Recent Update on Work

Pastor Joe began his work in Downtown San Diego in September 2009. His hope and desire is to see the people of Downtown transformed. By taking the role of a servant, he is learning about the people, the culture, and the needs of a very diverse area. It doesn't take long in the city to see diversity in many different forms; racial, economic, and lifestyle diversities, to name a few. Perhaps, one diversity that is not as recognizable is a religious diversity. San Diego, as you know, is one of the most unchurched areas in the country, Downtown may contain the highest percent of unchurched and dechurched people. This presents a great challenge for us, yet an incredible opportunity as well.

Having been in San Diego for only four months, we have been able to start a Bible Study for downtown professionals on Wednesday afternoons, a sign that we are striving to meet the Spiritual needs of the 70,000 commuters who make a daily drive into the city. We have also been in contact with some of the 35,000 residents who call downtown home, and are working with them to develop small groups; connecting them to each other in an individualistic culture, but also connecting them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. We also have teamed up and volunteered with other Christian non-profit agencies to meet the needs of the 4,000 person homeless population. We continue to take seriously the Great Commission of making more and better disciples of Jesus Christ.

Mission Field

This is the incredible city that we get the privelidge of serving and bringing the saving news of Jesus Christ to. Well it looks beautiful all lit up from afar, this city is just as great on the surface street. The difference in perspective allows you to see the brokeness that goes on in this city. In a town that attracts thousand of visitors a year who flock to "paradise," very few people know about the true paradise that is found through faith in Jesus. Here's something I wrote, when we first announced that we were being called to downtown urban ministry:

"What does a church in downtown San Diego look like? The city is such a diverse mix of people. If you haven't been downtown in a while, I encourage you to go down to the big city and sit and watch just one corner. If you can get down there around lunch time, you will find a great mix of people; people in suits, others in clothes that haven't been washed in months, people who are tourists, others who are businessmen, others who are homeless, and everyone in between. If you can't be there at noon, try an evening. The bars are all open and twenty-somethings flood the streets beneath the neon lights. Look up and see all of the high-rise buildings with lights on; people working late into the night, while others are settling in their high class condo. Look down a dark street and see the homeless making their beds on a concrete sidewalk.

Somewhere in those visits, you will see what a downtown church might look like. The church will look like the community that is being served. The thought of being called to start a downtown church is scary, and yet amazingly comforting. God has placed on our hearts to reach these people, and he has been preparing this place for us. The doors that have swung open are unreal, we have connections to every people group that we mentioned in the opening paragraph. In fact we have started our first Bible study in a lawyer's conference room on Wednesday mornings at 7:15! (Now at noon on Wednesdays) We are excited to start reaching out to more and more people in the next few weeks. Please keep us in your prayers, we thank you for those already offered for us."

My hope is that these words show the challenge and the diversity we see in a broken city...

New Stat that was just shared with me: 91% of people in San Diego County have not been in a church in the last year.



Please pray for us as we try to plant a church in VERY rocky soil

Wednesday Afternoon Week 8

Sorry for the delay.... I am a few weeks behind, this will be fixed by tomorrow...

2 weeks ago now, we looked at the Bible's "One Anothers." This is a list some of you may have seen already, but important to look at.

Here is a link to the list of them... I encourage you to highlight the "one anothers" and "Each others" on the list, along with the verbs that precedes them...

After doing these, ask yourself if this is what the church you know looks like...

http://www.memoryverses.org/smc/oneanothers.htm

Wednesday Afternoon Week 7

Verses: Matthew 25:31-46

The story of the Sheep and the Goats...

We began by focusing on the verses, that jump right out. "Whatever you have done to the least of these brothers of min, you have done unto me."

Jesus telling us that when we care for others, we care for Him. When we help others we help Him. When we love others, we love Him. That will change the way you treat other people that you encounter in your life.

But Jesus doesn't stop there. "Whatever you did not do to the least of these my brothers, you did NOT do unto me."

I think we like the first verse better than the second. We can look back at all of the nice things that we have done for others and chalk them up to acts for Jesus, but it is a lot more painful for us to look back and think about all of the times we let ourselves get in the way of caring for others. Then to think that we turned the blind eye to Jesus himself.

Mother Theresa may have been on the right track when someone asked her why she care for the lowest of the low on the streets of Calcutta, she replied, "Everyone of them is Jesus in disguise." Maybe this should be our motto.

We also had a long discussion on how Christians are viewed by the world, and asked the question, "If we viewed everyone as Jesus, would we have such a bad rep?"

We also discussed the fact that in the reading, the sheep and goats were separated by the King, not by the sheep/ goats. It is not our place to judge, nor is it by our works that we are saved.

Next Wednesday (10/28)

Here is the link to a Rick Reilly article we will be using in conjunction with Matthew 25:31-46...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373

Wednesday Afternoon Week 6

Text: Philemon 1:8-25

This week we talked about how Paul takes on a sacrificial lifestyle for Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave who served in Philemon's household. While he was there, he sinned against Philemon. Most likely, he stole from him. Unfortunately for Onesimus, this crime was punishable by death.

So Onesimus was imprisoned in Rome, where he met Paul. Paul spent time getting to know him, while in chains, and shared with him the saving Gospel of Jesus. This letter is a passionate plea from paul to Philemon, a church leader, to welcome back his slave as a brother, and charge Paul with the payment that Onesimus still owed Philemon.

Couple things from our discussion.

1. What was Philemon's role with sharing the Gospel with Onesimus before he stole from him? We don't have a clue, but I would imagine it must be hard to hear the Gospel from someone who masters over you. We need to take a humble approach, coming along side other sin order to share the Gospel.

2. Paul does just that. As a fellow prisinor, Paul gets to spend day and night with Onesimus. During these times, as a brother and fellow inmate, Paul has the change to get to know this societal outcast. During these times, Paul is able to share a little more of the mystery of God.

3. Paul takes on Onesimus' punishment. Actually imitating the work of Christ. What a difference it makes for someone to lay down their own life for another. He was willing to take on whatever debt Onesimus owed Philemon.

4. "Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love." (vv. 8-9) Paul says I could command that you forgive, but I'm going to give you the chance to do what is right. Are we keeping forgiveness from people in our lives, or toward the people we are attempting to serve? If so, we know what we ought to do, and if that's not reason enough... we know the love of Jesus, and what he would have us do.

Wednesday Afternoon Week 5

Text: Philemon 1: 1-7

What a joy it is to share the Gospel!!!

Paul writes to Philemon and says. "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints."

Have you ever shared the saving Gospel of Jesus with someone? When I carry out the Great Commission in Matthew 28, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you," I walk away with a feeling of comfort and joy within myself. It is almost as if I were on some sort of 'emotional high.'

Despite knowing what joy can be attained by sharing the Gospel, I am guilty of not spreading the Gospel as often as I should. There are plenty of Christians in this world who have no idea what feeling I am describing.

This week we looked at the reality, that while we are filled with joy in sharing the Gospel, there are many who have never taken advantage of this free gift. Why are we feasting at one end of the table, while others are at the other end of the table starving?

There are many reasons that we choose not to share the love of Christ with others; social awkwardness, fear of rejection, or unidentified opportunities. Whatever it is, we miss out frequently on the chance have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. No Christ follower would want to miss such opportunity, but that is exactly what we do in each of these occasions.

How do we share this love of Christ?

Jesus tells us in John 13, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."Simply stated, the world identifies us as Christ followers, based on how we treat others.

That should make sharing the Gospel a little easier!!!