WINTER 2000

IN THIS ISSUE: CELEBRATING A LIFESTYLE OF COMMUNITY

THE CRY

F O R

COMMUNITY
VOLUME 6,

NO. 4

WORD MADE FLESH

SCARCITY BROUGHT US TOGETHER

THE CENTRALITY OF THE POOR IN OUR COMMUNITY
by david chronic
of our community; the poor are the center of our community. We have often discussed the ideal of the centrality of the poor in our community, but Vali made it reality. As the Body of Christ, we are a community participating in the sufferings of Christ, experiencing the power of His resurrection, and groaning for the fullness of the Kingdom to come. I, as an American, am an individualist and find it hard to understand what community means. But as I see Christ and His body, I see more and more Gods design for community. He calls us all to live selflessly, but He provides for all our personal needs through our commitment to each other. (continued on page 18) IN THIS ISSUE: We celebrate community with each other because in community, we find the greatest potential for discipleship, service, and growth. FEATURES Scarcity Brought us Together................................1 Embracing our Identity Within Community............5 For Their Relief.....................................................6 Community by the Yard........................................8 Created for Community.......................................12 So Beautiful.......................................................14 A Tangible Sign of the Kingdom...........................15 Our Broken Body...............................................16 The Choice........................................................17 DEPARTMENTS Letter from the Editor.............................................2 About Word Made Flesh........................................3 Staff Profiles........................................................4 Updates from the Field........................................10 A Word From a Director.......................................19

Photo: Kelly Angel

She loves to sing. She has boundless energy. Marias smile will change your day. This summer we took a group of the Romanian street children to camp in the mountains. For four days they were like kids should be - cared for, well-fed, and worry free. They played tirelessly, probably trying to catch up for all the days they have to work instead of play. The day to go home came too soon for most. As the bus pulled away from camp, Maria looked out the window and cried. Then she smiled, sat back in her seat and sang.

It was the 4th of February, St. Valentines day. In Romania, those named after the Saint are celebrated. It was an ordinary day for us at the Drop-In center, but Vali constantly reminded us that it was her day. Little did she know that we had a small party planned for her. Towards the end of our program, we started singing the Romanian equivalent of Happy Birthday and brought in cookies and a wrapped gift. Vali bowed her stocking cap-covered head, a bit embarrassed by all the attention. She received her gift with a big smile and set it next to her. I dont think she had ever opened a present before. She probably thought the wrapping was a gift in itself, so she put it aside as if that was it. We told her she should open the gift and with much excitement she did. It was a small gift - a pair of jeans, stickers, and chocolate.

Valentina took the chocolate, divided it up and gave a piece to each one. We concluded her special day with singing and prayer. Normally, Vali would probably not have anyone to celebrate her birthday. Her parents are alcoholics, so Vali spends most of her time fending for herself on the streets. At best her birthday is spent scavenging for enough money to buy a bottle of liquor so that she and the other street kids can get drunk. This time we celebrated her. As I was reflecting on the day, it occurred to me how much Vali had taught us about community. She invited us to celebrate someone other than ourselves. The scarcity of health and love brought us together, but we were surprised to find the great abundance. Jesus is the focus

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A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Corner Office With a View

from daphne eck, advocacy coordinator
It was a hot Sunday afternoon and the long skirt I had worn to church was sticking to my legs. The sun relentlessly beat on my head as I stood at the foot of Danus unkempt grave. The boys life had been taken in a tragic accident. Danus father had roughly painted his sons name and date of death in black paint on the simple grave marker. But he had misspelled the boys name, a symbolic indicator of the neglect and disconcern Danu had suffered in his short life. I felt a little claustrophobic as I stood in an entanglement of dry weeds and stared at the grave. Engulfed by death and heat, I felt the urgent desire to look outside the cemetery. The cemetery is built on the fringe of the city of Galai, Romania and is enclosed by a cement wall. I could see a bit of green beyond the wall and eagerly began making my way towards it. As I walked, I thought to myself that it was an unfamiliar view I was seeking. Only rarely do I look at life from the point of death. For a North American such as myself, death is not something to be directly faced or willingly entered. At best, I may take a moments glance at death from the outskirts - life looking hesitantly over its nose into death. But today I had somehow crawled into the atmosphere of death. I yearned for a glimpse of life from this new and unfamiliar position. With this on my mind and the wall in clear sight, I Only rarely do I look at life walked straight ahead, from the point of death. thankful for the breeze that the movement of my body created. A childs voice broke my reflection. Silvia. She was running towards me. Daphne! Where are you going? She is a beautiful little girl. Thin, with dark hair, luminous eyes, and a bright smile trademarked by a chipped front tooth. I want to see behind the wall, I replied. Silvia grabbed my hand and said, Ill come with you. We continued towards the wall hand-in-hand and I thought about how poignant the moment was. I was walking with this street child towards life. Maybe I was leading her to Life. But then Silvia broke the silence saying, Ive been out there before. Who was leading whom? Here in the States, my office is made up of a filing cabinet, computer and a few accessories strewn messily across a desk that faces the corner of a room I share with two other staff members. In fact, my co-worker Kim, sometimes makes jokes about me being punished by having to sit with my nose in the corner. All day I sit in front of a computer that is positioned in the corner. What could I possibly see with my back facing the window? But as I edit the publication you are now reading and communicate with our overseas staff, I have a unique view into the lives of saints who are pouring themselves out among the poor. Through my computer screen, I see their struggles and their victories, their suffering and joy. I see the lives of their friends, the poor. I see
2 T H E C R Y

injustice. I see death. I see an elderly beggar woman dying, a street child being shot by a police officer, a boy dying of AIDS. The temptation each day is to harden my heart, count it as simply a daily task, and put it out of my mind. Then He said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed. Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour? He asked Peter. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. Matthew 26:38-41 Stay here with me, keep watch with me. Daily, my temptation is to sleep, to close my eyes to the realities of this broken world. But Jesus has made himself so vulnerable, sharing the pain of His burden with us. He seems to beg Peter, Watch and pray. Personally, I sometimes view my workday as Peter did the night he neglected his watch - as just another uneventful night with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. It is difficult to merely keep my eyes open, but the even greater challenge is to keep watch with a Kingdom perspective. Jesus asks us to crawl into the death of this world so that His life may infiltrate. We may sit in a corner, yet He asks us to watch with His eyeswith Kingdom eyes. My friend Silvia, a child who has been out there before, continues to challenge me to see this world from a different point of view. So now I think of my little work space as the corner office with the view. In the corporate world, the corner offices are the most coveted. They carry an aura of prestige and allow their inhabitants to feel powerful as they look down on the world from a wall of windows. My corner office is not a position of worldly power or prestige. But from a Kingdom perspective, I claim my spot as a strategic location to watch and pray. And I claim my daily tasks as an opportunity to crawl into the sufferings of Christ, and take a good look at the view. It is my prayer that The Cry would be a resource that helps us to see the world in the light of Gods love and concern for the poor. In this issue we will explore the topic of community...in celebration. May the lessons and insights that the WMF staff have gained through being in relationship with the poor bring us closer to a Kingdom perspective, and press us further along His Way. g

