If Churches Were Parks

"If Churches Were Parks" by Linda Cannell

If we tore down our church buildings and replaced them with parks, would the buildings be missed? If churches were parks, there would be trees and grass and places for pleasant walks, neighborhood families enjoying the changing seasons and our "old ones" sitting on benches telling children stories of their lives and faith.

In the fall, as the leaves changed from green to yellow, orange and red, we could invite our friends and neighbors to corn roasts and BBQs; invite them to laugh with us, talk with us, and enjoy the beauty of God's creation - in the park. We could leave the children something wonderful in a world gone mad.

In the winter we could roll in the snow with the neighborhood children, throw snowballs, create snow sculptures, and get to know each other again as we walked under trees heavy with hoar frost. At Christmas we could string colored lights, decorate a Christmas tree, savor the story of the nativity, and sing carols under quiet stars.

If churches were parks, we would have to forsake our games of power and our dreams of empire for pleasant walks, snow forts, corn roasts, Christmas trees, carol sings, Easter pageants, and heart-to-heart talks with those who need to know why we still believe in God. If our churches were parks, all people could gather there; they could come whenever they wished, for there would be no locked doors or security windows on our parks - no stained-glass windows to hide behind. Members of the church eating lunch in the park could strike up a conversation with a business person, university student, or shopper resting before heading home, or admire the multicolors of a group of teenagers and ask them if they are afraid of the world we have created for them, or angry because of the future we may have taken away from them.

Of course we would find pain in our parks: lonely people, unhappy children, sullen youth. We might confront those trying to buy drugs in our parks. We might fear those who would hurt us and steal from us. If our churches were parks, we would have to confront the world outside our buildings. We would have to be those who make peace and speak of redemption and hope rather than those who hide behind fortress walls and wish the world away.

When God started the world, He put His man and woman in a park. He chose to walk and talk with His creation in a park. When we were cast out of the park, we began to build towers, empires, cities, and temples. We had to acquire and possess - not only the present but the past and the future. We found ways to control our world and other persons. It's hard to do this in a park.

New Beginnings

I suppose it's about time for a new update on the blog. Most of you will have already read this update in email format. If you haven't and wish you had (aka want to be added to my email list), just let me know! More details will be given in emails, but I will be occasionally updating the blog to tell stories.

I have joined a dear friend’s ministry organization: Child Restoration International. As of September 1st, I am the Orphan Outreach Advocate. This job will take my vast passions and roll them into one neat package. I will have the privilege of traveling to many unsupported or under supported children’s homes and encouraging them. I will listen to their stories and bring these stories back to you all through this blog, Instagram, and presentations. I will be an advocate for these children and seek partners to support them. I will get to show names and faces to the many people who want to help the fatherless but don’t know how.

Another facet of my job will be to create relationships with different colleges and take students on trips to these homes when something is needed, such as a new building or a Bible class. These trips will be student-led and the goal will be to develop the students as humble, globally-conscious leaders as they come alongside the native missionaries and serve them as they need. As some of you know, I have become a big proponent of coming alongside native missionaries and supporting them in their work rather than going and doing that work, so I am especially excited about this model being used in CRI.

Finally, this organization is supportive of a dream that has been in my heart for a while now. I want to create a career development curriculum for orphanages and children’s homes. Many of the places I have been to do a wonderful job caring for their kids. However, when the kids hit 18 and move out of these homes, they often find themselves back on the streets and back in the cycle. My goal would be to create a curriculum that could be adapted to each location and taught to the local missionaries. This curriculum would help the children know their gifts and their passions and how they can develop them. The curriculum would also provide resources and training so these young adults could achieve a better future. I’ve wanted to do this but been unsure how to go about it. This ministry that I will be working with really came alongside of this dream and offered resources to make it a reality.

Essentially, this position allows me to do everything I’ve dreamt of: telling stories for those whose voices are not heard, advocating for those who need to be helped, supporting local missionaries, discipling college students, and creating a curriculum that will ideally offer more hope for the future for many kids. It is an incredible answer to prayer and a journey that I could not be more excited to have begun. 

Grief and Goodness

In my little corner of the world it seems that there has been much to grieve lately. Sad goodbyes. Hard times in the lives of those I love. Reality. It seems overwhelming at times. But then there's sweet sweet Aana. One of the reasons I grieve, yet one who brings joy still. She is now pain and suffering free with her beloved savior. And I'm missing her words of encouragement and love already, as are so many others. So, in a recent moment of sadness, I went back to see the last few things she said to me. The last long message caught my eye. It was the one where she told me the doctor had said it was time to stop chemo and start hospice. She prefaced that information with these words:

"I got some sad news yesterday, but just remember God is sovereign."

At the news of her imminent death, she pointed me back to God. Aana amazed me in so many ways, but most importantly- to the end she was a witness of the faithfulness and love of God. She suffered much and there were moments of intense pain where she didn't want to deal with it all anymore. But never once did she do anything but cling to God and share his goodness with all around her. In her pain she pointed to him. On her good days she pointed to him. In her anger and confusion she pointed to him. And in all of it she chose to trust in his love and lean on his arms.

As I watched the sun rise yesterday I was overwhelmed with how all-knowing God is and how very little I understand. I felt so small and so out of control, messy and broken, but also so amazed. I was confused and wanting to understand, but I was in awe of Him. I was frustrated and a little bit terrified, yet I found myself in a place of praise. All I could think of was Job. (To be clear I am not in the least comparing my life to Job's. Or to anyone else's for that matter. It was just what came to mind.) He so did not get what was happening. It looked bleak. Life was not unfolding as planned and the future did not look hopeful. But when God spoke, He did not speak to Job's situation. He spoke the truth of who He is. He spoke of His power and majesty. He reminded Job of who He is and how much His plans are above ours. Aana saw this. She walked with God and pointed to these truths of His no matter what was happening in her life.

Our world will always hold grief and sorrow. But God will always hold our world. So may we grieve and cry as Aana did. And in the midst of it may we praise God for his goodness as Aana did. May you and I be ever more like Aana. May we, in any circumstance, point to Him and trust in Him. For He is so so good, even in the grief.