Field Education Final Paper

“Barefoot”

 

By: Steven Brice

 

 

 

 

 

BIBM 629 Field Education

Professor Tim Sensing

August 2^nd, 2012

Introduction

In the west side of Texas, Southern Hills church of Christ is a large congregation located in Abilene. The Southern Hills congregation has been a church that has had a heart for God and His creation. The Southern Hills church strives to be Christ in the lives of those who are Christ-less. One of the ways the Southern Hills church have strived to accomplish this task is by applying the principles and concepts of a book entitled Barefoot Church. This ministry is led and directed by Vann Conwell. Brandon Hatmaker who is the pastor of the Austin New Church, co-founder of Restore Austin, and a missional strategist with Missio in Austin, Texas, wrote this book. In this volume, Hatmaker reminds the church of its history in being a church that is focused on the “least of these”. This volume challenges the church to reevaluate their life in the Kingdom, and to truly ask if we (the church) are living the Kingdom life as Jesus would want us to live. He then calls the church to go back to living among the world, and not be isolated from the world. The Barefoot church is not about a new ministry fad or a church growth quick scheme, but it is about being the good news in a bad situation. Brandon writes in his book, “We’re not going to end poverty, hunger, or homelessness through a single act of mercy, but we can offer temporary relief. For a moment we can become good news to someone in need of some good news.”[1] The Southern Hills church desires to answer this call by challenging Christians within the congregation to be a part of this ministry.

Every Wednesday evening, those who are interested in this ministry are going to devote at least an hour in the neighborhoods, non-profit organizations, or any place else. Under the direction of Vann, a few others and I will pray and brainstorm before every Wednesday evening experience to prepare and create opportunities for those who would be a part of this ministry. We expect to experience what it means to be the church outside the church building.

This ministry desires its participants to be indwelled and immersed in the world of Abilene, to listen to the voices within this context, and to see how the gospel story is told, shared, and enacted within this context.  Therefore, I desire to see how the Barefoot church concept can be implemented in Abilene. The question this project seeks to answer is “how does this concept (Barefoot church) empower and encourage Kingdom citizens to live their lives among Abilene residents?” Does this ministry give an answer to the ongoing struggle for the church to be the church outside the walls of its building?

Literature Review

The church is in a constant struggle with leaving the comfort of their pews, to being the church that is in a naked, cold, and sinful world. There is a constant battle between the church and the world. There are necessary and unnecessary tensions between the church and the world. It is necessary for the church and the world to have tension because of the differences they hold with spiritual and moral standards. The tension, between the two becomes unnecessary when the church isolates itself from the world, and the world assumes that the church has neglected them. Throughout history, the church has been evolving and going through some painful growth. It is moments like these where the church will have to experience another cycle of growth. This growth isn’t easy because it leads Kingdom Citizens away from their comfort zone, to a place where disciples are fully immersed into the world of people, so that God will be glorified and the body of Christ can be a blessing to all people. Nevertheless, this is what Christianity is all about. Therefore, the writer argues that if the Kingdom Citizens are going to fully live their lives in the world, they must understand that this is extremely difficult.

Serving the Least of These

Kingdom Citizens (the church) have not been placed in a position of salvation so that they can only dwell within their salvation, but to also be a blessing to others. One of the greatest commandments of Jesus has been overlooked and put aside by the church. Brandon Hatmaker argues that Christians should be able to prove that they love God.  He illustrates the conversation Jesus had with Peter after the resurrection. When Jesus saw His disciples by the sea, He called Peter and asked him three questions.[2] All of which were the same. Afterwards, Jesus gave Peter a commandment as a result of Peter’s response. In discussing the call and response of Christians, Hatmaker writes “the way to prove our love to him is to take care of others.”[3]

Hatmaker makes is very clear that this isn’t about a new church growth gimmick or any other popular title, but “it’s about serving the least and your neighbor.” [4] Hatmaker’s conviction and passion is seen throughout his writing concerning the least of these. Throughout his writing, his focus is on creating awareness that there is a call for Christians to be Christ to those who are Christ-less. His passion brings to remembrance the Story of the Good Samaritan. One moment in Jesus life, a lawyer decided to test Jesus by asking Him what can one do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded with a question, which led the lawyer to quote the greatest command: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”[5] Just like the lawyer, these words have been memorized, quoted, used in music, and in poetry, yet there is still something missing. The realities of these words contain much difficulty for anyone to practice.