Photo: Chris Heuertz

About Word Made Flesh

LIFESTYLE CELEBRATIONS GUIDING PRINCIPLES FROM THE DIRECTOR
In the Fall 2000 issue of The Cry, we introduced six organizational development guidelines which have been submitted to the WMF board of directors over the past two years. In this issue we continue with the following five points. As the mission grows, we desire for these values to continue to be reflected in the WMF community. 7) Move from donor to receptor in our mission strategy. Traditionally the Western church has stood in the role of the donor while the Eastern or Southern church has been seen as the receptor. We need to break down the stereotypes that feed into this lack of partnership and admit our need and dependence for the poor to be our teachers. That happens when we learn to identify with those who have largely been seen as the receptors because the dominant cant participate until they experience life on the margins. We need to affirm and encourage those among the poor who have vision and receive guidance and direction from them. We need to stop taking the credit and learn to be empowered by the poor so that we can point to the poor as our empowerer. In 1999 Word Made Flesh sent two Romanians on a Discovery Team to India and an Indian on a Servant Team in Nepal. In 2000 Word Made Flesh has sent a Romanian Intern in Peru and a Peruvian on a Discovery Team in Romania. We hope that the Lord will continue to provide the necessary resources for us to allow other traditional receptors to discover their potential as donors in mission among the poor. 8) Affirm, recognize, and encourage the role of women and families in ministry among the poor. Most of our Word Made Flesh communities minister within cultures that are very patriarchal by nature. Though this may be a cultural reality, we celebrate the impact that Mother Teresa, Amy Carmichael, Jackie Pullinger, and others have had on ministry among the poor. We also celebrate the central role of children and the unique opportunities they provide for forging new relationships in foreign countries. In our shared call as a community, we should affirm, recognize, and encourage the role of women and families as an integral part and necessary component of our community. 9) Celebrate the weaknesses of the community as areas for God to act. The Word Made Flesh community is young and inexperienced. Not many of us are wise, learned, or even influential by the worlds standards (all of our North American staff are in our 20s). These are not things that we should be ashamed of, rather we celebrate our inadequacies as means for God to move and act more freely in and through us. 10) Get younger and give more responsibility to the young. Daily the average age of the Word Made Flesh community increases. This is an inevitable reality. To counter the dangers of becoming comfortable in positions of leadership or approaches to ministry, Word Made Flesh desires to take deliberate steps to include younger and younger staff members. Further, Word Made Flesh is committed to continuing to take risks, allowing young people to grow into their calling by permitting mistakes to be made as part of His discipleship and our learning process 11) Commit ourselves to the bonds of trust. Trust is hard to build, but irreplaceable. Part of being a family, or community as we often say, is trusting in one another. Building trust is at the forefront of our communication, leadership styles, ministry spending, and decision-making processes. With the bonds of trust shackling us together, our community can only become stronger. g
These five points are among 15 guiding principles written by our Executive Director, Chris Heuertz. Additional principles were printed in the previous issue of The Cry.

INTIMACY We celebrate intimacy with Jesus to be our highest calling and created purpose. OBEDIENCE We celebrate total obedience which intimacy demands. Our obedience is our response and responsibility to the grace of Jesus. HUMILITY We celebrate humility before God and man. SERVICE We celebrate service which fulfills our fellowship.

COMMUNITY We celebrate community with each other because in community, we find the greatest potential for discipleship, service, and growth.

SIMPLICITY We celebrate simplicity as our privilege in identification with Jesus and the poor. SUBMISSION We celebrate submission to Christ Jesus and each other as a visible sign of our humility. BROKENNESS We celebrate our own brokenness as our responsibility in ministry among the broken. SUFFERING We celebrate suffering as part of a willing sacrifice in serving Jesus among the poor.
In the Winter 1999 issue, we began to focus the theme of each issue of The Cry on one of our Lifestyle Celebrations. This is the fifth of the ninepart series.

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Staff Profiles
TARA SCHERER HALEY
Recently married to Bill Haley on July 2, 2000, Tara was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. Early missions exposure coupled with a great love for the Scriptures led Tara to Taylor University where she received a BA in Biblical Literature. Her understanding of Kingdom living and building became evident during the times Tara spent overseas in Romania, Nepal and India where Tara was a member of a WMF Discovery Team and Servant Team in 1994 and 1995. Photo: Bill Haley It was through this exposure that God chose to reveal to Tara a vocation among the poor. Tara completed a Masters degree in nursing at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee in 1997. She is certified as a clinical specialist and Nurse Practitioner and is presently employed by Christ House, a homeless ministry in Washington D.C. She serves in a medical advisory role with WMF travelling to WMF fields in a medical care and consultation capacity. Tara also serves as a board member. g

BRIAN AND RACHEL LANGLEY

Brian and Rachel met in Columbus, Ohio while they were in high school and were married in June of 1996. Both graduated from Asbury College, Brian with a Sociology major and Missions minor in 1997 and Rachel in 1998 with a BA in Biology and also a BS in nursing from the University of Kentucky in 1999. On May 18, 2000 Brian and Rachel received a precious gift from God in their first child, Sarah Isabel. In 1995 Brian and Rachel traveled to South Asia and East Africa to serve with WMF. In 1997 they led Discovery Teams in India. In 1999 they were a part of a Discovery Team in Lima, Peru. Rachel also served on the WMF Board of Directors from 1998 to 2000. Brian and Rachel have been influential and consistent voices in the movement of WMF and have selflessly poured themselves out, which is reflected in the values and direction of WMF today. Their commitment and love for the WMF community has been a gift and a blessing. On October 11, 2000 Brian, Rachel and Isa moved to Lima, Peru where they will begin serving as the Servant Team Coordinators in 2001. g Please turn to page 15 to read Brians article, Community by the Yard.
Sarah Isabel Langley

Photo: Rachel Langley

JAMIE REED
Jamie accepted Christ as her Savior when she was five years old and was blessed to see her parents become Christians ten years later. Jamie graduated from Jamie and Jose Joey Mario Gordon College in 2000 with a degree in Social Work. While at Gordon, Jamie participated in a ministry to adults with AIDS. Through this experience she met a dear friend who taught her much about life as he went through the process of dying. In August of 1999 this friend passed away, three months after he accepted Gods gift of salvation. During her time at Gordon, Jamie spent time in Central America volunteering with World Relief and Rainbows of Hope. Jamie spent the fall semester of her senior year in Lima, Peru as a member of a WMF Servant Team. While in Peru, God confirmed His call to her to work with children in crisis and broke her heart for the poor as she witnessed the injustice that occurs in Lima daily. Jamie left for Lima on October 16, 2000 to serve among the street children as Peru Field Staff. g
Photo: Deborah Hernendez Kay Green

DENNIS MILLS
Dennis was born to Don and Janice Mills of Hanford, California in 1972 and accepted Jesus as his Lord at age eleven. During his childhood, Dennis parents helped nurture his unique mix of gifts; he is a musician and worship leader, a talented engineer, and also gifted in counsel and listening. Dennis attended the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, receiving a BS degree in Civil Engineering in 1995. During the following four years he worked with a local engineering firm in Fresno, California. It was here that God called Dennis to serve Him among the poor. Dennis left his high paying job as a civil engineer to join the Spring 2000 Servant Team in Romania. After serving as an intern for the summer, Dennis joined WMF in a full time staff position in October. On November 7, 2000 Dennis returned to Romania to serve among the street children of Galai. g
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Photo: Timothy Wade

Dennis and Marian on the streets of Galai

Please turn to page 10 to read Jamies article, So Beautiful.

If you are interested in financially supporting a WMF missionary, please call us at 1-800-CRY-4-KIDS.

