the well-ordered life of faith

After just returning from Haiti, I'm spending time reflecting on the two greatest impressions left on me.  I'll post them separately, but by far, "the well-ordered life" is my number one takeaway.

All week, my observations and experiences led me to visualizing a three-ring target.  In the first ring, the  bull’s eye, was relationship with Christ.  Everything at UCI pulsated and rippled from this epicenter.  The Kingdom of God, the good news of new life in Christ, was preached, talked about standing up and sitting down, shared all the time.  People were singing all the time, praying all the time, proclaiming the Word of God all the time, giving praise and recognition to God all the time.  It wasn’t added, it wasn’t a side dish, it wasn’t secondary, it wasn't manufactured.  Adoration of God and gratitude to Him is the unmistakeable core and the very essence of UCI.  Jesus was unashamedly, uncompromisingly made known in every movement and activity.  The Word of God was not alluded to or debated; it was spoken plainly and lived out in a very simple, devoted trust and faithful obedience. 

The invitation to faith was an invitation to all out devotion to the Jesus who saves us.  It is unequivocally a call to radical faith and surrendered life.  A very clear call into a life of fully following Jesus and being discipled and trained in the ways and the Word of God.  Love God out of His great love for you.  God first.  A simple, yet profound “Trust and obey.”  There was not a spirit of confusion or complexity.

*I got on a school bus that was jam packed with teenagers and adults, and we drove off to go to a baptism. Before we were 3 minutes down the road, the entire bus broke out in hardy praise songs that were resounding through the village as we traveled.  

*I listened to Lanyo, a 75 year old UCI board member, as he talked about coming to UCI campus each morning at 6 a.m. to prayer walk through the campus.

*I watched JeanJean on the phone as he placed calls all over Haiti looking for mature Haitian Christians with master's degrees who might join Christ's work at UCI.  

*I experienced a power encounter between light and dark, God and Satan, as one young woman was baptized in Christ in the river.

*I listened to three former witchdoctors share their testimonies of how Christ miraculously redeemed them and gave them new life.    

*I watched the community shut down all day Sunday to observe Sabbath.  Worship, meals together, soccer games and volleyball, time to visit in the courtyard.  

*I listened to JeanJean share about the biblical model they use to work through disputes in their community.  

*JeanJean shared a story about a church in the states that hadn’t grown in 8 years.  JeanJean asked them about the church elders' prayer life.  The church leader spoke about doing 2-3 hours of business in their meetings and praying about 30 minutes.  JeanJean suggested that business may be that which is getting in the way, and that they should maybe try 2-3 hours of praying with about 30 minutes of business.  The church took his advice and God has been growing that church ever since.  

-JeanJean repeatedly said, “This is not our doing. There's no way.  This is God at work.  We’re only joining His work.  Prayer and obedience are the key work for us.”

The second ring was an unmistakeable outflow of God’s love toward the love of neighbor and the development of Christian community.  Relationships.  I watched JeanJean be present relationally all week.  At the gate visiting with Haitian neighbors. Sitting drinking coffee with others in the courtyard outside his home.  Playing volleyball.  Playing crazy games in their living room with 18 scrambling, laughing, hysterical college girls.  He was always out amongst the people.  He mentored, he directed, he listened, he played, he prayed, he equipped and empowered, he taught, he helped people hear one another’s stories, he constantly kept people directed toward Christ.  He loved.  He ate meals at the big table and invited university professors, pastors, workers, students around the table. The community that has formed around UCI is one of trust, compassion, and joy, and it is a bright light that is drawing people in to Christ.

*One professor from Port said that he can make more money in Port au Prince and have more conveniences, but he’s drawn to UCI, the university, and this community of hope and joy and power that he is experiencing.

*One college girl gave her life to Christ while we were there because she has never felt so loved by people and wants to know this Jesus.

*Our team felt it.  This love in community.  Working together.  Playing together.  Praying and sharing together.  Offering your gifts in community for the good of the whole.  Being accepted unconditionally. 

The third ring is outreach together into the needs of their community.  Listening to the community.  Addressing problems wholistically just as Jesus did.  Collectively feeding people, clothing people, housing people, educating people, teaching people skills, creating jobs, caring for people’s body, soul, mind.  UCI is developing disciples and indigenous servant leaders.  In 8 years, God, through UCI, has built 8 churches, poured 289 concrete floors, built 25 homes, started 8 nutrition centers to feed 300 children,  dug 9 wells, provided 11 irrigation pumps, built a primary school, built a college/university, a cassava mill, an agricultural program and an animal breeding program.  The vision and prayer is to start a medical clinic, to make progress on an agricultural and farming program for the university, and to build a housing development just around the corner that has 45 homes/apartments.  It is clear that God is moving in ways far greater than one can imagine.  It is also clear that though these efforts are demanding, they do not usurp #1 or #2.  There is this purity in the ordered life of this ministry that is attractive and clear.  It is clear that this community development is not the vision but that God is the very vision.  It’s clear that the third ring is community development that flows out of love for God and love for neighbor.   Programs are happening, church services are happening, but excessive time is not given to these in order to make it appealing to seekers or those far from God.  The attraction comes from the Word of God, testimony of God's power and grace, and the community of love and compassion that is radiating through the neighborhood.  

All week long I considered the powerful earthquake of 2010 in Haiti and the waves that shook the ground for miles in every direction from the epicenter.  This is our God, the epicenter who is shaking the ground, moving through this Haitian community, and altering the landscape of life after life as He redeems people for good in His grace and power through Christ.