedom. There are incredible female thinkers, pastors, and leaders who you need to follow on social media, read, and watch. A few of those names are Michelle Higgins, Chanequa Walker-Barnes, Andrea Smith, Angie Hong, Kathy Khang, Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, and Bethany Rivera Molinar.
If you are serious about your church or ministry engaging in the work of racial righteousness and justice, I strongly encourage you to listen to those closest to the struggle, those being our sisters of color.
Move (beyond neutrality to “anti-racist”):
Our current moment demands the church do better. We must move beyond racial neutrality to anti-racism. As a black man in America, I can honestly say that churches who maintain the posture of neutrality end up being oppressive spaces where people of color feel tokenized but not heard. We are invited to the (white) table but are unable to bring our full selves. Our bodies are welcome, not our voice, power, leadership, culture, etc. We are traumatized by your white silence. Do you see us?
One way we can be anti-racist, especially in this moment is to be in solidarity with those who have experienced and are in opposition to police brutality. Too many times, in moments when people are rising up, seeking justice, and working towards true peace for all, the church creates parallel movements. These movements can be prayer gatherings, marches, and rallies that don’t include the marginalized, but take place in partnership with those in power. This may be unintentional, but in this pursuit of “peace” what we are really doing is undermining the true work for justice, part of which is exposing and disrupting evil to create a better future. The church must be careful not to resist the resistance taking place in our streets. We should be the prophetic witness that calls out “Empire” and invites people into the alternative community known as the Kingdom of God. To be about kingdom work is to be anti-racist. What will this look like for you personally, in your family, your workplace, where you study, or your ministry?
So, where do we go from here? How do we move toward God’s vision for our churches in light of our racialized society? We must begin with repentance, uprooting white supremacy in our churches. We must listen to and value people of color who are experts in this field, especially Black women. We must become anti-racist in all areas of our lives and ministries because neutrality is killing our witness. White supremacy has blinded the eyes of many in the white church and has broken the bodies of many people of color. The reality is we all suffer from this racial endemic, but I remain hopeful because my Lord left the throne of heaven to become poor, marginalized, and afflicted under the Roman regime. He was beaten. He was executed on a cross like a criminal. But, on the third day, he rose in victory. Like the old hymn says, “Because he lives, I can face tomorrow,” and with that hope in my heart I press on to be part of the community He gave his life for.
About the Author
Darryl Answer was born and raised in London, England. He is currently co-pastor of New Community Church, a recent church plant in Kansas City, MO. Darryl has served in a variety of leadership roles within churches, non-profit organizations, and in community development. Darryl also provides consulting and training for organizations and churches in the areas of Racial Justice and Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). Darryl and his wife, Stephanie, live in the Kansas City with their two children, Jaidyn and Kian.
This is the final Adelante Express dedicated to exploring themes related to the concept of the Imago Dei and racial justice. We hope this series has caused you to think about and explore what it means to love our neighbor and see the image of God in them.
Racial Trauma and Black Resilience
I M A G O D E I
Special Eight-Week Series:
Racial Trauma and Black Resilience
by, Kori Carew, Mission Adelante Board Member, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer Seyfarth Shaw LLP, and Founder/Speaker Bridge 68 LLC
Like many, I have felt rage, sorrow, grief, fear, despair, hopelessness, helplessness, and anxiety from uncertainty-and even questioned my work and impact in this world since May 25. I cried myself to sleep on May 26 and did not wake up the next day feeling any better. In fact, I struggled through the work day. I later learned that my experience was not unique as Black people all over the world found it hard to function in the days after George Floyd was callously killed on camera, his breath snuffed out over 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
As a Christian who is Black, I turn to Christ and my church family in good times and in bad. And yet over the years, it has become increasingly hard to turn to my church family. In fact, I have questioned, do I have a church family? Do I belong? Way too often the answer has been no. Way too often the reception has been one of denial or centering white comfort.
All around you, your Black colleagues, family, and friends have had to struggle through being professional as they show up to work every day and are not doing okay. We are not okay. The impact of systemic racism and the violence that we know has always been there is now captured on phones for all to see. And because of 24-hour news cycles, repeat viewing (often unintentional) we experience trauma, stress, and anxiety.
In the weeks since George Floyd’s murder, the country has been engulfed in a racial awakening. I have watched the larger faith community continue to struggle to find its voice. On one hand, it was affirming to see many churches take firm, bold, and unapologetic stands decrying systemic racism, decrying police brutality, and some even owning the failure of the White Evangelical church to proactively address White supremacy in the church. As in prior incidents of racial terror and dehumanization however, it was also painful to also see many churches remain silent, or offer weak statements that included equivocation.
My story is not universal, but I also know my pain and disappointment at the failure of the church to step up and stand up for Black lives, racial justice, and racial reconciliation has felt like an abandonment. The posture of not strongly addressing racism as part and parcel of the call for us to love our neighbors as Christ loves us has communicated that we, as people, are loveable only in as much as our pain, our experiences, and the injustice we experience can be hidden from view and discussion. In this, we continue to fail. You cannot love a person you won’t see and grow to know. As people, we are not visible if we must conform. Belonging requires authenticity and that we bring our whole selves. This is true in our families, our churches, and in our workplaces. This is why every time we show up on Sunday after yet another racial tragedy and there is silence from the pulpit, we hurt.
Some Christians hide behind a theology that says we need only love each other and racism will disappear. To those, I say, “God asks us to do the work”. We are here, as His representatives, to do the work. God shows up in those around us, through us. We must remember that the same God who told us the Holy Spirit will always be with us to guide us also told us, through apostle Paul, that we must continue to renew our mind. And guess what? We are not showing up when we choose not to confront interpersonal and systemic racism.
In the last several weeks, I have read think pieces claiming the current movement for Black lives and justice is worldly and not from God. I have read pieces decrying all sorts of things -- from Critical Race Theory to the organization Black Lives Matter. From these same people, I have NOT seen their alternative approach or their engagement in the fight for justice. I see criticism with no accompanying action. I hear excuses and deflection and no love.
Racism, like shame, hides behind silence and grows in the dark. Our unwillingness to speak of it, to deconstruct it, and to stand in the discomfort of what our deconstruction unearths allows it to continue to permeate our institutions, beliefs, and churches. Believe me when I tell you that White Supremacy is still in the church.
Despite the failure of your country and our church to adequately stand up for Black lives, Black people continue to epitomize resilience. From slavery until today, we see a people who deal with racial trauma and continue to keep trying. Our country demands of Black people a constant reassurance of forgiveness. In fact, in our churches, the stories we love to tell to highlight reconciliation seem to be the ones where Black people instantly forgive racial aggression. There is nothing wrong with forgiveness. However, it is the unwritten expectation of forgiveness from this one group of people, more than any other, that is problematic.
Black resilience shows up in the fact that many a Black Christian has made space to listen to their White Brethren and Sistren tell them how shocked they are at how bad things continue to be. We have held space for our White brothers to wax poetic about Critical Race Theory and its flaws, while saying nothing about Black blood spilled in the street. We’ve sat to explain why a sensitivity to the words White Supremacy should not negate a commitment to fight for equality, if you are a true ally. And yet Black Christians continue to do this -- make space, get back up again, even while dealing with their own racial trauma. The trauma from racism, the repeated acts of racism we face daily, from micro-inequities to explicit violent bias, impact us physically, mentally, and psychologically. And yet, we get up, we go to work, and we go to church and worship, often with fellow Christians who may not even acknowledge what is happening around them when it comes to race.
