Returning to Rochester, New York, is always tremendously rewarding for
us because we have so many friends and family members there . However, times
have changed and it's become bitter-sweet treat.
The Church we used to be a part of has suffered a horrendous split and
the casualties on either side are many, and the wounds have cut deep - to the
heart and through the core...
During our 2001 exchange in New York we dived into a spirit filled
Church and LOVED it. We found it difficult to return home to Australia, as many
of our friends had left our Church, which at the time was known as Erindale
Christian Centre. (50% of the congregation had moved on, something
not unusual for transient capital cities like Canberra - we were eyebrow-raised
surprised, but not fall-over-and-accidently-crash-head-against-alter surprised).
We decided to complete a second exchange in New York and in 2003
returned to Rochester. Our reasoning for returning to the same town, university
and Church was that we'd received such excellent Bible teaching and really felt
part of a community - which, as Christians, is so important (if your Church
doesn't offer this, send me your pastor's contact details and I'll rouse on
him/her!).
Upon arrival we were completely shocked by what we found. To our eyes,
nothing had changed. Nobody added and nobody subtracted. At the time it felt
like Heaven, as we were able to transition with ease into exactly the same life
we'd left behind a year and a half before - everyone knew us and old New York
friendships were restored.
What was disappointing to me at the time, was that people's roles
within the Church were the same. Whilst there was obviously life there was also
stagnancy. People appeared to be Spiritually fat, but complacent and not
growing or being strectched, in terms of their role in the Church. It didn't
really bother me personally, our reasons for returning were selfish. We wanted
to be fed in the Lord and BOY were we able to eat.
However, whilst we were soaking in the things of God, little did we
know that a storm was most certainly brewing...
When we left Rochester, we returned back to Erindale Christian Centre
in Australia. It was again a difficult move for us. The Church back in Oz was
led by a chap who, at the time, and in my eyes, lacked the ability to forgive
those in his congregation who had offended him.
Our pastor was blessed with stacks of admirable character traits. At
the fore was his humour - he was a funny ol' fellow who could turn any somber
occasion into frivolous hilarity, taking moment after moment in his stride and
bringing Jesus-joy to the ho-hum-drum of our bureaucratic, suburban, pc (taken
either way - computers (we had so many "dot-commer" types in our
Church - snore) or politically correct), Canberra congregation.
Yet still, even though he was clearly anointed by God, instead of
extending himself in Christian maturity and letting offences go-by-the-way
(which I believe is the heart of God - love and subsequently forgiveness...),
he would allow unforgiveness to settle in his heart and this would of course
lead to bitterness. Consequently he'd lash out at people, even from the pulpit,
forcing droves of people from our Church family.
In time, Elizabeth and I suffered through this same experience.
Nevertheless, Lizzie is British and INCREDIBLY stubborn (yes I know, extend,
maturity, love, forgiveness, etc. Why do you think I know the drill so well?)
and so the more thunderous the storm, the more anchored we became - we had a
MASSIVE bootcamp in the art of forgiveness (though we're still being molded in
this way, so don't say nothin or I'll smash ya! ha ha).
Back in our New York Church, the lead pastor stepped down from his
position to serve the international Church body with concerted effort and a
greater portion of his time. Yet at the same time his marriage deteriorated and
then fell to pieces (there's been a bit of who-har over that one, but it's none
of my business and in my opinion marriages rarely breakdown because of just one
party - it takes two to tango), for one reason or another, and the Church
leadership decided it was not right to continue sending out this man whose
family life was in disarray.
The broken pastor, marriage in tatters, made the painful decision to
leave the Church and continue to serve the Lord via another avenue (he lived
close to where we ended up in Mexico). With time, nearly all of the original
Church's congregation left as well.
Liz and I, back in Australia, were deeply upset with the reports
communicated to us. Heart breaking? You have no idea. It's another example to
me of how Satan is at work on this Earth, toying with the well-to-do
Church-of-the-West. It makes me angry, REALLY mad... Why? We have all we need
to unite and attack, but we're so easily blinded by how clever/Godly/righteous/talented/hardworking/knowledgeable/_______________
we are.
Instead of surging into darkness armed with the truth and the power of
God's Spirit, we flail around stabbing each other and when held to account at
the Gates of Glory our response: "He started it!" God's response?
"No, I finished it!"
Liz and I have mixed emotions about what has happened to our
"American Church family." We've spoken to many of the Church members
who have left since the split and to several of those who have stayed-on after.
They all have a different story to tell and details of their
"journey" vary. Some clearly have been offended and have lived in
that place for quite some time. Others are grieving over the friendships lost
along the way. For some it was the excuse they needed to get out and get
on with their lives. Loyalties abound. Some won't question party-room-politics.
Others just sit in the corner and cry. It's awful.
Whatever they had to say, the common thread which pulled at my heart
and made me feel low was the sense of "sweep it under the carpet" and
"find the silver lining" - "God is a God who restores."
Well Amen to that! But what lengths did Jesus Christ go to in order to
re-establish relationships? For HEAVENS SAKE, he died on a cross so that we
would NOT be separated from the blessing of fellowship and eternal love.