Embracing our Identity Within Community

by silas west
As I reflect on what it is that shapes community, I am confronted with many instances in my life and the world where community has failed. It seems that far more examples of broken and dysfunctional communities come to mind than of vibrant, thriving, and supportive communities. What is it about our society that makes living in community so hard? Among the poor, rural communities here in Nepal, a strong sense of community is not a choice, but rather the key to survival. Community identity is highly defined, which in turn shapes the values of the community. Relationships are valued because they are fundamental in maintaining community. This is seen in families staying together, social groups supporting one another, and communities finding a cohesive bond on which individuals can depend in times of trouble. Here in Nepal, however, people are not immune to the same Western influences that seem to drive us away from living in community. As values of materialism, individualism, and consumerism are imposed on the third world, there is a growing restlessness. Luxuries are reclassified as necessities, seductively convincing people that joy and fulfillment can be found through limitless material acquisition - the very thing that drives people away from one another and brings death to community. Where is our identity? What brings definition to our lives? I believe that our failure to correctly answer these questions has played a major role in the broken communities that haunt our lives today. It has left us open to the influences that turn us away from our true identities. I would venture to say that most of us could remember specific instances when our young, impressionable minds were first confronted with the lie that we were not Gods beloved creation. The image of God within us was marred, and we became detached from our true identity. For some of us it was just simple words spoken by our playmates, and for some it was far worse. The enemy of our souls used the varying circumstances of our lives to convince us that we are not worthy of love; that we have to earn love. He has convinced us of anything but the truth that we were born to shine with the affirmation of being identified with Christ. And so, we live our lives trying to replace that loss through the affirmation of others, with material acquisitions, or with unhealthy relationships. Unless we come to terms with the truth that lies behind our identity, we will never stop looking. Our lives will be marked by the emptiness of a fruitless search. for attention and are jealous when others get it. Through material gain, social gain, or the work into which we pour ourselves, we strive for recognition that we are worth something; that we have value. When our communities affirm jealousy, competition for power, trickery for social prestige, and the relentless desire for more wealth and possessions, they will not last. Our marriages will crumble, our families will go their separate ways and our churches will become dead and lose all vitality. When, however, our communities embrace the values that affirm relationships with one another and God, we do not have to compete with others to gain an edge over them. We can embrace that identity for ourselves and lay down our lives for one another. We must make a conscious choice. If we want to live in a community that affirms our identity in God and empowers us to be His instruments, then we must begin to recognize that we were created in the image of God and are unconditionally loved by him. We must establish within our communities a way of living that affirms others true identity. We must denounce anything that mars the basic dignity of others humanity - things like poverty, abuse, hatred, and racism. If our communities are established with the core identity that we are Gods beloved, then those who are broken and in bondage will come face to face with their true identity. g
Silas and Kim West live in Kathmandu, Nepal where they serve in the position of Servant Team Coordinators.

Unless we come to terms with the truth that lies behind our identity, we will never stop looking. Our lives will be marked by the emptiness of a fruitless
I believe it is this marring of our identity that is the key to the failures of our communities. From marriages to families to church congregations, our communities are shaped by the brokenness of those within them. We must begin to define what it is that shapes our identity as a community. We must establish within our communities an unwavering identity of belovedness that does not change even if those who make up our communities do not yet recognize their own belovedness. A community that has a foundation established in the truth that we are created in Gods image and created with a vocation to share His unconditional love with the world will be a pillar of hope in a world that is desperately seeking its identity. The values of our communities have not affirmed relationships. Instead they are the values of our culture, in which we compete

Chris Heuertz and Silas West T H E C R Y 5

ON INDIA FLOOD RELIEF

For Their Relief

by ben miller
hardest time receiving relief supplies, as the local village headmen and powerful families often divert the food, Photo: Kip Alexander medicine, and clean water supplies to themselves, leaving the poor on their own. Our Servant Team was scheduled to travel by bus and train from Nepal to India for a month in Calcutta. However, the floods began a week before our departure, making overland travel impossible and also changing our volunteer service plans. We scheduled a flight into Calcutta where we met with Carlton Rixon, a local Christian leader. He had recently returned from a two-man flood relief trip to some areas in which there had been no aid in over a week since the flooding began. They had taken as many supplies that they could afford on such short notice. Carlton wanted to return as soon as he could gather more supplies. He knew we were coming, and was waiting to see if we would be interested in going with him. We jumped at the chance. Our Servant Team leader, Silas West, secured permission for us to raise money for supplies through the Word Made Flesh Justice Fund. Everyone on the Servant Team quickly sent out e-mails to family and friends asking them to prayerfully consider giving. The response was incredible. In the first six days, over $5,000 was raised. After one month, more than $13,000 had been given for the relief work. When we shared the news with Carlton, he was amazed. The amount he had been hoping we could raise was $200! Carlton and Silas spent a day shopping for food, clothes, medicine, and other basic items and the ten of us set out with loaded backpacks early the next morning. After three hours by train, we reached the village of Maiapur, near the Bangladeshi border. By this time, it was almost a month after the floods had begun. The waters had receded during two weeks since the floods, and people were beginning the rebuilding process. Even so,

A SPECIAL REPORT

Photo: Julie Young

This September the worst flooding of the past 20 years devastated South East Asia. During three weeks of flooding, more than 1,000 people were killed, mostly elderly and children who were unable to escape the rising waters. The floods left over 23 million people homeless in Northeastern India and Bangladesh alone. Many families were stranded on the roofs of their houses or in trees for up to two weeks. Others, whose homes were destroyed, fled to the highest ground they could find - the railway tracks.

...Families were stranded on the roofs of their houses or in trees for up to two weeks.
The poorest families were affected the worst, since they live in the lower areas that are prone to flooding. The poor also had the

Many homes were destroyed from the flooding, and many fields washed away. Some homes still sat in water. - Ben Oldham

life was still extremely difficult for the victims. One of the families in the village allowed us to use the courtyard of their home as a distribution center where we were able to give about 200 families enough rice, potatoes, and lentils to last about a week. It was all we could give, and it seemed like so little to me. Yet even as we shared food with those whose lives were ripped apart by this calamity, they shared with us. I was incredibly blessed and humbled by the hospitality of the flood victims. We were invited into homes which two weeks earlier had been submerged under fifteen feet of water, and were offered tea and cookies in their best cups. One of the villagers, who had lost her home and was living in a grass hut by the side of the dirt path, cooked a meal for us. She even gave each of us an egg (a huge (continued on next page)

Photo: Ben Oldham

I prayed that the food we were serving would be served in remembrance of Him, and that the water we were giving would be the water of Life. Jesus has come to us today as one who is broken and in need of food and water and love. - Ben Oldham

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The best summary that I can muster is that God was in the business of feeding the hungry: both the victims of the flooding and those who came with the intention of serving but in the process were greatly served. - Ben Oldham

(continued from previous page) luxury). They were so generous, giving out of their poverty. I think they shared more with us than we did with them.