Two weeks ago I was on a town hall video webinar for a bar association with a global footprint. We were discussing racism, allyship, and policing. We were “Zoom-bombed” by people who used violent language towards us. We were called Nigger Apes and more. My family was threatened. It was awful and those on the video webinar were visibly shaken and upset. The speakers, all Black professionals, stayed calm and finished the program. I went back to work. Work for me is making space for difficult conversations, focusing on policy changes to create equity, strategic planning, counseling, mentoring, coaching, interrupting systemic problems that lead to inequity, teaching, designing educational curriculum, wiping tears, and the list goes on. You can bet that with the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial pandemic work has meant longer hours, more stress, more demands, and more needs for strong leadership. And like millions of Black people, I go back to doing myself after being threatened and verbally abused with words that, for hundreds of years, have been used to instill fear and humiliation.
The work that remains to be done is not about hearing more stories of black pain and trauma. The work that remains to be done is for the church to hurt the way God’s heart hurts around racial injustice and inequity. The work that remains to be done is for us to move from thoughts and prayers to action. I have said this before and strongly believe that the church is Plan A. Let’s be Plan A.
Over the next eight weeks, we will dedicate our Adelante Express to exploring themes related to the concept of the Imago Dei and racial justice. We invite you to follow this series and explore what it means to love our neighbor and see the image of God in them.
I'm White and This Conversation Is Hard
I M A G O D E I
Special Eight-Week Series:
I’m White and This Conversation Is Hard
by, Jarrett Meek, Founder/Pastor/Executive Director
So, you’re White and you’re feeling frustrated and uncomfortable with all the racial tension happening in our country right now. You are against racism, but you don’t like the tone of the discussion or some of the things that are happening at the protests. You recognize there’s a problem with racism in our country still, but you’re skeptical about “systemic racism”, and you are very uncomfortable with rhetoric that makes you feel guilty for being White. You’re at a loss for how to respond, because so much of what you hear doesn’t fit with your own experience, and it seems that anything you say or do will be misinterpreted and you’ll end up being labeled a racist. So how can someone like you learn, engage, and contribute to solutions on issues of racial justice? In this edition of our Imago Dei series, I would like to lay out a few important lessons I’ve learned in my own personal journey.
Embrace the Discomfort: The devastation that racism has caused in our country is far beyond what most White people can imagine or have begun to process. There is simply no nice, clean, tidy, or orderly way to address it. Truly engaging in the issue of racism is like walking into a city recently destroyed by war- if we think we can walk through clean and unscathed, with our khaki shorts and flip-flops, we are in for a shocking surprise. As White people, we mostly see racism from a distance. If you really want to engage, you will need to be ready to confront the harsh and raw realities on the ground. And, what you see and hear on the ground may seem offensive to you and will challenge what you thought you knew about race in our country. Interestingly, even Dr. King, seen from a distance historically, is now universally praised. Despite what popular quotes and MLK day memes might lead you to believe, at the time- he was extremely polarizing and controversial. His movement sparked bombings, turned cities upside down, included marching on highways, and confrontations with police. I’m not suggesting that you shut off your discernment. However, if you find yourself often raising objections or finding fault, you might be lining up on the wrong side of the field. Your tolerance level for personal discomfort and the messiness of this struggle will have to increase a lot in order to be able to see, understand, and confront racial injustice in any meaningful way.
Learn to Recognize Racism in Yourself: So many White people shut down the conversation about race when they begin to perceive they are being implicated as part of the problem. Sometimes the message we hear is “White people are BAD!”. Rather than listen and process what is really being said, our defenses go up, and we shut down. The challenging truth in all of this is that we really can’t contribute much to progress on racism until we are able to see it in ourselves. It is sobering and painful to admit that we have somehow internalized a belief that we are better than others. However, this mentality is often just under the surface, and it seeps out in ways we often don’t even recognize. Unfortunately, if we can’t recognize our part in the problem, there is no way we can contribute meaningfully to any solutions. Engaging the discussion on racism requires us to take a Psalm 139 posture continuously: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” I lead a multicultural ministry and the only way I have been able to learn the lessons I’ve needed to learn on race is by being corrected. Those corrections have sometimes been painful, but they have been some of the most important catalysts for my personal, spiritual growth. I encourage you to embrace opportunities to explore where the ideology of White supremacy might be hiding in your own heart and mind.
Step Down from the Seat of Judgement: I’m going to say something that might be hard to hear- as a White person: It is unlikely that you have much expertise to add to the discussion on racial justice. Your experience and understanding is most likely theoretical and developed at a distance from the realities that really shape our current situation. We all would agree that there is a big difference between a person who has learned in a classroom and a person who has 30 years of experience in the field. It’s easy to find things we disagree with in any broad movement, but when our learning is done only theoretically, in the classroom (or worse, from the perspective of political commentary), we don’t have the necessary context to apply that learning appropriately. So, we can sound smart when we debate “Critical Race Theory” or cite “Black-on Black” crime statistics, but our understanding and experience is woefully lacking. Unfortunately, as humans, we don’t like to be wrong or for our ignorance to be exposed. And as White people, we are used to taking a superior position of judgment when it comes to other racial groups. If we truly want to learn and contribute meaningfully to progress on racial justice, we must learn to listen to Black leaders, especially Christians, who are actively engaged in racial justice work. As a side note, latching on to Black voices whose views confirm your own but represent only a small percentage of the Black perspective probably won’t get you where you need to go.
Understand the Importance of Justice in Reconciliation: Do you remember the Promise Keepers movement? They were an organization in the 1990s that encouraged men to be more godly husbands. Part of the Promise Keepers movement included a strong emphasis on racial reconciliation. I attended some of their stadium events and was greatly encouraged by them. Unfortunately, the movement did not produce the kind of lasting racial reconciliation that would be visible today. I believe one reason has to do with the critical relationship between racial justice and racial reconciliation. Many White Christians are longing for unity as their Black brothers and sisters struggle under inequities and injustices that we refuse to see and neglect to address. How can genuine reconciliation occur if White Christians will not join our Black brothers and sisters in their struggle for justice? Is it right to place all the emphasis on unity when the injustices faced by our Black neighbors have a generational link to our own prosperity? Yes, God is a God of reconciliation. But, friends, we must recognize that asking for a unity that doesn’t include justice for our brothers and sisters is cruel and wrong. Let our unity be bound together and validated in Christ by our practical, actionable concern and love for our neighbor.
One of the most meaningful areas of growth for me personally over the last 10 years has been the privilege of beginning to experience what I refer to as a “new we”. I have begun to have fellowship and unity with people of diverse backgrounds and races. Yes, I am still very much a work in progress when it comes to my own racial biases, but I have learned so many important lessons and I am experiencing the kind of racial reconciliation many of us say we want. My own journey has been uncomfortable at times- learning to see racial bias in myself has been confusing and frustrating. I’ve had to embrace my own lack of understanding and become primarily a learner on issues of race. And, I’ve come to understand that one of the most important keys to opening up the door to real reconciliation is joining the struggle for racial justice. It has been one big exercise in humility.
Over the next six weeks, we will dedicate our Adelante Express to exploring themes related to the concept of the Imago Dei and racial justice. We invite you to follow this series and explore what it means to love our neighbor and see the image of God in them.
Black Ministry Leaders in a White-Dominated Church World
I M A G O D E I
Special Six-Week Series:
Black Ministry Leaders in a White-Dominated Church World
by, Chuck Allen, Ministry Leader for 20+ Years
A Note from Jarrett Meek about the Author
Chuck Allen was one of the first names I heard when I moved to Wyandotte County to start Mission Adelante. “Have you met Chuck Allen yet?” “You’ve got to meet Chuck Allen!” Since then, our ministries have intersected many times and we’ve become friends and brothers. The Lord’s impact on our community through Chuck has been deep and significant. Reading the painful experiences he expresses in this article is both sad and disturbing. Unfortunately, Chuck is not the only minority ministry leader in Kansas City who has expressed these kinds of painful experiences to me. We have more work to do than we have even begun to understand.