After the lawyer’s inquiry about his neighbor, Jesus shares with him a story concerning a man who was walking alone on a long journey. In addition to him being alone on a long journey, he was stripped of his clothes, and beaten by robbers. The picture that Jesus paints in this story isn’t an old ancient story, but it is the story of many people living in the world today. First, the man was alone on a long journey. In a world that contains billions upon billions of people, there are many who are walking through life alone. Secondly, Jesus says the robbers stripped the man of his clothes. This means that this person was naked and exposed. These robbers weren’t only interested in robbing him, but they wanted to embarrass this individual. This man was left alone to deal with the shame. Lastly, Jesus says that these robbers had beaten this man to the point where he was almost dying. These robbers used their very own hands and feet to physically beat this man to where he was bruised; to where blood was drawn; to where he was physically unable to help himself. As a result of this event, religious leaders didn’t offer any help.

This call is about loving people to the point where one is willing to bear the embarrassment and shame, embrace someone else’s blood upon themselves, carefully bandage the wounds of the oppressed, and sacrifice everything so that someone may have shelter. It is a story that calls disciples to be like the Good Samaritan – one who exemplified Christ. As dramatic as this story that Christ shared may be, the essence of this story is similar to the stories of many in the world today. The church must answer the call of those who are crying out on the road “from Jerusalem to Jericho.”[6]

 

The Mission of God

The meanings and application of the Good Samaritan has been told in many different ways throughout the Biblical text. Stories in the Bible like the Good Samaritan are examples of what God wants His people to do. As stated before, God desires His people to be a blessing to world. Another example that makes a contribution to this discussion, is Christopher Wright’s perspective concerning God’s calling and mission for Abraham, and how it relates to disciples today. In the book of Genesis, after stories upon stories (Genesis chapters 3-11) of a world that has been contaminated with sin, God, in chapter 12 calls Abram to leave his present location and to live a life of faithful obedience to Him. According to Wright, it is from the beginning of Abram’s calling, where the entire mission of God was for this nation. Abram’s (Abraham) family is to become a blessing to all people. In reflecting on the stories of the Old Testament, Wright states as it relates to Abraham:

“But binding them all together is the grand narrative of God’s mission, ever since Abraham, to bring blessing to the nations through this people whom he has called to be his special possession. This is not just any story, it is the story, providing Israelites with their fundamental world view, and providing Christians also with theirs.[7]”

The continuation of the promise of God for a blessed people being a blessing to other nations lies within the hands of the church. Those who have been baptized into Christ are a part of the one body of Christ, which makes them descendants of Abraham and heir to the promise.[8] The church is blessed whether they desire to embrace it or not, and the church is blessed to be a blessing to others whether they desire to or not.

The difficulty about the story of the Good Samaritan is the call to dive into the messiness of people. The difficulty about the story of Abraham is the call to walk around listening to God’s voice with faith. Kingdom citizens must understand that the call to fully live their lives in this sinful world requires one to walk into the unknown, but have faith in the God who knows what is the unknown is all about. Kingdom citizens must understand that this call requires them to pause on their personal journey to attend to the call of God that is designed to be a blessing to all nations.

Methodology

Vann Conwell, one of the Ministers of the Southern Hills Church in Abilene, Texas has had a passion to answer the call to be the church outside the walls of the church building. He wrestled with how Kingdom citizens can have more of a presence in the world than a presence inside the building. After hearing and reading about the Barefoot Church book, he shared his thoughts with a few others who voiced their passion to be more of a presence and empowerment in the world. Vann then opened the opportunity for me to partner with him and the group concerning this endeavor. Before the opportunity arose, I had a burden in my heart concerning my role in their world. For so long, I have kept my talents and skills within the confinements of the church building. I asked God to open doors for me to experience Christianity outside the walls of the church. The Barefoot church opportunity appeared to be an answered prayer.

