ON A RECENT SATURDAY MORNING IN MAY OUR YOUTH LEADER CHRIS SMITH AND MYSELF, SET OUT ON OUR FIRST FISHING EXCURSION OF THE YEAR. LAST YEAR I BEGAN TO TAKE SOME OF THE YOUNG MEN OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, OUT FISHING ON MY DAY OFF. I SOON REALIZED THAT MOST HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED THE THRILL OF THE BIG CATCH OR HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE TRANQUILITY OF A DAY AT THE LAKE. THIS ALSO GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL AND DISCUSS THEIR EDUCATION AND DAILY STRUGGLES. WELL WE STARTED OUT AT 8AM HEADING TO STERLING STATE PARK WITH SIX YOUNG MEN IN TOW. THEY WERE EXICITED TO TRY OUT THESE NEW HIGH TECH FISHING RODS DONATED BY A FRIEND OF OUR MINISTRY. WE HAD UTILIZED A BIBLE TRIVIA QUIZ ON THE WAY AND ENJOYED FELLOWSHIP AND PRAYER. WELL AFTER ARRIVING AND SETTING UP IT WASN’T LONG BEFORE I HEARD AN EXCITED SHREIK , AS THE POLE JERKED BACK AND FORTH THE EXCITEMENT GREW, A MINUTE LATER OUT CAME A 2 FT CATFISH. WELL WE CONTINUED TO FISH AND ENDED UP WITH 5 KEEPERS THE CATFISH AND 4 LARGE SHEEPHEAD {UGH}. I FAILED TO LAND THE BIG ONE BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY. (HA HA) SO ALL YOU FISHERMEN AND WOMEN ,STAYED TUNED TO THIS WEBSITE AS I WILL SPEND MOST OF MY DAYS OFF FISHING AND DISCIPILING THESE YOUNG MEN. PRAY FOR OUR SAFETY AND THAT GOD WILL USE ME AS HIS INSTRUMENT TO DISCIPLE THESE YOUNG MEN.
The Church struggles to determine how to gain a hearing in a world that no longer seeks God or wants anything to do with "Church". I have often thought how difficult is must be to find a way to gain a hearing without compromising who we are and why we are here. To make sure that when we receive the opportunity to share - we share the message of the Gospel. That message which the worldly powers despise and would purge from the earth - if it were allowed. We want to retell our common need for deliverance from sin, which is killing us, and to retell the victory our Lord brought to us through Christ's resurrection. But how do we gain a hearing?
In December we were able to share the Gospel with four hundred and thirty adults, and two hundred and fifty children, who attended our Christmas food program. For twenty years we have shared the Gospel with thousands through this program. Resources are tight, and we know if we would stop using this as an opportunity for sharing the Gospel other resources would be available. But then why would we share common bread and close our mouths in sharing the Bread of Life. We have held our ground through the years that this is an opportunity for us to share the Gospel. Some have to our knowledge become Christians through this outreach, and some have become leaders in our Church and witnesses to our community.
I would never say that urban ministry is easy. It is not, our community is hardened against the Gospel, and I was told early on that people would not come to church. While my expectations for growth in our church have been largely unmet, I cannot agree that the Gospel has not had the effect that God intends. Many are called - few are chosen. We have by the means of our food program called many thousands to the Gospel. We bare witness to the few God chose (at least as far as we know), but the Gospel is effective, like that seed that lights on different soils, in the right soil it bears fruit. We can never say, the Gospel is ineffective - no matter how hard the work, no matter how much of the soil is rocky, hard, or filled with weeds; when the good seed hits the good soil God does miracles.
So as our friends struggle to gain a hearing, please do not give in to those who would lead us to believe that the Word will not work, or that we need to change our message to grow the church. The Gospel is effective. We just need to food to gain a hearing, whatever that is in your community.
Every time I meet with a group of our supporters the first question asked is, "Is the bridge going to hurt your ministry?" Well, they keep meeting and the State continues to give MDOT and others money to plan and study the bridge project. But we have had little "concrete" news about the actuality of a bridge. Whether this is a ploy to lull us to sleep, or to get us so used to the idea of a bridge we do not care, or whether it is simply the slow turning of government - we have heard no definitive word on the bridge.
Last year I skimmed a three hundred page study presented to the State about the bridge project. In that document I came across the name "Military Ave. Church". The report stated that Military Ave. was listed because it was in the area of the bridge, but that it's facilities would not be acquired for the bridge project. This was somewhat encouraging, yet we have heard no direct word from MDOT stating in fact that our facilities are safe from their grasp.
I have grown tired of the bridge talk. If they do go ahead with this un-needed bridge, even if they do not take our property, they will create a mess within thirty feet of our facility. They will remove many low rent homes from our community. They will also impact our exposure and access to the community. And while the bankrupt State continues to pour millions of dollars into the study, it seems that they are digging a hole that will require them to follow through with a bridge - needed or not. After all how foolish would it look to spend a hundred million dollars on a study leading to nowhere.
Just my opinion: Dr. Randy Brown
Just another Milestone gone by
Twenty years ago Barb and I came to Military Ave. Church. We had lived near the church while I worked at Ward EPC as an intern, as that internship drew to its conclusion I began to pray earnestly about next steps. Being very concerned about finding a place to minister, I prayed ferverently to know what opportunities God would give us. In that period as I drove to Ward each day I passed Military
Ave. Church. God impressed upon me that this church needed a pastor.