Black Ministry Leaders in a White-Dominated Church World
Over the past several years, I have come to understand my position as a Black leader in a White-dominated Christian world as all but empowering. For too long, I lived in a space where many of my Christian brothers and sisters expected my compliance through my words and my actions in return for their money and resources.
I was born and raised in Wyandotte County Kansas (Kansas City) and when I left to attend Kansas State University, I said that I would never go back to what my young eyes saw as a broken, barren, and blighted community. Thirteen years after leaving, I returned with my wife and our four children to begin a ministry that would serve students and families of our community.
Wyandotte County is rich in diversity, creativity, intellect, and perseverance, but our people are poor financially. As a result, urban ministry leaders like myself go to great lengths to raise financial support, often at the expense of their own dignity.
The Parrot and The Mascot
Not long ago, a leader of a suburban church that supported our urban ministry voiced his disapproval towards posts I had made on social media. He ended his remarks with a threat “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” This was a warning that he and his church might stop supporting our ministry if I continued to speak and post on topics that made readers uncomfortable, i.e. posts that discussed racial injustices in America as well as within the Christian Church.
This was one of many experiences that solidified my conclusion that many, not all, White Christian leaders are only willing to give money to urban ministries if the leader exists as a parrot.
Most people are enamored by parrots, who are taught by their owners to mimic clever words and phrases. The owner will often take the bird out of its cage so his friends can get a closer look and hear more clearly the words its owner has taught it to say. This pattern of learning and memorization is impressive. As the parrot continues to impress, others might swoop in, teaching the bird new phrases, essentially tarnishing the special control between the owner and the bird. The bird’s voice, which no longer only repeats the owners, becomes a dangerous entity to the master, especially if the parrot begins to chirp nonsense from its beak. This seemingly obedient bird is only good when it repeats the master, and becomes embarrassing, shameful, and annoying when it speaks flaws or blurts out disparaging phrases that expose the owner. When this happens, the owner reprimands his parrot and then re-teaches him the ‘proper’ things to say. If the bird doesn’t change, he merely gets a new parrot, for there are many more to train at the pet store.
During my time as a ministry leader in a white-dominated church world, I have been reprimanded for being an outspoken, embarrassing parrot. Often, God’s resources were held hostage and the ransom was my compliance. But now, this once-caged bird sings a different song.
The Mascot
Different than the parrot who is either praised or reprimanded for what he says, a mascot is valued for his appearance and how he performs but is expected to remain silent. Playing the role of a mascot is particularly disempowering.
Some Black ministry leaders like myself have been nothing more than a mascot for some White ministries and their leaders. The role of a mascot is to be seen and not heard. Our picturesque presence and perky performance often deceive parishioners into believing their all White church is inclusive, welcoming, and most importantly, post-racial, when in fact our presence is merely a veil that covers the ugly truth that racism is still prevalent in White church culture.
When Blacks and/or other People of Color are used to increase a church’s social standing and/or soothe the consciousness of their practitioners it is both condescending and egregious. We are not parrots. We are not mascots.
Being a Black ministry leader in a White-dominated Church world is both tiring and frustrating. It shouldn’t be this way. Here are some things that you can do to change this.
Go beyond conversations about changing yourself and your church environment. Conversations should be joined with academic readings that expose our nation’s wretched treatment of People of Color. Academic readings should be joined with actions, i.e. participating in anti-racist events and financially supporting organizations that fight for change and justice within and outside of the church. Conversations without change communicate a lack of care to minority brothers and sisters.
If your only Black “friends” are urban ministry leaders, you may think you’re “woke” when in fact you are sleep-walking. Having lunch with a few Black folks once a month is not enough. If you really want to understand, make time to humbly and vulnerably enter into the pain that African Americans and many other racial minorities have and continue to endure.
Always give without expecting anything in return. This includes your time, money, energy, and resources.
Chuck Allen has been married for more than 26 years. He and his wife Tricia have four adult children and two grandchildren. He has served in urban ministry for more than 20 years.
Over the next six weeks, we will dedicate our Adelante Express to exploring themes related to the concept of the Imago Dei and racial justice. We invite you to follow this series and explore what it means to love our neighbor and see the image of God in them.
Racial Justice and the Gospel: Is There A Connection?
I M A G O D E I
Special Six-Week Series:
Racial Justice and the Gospel: Is There A Connection?
by, Luke Bobo, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Made to Flourish
Why is it Good News?
The gospel is good news!
That's true, but let’s go deeper. Why is the gospel good news? In Genesis 15:1-15, God cuts a covenant with a bewildered and impatient Abraham (and with all of his future descendants and that includes you and me as Romans 4:13-21 makes abundantly clear). The covenant cutting ceremony in this passage is remarkably eye-opening! Typically, the two parties cutting a covenant in the ancient near east (ANE) would walk the bloody path one at a time. As each party walked this blood-stained path, they were agreeing that if they went back on their word, they were doomed to suffer the same fate as these dead carcasses. However, in this ceremony, only God walks the bloody path (Genesis 15:17). Let that sink in for a moment. God commits to suffering the same fate as these dead carcasses if he goes back on his covenant promises to Father Abraham.
Our personal testimonies, and the Bible’s testimony, reminds us that God is forever faithful and that he never goes back on his word because he never lies (Numbers 23:19). Rather, we are the unfaithful ones; we lie; we have betrayed God over and over again. We have not kept our side of the bargain. Our unfaithfulness, our multiple and egregious crimes against God, our break with the covenant demanded a punishment because God is just. In God’s impartial criminal justice system, we were found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Our sentence: death. We were placed on death row awaiting our execution.
My readers know that nearly 236 years ago, José Gabriel Condorcanqui – known as Túpac Amaru – and his wife, Commander Micaela Bastidas, Bartolina Sisa, and other heroes were viciously murdered by "civilized" Spaniards. The gospel is good news because Jesus, our hero, stepped forward as our penal substitution, he took our place on death row. Jesus was viciously murdered for our exoneration. And his death satisfied God’s wrath against us (1 John 2:2).
Our sinful criminal record has been expunged. Because Jesus died at our expense--because of our inclination to do evil--and because Jesus rose from the dead, we were freed from the tyranny of Satan, freed from the fear of death, and released from power and bondage of sin.
This is good news indeed.
Our Three-Fold Response
What should be our response to God clearing our guilty verdict and restoring us to right fellowship with him? What should be our response to God’s lavish grace? One, our response should be hearty “Yes!” I remember a preacher once said, “If Christ is your Lord, you can never say, ‘No’” to his plans and direction for your life. If God calls us to go to places we are unfamiliar with, we must say, “Yes.” If God calls us to speak for him, we must say, “Yes.” If Christ is our Savior and Master, we are his servants and we must avail ourselves to his purposes, no questions asked. Two, our response should be unfettered praise and worship. However, remember that worship is not relegated only to the gathered church; rather, we worship God by living an obedient life every day of the week (Colossians 3:23-25; Romans 12:1-2). We worship God with our lips and our life. And three, our response should be loving the things that God loves and hating the things that God hates. God loves people of all races and ethnicities; God hates racial injustice. God hates police brutality. God hates racism. God hates white supremacy. God hates systemic racism.
Why does God hate racial injustice?