grateful and grasped hold of the fact that at least there was someone who cared about their plight. That evening we traveled another forty minutes by train to Gangnapur, where Carlton has started a home and school to bring children off the streets of Calcutta. We stayed there for the next few days and helped Carlton and his staff with a feeding program. Every day about 250 hungry children came and were served a lunch of rice, lentils, potatoes and an egg. The children sat in lines with plates made of leaves that were filled with all the food they could eat. With the money from the Word Made Flesh Justice Fund, this program will continue for a month, until their families can get back on their feet. Later that week, we were able visit a nearby village that had been hit very hard by the flood. As we approached, we began to see the signs - ruined mud houses, flooded roads, flattened trees, stagnant water covering fields and hungry people everywhere. We finally reached the village, where we were scheduled to feed 500 children. When we arrived, we found over 1,000 hungry children, plus many more adults standing around, hoping for some leftovers after the children had their fill. Some of them had traveled for many kilometers. The devastation was incredible, and I found it hard to believe that the flood waters had been receding for two weeks, and that the people had already spent two weeks rebuilding, replanting, and trying to put their lives back together. As we returned to Kathmandu for the remainder of our Servant Team, Carlton remained to oversee longterm relief and development. This includes setting up a medical center in Gangnapur with a doctor and drilling a 500-foot deep well by the roadside to provide clean, free

Even though we had given so little, they were grateful and grasped hold of the fact that at least there was someone who cared about their plight.
After we had distributed the food supplies, we went in search of others who lived farther away, giving crackers to the children, and distributing medicine, candles, and matches to others. We walked along the railroad tracks and saw hundreds of people lining both sides of the tracks. Down the embankment was their land, still covered in water. We offered them what we had left. It was so little, and their need was still great. As we left them on the tracks, they crowded together and watched us go with sad but thankful eyes. Even though we had given so little, they were

Photo: Ben Miller

Faced with the many needs that our meager relief supplies could never meet, we were confronted by the scandal of service. We could easily hand out the food and medicine we carried with us. But to truly show the love of God to disaster victims who had been stripped of all that was human, we had to walk with them down a path of suffering. - Silas West

drinking water to the community, as well as providing small one-time grants to people to help rebuild homes and replant fields. He will also continue the feeding program with their children. In these tangible ways, Carlton is reaching out to his community and sharing with them the love of Christ. I am thankful to have personally seen the results of those who gave and were lifting us up in prayer, and to be reminded that we are all a part of the same body. g
Ben Miller is a member of the Nepal Servant Team in Kathmandu where he serves in Sishu Bavhan (Home of Peace) with mentally and physically handicapped people. After the Servant Team, Ben plans to return to the States to complete his degree at Taylor University.

The Justice Fund is an emergency assistance and relief fund started by Word Made Flesh for persons and countries in crisis. The Justice Fund was started in 1999, receiving nearly $25,000 for the Kosovar refugees. Over $13,000 was raised for the India flood relief work this year. The Justice Fund is currently open to help provide support for Sierra Leone refugees. If you can help, checks made to Word Made Flesh should be sent to:
THE

JUSTICE
FUND

Photo: Ben Miller

Word Made Flesh P.O. Box 7O Wilmore, KY 40390

The flooding destroyed many rice fields. People tried to harvest quickly before the floodwaters rose, and were able to save much of it. However, by the time we arrived even much of the harvested rice was rotting in the bags on the side of the road. - Ben Miller T H E C R Y 7

Community by the Yard

by brian langley
understand community as a group of people who share the same interests, goals and values. Few speak of community as the people who live in their neighborhood, and it is a rare person who considers people who they dont like as part of their community. I believe this understanding of community is partly due to the advanced transportation and communication networks rapidly connect people across thousands of miles. The world is changing, and we are no longer bound by geography when establishing relationships. The reality of our world is that it takes longer to walk down the street to a friends house than it does to send an electronic letter to Nepal. And why would we bother to meet the person right next door, whom we may not like anyway, when we can find 1,245,673 hits on the Internet of people interested in our favorite pastimes? We even find this in churches. Consider the abundance of denominations, and the church hopping that we do in order to find a church that we like. Sadly, if our only understanding of community is merely a bunch of people who look, think, and act like we do, we will never find the community that God has for

He who loves community destroys community; he who loves the brethren builds community. - Dietrich Bonhoffer
us. We, as the body of Christ, are called to something beyond a community of common interests. We are called to be a community that embraces even those who are directly opposed to the values of our community. God has a blessed community waiting for each of us, but we must be willing to let go of our selfishness and pride and begin to embrace and love otherseven our enemies. For some of us, embracing and loving people who dont think like we do, or who have hurt us seems to be the most impossible thing in the world to do. But this is our calling. He calls us to look to Him for the strength to embrace those who hurt us, and those who dont think like we do because He desires each of us to experience true community. But we cannot experience community without an attitude of humility and love. We begin to experience community as we become aware that, in contrast to those who think they can choose their community, God chooses us for community. People can experience true community as they cast asunder walls of division and work towards the common goal

Photo: Sarah Lance

I was immediately struck when I heard National Public Radio describing community in the same way that we might describe a fabric purchase. The actual words were, in our ever-expanding market culture, we even try to buy community by the yard. Today, something even as people-oriented as community has become a product to be marketed. Recently I asked a few people about their idea of community. I found that most people

(continued on next page)

S E R V A N T T E A M S
8

Servant Teams are a four month commitment to serving Jesus among the poorest of the poor. Discipleship is primary, identifying ourselves with the poor through internship, research, community development, and ministry. The Servant Teams are open to anyone willing to be broken in service to the least of these. We are currently receiving applications for Servant Teams. Team dates are August 15 - December 15, 2001 & February 15 - June 15 2002 . INDIA SERVANT TEAM - The team may work with street children, the destitute, and the elderly in the city of Calcutta. This team is only available August 15 - December 15. NEPAL SERVANT TEAM - The team may work with the destitute and the elderly in the city of Kathmandu. PERU SERVANT TEAM - The team may work with street children, in pediatric AIDS care, or slum community development projects in the city of Lima. ROMANIA SERVANT TEAM - The team may spend a significant portion of their time developing relationships with street children in the city of Galai. A work has already been established there to care for at-risk children and children who are living on the street and abusing drugs. If you are interested in obtaining an application or want more information about the Servant Teams, please visit our website at www.wordmadeflesh.com or email us at Cry4Kids@aol.com. You may also call the US office at 859-858-0064 or 1-800-CRY-4-KIDS.

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A Closer Look
by danielle speakman

Your naked legs they form a line Beneath the glow of hostel signs From others standing at your side Theyll pick or use their one-time bride

And in the States we throw away, The things the poor would use today. You sell your body just to live, While I sit by and fail to give. Or maybe give my garbage. You, little girl, have lived on trash, And people call you that. So could it be that trash is all Ive lived on like a soul-less doll This trash inside thats emptied you. Danielle Speakman participated on a Servant Team to Lima, Peru in 1999 and is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Fuller Seminary. Danielle is a South America Inactive Extension Staff member with WMF, spending her summers and breaks with the street children of Lima.

Tonights for sale, who will it be Who will pay the price thats far from free? To buy your childs meal today Until you find another way, Just like youll say tomorrow. Your body bent against the wall Youll wait until he comes to call With painted lips and painted eyes Youre playing dress-up, in disguise Tonight youll play for real.

Theyll ask how much you cost. How much you cost will measure your worth This womens work a daily curse Of value place in body given Survival keeps you onward driven Youve disappeared from feeling. Youre there no more when he picks you. Youre somewhere else when he is through. Youre numb inside when morning falls. And turn away when your sons calls. Your babys lost his mom again.

(continued from previous page) of being the presence of Christ in the world. Our message to people, the good news of Jesus Christ, is manifested in our temporal relationships with people in the world - people who are worthy of Gods love, and therefore of ours as well.