I asked Barb what she thought about us staying in Detroit and working at Military Ave.. She thought it was a fine idea (we had not approached the church and they knew nothing of our thoughts). Within hours of our conversation agreeing that Military Ave. would be a good place for us, we received a visit from a couple of their elders. They told us that they had met and wanted to extend a call to me as their pastor. Yes God, we hear you. We began June 1, 1989 and gave a commitment to stay
for three years.
In that last twenty years God had confirmed His call to us many times and in many ways. He created in us a deep understanding of the need of ministries in very challenging places among people with deep spiritual and physical needs. He surrounded with a great Presbytery that He uses to meet these needs and to express His character to a lost world. He has blessed us with disciples, a miraculous fruit springing from the fallow Detroit soil. And while many days we face theft, discouragement, and other abuses at the hand of this community - God keeps us encouraged. So twenty years have gone by, and as my friend and Elder Steve Bare said, "you only have twenty to go."
(pictured left: Elder Steve Bare presents Pastor Brown with a plaque on his 20th anniversary at MAEPC)
Jeff Hunt recently accepted a part time position as an assistant to Pastor Brown here at Military Ave. Jeff has had a long history of association with the E.PC.. His Father Art was Asst. Pastor at First Presbyterian of Trenton where Jeff''s grandmother also taught Sunday School.
As a child Jeff attended Military Ave were his father Art taught Sunday school. After graduation from U of M and serving as a missionary to the poor in Ecuador, Jeff returned to Detroit. In need of a job and a place to live, he came to Military offering to intern for Pastor Brown, offer a job and a home. He started a basketball outreach, home group and came involved in the various ministries here at Military Ave. While tutoring he met his wife Sara which produced two little boys Jasper (3 and
1/2 years ) and Bruce (7 months). After preaching here at Military Ave he felt God's call to go to Gordon Conwell seminary which he attended from 2005-2008. After graduation he returned to Detroit seeking employment. He found a part time position at Covenant Community Care here in south west Detroit. He also began working part time here at Military Ave. Jeff is helping with pastoral care, discipleship and filling in at the pulpit when needed. Seeking ordination in our denomination he has been studying for the
ordination examinations. He recently bought his first home in the neighborhood and looks forward to ministering to the spiritual needs of the people in this community.
(Jeff and Sara Hunt with Jasper in Jeff's arms and Bruce in Sara's)
Last fall we held our first Urban Ministry Seminar. We intend to help our friends and volunteers understand the challenges of ministering to people who live in Detroit. We started to offer the seminars when we realized that many of our friends did not know what we know, that the challenges facing people in the city are beyond economic, they are cultural, spiritual, and theological.
And God has blessed us with experience and understanding that we need to pass on. Our team is made up of both urban and suburban teachers with a nice array of experience. Cedrick Jones, Steve Bare, Meghan Smith, and Dustin King have all shared their understanding about needs around us and misconceptions, as well as God's working in the lives in the city. Pastor Brown and Jeff Hunt, and provide theological grounding to our discussions.
Our hope is that several of our tutors and volunteers will come, learn, and discuss how they may be more effective servants among this hurting society. The more of us who, "get it" the better work we will do for the kingdom of God.
Our next seminar will be held on September 19th at 10:00 AM. It is about a four hour commitment that we hope will yield some good fruit in the future.
(pictured right: one of three groups that attended our Urban Ministry Seminars last year)
Recently I had an opportunity to go out to the “country” as part of Military Ave.'s Leadership Retreat. I really didn’t want to go. I had a summer cold, I worked the night before, I worked that morning and I was starting to lose my voice. Pastor Brown said, "come along and leave anytime you feel you need to." So out to the country we drove.
It took about an hour to get to our destination. Most of the trip was on the highway just trying to get out of the city and suburbs. Then came the farmlands and wide open spaces. Out here I was less concerned about missing an exit and just admired how wide open it was and the blue sky above. God sure knows how to make a beautiful day. We arrived at our destination. It was a beautiful farm, in the midst of rolling hills, trees, streams, and nature. After a wonderful lunch, we were free to mosey about. One friend gave me the tour of the land. Another friend asked if I noticed the “fresh air” in the country. This air has the freshness that only laundry detergents can capture. As the day went along, I heard comments about “feeling free” out here and how the city can seem oppressive at times. Everyone seemed to be a little more…. relaxed, at ease, at peace. It was a long needed change of pace for some of us.
As for me, my summer cold got worse. I lost my voice completely for several days and in reality, I should have just stayed home. But two important lessons came to mind. First, Jesus told His disciples to “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest”. I think we did this. And the second lesson? James 1:19 says “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…”. I never thought about how much talking I was doing before I lost my voice. It was peaceful not to hear myself and to replace it with time in God’s word or my wife’s angelic voice. Quiet time with God is good and brings about a sense of peace. A peace that only Jesus can give you. My cold will go away and I’m glad I was able to smell the fresh country air. But most of all I am thankful for a loving God who refreshes me in my time of need and gives me peace.
(Al Uema pictured left devotes himself to our Tutoring program and Food program).
Copyright (c) 2006 MAEPC. All rights reserved.
Contact: RevRanB@aol.com