God hates racial injustice for at least two reasons. One, every person is made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-28). Every person is an imago Dei bearer, where imago Dei means image of God. The implications of every person being made in God’s image are many. Because every person is made in God’s image, every person--regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status--deserves to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect. Every person has incredible worth and value as imago Dei bearers. Every person has been crowned with royal dignity (Psalm 8) from the womb to the tomb. This means, as Christians, we must treat every person with the utmost dignity and respect and demand the same treatment by every citizen in this country.
Second, God hates racial injustice because unjust treatment of any imago Dei bearer is an affront to God. Unjust treatment of any imago Dei bearer is like a backhanded slap in God’s face (Proverbs 14:31). So, God calls every believer to defend the cause of the vulnerable and oppressed in this country (Psalm 82:3; Isaiah 1:16-17; James 1:27). God is a God of justice; and he summons his people to be drum majors for and workers of justice (Micah 6:8; Matthew 23:23). Justice advances us toward shalom, where shalom is “nothing is missing and nothing is broken.” Consider this quote, “The church is not the church if it does not stand for justice” (Twelve Elements of Economic Wisdom, p. 11). What does this say about Christians who are not actively and wisely engaged in working for justice?
A car cannot operate without gas; gas fuels a car engine. The good news is our fuel to move. May this good news fuel us to work against racial injustice and injustices of all forms. May we do this work out of gratitude for Jesus paying the unquantifiable cost for our many crimes--past, present, and future. I remember reading that “Justice is simply love distributed,” so may we love our neighbors by seeking to eradicate racial injustice. May the good news fuel us to worship God every day of the week as we live in obedience to his word.
Over the next six weeks, we will dedicate our Adelante Express to exploring themes related to the concept of the Imago Dei and racial justice. We invite you to follow this series and explore what it means to love our neighbor and see the image of God in them.
In Union There Is Strength
I M A G O D E I
Special Six-Week Series:
In Union There is Strength
by, Carla Flores, Ministry Apprentice
In 2018, there was a crisis at the Mexico–United States border. Thousands of people facing deportation were being torn away from their families. Children, being separated from their parents, were being placed in detention facilities where they slept on thin mats and cried to see a recognizable face. Thousands of people around the country began protesting, including myself. These detention facilities were treating immigrants and their children terribly and we were outraged. Brown, black, and white brothers and sisters linked arms and yelled until our voices were heard. We knew what was happening to immigrants was cruel and wrong, and together we were stronger.
The Black community has been yelling to be heard, friends. As immigrants and Latinos, we know what it’s like to be oppressed and discriminated against. When we ran to the streets and protested, our black brothers and sister ran to our side. Now, we must do the same! In union there is strength and the Bible reminds us of that in Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 - “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
The scripture says it all. Two can defend themselves. Latino community, rise up! Stand and link arms with our Black brothers and sisters. Let’s help them in their fight as they have helped us in ours! We are in this together because the dehumanizing policies that deport us and separate children from their families are branches of the same evil tree that killed George Floyd. Fighting systemic injustices together can make a bigger impact and difference in both of our communities.
There are tangible and impactful ways that as Latinos we can be involved in fighting for the Black community. We can begin by educating ourselves and those around us about the injustices that the Black community has endured for hundreds of years. We can sign petitions, attend protests, support black-owned businesses, and continue listening and loving our Black brothers and sisters.
Black community let us be the second strand in your cord. Let us fight with you because in union there is strength.
Over the next six weeks, we will dedicate our Adelante Express to exploring themes related to the concept of the Imago Dei and racial justice. We invite you to follow this series and explore what it means to love our neighbor and see the image of God in them.
White Supremacy in the American Church
I M A G O D E I
Special Six-Week Series:
White Supremacy in the American Church
by, Jarrett Meek, Founder/Pastor/Executive Director
Will the white, Evangelical church in America ever open its eyes to the devastation that racism and the endemic ideology of white supremacy inflicts upon our black brothers and sisters? The events of the last two weeks have moved more white pastors and Christians to make statements against racism. Unfortunately, however, a barely conscious belief in white superiority and dominance still permeates the white church, our mentality, and our society to a degree that is not so easily undone. The white church in America has suffered this crippling spiritual disease since before the founding of our country.
For more than two centuries, white men and women in the United States of America enslaved our black brothers and sisters. By 1860, the U.S. census counted 31 million people, almost 4 million of whom were enslaved. In other words, nearly 12% of the entire population of the United States of American lived under the brutal weight of slavery. It’s a sick and devastating irony that the Christian church in America not only accepted this horrific practice, but also developed doctrines to explicitly support and defend it. A classic pillar of the “Christian” proslavery argument states: “It is in the order of Providence that one man should be subservient to another.” Frederick Douglass, the famous abolitionist, denounced Southern Christianity, calling it “corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land.” While White Southern Christianity was infected and corrupted through and through by these evil doctrines, the white church in the North spent 200 years accommodating their Southern brothers and absorbing a more subtle mentality of white supremacy. 1
In his famous speech, What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, Douglass lamented about the Christian church in the North and South calling the church itself the “bulwark of American slavery”. He challenged Christian pastors throughout the nation saying they “have shamelessly given the sanction of religion and the Bible to the whole slave system.” In doing so, he charged them with preaching an abominable faith that “makes God a respecter of persons, denies His fatherhood over the race, and tramples in the dust the great truth of the brotherhood of man.”
The institution of slavery was ended violently, through our nation’s only civil war. But the mentality and the doctrines that permitted and supported it naturally did not die when Lee surrendered to Grant in 1865. The evil monster of white supremacy, which had become an active part of the daily life and even of the “Christian” faith of so many, still roamed wild, barely restrained by emancipation and madder than hell. It devised new ways to wreak havoc on people of color. It permeated the laws and the justice system and created a comprehensive code of legal and societal oppression known as Jim Crow laws.
When I was a young boy in the 1970s, I didn’t grasp the recency of the Civil Rights Movement. I learned some things about it, but I never pondered the fact that Dr. King had been assassinated just two years before I was born. “Bloody Sunday” and King’s march from Selma occurred just 5 years before my birth. It turns out I was growing up in the immediate aftermath of the Civil Rights movement, and I didn’t even know it! My own journey underscores how oblivious most white people are to the near realities of racial injustice in our present and recent past. This lack of awareness afflicts the white Evangelical church and, coupled with a toxic allegiance to a political ideology, is part of our blindness to issues of race that continue today.
Though I don’t know any Christians who would openly embrace the ideology of white supremacy, that doesn’t mean the mentality doesn’t continue to live in our hearts and find expression in our actions today. We didn’t mind putting a white nationalist in the White House. We adamantly deny the existence of systemic racism. We disparage black athletes who use their platform to call attention to racial injustice. According to many white Evangelicals, our first black president was a Muslim, a socialist, was going to take away our guns, hates America, and wasn’t a natural-born citizen. Many of us express a condescending view of black people as we dismiss their experiences and believe that they lack the intelligence or education to think for themselves. Some assert that our black brothers and sisters blindly follow political leaders who are just trying to make them dependent on the government. In white circles, we complain that black people would rather live on welfare than work for a living. When it’s just the good ‘ole boys, we compare one minority group to another, making judgments and generalizations about which one has a better work ethic and which group values the family more. We criticize the music, the wardrobe, the culture, the purchasing decisions, and the hairstyles of people of color. We sit in the seat of power, judgment, leadership, wealth, resources, education, and theological orthodoxy, enjoying prominence in every area of our society, and we are indignant if anyone dares to suggest that we set it up that way or that we receive any benefit from it that might be called “privilege.” At the same time, we’ll fight tooth and nail to keep from losing this position of privilege we deny we have. We refuse to affirm the value of black lives. And, we believe in our hearts that the reason black people are dying and being incarcerated in higher proportions has something to do with their inferior character. To top it off, we feel really great when we talk about “racial reconciliation” and “unity”, but we recoil at the idea of “racial justice”. White Church, I hate to break it to you- we still have a serious problem with white supremacy.