We have observed that throughout the world the poor are, for the most part, nameless and voiceless outsiders in systems dominated by the powerful and wealthy.
Evangelism and discipleship must be put to the test of love, because how can we really witness to the love of Jesus Christ for fallen humanity if we do not love as He loves? He loved His enemies, and He calls us to do the same. On the night when Jesus was about to be betrayed and crucified the Scripture says that Jesus knew the one who was to betray Him. But the amazing thing is that even on Jesus last, most precious night with His disciples, He extended the bread and the wine to all of them. His hand was extended even to Judas, His betrayer, in an example of love and tenderness for His enemy. We the church, through His empowering grace,

follow Him. Many secular historians observed that the early Christians not only took care of their own who fell into poverty, but also those in need who did not believe as they did. This is the community that God has for each one of us - a community of believers that does not exclude fellowship from those who think and act differently. We love even those who are enemies of the community, and especially those who are considered outsiders. We, at Word Made Flesh, believe that people who are shackled to lives of poverty represent opportunities to discover the grace of Gods community. We have observed that throughout the world the poor are, for the most part, nameless and voiceless outsiders in systems dominated by the powerful and wealthy. Here in Lima, Peru, we are working with children who are on the streets for many different reasons. However, one thing binds them all together; according to the powers that be, the wealthy landowners and government, these children are outsiders. Some even see these beautiful creations of God as the enemies of civilized society! But we know them to be children of a good God. And so, because He extends His grace to us, we extend grace and love to these children; we proclaim to civilized societies everywhere that the community that God desires for each one of us can only be experienced when the

outcasts, the poor, and even our enemies are embraced and loved. We cannot choose this kind of community in our own strength, but we can merely receive and participate through His grace. g
Brian and Rachel Langley live in Lima, Peru with their daughter Isabel where they serve in the position of Servant Team Coordinators.

VISIT THE WMF ONLINE BOOKSTORE Use our link to Barnes & Noble to purchase books (any book, not only the listed books) and WMF receives a percentage of the sale. Its an easy way to support the ministry of WMF.

Go to www.wordmadeflesh.com

Click the New! Online Bookstore text on the WMF homepage.

Click the title of the book you want to order or the Barnes & Noble link at the top of the page to search for an unlisted book.

Servant Team Members: All your required reading resources are available at the online bookstore.

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Updates from the Field

NORTH AMERICA
OCTOBER The Board of Directors convenes for the Fall 2000 Board Meeting. Nearly 50 board members, WMF staff and guests participate in the weekend. The Board conducts staff interviews and approves the following staff: Eric and Kelly Angel (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Andy and Andrea Baker (La Paz, Bolivia) Kyle Cullum (Calcutta, India) Carrie Lanier (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Dennis Mills (Galai, Romania) Rob and Twyla OCallahan (Bangkok, Thailand) Josh Tucker (Calcutta, India) The Board commissions the following staff for their international service with WMF: Sarah Lance (Calcutta, India) Dennis Mills (Galai, Romania) Emily Powers (Lima, Peru) Matt Ammerman, WMF Advocate of Celebration and Worship, is featured in the October/November issue of WITH magazine. NOVEMBER Daphne travels to Minnesota for an Ellel conference on inner healing.

Photo: Chris Heuertz

Staff and board members at Fall 2000 Board Meeting

SOUTH AMERICA
SEPTEMBER September 14 marks the one year anniversary of Mudos death, a street child and friend of WMF staff in Lima. Please pray for the street children who continue to suffer under violence and injustice. OCTOBER The Servant Team takes a team retreat in the jungle of Peru. Brian, Rachel and Isabel Langley and Jamie Reed arrive in Lima, Peru beginning their two year commitments as WMF staff. Walter and Adriana Forcatto return to the States to attend the Fall board meetings, presenting an oral field report on behalf of the WMF Peru community. The Forcattos renewed a three-year term beginning January 2001. The Forcattos will serve as Peru Field Directors and South America Regional Coordinators. Danielle Speakman is appointed as a Peru Inactive Extension Staff member. NOVEMBER David Chronic, Romania Field Director and International Director of Community Development, travels to Peru.

Photo: Chris Heuertz

Martin, a Peruvian street child

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Leola Floren Gee tells the story of Matts experience on a Servant Team in Calcutta, India in the October/November issue of WITH magazine. Yearly subscriptions to WITH are $23.50 (payable in U.S. dollars). You may order a subscription by phone at 1-800-743-2484.

There are currently over 100 staff and board members serving with Word Made Flesh in India, Nepal, Peru, Romania, and U.S. In addition, WMF is making plans to expand to Bolivia, Brazil, Pakistan and Thailand.

SEPTEMBER David Chronic has an article published in the 3rd Quarter, 2000 issue of Hope magazine. OCTOBER Romania Servant Team goes on a team retreat, visiting monasteries throughout Romania. Seth and Kari Allgire renew their contract for a two year term of service in Galai, Romania. Vasca Munteanu begins attending school, living with WMF Romania staff member, Nelu Stefan during the school week. Please pray for Vascas integration into school and home life. NOVEMBER Dennis Mills arrives in Galai, beginning his two year term as WMF Romania staff.

Photo: Chris Heuertz

EASTERN EUROPE

Chris Heuertz, Stuart Erny, and Rup Naaraayan Chaulagaai are successful in their search for little Wesley Ernys shoe in the rice paddy near the Erny home.

SOUTH ASIA
SEPTEMBER The Indian Board of Directors convenes for the annual General Body meeting of WMF India in Madras. OCTOBER The Nepal Servant Team travels to India to organize and take part in flood relief work in the state of West Bengal. Jared Landreth renews his contract under a South Asia Inactive Extension Staff status. NOVEMBER Brent Anderson travels to Nepal for an administrative and pastoral visit. The application process to register WMF in Kathmandu as a Nepali NGO is in its final stages.

Photo: Timothy Wade

Photo: Ben Oldham

Children who have been hit by the floods in North India. Vasca Munteanu T H E C R Y 1 1

Created for Community

by dr. samuel kamaleson
There is a cleverness that divides. It has fire and flash, it is quick and bright, but it does not help people to celebrate community. It divides community. Lester Popaly (Nepal Servant Team Member) with children in Calcutta, India When the effort is to increase ones own We are created for community. Relationship status within the community, there is little constitutes the core of redemption. St. Paul room to think about others. Jealousy and writing to Timothy about his gifted role in selfish-ambition leave little room to celebrate transforming mission reminds him about the love that knows no aggression (Jas. 3: Holy Spirits ability to heal us from the fear of 13,16). Then by our action we cancel out our people: For the Holy Spirit, Gods gift, does claims (Jas. 3:14). not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy James traces the origin of such wisdom. It being with them (II Tim. 1:7). Fear is not to is earthly (Jas. 3:15). When cleverness is our be the basis for the building of community. center of admiration, then our perspective is And wisdom is the foundation for the healing limited to this world. It may lead to a reasonof such destructive fear. ing of survival at any cost. In its environment of reductive naturalism it cannot celebrate Gods love nor is it warned by Gods judgment. It is also unspiritual (Jas. 3:15). It pits The valuable qualities of people against people. Resourced by human quickness and brightness instinct and ingenuity, it is soul-less. It is blind - when they are celebrated in to the Kingdom of God and cannot visualize the values of the Kingdom (John 3:3). What isolation from other balancwe cannot visualize we cannot conceptualize. ing virtues become dangerWhat we cannot conceptualize we cannot realize. This false wisdom is also from the ous weapons. demonic, according to James 3:15. It pits people against people. Leaning on our own In his general epistle, James, the brother of resources we use power to hurt others and to our Lord, speaks about the effect of wisdom set people against one another. Our mind is from above upon community (Jas. 3:13). The taken off God. valuable qualities of quickness and brightness - when they are celebrated in isolation from This false wisdom results in isolation since other balancing virtues become dangerous an autonomous individualism results in every weapons. In our brilliance of mastering the person living for himself/herself. Suspicion, areas of our responsibilities within the comfear, and intrigue disrupt the functioning of the munity, we may run away with the conclusion community (Jas. 3:16). that we have the other members of the community literally hanging on our words. James But there is the wisdom that comes from knows the difference between cleverness heaven (Jas. 3:17). Who is wise and and wisdom. It may be closer to the truth if understanding among you? is the openwe called much of what passes for wisdom in ing question in James (3:13). The life of the our human society by other names such as community for which we have been created shrewdness, cunning and craftiness. and re-created (Eph. 2: 14-18), is depenPhoto: Sarah Lance

