Yo! I am about to do a new thing. Do you not perceive it?
Posted June 6th, 2007 by Deb Stehlin
A week or so ago, I was in the same room with Mpho Tutu, the daughter of South African bishop Desmond Tutu. She is an Episcopal priest doing ministry near Washington D.C. I made a bee-line toward her like a groupie trying to meet a rock star. Nervous, I shook her hand and breathlessly said, "Nice to meet you. I am also an ordained woman. I'm working to start a brand-new church -- from scratch." Her eyes got really big and she said (I'm not lying), "I would be so afraid!"
Desmond Tutu's daughter, who was with her father when he was shot at, who was present for the struggle and end to apartheid, would be afraid to start a new church. That kind of shook me up for a minute. Being part of ending apartheid sounds like kind of a big deal. Being part of ending systematic oppression sounds scary to me. So, for a moment, I wondered, "Should I be afraid?"
I tried for a minute to be afraid of the task that we are doing together. But I can't I can't muster up any fear. Call me naive, but there's not a single cell in my body that is afraid to do this. And let me tell you why: Because it's not about me. It's about God, on the move, doing a new thing. If you doubt that, consider the things that have happened in the last week: God has made funding possible through a grant that is coming to us through the Thrivent Financial people. This will really help us get off to a strong start. I don't know how much money is coming to us, or when it will arrive, but it will be a substantial gift!
The same day we heard about the financial windfall, I was schmoozing at a party and made a connection with someone who may be instrumental in getting us some land that we can build on some day. Coincidence? I think not.
I think that God is busy doing what God is always doing. God is always working to create community. God is always working on healing a broken world. God is always about Good News. God is always doing new things. We're just joining up with God in God's mission to love and change the world.
Mpho Tutu asked for my business card and wrote the name of our new church on the back of it....Light of the World. (She likes the name.)
"I'll be praying for you," she promised me.
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Prayers
The end of your posting made me smile! How cool for you to be able to meet Desmond Tutu's daughter! How cool to have her actually say she will pray for you (and our church)!! How cool for all of us to be part of something that has never been done before, but that will make a difference in people's lives. I am so excited about this new church and what it will stand for. It is not about "things", it is about God, families, community...the parts of our lives that should matter most. Thank you for being awesome enough to take a leap of faith and just do it and thank you for taking us on the journey with you.