Frederick Douglass: American Prophet, D.H. Dilbeck, The University of North Carolina Press, 2018, p.3
This is the second article in our Imago Dei series, addressing issues of racial justice. If you are challenged and want to learn more, we invite you to continue to follow along as we include different voices in the discussion over the next several weeks.
Suffocating the Imago Dei
Special Six-Week Series:
Suffocating the Imago Dei
by, Jarrett Meek, Founder/Pastor/Executive Director
Shining In George Floyd’s eyes, as he struggled beneath the suffocating knee of an officer of the law, was the image of God. God’s eyes shined in George’s eyes, God’s heartbeat in George’s heart, God’s breath moved in George’s breath- until George’s life was extinguished.
Amaud Arbery ran because he loved to run. He ran on legs, with lungs, with a heart given to him by his Creator. Two white men chased him down in their pickup truck with guns. Confrontation, struggle, shotgun. The Imago Dei bled out in broad daylight on a Georgia street.
Breonna Taylor slept, safe in her own apartment. Rest is built into the fabric of creation, because our Creator worked six days and then rested. Day turns to night, summer turns to winter, and Breonna Taylor, even as she rested, displayed something of the image of God- until officers, in careless disregard, broke in and shot her to death- by mistake.
“The whole concept of the imago Dei, as it is expressed in Latin, the ‘image of God,’ is the idea that all men have something within them that God injected. Not that they have substantial unity with God, but that every man has a capacity to have fellowship with God. And this gives him a uniqueness, it gives him worth, it gives him dignity. And we must never forget this as a nation: there are not gradations in the image of God… We will know one day that God made us to live together as brothers and to respect the dignity and worth of every man.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” - Genesis 1:27
So much of Christian theology is established in the first three chapters of Genesis. Who is God? Who are humans? Any serious study of the doctrine of mankind includes the concept of Imago Dei. Like so many other core Christian doctrines, the foundation that is laid in Genesis is then expanded and applied in the rest of scripture. When Jesus connects the two Greatest Commandments, He is saying that loving God and loving neighbor are inseparably intertwined. If you don’t love your neighbor, who you can see, how can you possibly love God, whom you cannot? You see, our neighbor is stamped with the Imago Dei. When Jesus says “whenever you’ve done it to the least of these, you’ve done it to me”, He is challenging us to see the Imago Dei in our brothers and sisters and act accordingly toward them. Likewise, if we ignore or minimize our brothers’ suffering, we ignore and minimize the suffering of Jesus. The doctrine of the Imago Dei places a unique and immense value on the life of every human being. Racism strips a life of this value. It is not only an affront to our neighbor, but it is an affront to the God whose image He bears.
Weeping, gut-wrenching pain, hearts ripped into a million shreds, black hearts bearing the burden of centuries of injustice and oppression in the land of the free. Cold, white knuckles grasping power, defending the indefensible, excusing the inexcusable, elevating ideology to justify the unjustifiable. Heaping scorn on people protesting oppression from a comfortable place of privilege. Smoke-screen arguments, intentionally misunderstanding issues to uphold agendas. Ideologies of white supremacy permeating churches and institutions- insidious, clandestine, unrecognized by those who reap its reward. Is the White, Evangelical Church really still on the wrong side of racial justice? Latino brothers and sisters- where are you? You receive racism, do you also inflict it on others? Refugee friends- will you receive mercy one day and judge your neighbor without it the next?
Let me ask you where you stand. WHERE DO YOU STAND? As for me and my house, we will repent of the hidden sin in our own hearts. As for me and my house, we will choose to see and value the image of God in each person. As for me and my house, we will plant our feet firmly in solidarity with our black brothers and sisters and join them in the cry for justice. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Over the next six weeks, we will dedicate our Adelante Express to exploring themes related to the concept of the Imago Dei and racial justice. We invite you to follow this series and explore what it means to love our neighbor and see the image of God in them.
Summer 2020 Trimester
Summer 2020 Trimester
Written by Yanelis Lopez, Ministry Director
In difficult times, we can either become stuck or we can overcome- transformed and ready for a greater impact. It has been weeks of ups and downs and we are finally seeing a way out. After the storm, there is always peace. We hope and pray that from now on we will continue in victory, and what we have experienced will be left behind as a dark chapter in which we lost, but also won.
The most exciting time for all of us at Mission Adelante is the beginning of each trimester. We miss the faces of our participants and volunteers and the good conversations we have with them. We are ready to start our programs! Starting June 1st, we will begin having programs for kids, youth, and adults to continue sharing and learning from one another. Keeping small groups, taking care of social distancing, and using masks inside the building will be some of the steps our team will take to prioritize taking care of our community and keeping everyone safe.
We look forward to a fun trimester full of kids’ and youth’s laughter and the beginning of new friendships! We pray that each student who comes with the hope of becoming a citizen of this country will achieve their dream and that the English language for many will become more natural to speak and understand. Thanks to all the volunteers who are joining this family in the coming months, we appreciate you so much, you make all of this possible!
Citizenship class participants and volunteers pose for a end-of-trimester picture!
Creating History
Creating History
by Carla Flores, Ministry Apprentice
Three weeks ago, I officially graduated with my bachelor’s degree. Since then, I have really been reflecting on what it means to create history. For me, receiving this degree was creating a historical change in my family dynamics. I was the first in both my immediate and extended family to graduate from college. This also means I am now a part of the 14% of Latinas in the U.S. that have a bachelor’s degree! At first, I was upset that the pandemic affected the way my student teaching experience ended and my graduation plans. But during these weeks, I realized something that thrilled me: Class of 2020, we are a part of history forever! Amidst a pandemic, God gave us strength, flexibility, and motivation to prevail and create history.
Every person has their own history and graduating is only a sliver of mine. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has a beautiful and fruitful plan for each one of us. With this verse in mind, I began thinking about the people God had placed in my life that have been part of my history. I thought about my parents and the sacrifices they had made for me to be where I am today. I thought about my childhood friend, Amy, who taught me the meaning of loving someone like family. I thought about my coworker and friend, Shannon, who with her generous spirit taught me what it means to live selflessly. All these people had crossed paths with me and taught me valuable lessons that would shape my history. However, one person in particular, helped me establish a relationship with Jesus and this is something that I am immensely thankful for.
Jessie Chastain has been part of the Mission Adelante family for a little over 9 years. She first began volunteering in Leaders in Training (L.I.T) in January 2011. Since then, Jessie has positively impacted the lives of many young people in our community, including my own. In 2014, I was brand new to Teens Adelante and Jessie took me under her wing. I shared family troubles with her and she gave me compassion and understanding. She taught me how to pray and encouraged me to share my thoughts when we were in Bible study. But most importantly, Jessie set down the foundational groundwork for my relationship with Jesus. She planted little seeds in me that with time and patience would grow into faith. My relationship with Jessie has not changed, today I can run to Jessie with anything and know that I will be greeted with listening ears and a big heart. The most amazing part is that she continues planting those seeds and being a light for many young people in our community now.
We all have our God-written histories filled with God-sent people. For me and many others, it was Jessie who inspired us to push through and lean into Jesus. I encourage you to take some of this time to really focus on those who have helped you create your own history.