dent upon such who are its members. It is not an effort to prove oneself smart, but the evidence of living a life of steady goodness, so only good deeds will pour forth. And there is no bragging about them. The roots for a life of steady goodness are rooted in the soil of Gods marvelous love (Eph. 3:17). Since this resource is the inexhaustible Love of Jesus Christ, the meekness which expresses its underlying strength in gentleness, integrates heart and head, feelings and thoughts, and deeds and words. Here, brilliance is strengthened by gentleness in service and relationship with others, which is the central quality of meekness. James describes His invitation is to this wisdom move from laborfrom heaven carefully ing under the (Jas. 3:17). It impossible yoke is pure, free of the wisdom from jealousy and ambition that destroys that seeks community by fulfillment by its shrewdness, using others and even cunning and imagines craftiness, to His that God could also yoke, which is be means light. to fulfill the self-centered ambition. It is peaceable - its mind and heart protected by the Shalom of God, it shows composure under hostile and provoking circumstances. In its quiet gentleness it is able to allow discussions and is able to yield to others point of view. There is flexibility to change ones mind when evidence indicates it. When King Solomon prayed for wisdom from God he prayed for a hearing and listening heart (I Ki. 2:9). Such wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits. It is love that reaches out to others in compassion; it is unwavering because of the loyalty toward God. Thus it celebrates freedom for hypocrisy. (continued on next page)

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(continued from previous page) How do I discover it? It is from above. Job asks the question: Where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? (Job 28:12). Job finds the answer: God understands its way. And He knows its place... And to man He said: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:23,28). James gives us the first steps toward this wisdom from above (Jas. 1:5). Those who have lost their faith in human perfectibility - who know but do not care to implement their knowledge - must remember that this wisdom from above is a gift from God. The sustainable energy that makes knowledge a personal realization through implementation is generated by Gods gift: the wisdom from above. Acknowledging the lack is an important first step. There are two obstacles that still block our way. First is the suspicion of Gods nature: Perhaps only a few are blessed! James says: ...He is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask Him. The second obstacle is the ambivalence in our choice. Wisdom must be loved more than all other goods! We must let the integrity of Gods character to provide the corresponding integrity in us that is necessary in asking and receiving since, if we do not ask with faith, we cannot expect the Lord to give us any solid answer (Jas. 1:8). Jesus, who is our Teacher, in whom we see the face of God invites us to discover this wisdom. In Matthew 11:28-30 He invites us to change the yoke. We cannot escape the submission to one or the other wisdom. His invitation is to move from laboring under the impossible yoke of the wisdom that destroys community by its shrewdness, cunning and craftiness, to His yoke, which is light. The submission to the wisdom from above is what we are made for and hence it fits perfectly (Matt. 28:29). He promises to teach us! His teaching is unlike the teachers who desire to show their quickness and brightness at the expense of the student. He is gentle and humble. There is restfulness in the relationship with this Divine Teacher. (Matt. 28:29).

What did occupy the center of Jesus concern was the calling and binding to himself of a living community of men and women who would be the witnesses of what He was and did. The new reality that he introduced into history was to be continued through history in the form of a community, not in the form of a book. - Lesslie Newbigin in The Open Secret

present to us fully (Phil. 2:5-11). But this submission to the yoke of wisdom from above is easy and light because He is our yoke Fellow! Within this community with Him we discover the dynamic for the community for which we have been created and re-created. g
Dr. Samuel T. Kamaleson, originally from Trichy, South India, is a retired vice president of World Vision International. While with World Vision, Dr. Kamaleson traveled extensively conducting pastor training conferences and is widely recognized as the person who has spoken face to face with more church leaders than anyone in the history of Christianity. Dr. Kamaleson currently teaches spiritual formation at Asbury Theological Seminary and continues to travel throughout the world speaking and leading pastors conferences for World Vision. Dr. Kamaleson is a member of the Word Made Flesh honorary directors advisory council. It is an honor to have Dr. Kamaleson write for The Cry, as his inspiration was one of the critical influences, which helped found Word Made Flesh.

...This submission to the yoke of wisdom from above is easy and light because He is our yoke Fellow.
His Love has no aggression in it. His modeling of wisdom from above is in His willingness to be absent to Himself so that He may be

Holy Trinity, Perfect Community, by Leonardo Boff. Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY: 2000
Why be concerned with the Trinity? What does it mean to say, I believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? In this accessible work Leonardo Boff takes up the ancient doctrine of the Trinity showing its meaning and relevance for Christian faith today. In a series of short chapters Boff unpacks the mysteries of the Trinity, spelling out the difference it makes to believe that God is communion rather than solitude. Instead of an image of God as solitary ruler standing aloof above a static universe, belief in the Trinity means that at the root of everything there is movement, there is an eternal process of life, of outward movement, and love. The Holy Trinity is, among other things, the image of the perfect community. At the same time, in the Trinity we find the best image of the church: not a hierarchy of power, but a community of diverse gifts and functions. Thus comprehension of the Trinity, in which God comes out to meet us in the full realization of our yearnings, empowers our efforts for a better world and a more faithful church. You may purchase this book at our online bookstore at www.wordmadeflesh.com.

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So Beautiful
by jamie reed

Last month I stayed with dear friends in Pastores, Guatemala while I attended language school in nearby Antigua. My friends, who direct an orphanage, have eight beautiful children. Add the seven other abandoned or orphaned children and five adults staying there and you get a gigantic wonderful family. One afternoon I brought a friend from language school to meet the children. The kids immediately welcomed my friend into their home and their hearts. He quickly settled into playing with the children, while I moved into the kitchen to help with dinner preparations. As I worked, I heard the voices of two little four-year-old girls break into singing, You are so beautiful to me! Cant you see? I peeked my head around the corner to see both of

the girls sitting on my friends lap and singing to him at the top of their lungs. I laughed as I thanked God for placing me in a community of children where You are so Beautiful is the theme song. My friend was overwhelmed, as I often was, by how special the children made him feel. I have received and learned so much from communities of children where an open lap is an open invitation. A hug can cure anything. Eskimo kisses are worth more than any sum of money. The excuse, I dont have time is a crushing blow.

Photo: Jamie Downhower

Is this not the kind of community God wants for us? Imagine a community where relationships are infinitely more important than anything else, where you always have time for the other person. A community where others are so sure of your love for them that they can come to you anytime for anything, and you can do the same with them.

I pray for communities like communities of children.

