Reaching Out at Foster Park

[intro]Let’s face it. While various kinds of people make up our Riv family, the vibe is hipster.

I mean, if you look at the average person who lives in Lansing, our church has a disproportionate number of tattooed foodies walking around in vintage clothing, right? So it can be challenging for us, as a collective family, to figure out how to tell the story of Jesus in a meaningful way to someone sees the world very differently.[/intro]

Whether or not you could personally be classified as a hipster, how do you make friends with people who see culture, religion, family life–to say nothing of beard length or organic gardening–very differently than you do? After all, the story of Jesus is for every single person, regardless of when they live, where they live, or how they live.

One way is by getting into one of our biggest local “go” opportunities, which happens every Monday night throughout the summer in Foster Park. At the park, we join forces with Crossroads church in helping kids understand that they matter to Jesus. Many of these kids live in tough situations, without much hope for a better future. We know the answer to a broken heart is Jesus; but how do we share that He is relevant to those kids? The answer is simple. We show up.

I don’t mean we show up with all the answers, ready to change the world. But we show up, in spite of the fact that some of us feel awkward because we’re white and rich. We show up, in spite of the bad day at work. We show up, in spite of the fact that we’re busy. We show up because Jesus is for everyone. He speaks into every level of suffering, every area in which we need to be rescued. While the gospel applies to you, trying to figure out how to love your extended family; it also applies to the child, who is left home alone and scared while her single mom works three jobs to pay the rent and buy food. Jesus is our hope.

So back to showing up. Once we show up, we make a friend; and then we have opportunities to share what Jesus means and why He came. Sometimes, as we join God’s work, the story makes sense to a kid–even though they might have heard it before on TV or at a Sunday School. It makes sense to them because God has chosen us to be His messengers, and we’re doing our job.

JR Miller, who leads the Riv volunteers at Foster Park, said it this way:

“The culture is very different than mine, and I only live ten minutes or so from Foster Park. It’s exciting for me to be stretched spiritually in my vision of what the Gospel is locally… I am continually being reminded of the fact that different culture does not mean different country.”

This is just one opportunity you (and your family and your life group) can take. What I am attempting to say is when you show up anywhere, you bring along the Hope the lies within you. Be intentional about bringing that light to shine in the darkness.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Foster Park outreach, please contact [email protected].

Image Credit: Compassion @ Riv