Calm in the Storm: Week 8
Special Eight-Week Series:
Calm in the Storm
Navigating rough waters in faith
Week 8: Generosity in the Storm
by, Shannon Schafer, Operations Director
As a member of the Operations Team at Mission Adelante, I normally don’t write Adelante Express articles. After all, who really wants to read about bookkeeping or building maintenance? But during the past few months of uncertainty and need caused by COVID-19, one of my responsibilities, fulfilling approved benevolence requests, has dominated a significant portion of my time. As Jarrett Meek, our Executive Director, reported a few weeks ago, 85% of immigrant families that we surveyed have lost income due to the shut-down. As of the writing of this article, Mission Adelante has assisted 35 families from our community pay at least one bill and over 100 families buy food. But the great need in our community is not the focus of this article. The reason I am writing is to highlight the amazing generosity that I have witnessed.
The generosity that I have seen over the past couple months reminds me of the Macedonian church that the Apostle Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians 8: 2-3:
“In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own.”
COVID-19 has been a trial for everyone, affecting some more severely than others. But the pandemic has also been an opportunity for partners and community members to demonstrate the love of Christ as they turn outward instead of just inward- giving generously to help others even as they deal with their own circumstances and fears.
As of today, donors have given just over $45,000 to our benevolence fund with the specific desire to help our community make it through this storm! In addition, several families and community groups have purchased and delivered food baskets for us to give out. Without this support from our partners, Mission Adelante would not be in a position to help so many families with their physical needs.
In the past couple of months, I have also witnessed or heard from staff how community members are giving of themselves to help their neighbors. The following is a taste of what is going on in our community:
One of our ESL students has been out of work due to COVID-19. We helped her with some bills and offered to bring her a food basket. She requested a few extra food baskets to give to neighbors and friends in need. She ended up giving out ALL of the baskets, not keeping anything for herself.
We have helped various families pay their rent. We have asked landlords to accept 80% of the normal rent payment that we pay directly to them. Most of the landlords have agreed with little hesitation, stating their desire to help their tenants as much as possible.
Mission Adelante staff made calls to all of our current participants a few weeks ago, letting families know about resources we could offer like a gift card for groceries. While many of our families gratefully accepted, 28 of the families we contacted turned down the assistance, many of them saying that it should be used for those with greater needs. One of our ESL students even asked how he could donate to Mission Adelante.
Other community members have been caring for their neighbors by bringing food to others. One of our ESL students/Arts Community volunteers brought homemade cookies to different families in our neighborhood (I was one lucky recipient). My foster daughter, who loves to cook, asked if she could make tamales and other food that we have delivered to community members. Our church community has also rallied around a local family, providing dinners for them.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been and continues to be a great trial. But we serve an even greater God. And I am thankful for all the ways that He is working through His people. Our partners and community members are truly putting their faith into action through their generosity to their neighbors.
Calm in the Storm: Week 7
Special Eight-Week Series:
Calm in the Storm
Navigating rough waters in faith
Week 7: Thankful
by, Laxmi Gurung, Refugee Ministries Coordinator
Last week, I was able to return to Kansas from visiting my family. This time with them was one of the most unforgettable moments in my life. It taught me to live for the simple moments and appreciate the relationships I have with my loved ones. I felt so blessed, and I couldn’t stop thanking God, because not many people were able to be with their loved ones during this difficult time. I kept thinking of those who are facing this time alone, because I can't imagine how I would have done it without my family.
Laxmi (right) with her sister and dad!
My family means everything to me and when they moved to Pennsylvania there were so many things that I missed doing with them. My dad loves cooking and I love eating. While I was in Pennsylvania, he made a lot of my favorite Nepali dishes. After a long time, it was good to see my dad enjoy cooking and serving his family. I was also able to help my little brother with his online classes and make my sister her favorite, spicy Nepali snacks (chatpate) almost every night. There were nights we played card games, completed puzzles, and watched old movies together until we fell asleep. My grandparents like gardening and I learned a few lessons from them on how to plant chilies and tomatoes. I’m not a gardening person but being able to spend time with them made me feel so blessed and happy. My grandparents were upset that I had not moved with them.
When I went to visit them they were very happy to see me, but they didn’t want me to come back to Kansas. However, I knew that it was time for me to come back because of all the responsibilities I have as a grown-up. While I was there, I stayed connected with my co-workers and my program groups online. But, I still felt like something was missing because I was far away. I loved being with my family, but I also wanted to be there for my community during this difficult time.
Silly picture time at Refugee Youth Club!
As soon as I came back to Kansas, I started calling the people that were in my programs about their needs during this time. Mission Adelante was providing food baskets and gift cards for families in our community. I made an appointment with each family and I was really excited to meet them. I still had to be cautious and wear a mask and gloves. A few days ago, I went grocery shopping for one of the families that are involved in our programs because the husband had tested positive for Covid-19. I’m glad that I was able to help them during this time.
Also, last week a girl from Refugee Youth Club had a birthday! A volunteer, Laina Willoughby, had this amazing idea of dropping off a piece of cake at every girl’s house and eating together during our video call to celebrate. She made a delicious cheesecake and Phul Maya and I helped distribute them. We always celebrate birthdays together and we didn't want to miss this one!
Since I have come back, I finally feel like I'm doing something for my community. I am very thankful to God for giving me a wonderful time with my family, but I'm also glad to be back and involved in the community. Being able to support people in the community during this difficult time is such a blessing. I just can’t wait for our summer trimester to start so I can see all our amazing volunteers and precious kids! Let's all keep praying for each other and for everything to go back to normal.
Calm in the Storm: Week 6
Special Eight-Week Series:
Calm in the Storm
Navigating rough waters in faith
Week 6: A Sudden Change
by, Megan Fountain, Director of Latino Kids Ministries
A year ago, none of us could have imagined how much our lives would change. We were finishing up our Easter celebrations and preparing the kids for the end of the school year. We were beginning to think about what fun things we would do in the summer. A year ago, an excited bunch of juniors were about to embark on their final year of high school with no idea of the challenges they would face.
The high school seniors of our community have had to endure the loss of so many dreams in this season. Nataly and Ashley are two young women that have grown up at Mission Adelante. They participated in Kids Adelante and in our tutoring program (L.I.T) for many years. As high school seniors, they have a unique perspective on how the virus has affected their lives. They allowed me to interview them and I am so proud of their perseverance during this uncertain season.
Ashley (right) and Rachel hug after Arts Camp 2019!
What has been the biggest blessing for you during this season?
Ashley: The biggest blessing I have experienced is getting to spend more time with my little sister and having time to learn to cook.
Nataly: My biggest blessing during this time has been the fact that no one in my family has gotten the virus. Thankfully, everyone in my household is considered an essential worker, but this comes with the risk of catching the virus. It is dangerous because many people have not been listening to the rules and keep going out. It’s a scary thought, but we have to face it every single day.
What was the biggest dream that you had to let go of during this time because of the virus?
Ashley: The biggest dream that I’ve had to let go of was my graduation and attending friends’ graduations. It was really hard not knowing that the last day we went to school before spring break was our last day as seniors.
Nataly (right) and Bethany during pajama night!
Nataly: My biggest dream that I had to let go of was walking the stage at graduation. When I was younger, I dreamed about attending Sumner Academy. Once I was accepted, it was my dream to walk the stage. I was excited to be able to show my mom the value of all the sacrifices she had made for my future. Sadly, it has been canceled and my mom and everyone who helped me in life won’t ever see me walk the stage.
What are your plans for the next year, and what is something that you are looking forward to in the future?