When we visit Rochester now, it is nearly impossible to visit all of
our friends. They span more than a dozen Churches and live in many towns
around and about. Our prayer is that our friends who do not speak to our other
friends will seek HIS kingdom first, and in that place realise the love he has
for each of us, and the love he has for our enemies through us.
Rochester had previously been our home for two years, and so on our
first day day in the area there was no time to waste on "what should we
see" and "where should we visit." Oh no, the next morning (3pm),
armed with nothing but coffee and love, we sat down and pow-wowed for several
hours with our ol' friends the Wills.
It's been a long road for their family, as they endured the struggle
and division in our American Church for many years. However, they are Christian
people who seek the Kingdom of God and to overcome, hence they are running, no,
BULLETING along to the finish line that God has given them - they're a REAL
encouragement to Lizzie and I.
Over the next couple of days we chatted with our Rah-cha-cha crew about
everything under the sun, from politics, to Church stuff (they have now been at
a large charismatic Church for many years, the Father's House, which truly
seems to be an Oasis for many Christians in Western New York), to who's doing
what, where and when. It was an invaluable time of fellowship with some of our
favourites (we're honorary Latinos now, we're allowed to have favourites), the
Wills and the Seaburgs (who abandoned camp for a couple of hours, just to spend
time with us - honoured? Absolutely!).
An extra special treat for the Brien unit was to have Townsend family
with us. Liz's brother came to visit us when we were on exchange in 2001. He
was lucky enough to pick up a gorgeous Rochester babe, Jaime. He wasted little
time in leaving Elizabeth's homemade breakfasts, sacrificing them so as to
spend more time with his novia.
Lukey is now married to Jaime, and together they live in Rochester, New
York, with their cute little kids Tadhg and Alegra.
Margie, Liz's sister, had been visiting us in Nicaragua before our
grand trip to America. We all flew out together from Managua, bound for New
York, on the very same day on the 2nd of July.
Liz and her siblings looked like a Tommy Hilfiger magazine
advertisement as they lay strewn upon the lawn for countless hours. They
chatted and laughed, soaking in every moment of family, reminiscent of the
past, enjoying the present and wondering about the future.
But enough play. We're visiting the US to share with American Churches
about our vision for Nicaraguan youth, our vision is hope, it's Jesus. And
pumped up with the excitement of our dream, we woke up and hit the road with
Beth, a key person in our past, present and future.
She's a woman of God whom we respect as a leader in our life. Both her
and John have always given so selflessly to us: - taking us in, feeding us,
silently enduring our toddler aged kids rip wall paper from their walls, etc.
They're American family to us - we really couldn't ask for more.
And so it was 4-something in the morning. Yikes, we're in America and
people drive FAST! I tried to "tutt" and "aaah" in all the
right places, but in the wee hours of the morn I found it difficult, given the
coffee balancing act I was charged with and the velocity of our freeway
bend-rounding (and with face pressed up against car window, no less).
We arrived safely at Rochester International Airport. American Airlines
had done-us-over again. We had been allowed 2 pieces of baggage each when
travelling in to the US, but were now being forced to pay for EVERY piece of
checked baggage and the charge? Travelling domestically - NOT HAPPY JANET!
It's a cost saving technique for airlines in the US. They save a huge
amount in fuel and personnel costs, with passengers now being sold large bags
that "JUST" fit into the airlines' strict (HA!) carry-on baggage
policy (don't even get me started on airport security!).
The flights were beautiful, up-down-up-down, with coffee and bagels in
Chicago - yummo. We were excited, because this truly was the beginning for us,
in terms of our spreading the Good News. And where better to start than
Minnesota, the land of ONE THOUSAND Lakes...
We're in the USA for a couple of months sharing light (the message is
Jesus, evangelism and discipleship), Nicaragua (trying to raise funds to
continue our work) and our family (we're going here, there and everywhere).
If you are an Australian and would like to support us through the Australian Christian Churches - International Missions (Australian arm of the Assemblies of God), please visit our facebook page, Capital on the Edge, click on "files" at the top of the page, and then download "Field Worker Support Pledge form.pdf", fill it in and send it back to them.
If you are an American and would like to support us through the Assembly of God Church (for a tax receipt), write a cheque (check) in the name of "Zimmerman Community Church" and send your cheque (check) to:
Zimmerman Community Church
12567 5th Avenue
Zimmerman, MN, 55398
- On the memo line of your cheque (check) you should write: Capital on the Edge
- At the end of the tax year, Zimmerman Community Church will send you a tax-deductible receipt
- Please e-mail us (CapitalontheEdge@gmail.com) so that we can notify Zimmerman Community Church that we are expecting to receive a donation.
If you are a Church and would like to consider having us come and share about what we are doing in Nicaragua, please check out our Calender for 2013, go to "Capital on the Edge" in facebook, click on files and then CLICK on 2013 Weekly Calendar (incomplete).doc and e-mail us: CapitalontheEdge@gmail.com
Thanks for reading Part 3 of Planes, Trains and Automobiles,
Jeddoxoxoxo
PS.. Next blog will take us out of the depths-of-despair and
into sharing the "message" with our US Churches
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