Mostly in my life I have seen other kinds of communities - communities where people are too afraid of rejection to be truly open with one another. Christians are often quick to spot the faults and sins of others. Myself included. Though we notice the beauty in rare moments we soon forget what we saw and focus on the faults. This creates the loneliness, rejection, depression, hatred, and distrust that plague our church families and communities, as well as the rest of society. I pray for communities like communities of children. Where we love right past imperfections and brokenness as Christ did. I wonder how often Christ looks at you and me and sings, You are so beautiful to me! Cant you see? Are these not the thoughts of the Father as He watches His children with His eyes of grace? g
Jamie Reed lives in Lima, Peru where she serves in the position of Street Educator.

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Wherever true Christian community is formed, compassion happens in the world. - Henri Nouwen

A Tangible Sign of the Kingdom

by chris heuertz
It was Saturday, the day that Nepali Christians observe the Sabbath, when Bhindu was arrested for standing up for her faith. During the church service several undercover policemen stood up and arrested everyone in the room. The congregation, stunned and afraid, was taken outside the home where they had been holding the service. The police officers then brought the young believers to a statue of Buddha and demanded that every person bow before the idol and take the ceremonial chalk mark on their forehead, indicating that they had made their prayers to the god. If the church members bowed before the idol they would be released and the charges would be dropped. The first person in If a community line bowed is unable to and took the mark on his suffer together, forehead. it is unable to The second suffer with the followed by bowing. The poor. Therefore, pattern conby its mere tinued until it was Bhindus nature, commuturn. Nearly nity produces 70 Christians compassion. had bowed before the idol when Bhindu, a 16-year-old girl, refused to bow down. She was beaten and thrown to the ground. The police officers wanted to make an example of her. But her strength and dedication gave inspiration to the last eight people in that line, none of whom bowed. There were ten altogether, the pastor, Bhindu, and the eight that Bhindus courage inspired, who stood strong. They were taken to jail and by a miracle were released in less than two weeks. As a Nepali church-planter translated Bhindus testimony for us, Phileena and I were astonished. The faith and perseverance of a young girl has shown us the value of community in its ability to confer stability and potency in the body of Christ. Reflecting on Bhindus testimony there are three things that I have learned about community. First, community provides orientation and clarification for identity. This can be seen in marriage. Marriage can be a mirror, reflecting the good and the bad in a person. In an intimate relationship such as marriage or in a thriving and growing community, what we are is accented and highlighted - the best of us and the worst of us. Second, community provides purity for its members. In community sin cannot be isolated from others. When we are selfish or unresponsive to the Lord we have less to give to our community. When we fail to give or be present to our community we dont only hurt ourselves but we hurt those around us. Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes, Sin wants to remain unknown. It shuns the light. In the darkness of the unexpressed it poisons the whole being of a person. But in community sin is exposed and a place for confession and acceptance is born. Finally, community is a gift in itself. What we put into community is what we get out it. For North Americans this may be difficult to grasp. Most North American Christians view a church service more as a performance than as fellowship. We go to the churches that have the best worship, or the most stimulating preaching, or the best building facilities. We can slip in on a Sunday morning, sing a few songs, give our offering, hear the message, and leave without having to interact with anyone. That is not church. That is a production or presentation and the churchgoer with that mentality becomes part of the audience instead of part of the body. Community provides blessing and nourishment when it is invested in and sacrificed for. What we put into community is what we get out of it. The sacrifice and love that we give is the blessing. Community is also a tangible sign of the Kingdom. When communities marked by submission and sacrifice are developed, the fruits naturally follow, often effortlessly. Henri Nouwen writes, Wherever true Christian community is formed, compassion happens in the world. Compassion happens as an act of community because in community, suffering with others tests the cords that bind communities together. If a community is unable to suffer together, it is unable to suffer with the poor. Therefore, by its mere nature, community produces compassion. The strength of a community that bears the fruit of compassion, can be seen in its ability to receive others in its midst. I have often been included in different communities that have pathetically failed in this area. It has been those communities that continue to grow by adding and receiving new members, sometimes very different and unique members, which keep the life of the community fresh and vibrant. When a community becomes closed or exclusive, the death of that community is immanent. Further, it is when communities are able to absorb the poor among them that maturity sets in. Jean Vanier writes, An openness to the weak and the needy in our own groups help us to open our hearts to others who are weak and needy in the greater group of humanity. It is the first sign of a healthy group. A healthy bonding leads us to a greater love for other. When the poor are included in our communities it keeps our hearts open and available to a compassionate response to the needs of the world. This response comes from affirming it as our own response of Gods love to the condition of our heart, allowing that to be transferred through us to the condition of the world. In community, this transfer includes these needs as a sign of Jesus among us. g
Chris and Phileena Heuertz live in Wilmore, KY where Chris serves in the position of Executive Director of WMF.

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Our Broken Body

by brent anderson
However, looking at our own brokenness cannot be our main focus when we live in community. We must also recognize our belovedness. We must have a sense that we are loved by God and cannot be separated from that love. A sense that our identity and dignity come from Jesus and not from the world. One of the joys that community can bring is that individuals can find they are unique and can offer a special gift to others. To take a step further, as individual members in the community we must begin to recognize how special each person is, even when they may not see it for themselves. We must recognize that each person is a treasure carrying within themselves gifts for those around them. This is not to say that we romanticize community. It can be very painful to live in community. It is difficult to live with people that are different from us, people that never Living in a seem to understand us, where community conversation is a lot like seems always to be strained, a mirror that ill-timed, or misshelps us see ing an important who we really ingredient. It is part of the human are...a mixcondition that we ture of light seem to get along and darkness. well with certain people, but find it difficult to connect with others. Most of us would like to surround ourselves with people who think like us, who laugh at our jokes, and encourage us. Living in community can bring just the opposite. We are forced to live with people we wouldnt choose for ourselves, our brothers and sisters. As we work and play with our siblings, we must allow our Dad to discipline us, to love us, and help us to love our brothers and sisters. The poor have been celebrated among the community of the body of Christ and in Word Made Flesh. The body of Christ is purified through this process. As Jean Vanier writes in his book Community and Growth, The health of a community can be measured by the quality of its welcome of the unexpected visitor or someone who is poor, by the joy and simplicity of relationships between its members, by its creativity in response to the cry of the poor. This freedom to enter and exit a particular community is one of the marks of the health of that community. During this last year, as a body, we have been made more aware of our struggles and our limitations. During these times, I became worried for the sake of the body, but when I talked with Chris, he gave a lot of insight. He said that he had realized that as the body of Christ, we are a broken body. We are going to make mistakes and be wounded by others. This is not to say that as a body, we are not protective, and try to provide accountability....but that we must allow the grace of God to permeate our lives. We must forgive others and seek forgiveness. As Jean Vanier writes, community is less about perfection and generosity and more about trust and forgiveness. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus responded by linking two: Love your neighbor as yourself and Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. We cannot separate these....even though we may prefer to praise God in a secluded place unencumbered by the burden of realizing this means that we have a responsibility to others around us. Let us be the body of Christ, still a broken body, but a body where each part is welcomed, valued, and strengthened. g
Brent Anderson lives in Wilmore, KY where he serves in the position of Director of Administration.

Painting: Joel Klepac

As the body of Christ, we are a broken body.