Ashley: Hopefully, I will be able to go to college next year and receive an associate’s degree. I hope that by that time the quarantine will be over and will be a thing of the past. I want to make my family proud by getting my degree and starting my career.
Nataly: My plans for next year are to continue working and attend college. Because of this virus, being able to save up for college has been difficult. This is why I have decided to attend JCCC in order to save money and continue my education. I will be able to work while studying which will hopefully help me in the future when I transfer to KU. One thing I look forward to in the future is being able to attend church again. I miss seeing the same families every week and staying after to talk. Another thing I look forward to is being able to go out and see my friends before they leave. Most, if not all of my friends are leaving Kansas City to go to college. I was going to use this semester and summer to spend time with my friends that are leaving and now that probably won’t be possible.
It is so encouraging that even in the midst of such struggle, these two young women still have hope. God has been so present during this time in our community and through their resilience, we can trust there are still good things to come!
Calm in the Storm: Week 5
Special Eight-Week Series:
Calm in the Storm
Navigating rough waters in faith
Week 5: Adapting and Innovating
by, Phul Maya Rasaily, Ministry Apprentice
This time of year has been difficult but innovative for me. I love to share my life and Jesus with kids and youth from my community. However, due to the pandemic, I wasn't able to continue doing it the way I had before. I miss seeing the students and volunteers on Monday evenings for Arts Community. I am trying to stay connected with the students by calling their parents to check in on them. I have encouraged a few students to begin taking musical instruments home to continue practicing. I have also been having Bible study with a few Nepali girls. This is a continuation from last year where we would go to fast food restaurants, have Bible study, and share and encourage each other to grow in our faith in Jesus Christ.
Phul Maya leading Bible Study a few month ago.
Since last month, I have been staying home to abide by the social distancing regulation, but this has disturbed our regular Bible study gathering. I wanted to keep having a Bible study with a group of people because it helped strengthen my faith, and I enjoyed it. So, I used my time at home to think outside the box and start something different. For the past two weeks, the Arts Community volunteers and I have been meeting on Zoom for a Bible study. This study has brought us closer as a community and allowed us to bond and support one another. I am also participating in a Zoom Bible study with my cousin Anjana. I use this time to disciple her and encourage her. This inspired her to do the same thing with her cousin, Khadge, who lives in Washington. I am amazed to see the seeds Jesus is planting during hard times like this.
Through this online Bible study, I have been able to be a part of someone’s life who lives hundreds of miles away from me. This new journey of online Bible study keeps me energized and gives me something positive to do. The discipling is better than I had ever imagined! I have gotten to know my volunteers more and share a closer relationship with them now. Anjana and I have strengthened our bond and are comfortable sharing our weaknesses and strengths. Even in the midst of darkness, the Bible studies and my relationship with Anjana have become a spark of light in my life.
Calm in the Storm: Week 4
Special Eight-Week Series:
Calm in the Storm
Navigating rough waters in faith
Week 4: Light in the Darkness
by, Jarrett Meek, Founder/Pastor/Executive Director
What is happening on the front lines among immigrants in the Mission Adelante community? This is a question that many of our friends and partners have asked during the current crisis. To better answer this question and to know how best to respond, Mission Adelante conducted a survey of Wyandotte County residents, gathering data from over 300 respondents during the first week of Kansas City’s stay-at-home order. The results were eye-opening and highlighted the intense challenges vulnerable communities face. These two observations stood out:
A staggering 85% of immigrant families had lost income by the first week of the shut-down. The number for native-born families was 53%.
Only 21% of immigrant families had health insurance for all members of their families. This compared to 67% of native-born respondents.
Yolanda, Yanelis, and Bernabe at our annual retreat.
In the midst of these challenges, there are bright lights beaming in our community. Yolanda is one of those bright lights. Her faith, tested through the fire of many previous trials, has produced a kind of steadfastness and resilience that shine in times like these. Last week, during a Google Hangouts meeting with our church community, Yolanda’s words of truth and encouragement stood out as a beautiful example of faithfulness and peace. “I was reading in Psalms this morning”, she said. “I don’t remember which verse it was, but it said something like this, ‘En paz me acostaré y así mismo dormiré, porque solo tu Dios me haces vivir confiado.’” Yolanda had quoted Psalm 4:8, and her words were just what I needed to hear personally. Her sense of peace revealed a depth of faith that had been seasoned through walking with Christ in many difficult situations.
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” - Psalm 4:8
During a time when my own sense of peace seems to swing back and forth several times each day, the Lord showed me once again how blessed I am to live and participate in this community of people from all places. As a pastor and ministry leader, I’m working to shepherd and care for the small flock the Lord has entrusted to me during this time. But, the beauty of this is that I am also part of a community whose vibrant faith encourages and lifts me up when I’m down.
Enjoy this song about Psalm 4:8 by Daniel Calveti
Calm in the Storm: Week 3
Special Eight-Week Series:
Calm in the Storm
Navigating rough waters in faith
Week 3: Losing and Learning
by, Yanelis Lopez, Ministry Director
Trying to write these days has become an arduous task. Being out of my daily routine makes me feel lost and puzzled. These last few weeks have been “interesting”, to say the least. Reflecting on these times, I have discovered that I have been in the midst of deep mourning for the loss of many lives (even though I don’t know them, it hurts deeply). I have also been grieving the loss of many things that I have taken for granted. I realized that sometimes in life we not only mourn for the people we love and lose but also many other things.
And what have I lost? Well, the certainty of feeling healthy and without imminent danger. Now, as soon as a strange itch or pain in my throat appears, I begin to worry. I’ve lost the freedom to decide to go to a public place (especially on these sunny days) and just walk around surrounded by people. I’ve lost the ability to go shopping at the market without first having to draw up a plan on how to disinfect everything once I come back home. I’ve lost being able to visit friends and families without fear of touching each other, hugging, or even having a close conversation. If I continue with the list of things I took for granted, it would not end. And that is because life has truly changed completely. However, in the midst of all the challenges of this time I have also learned a lot.
What have I earned? Greater awareness of what really has value in life - the deep desire to be with the people I love most. I’ve spent many hours alone with my thoughts discovering what I really believe and what I don't. Because when the possibility of death is close to you and yours, is when all our beliefs and concepts are really put to test. More than anything I’ve earned the absolute certainty that even when everything has gone out of control, the God who controls everything protects me in the center of His hand. Honestly, that has been my only way out. Leaving my thoughts completely to Him, I have not known how to do anything else. Everything is going to be fine, and I am sure that at the end of all this, we are truly going to be a different generation.
Psalm 73:25-26 “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Calm in the Storm: Week 2
Special Eight-Week Series:
Calm in the Storm
Navigating rough waters in faith
Week 2: Love One Another Through Difficult Times
by, Laxmi Gurung, Refugee Kids & Youth Coordinator
My family moved to Pennsylvania in January 2020. I’m really close to them and we have always lived together. The sudden move was difficult for me. I didn’t like being without them but it was also helping me to grow as an independent 21 year-old. I began learning to do a lot of things on my own and making my own decisions. After my family moved, I wanted to visit them during my spring break where I get a week off from school and work. It was a perfect time for me to go see my family so I booked my ticket. But things changed quickly, and I couldn’t decide what to do.
I was frustrated because I didn't want to miss this chance to be with my loved ones and I also didn't want to risk their life because of my one decision to travel at this time. I kept going back and forth thinking about what I should do. I prayed a lot about it, asking God to help me make the right decision. I also asked some of my close friends for advice. Some told me to stay and some told me that I will be fine. As the flight day came closer and closer, I started feeling panicked and nervous. I kept reading and watching the news which only made me feel more scared and didn't help me at all. At this moment all I could do was continue to pray and get closer to God because He knows everything better than anyone.
