Sprouts, February 18, 2014

WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE

SPROUTS

February 18, 2014

A weekly communication for:

WDC Churches and Pastors

WDC Executive Board, Commission, Committee and Task Force members

 Any content may be used in bulletins and newsletters and forwarded to congregational leaders and members.

WDC Sprouts is also available at:  www.mennowdc.org (Publications)

 IN THIS ISSUE:

*Cities Are Ready for the Harvest
*Announcements

Cities Are Ready for the Harvest

by Gilberto Flores, WDC Associate Conference Minister

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matt. 9: 35-38 NRSV)

I have read this text many times since I was a boy, and registered it in my memory forever. This scripture has several things that attracted my attention and captured my imagination in a powerful way.

Jesus visiting cities and populated areas has illuminated my work as director of church planting, and means to me that cities are in God’s heart. His compassion for those in the cities wandering in despair and helpless is a graphic description of what we see very often in urban places. In Luke 10 Jesus sent his disciples to every town and place where he himself intended to go (v. 1) and in both cases, the human condition touched deep in Jesus’ heart.

Today, big cities are complex melting pots of races and cultures, centers of subtle and active interactions; origins of new social generations and models. In the USA, big cities attracted masses of rural people from Europe and other parts of the world, taking them out of the isolation of their natal villages. The energies latent in these people were aroused as a consequence of the commotion caused by new contacts.

In this urban context or ecology, one does not need to go too far to find what Jesus saw as he visited cities and villages. The frantic and busy life generates consequences that hurt people, producing emotional distress and hopeless conditions.  The crowds are “harassed and helpless.”

Working for the kingdom of God in a big city is a unique privilege and challenge. There are a myriad of possibilities. The city and its multicultural components reveal God’s creative hand everywhere you go. At the same time, you can see the worst of a society – poverty, loneliness and illness. In other words, the context gives us the opportunity to see the most enjoyable things a city can offer, and at the same time the worst things you can imagine.

That is why Jesus’ words touch me deeply. He notices the contradictions and ambiguities of the city and instead of rejecting the city, he expressed compassion. He saw the city as a place of harvest, not an evil space to be avoided. Jesus reacted in three ways:  curing the ill, having compassion for those living without direction, and asking his disciples to be aware. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” The harvest is here and abundant. The laborers are so few.  Ask the Lord to move people, ask the Lord to touch people to see with Jesus’ eyes and be moved into compassion.

Take for example the Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington metropolitan area. Dallas is the fourth largest US metro area, with a population of 6,700,911 settled in 9,286 square miles. In 2008-2009, they received an influx of 146,530 new residents, becoming the fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation.  Their demographic composition is as follows: 69% White, 13.9% African American, 0.6 Native American, 3.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 10% other races, 2.4 two or more races, 21.7% Hispanic/Latino.

As I move around in this city it is easy to understand Jesus’ concern. This place has plenty of great opportunities for harvest. Jesus did not say come to cities and plant a seed. Jesus said the cities are ready for harvest.

Evidently, God has no problem seeing what is going on in cities. But we have problems because is difficult for us to see what is already going on.  We are interested in planting a new church in Arlington, the third largest city in the metropolitan area (375,600 people).  I decided to go there, pray around and see with my eyes wide open. As I was doing it, suddenly something came to my mind: “Where is Jesus at this moment?” Then I asked, “Jesus, are you walking here too?”  I am sure he was somewhere in Arlington healing, comforting and walking with people.

If you are interested in a project like this and want to come and see for yourself, please contact us. If you prefer, please pray for the cities, send your financial help to our offices in North Newton and join us in our efforts to be witnesses in the cities.

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