Bread Dough & Restoring the Streets

Tonight, Corinne made these little bread snack things from Trader Joe’s and before she put them in the oven I ate one of the bread dough squares raw. I know some of you are disgusted right now, but when I was younger, I used to love eating raw dough (especially those little Pillsbury biscuits). I had forgotten how much I used to love those things and it made me think how easily time can erase what once meant so much to us.

Years ago, I had a desire to reach my community with the good news of Jesus so badly I could taste it. It affected the places that I chose to worship, the jobs that I took and the things I thought and dreamed. Even when I would travel to various places with mission teams, this theme would come up over and over again, whether in Mississippi, China or Wales. At some point in a time of prayer or in comments shared as a group, someone would say “let’s take what we’re doing here back home with us” and each time I came home I would think, “ok, how can we do something with this?”

Some of this resulted in throwing block parties that gave backpacks filled with school supplies to the kids in a local neighborhood, or taking food and making breakfast in that same neighborhood, also in playing music and speaking at a local club/pizza place where a band would play and people would sit at the bar drinking beer and listen to what I talked about concerning my faith in Christ.

That was then, but what about now? I have always felt it important to not live on the events of the past. If there are no new or fresh things happening in my life, then I am like a car that has run out of gas and is only moving on the momentum of yesterday… it’s just a matter of time before I stop.

So what about now? Glad you asked…

We are helping to establish two of the ladies in our community into an apartment where we will begin reaching out in a very tangible way right in the midst of those to whom we desire to show the love of Christ. We are building relationships (I’m already bringing one man to our Sunday gatherings) and we plan to have Bible studies there and so much more. We have also connected with a state funded organization here in Upland and it seems that a door wide enough to fly a cargo plane through has opened up for us to work with them. And get this, we are not only going to be able to help with the social needs, but the way things are working out, we will also have the opportunity and freedom to share our faith in Jesus and share how He still changes lives with these people!

All these things have recharged my soul and like the taste of raw dough, have rekindled my spirit with an endeavor to reach our local community. I am excited, encouraged and truth be told, a bit scared as a lot is happening very, very quickly.

Please pray for us at Genesis and these opportunities before us; that Jesus would continue to set before us an open door that no one can shut. (Revelation 3).

Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. -Isaiah 58:12 (NKJV)