I willingly walked into the Barefoot church opportunity. I participated in the committee, which met to preplan the different events that would occur on Wednesdays. I spearheaded a Wednesday event that was geared towards encouraging the participants to step out of their comfort zone. I encouraged the members to work around the neighborhoods that surrounded the downtown area. I encouraged them to walk the neighborhoods that were occupied with the lower class citizens. Parents, youth, young adults, and seasoned Christians participated in this event. There was no agenda’s or manuals for them to look over or follow, because I wanted the evening to present itself the way it would. As a result, many saw a different world. For so long, many have driven by these run down neighborhoods, but have never thought to realize that God’s creation occupies these places.

Events such as walking around an unknown neighborhood, and other events that were presented for the participants have caused a great awareness in the lives of those who participated.  A small group of Christians from the Southern Hills Church decided to leave the traditional Bible study routine to intentionally be in the world every Wednesday in Abilene, so that they can see the need for the gospel to be present in the world. This has ignited a passion within the hearts of these Christians to be Christ outside the walls of the church building. There is a recognition that this task isn’t easy, yet there is an understanding that this attitude and movement will cause an individual to be uncomfortable. In the midst of the fact that one may be uncomfortable, the calling to love the least of these and to walk according to God’s calling by faith is preeminent over one’s convenience.

Theological Reflection

The Barefoot church ministry at Southern Hills has done much good to those who participated. The Barefoot church ministry has provided an opportunity for a group of believers to experience Kingdom life outside the walls of the church. Whitehead references a ministry like this as the communal method. This method provides a “strategy by which Christian gatherings can face the challenges in their surrounding cultures, and come to an agreement of how to witness to their faith here and now.”[9] One of the remarkable aspects of this ministry was that even though there were some sensitive and uncomfortable moments, the journey through the moments was experienced within community. For example, when the group agreed to walk around the neighborhoods, it provided some awareness as to the fact that there are human beings living in poor conditions. This sparked a desire for some to become more in tuned with what is happening around them and to find ways to help. The feedback of being shocked and frightened yet having the heart to want to do something was a result of the group experiencing events such as these in community.

This ministry has provided a raw and transparent perspective as to the reality of what Christ is calling all Christians to be a part of. Whitehead calls this the performable method, which encourages Christians to experience pastoral moments of reflection. According to Whitehead, this performable method is “a style of discernment that is simple and straightforward enough to lead our reflections towards practical action.”[10] As a result of the different encounters that the group experienced, there is no doubt that there wasn’t a sense of conviction. The understanding that people are literally struggling while Christians are comfortable and stagnant within their Christian walls provides conviction.

When I reflect on my personal journey through this ministry several passages convicts me of my perspective on ministry. This journey helps me to reflect on passages like Matthew 25 and Galatians 6. Yet, the story of the Good Samaritan was a story that was a constant foundation for my journey. The story of the Good Samaritan was a conversation partner with my attempt to apply the performable method. My meditations through the story and the reality that many lonely, naked, and beaten individuals are in the world caused me to truly evaluate what ministry is all about. For so long, I have been surrounded by the fame and flashiness of ministry, but as a result of meditating and dialoging with myself and partners, I am growing to understand that ministry isn’t about fame or flashiness. Although, I had some type of understand of this, to truly come face to face with this reality created a greater sense of awareness.

Conclusion

Although this exercise was motivated by academic demands, this opportunity was divinely orchestrated for my personal growth and development. My journey with the Barefoot Church ministry has given me a strong conviction that the church must be present in the world, and not stagnant within the comfort of their sacred walls. This assignment has provided an opportunity for me to study how a ministry can help provide for a need. This assignment has provoked me to have more critical lens to reading and studying a contextual ministry. As a result of studying a contextual ministry, it only left room for honesty and integrity to surface at the conclusion of the study. My reflections of this project have caused me to allow certain questions that I have intentionally hidden to resurface.

Studying a contextual setting opens the door for someone to see the crux of the matter. Studying a contextual setting affords someone to see the beauty and the messiness that is within a context. Taking the time to investigate a context gives an individual and the observant an indication that the observer truly cares. When the observant senses that the observer cares, the observant gives the observer permission to enter into their life and live with them.

 

 

Works Cited

1. Hatmaker, Brandon, Barefoot Church: Serving the Least in a Consumer Culture. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.
2. Whitehead, Evelyn, and Whitehead, James, Method in Ministry: Theological Reflection and Christians Ministry. Lanham: Sheed & Ward, 1995.
3. Wright, Christopher, Mission of God. Downer Grove: InterVarsity, 2006.