Poverty

Posted on February 27, 2006 by andy sears

Originally Written for the Westside Way on 12.05.05

I have recently been challenged to look at the word poverty through a new lens. Before the last few weeks I would not have categorized myself, or anyone I know, as being poor. This is because my definition was not deep enough. In our societal circles, poverty is easily hidden from sight. In fact I think I try to hide it from myself. Our environment actually encourages us to hide our poverty.

I have also recently read articles that challenge me to think about the underlying purpose of education. The purpose of education may be different depending
on the mission of any given learning institution, but one common underlying purpose of education is to eliminate poverty.

In three weeks, Steve and I will be in Thailand learning about some of the most heart wrenching problems that exist in our world. One of the roots of these problems is extreme poverty, which can lead to horrific sins committed against the most vulnerable and innocent. I anticipate that this type of physical and economic poverty will be easy to identify.

In our circles, another type of poverty also exists. This is the poverty of the heart. An example of this type of poverty became evident to me recently as I was reading a book by Gary Haugen that challenged me with this question: Why do we, as followers of Christ, not act when we have knowledge of the pain and poverty of others? (Matthew 25:40 “… I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”) Haugen’s response was that it is because of our own poverty of compassion, poverty of hope, and poverty of purpose. We do not have sufficient compassion to be passionate enough to act. We believe that the problems of this world are too big, so we never get started. We have not listened to God to get a sense of His direction, calling, and purpose for our life. It is this type of poverty of the heart that the typical American church member, Christian school student, teacher, and administrator can easily fall into.

So, if we are called to address issues of poverty (not just economic), how exactly do we do that? I sure wish there was an easy answer to that question. I have a hunch that those (me) who are living with a poverty of compassion, hope, and purpose could gain a clearer purpose, sense of hope, and more compassion for others by being exposed to and helping to address the poverty of others.

My perception is that this generation of students puts a high value on the relational aspects of learning. That is a core value to them. This makes modeling a key tool for teaching values, complex connections between principles, and what it means to be a servant leader and follower of Christ. Jesus modeled the way we all should live as he ate, traveled, worked, and interacted with his disciples. The disciples had the ultimate experiential learning environment and the results have changed our world.

My prayer is that we continue to grow in our ability to model Christ to others. If we claim to be a follower of Jesus yet our life does not attempt to reflect the life He lived, then we are damaging the cause of Christ. It will be exciting to look at our school and educational processes, honestly identify the poverty that exists, and in partnership with you, the Westside community, work toward eliminating it. The results could be amazing!

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I Give You My Heart

Posted on February 27, 2006 by admin

Originally Written for the Westside Way on 8.20.05

A few weeks ago, Don and I were sitting in my office talking about the focus we were going to bring to the faculty and staff during orientation week. The discussion centered on issues of the heart and our desire to be intentional about living our lives coram deo, before the heart of God.

Before Bob Pierce founded World Vision, he had these words written in the fly-leaf of his Bible: “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” One of our desires this year is to help students move closer to the heart of God. Unfortunately there is no simple formula to change or strengthen the heart, yet this is at the core of our relationship with God.

During this discussion with Don, I began to think about Solomon and his honest request for wisdom. He could have asked for wealth, an easy life, happiness, or power, but he asked for wisdom. This request was not a manipulation to impress God but an honest desire, with a motive that was pure, seeking after a better understanding of God’s heart. I pray that in the coming year I will continue to grow tender for the things of God, that I will understand Christ more, and that I will honestly ask for His wisdom and be able to live out his love.

It is also our desire that our students get to the point where they, like Solomon, honestly desire God’s wisdom and a tender and compassionate heart. It is important to be excellent at teaching our students knowledge, but if God’s principles do not become a conviction and passion of the heart, all is lost. Our mission as a school is “to equip servant leaders for the next generation, by educating and developing the whole person for the Glory of God.” In the coming year, we are going to saturate our school with a focus on developing our hearts. This is not an easy task and will require us to work together as a family.

One of the ways we intend to accomplish this is through providing more resources for our parents. In partnership with PTF we will be providing various parent seminars, some around the topic of developing the hearts of students. We will also be using our Core Groups to strategically support this topic. Our faculty and staff will spend time developing tools to encourage heart growth in balance with the training of the mind. We are also looking at providing some kind of out of class ministry experience for students that would stretch them and allow them to better understand God’s heart.

I really believe that God is building up students from Westside to be the next generation of Christian leaders. I also believe that a battle exists for their hearts, and we must be strategic and intentional about providing opportunities for them to grow toward servant leadership.