As a believer, there have been some times that I haven’t been so faithful and try to take control of the situation, but I couldn't do that now. Whatever was happening was not in my control and I had to trust God fully and believe that He was in control and he would protect me. The Bible verse that helped me during this time was:
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
After I kept praying to God and listening to Him, I felt He had given me strength. All the anxiety I had felt started to fade away. I talked to God and asked Him to protect me during my flight and allow me to see my family. I flew and arrived in Pennsylvania on March 16. I followed all the procedures to stay safe like frequently washing my hands, using hand sanitizer, etc. I also asked my dad to just come by himself to pick me up from the airport and prepare a room for me to stay in quarantine for a week. Now it has been more than two weeks and my family members and I are healthy. I really believe that His grace has kept us all safe. Now that I'm with my family, I'm staying right where I am and waiting until it is safe to travel again.
Even though I'm far away during this time, I'm finding that technology has allowed me to continue to stay connected with the youth and volunteers I lead. Each week we've been connecting on a video call to continue sharing and studying together. Who would have guessed that a time of such difficulty could still bring ministry fruit? Trusting Him gives me the most relieving feeling that unfortunately not everyone can feel at this moment. I pray that through these difficult times everyone that doesn’t know Him, including my family would get to know Him. He is the only hope that we have left. As believers, we all need to unite as one and help each other because we all are in this together. We need to pray for other people that don't have homes, families, food, jobs, and those that are suffering in hospitals. Let's keep everyone in our prayers and actually do something to show the love of Christ. This is the time for Christians to shine by helping others. We know that our God is bigger than this and He's always there for us. Let's not create this difficult time harder by panicking but instead praying more and trusting in God with all your heart.
Honestly, I have never felt closer to Him as I do now. This time has been helping me a lot to reflect on things that I have neglected before. I started to appreciate the little things and enjoy the relationships I have with others around me. I pray and hope that all people will feel the same way. And when everything ends, we can all come together as one and love one another as He loves us.
Calm in the Storm: Week 1
Special Eight-Week Series:
Calm in the Storm
Navigating rough waters in faith
Week 1: A Sudden Storm
by, Jarrett Meek, Founder/Pastor/Executive Director
Spanish Translation
The storm came up suddenly. Peter was not used to being taken by surprise on the water, after all he had grown up on the lake and knew it like the back of his hand. It had been a peaceful evening and a little excursion across the lake offered a perfect respite from the agitation of recent days. Normally the lake meant work for Peter; he was a commercial fisherman. But this evening, he and his friends were getting away. They had been in the middle of so much activity, controversy, excitement- Jesus had suggested a little retreat across the lake to rest and renew.
Just after sunset, the wind came up out of nowhere and clouds thundered in over the hills. Peter and the crew knew what to do; they trimmed the sails and steered into the oncoming waves to keep the boat from rolling. But it wasn't long before things started to get out of control. Despite a lifetime of experience, they were overwhelmed by the chaos of weather that was being unleashed on them. Waves crashed over the sides of the boat and it was all they could do to stay stay on their feet. Peter had been taught to have a healthy respect for the water, but for the first time in his life, he was terrified.
"Where's Jesus?", John shouted through the driving rain. Could Jesus really be sleeping through this? James shook him awake while the rest of the crew continued battling the storm with every ounce of strength they had. "Don't you care if we drown!", exclaimed James over the roar of the water. Jesus saw the fear and exhaustion in their eyes.
The storm went as quickly as it came. All it took were a few words from the mouth of the Living Word. "Quiet! Be Still!" The disciples had seen Jesus do miracles- healing, changing water into wine, casting out demons. As astounding as those things were, they somehow seemed fit into a different mental category- magic tricks, medicine, psychology. Giving orders to Mother Nature, stopping a storm in its tracks, telling the wind and waves to calm down- there was really no place to file this. As much as the storm had caused them fear, the power of Jesus terrified them even more. And, somehow, Jesus had expected them to be calm. "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”, he asked.
The world and the lives of nearly every human being on the planet have been overcome by a storm, friends. It's unlike anything we've seen in our lifetimes. It was sudden. It's overwhelming. It's threatening lives, healthcare systems, businesses, organizations, jobs, churches, and so many individuals and families. Where is Jesus?
As the founder and leader of a ministry and community centered around a vulnerable population, this is a sobering and turbulent time. The needs of our neighbors, the needs of the ministry itself and our employees, the needs of my own family- they all cry out together pleading, "where is Jesus in the middle of the wind and the waves?" And yet, I look back at my life and the history of our ministry and I remember the miracles and the astounding provision of God over so many years. If you look back at your life, hasn't He done the same for you?
If I'm honest, friends, I have to confess that I've shed tears in the last week. There is a deep sense of grief over things that have already been lost and things that will undoubtedly be lost in the future. And yet, in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, I have an unusual sense of hope and expectation. It's the expectation that Jesus will stand up and say “Quiet! Be Still!”. That He'll do miracles again. That He'll provide for needs. That He'll reveal His loving-kindness and His power in new and astonishing ways. Do you have this hope?
This storm came on suddenly. Let's navigate its rough waters together in faith.
Empowering Others
Diva is pictured (center) after she had lunch with the L.I.T. (Leaders in Training) kids.
Written by Megan Fountain
When you first meet Diva, there is an infectious positivity about her that makes you want to smile. She is the kind of person that brings energy and joy wherever she goes. I first met her over six years ago when I attended a dance class called Zumba where she was the instructor. Her story, her heart, and her love for the KCK community inspires so many of us. She is a strong, Latina leader in our community and she encourages me with her love for those she serves!
Diva came to Kansas City from México in the hopes that she could find a better life for her children and better opportunities for her family. She shared with me that after her second child was born, she hit a low in her life and was diagnosed with postpartum depression. She didn't want to take the prescribed drugs but instead found Zumba. Zumba helped Diva with her depression and she was able to lose all the extra weight she gained during pregnancy. However, her transformation didn’t stop there. Diva realized she could help others struggling in difficult situations as well and her heart for teaching began.
The Zumba classes that Diva leads aren’t just a place to exercise. Diva creates a community and a family that encourages each other. She helps sponsor fundraisers for people battling cancer. She motivates the community to be healthier and more confident. The community helps each other not only in their fitness goals but with the different challenges life puts in front of them.
Diva says her favorite part of the class is, “...being able to witness the joy on people’s faces when they nail something they were struggling with! Zumba also allows me to explore my creativity as I play with the right combination of music and dance steps.”
When I think of empowering leaders making a difference in our community, I think of Diva because she is able to create unity in a variety of environments. Recently, she had lunch with our leaders in training (L.I.T.) kids. As she shared her story, I could see that the kids resonated with her words. She understood many of the struggles that the kids have endured and she turned challenges into a way to bless others. When I asked her what she says to herself when life gets tough, she told me, “Push through the struggle, the light at the end of the tunnel is closer than you think!”
Diva is pictured in the front row in the shorts after a Zumbathon to help a student battling cancer.
CURRENT NEEDS:
Adelante Thrift is looking for a summer social media intern! This intern will work directly with the Volunteer Coordinator and will create content showcasing their volunteers and volunteer activities. Applicants must live in Kansas City, KS and be a high school student in good standing. The application deadline is April 30th. Apply here: https://forms.gle/EMGEMNeCS49SHfna9
Arts Community is always looking for art supplies for students to use on Monday evenings. They are in need of supplies like paper, glue, paint, yarn, etc. Please contact Phul Maya to drop off donations: phulr@missionadelante.org