In July Marta and I went to Bellingham for a friend’s wedding. Just before we left for the trip, we saw a documentary that powerfully communicated the tragic injustice of child trafficking and the sex trade that is currently at epidemic levels in our world. Our hearts ached for these children, and we began researching and talking to our friends about this horrible practice. In our conversations we discovered the name of a man who had a similar experience and has decided to take action by using his gifts and talents to bring about change for these children. Carl Ralston is a businessman with many gifts and talents, who felt a nudge to be used by God. In tandem with reading through The Purpose Driven Life he heard a missionary from Cambodia speak at a seminar regarding a specific instance of a twelve year old girl named Nhu who was sold into child slavery and exploited in the sex trade. Carl’s heart was touched and he took action. He is still a businessman, but he is using his gifts to run a non-profit organization he started called “Remember Nhu.” This organization focuses on prevention and intervention, identifying girls and boys most at risk for a future in the sex trade, and providing them with housing, education, and vocational training in a Christ-centered environment. It is this type of servant leader that we seek to develop at Westside. In the future, some of our students may be in vocational ministry, but I pray that all of our graduates’ hearts will be in line with God’s heart and that they will use their gifts to further His kingdom. God has a purpose for each of us and we need to be ready to ask him for the wisdom to live it out.

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Beginning a Conversation About Compassion

Posted on February 27, 2006 by admin

Originally Written for the Westside Way on 3.15.05

Try to put yourself in this story. You have been happily married for over twenty-five years. Life is pretty comfortable. You have been living in the same house nearly your entire marriage. In fact, your mortgage will be paid off in just a few years. Your children are not children anymore and they are leaving for college this year. Your career has been fruitful, and you have made a difference in people’s lives. You have done your part and retirement is now within reach. It will be a nice change of pace. Because you have been fiscally responsible over the years, you will be able to live out the remainder of your years modestly.

Now this is where it gets a little sticky. One day you go to a doctor’s office for a routine check-up. While at the clinic you strike up a conversation with a woman (we will call her Vicki) in the waiting room. She tells you the story of an infant that has just been left in her care as a result of a difficult family situation. Vicki is planning on taking care of the baby until other arrangements can be made. Feeling God’s leading, she expresses to you an immediate dilemma. She has an unavoidable, previously scheduled engagement tonight and will not be able to take the baby with her.

Your son and his friend are sitting on the couch watching TV when you walk in the door. You feel somewhat foolish and scared, yet faithful and obedient. Before they get a chance to see the bundle in your arms you say, “I have an interesting story to tell you.” As you explain the situation, a look of shock comes over your audience.

This story does not end with you helping this child for one night. No, you feel called to faithfully continue to support this young child. Vicki, you and your spouse feel called by God to love this child for life. Vicki decides to seek custody after already having raised her children, and you release your financial future into God’s hands in order to help support them. You do not retire when you had planned or pay off your mortgage when you thought you would. But now you have a critically important relationship with a child who needs you. Fifteen years later, your compassion and willingness to sacrifice for this teenager is unwavering.
(The above story has been modified to protect identities)

I remember that day when my good friend and I were sitting on the couch watching TV when his mother walked in with that baby. I remember the sacrifices they made to pay for the legal bills as they helped Vicki seek custody. I also remember thinking that they were taking a foolish risk. I don’t think that anymore.

What is it that causes people to be compassionate like that? The first chapter of James gives some great examples of how God prepares and molds us to be compassionate.

James 1 (Message)
“3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4 So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

9 When down-and-outers get a break, cheer!

12 Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

22 Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! 23 Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, 24 walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.”

And finally in James 1:27 (NIV)

“27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

My friend’s parents lived out these verses and risked it all to save a child they barely knew. What caused them to do that? I believe it was the result of two people allowing Christ to transform their hearts. And when God’s compassion manifested itself in their hearts, they were able to relinquish control and obey.

I recently read about a study where a minister named Doug Huneke interviewed three hundred rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust. From these interviews Huneke found ten common experiences or characteristics among those who were willing to risk it all to save their Jewish neighbors. The themes from James 1 have an amazing parallel to these findings. The rescuers:

-Experienced some form of being left out, undervalued, or marginalized.
-Tackled childhood problems and worked toward goals.
-Identified with a morally strong parent. (Sometimes this was a grandparent.)
-Belonged to a community or group that valued compassion.
-Grew up in a home where hospitality was valued.
-Were exposed to suffering at an early age.
-Were able to empathize with others.
-Were able to present themselves, speak up, and be persuasive.
-Were skilled at cooperating and promoting the well-being of others.
-Were able to examine their own prejudices.
(*Paraphrased from Growing Compassionate Kids, Johnson, p. 36, )

I share this topic with you because it seems to be a recurring theme and challenge in my life. I’ve also been challenged to consider how a school can teach compassion. Can a school partner with parents to encourage students to live out their faith? Can we help our students develop hearts like their Savior’s for the lost and hurting?

Compassion is not a personality trait. It is the overflow of love that originates in Christ. It is learned in times of suffering, trial, and sorrow. It is learned on a mission trip when we empathize with the poor and sick. It is learned when we are mocked for speaking up for the broken and hurting. It is learned when it is modeled to us by a mentor or parent. It is learned when we see others faithfully risking it all to love the widows and orphans.

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