Christians have been given a great insight into what community is supposed to look like. We are the body of Christ. For Christians, community is not an end in itself but a fruit of being in the family of God. As children of God, we are supposed to look like our Father, bearing a family resemblance. While this is difficult, the more difficult part for many of us is getting along with our brothers and sisters. There may be fighting and competition for Dads affection. There may be envy and jealousy in the family, and even rebellion. Community doesnt just mean that Christians huddle up and form an exclusive group. We learn from children that these groups are called cliques and do not represent what a community is supposed to be at all. Instead, a community must be open to new members and to new, fresh, and life-giving experiences. Within Word Made Flesh, we often talk about how living in a community is a lot like a mirror, a mirror that helps us see who we really are. Within community we are able to see our selves in a more objective way, understanding that we are a mixture of light and darkness. If we are honest with ourselves, we will see our own darkness pretty quickly when we enter a community. We will see our own selfishness, self-centeredness, jealousies, envy, and pride. We will also see that we are wounded beings, filled with fear and insecurities. Some of the wounds are still sore....even though they may have occurred years ago. These new revelations of our weakness may lead us to retreat from community.

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The Choice
by howard young
What did Jesus do that I am not, yet should be doing? I believe the answer lies within the gospels and the people that Jesus shared community with. Jesus chose to come to earth as a baby, and to be subject to the laws of man, so that we might have an example to follow. He decided, long before the beginning of His earthly life, to surround Himself with people. Today we call surrounding ourselves with people, community.

We look for the community that will nurse our wounds, instead of the community that will heal our wounds.
We must go to the Source in order to see real community. When Jesus began his formal ministry, He chose twelve men as His disciples. We see in this, that Jesus chose community. It was not something that He fell into. Community was not forced upon Him. He freely chose to be around these men for the long run. In following Him, we also have a choice as to the community in which we place ourselves. We see that the twelve were not necessarily the cream of the crop. In fact, Mary and Joseph, as good parents, probably warned Jesus about those people. They were the most despised of all society, the lowest men on the ladder of social ranking. Most religious men of the time would never have called these twelve men their friends. Yet Jesus chose to surround Himself with their friendship. So, though we have the choice as to our community, we need to choose those who will challenge us. A wide range of personalities is represented within the twelve. Whereas Jesus chose the twelve, the twelve did not necessarily choose the other eleven. Some of them were related,

even brothers, but that did not mean they always saw eye to eye. Peter probably got on everyones nerves because of his outbursts and inability to hold his tongue. Judas Iscariot was probably considered to be dishonest by the other disciples. Then there was John, the beloved. The others may have wondered why Jesus loved him; maybe they were jealous when Jesus showed John extra affection. The ragtag-ness of the twelve, and their lack of choice as to their community is our plight also. We are usually in community with people we do not necessarily choose. We may have difficulties in getting along with them, but God knows they will be good for us. They will challenge us and help us grow. Though Jesus chose His community, and He has chosen ours, we must realize that when we chose Christ as our Savior, we chose His community. We chose to associate ourselves with those who also call on the name of Jesus. We chose to suffer with the Crucified Christ and with His body, the church. In essence, we do choose our community, but not necessarily its members. Often, it is this fact that makes us try to find a community that makes us feel good. We look for the community that will nurse our wounds, instead of the community that will heal our wounds. When we learn to take our eyes off of ourselves and place them on others, we will see the formation of true community in our lives and with those that surround us. Our focus is taken off of our own pain, and

An openness to the weak and the needy in our own groups help us to open our hearts to others who are weak and needy in the greater group of humanity. It is the first sign of a healthy group. A healthy bonding leads us to a greater love for others. - Jean Vanier
placed on the pain of those surrounding us. The pride in our lives surfaces and we are forced to see its ugliness, then called to place it aside for the sake of others. This rejection of pride allows for the healing of our wounds and death to ourselves. The challenge for you and me is that we take our eyes off ourselves. Let us begin to see the good in others, and to truly find the beauty in the community God has chosen for us. We are His community, whether or not we like it, and we must rid ourselves of pride. We need to do what Jesus did, not just ask what He would do. Since we are doing what He did, let us die to ourselves for the sake of others. Let each one of us shed our pride, and lay our lives down for our brothers. This is true community, and this is our Fathers call for us. g
Howard Young lives in Lima, Peru where he serves in the position of Street Educator.

Photo: Greg Wasson

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Its scarcity that enables a society to exist C.S. Lewis

...a Kingdom community walks in brokenness into a broken world. The poor then, are not seen on the fringes of community but central to community.
However, as self-centered individuals, we tend to make our community self-centered and individualistic. We say that our community exists to exalt Jesus, but in the next breath we exalt ourselves. We speak of building our powerful communities with powerful Christians. But this is inherently unchristian thinking. I think it is rooted in our understanding God as primarily powerful instead of God primarily as love. In the worlds eyes, power is gain and control; in the Kingdom, power, seen

Photo: Phileena Heuertz

(continued from front page) Commitment undergirds community. But commitment is not obligation; it is an act of love. The community is not selling its benefits so that it can grow; it is emptying itself no matter the consequence. History teaches us that in maintenance, the Church dwindles but in mobility, the Church flourishes.

WMF Board of Directors. Back (from left): Bob Mabrey, David Baas, Kyle Schroeder, Burton Holland, Vanessa Van Dyke, Chris Heuertz. Front: Doug Bildt, Brent Anderson, Tara Scherer Haley, Rich Billing.

through love, is given, resulting in power over power. Power seizes. Love releases. Power conquers. Love surrenders. Our misunderstanding of community also breeds pride. Pride that says, Lets develop a great community and then call the world to us. But the world is dying while we build ourselves up. Conversely, a Kingdom community walks in

brokenness into a broken world. The poor then, are not seen on the fringes of community but central to community. In Jesus, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. He dwelt in a dirty barn, as a refugee, and as a poor man. He taught us community. He taught us that the community exists only through the cross. The Master also showed us that the Kingdom community belongs to the poor. So I can personally testify that I am beginning to learn community among the poor street children like Vali. g
David Chronic lives in Galai, Romania where he serves in the position of Eastern Europe Field Director.

We say that our community exists to exalt Jesus, but in the next breath we exalt ourselves.

David Chronic has recently written an article on ministering to children dying of AIDS for the 3rd Quarter, 2000 issue of Hope magazine. Hope magazine is a quarterly publication by Rainbows of Hope, a holistic ministry to children in crisis. If you are interested in receiving this excellent publication, please call Rainbows of Hope at 803-548-2811 or email at ROHTS@aol.com. Yearly subscriptions are $15 in the U.S. and Canada and $20 overseas (payable in U.S. dollars).

B O A R D

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D I R E C T O R S

WMF is extremely thankful for the men and women who volunteer their time and services by providing direction and accountability to empower and equip the WMF community to respond to the call of God on our lives. Our Board of Directors meets twice a year in Wilmore, KY. We ask that you would pray for these men and women, that the Lord would continue to sustain them and enable them to serve the organization in this capacity as well as giving them wisdom and discernment. Mr. Robert Mabrey; Chairman of the Board Rev. Doug Bildt; Vice-Chairman of the Board Mr. David Baas; Treasurer of the Board Mr. Kyle Schroeder; Secretary of the Board Mr. Rich Billing; At-Large Board Member Dr. John Charalambakis; At-Large Board Member Mrs. Tara Scherer Haley; At-Large Board Member Mr. Burton Holland; At-Large Board Member Ms. Vanessa Van Dyke; At-Large Board Member Mr. Brent Anderson; Ex-Officio Board Member Rev. Chris Heuertz; Ex-Officio Board Member Principal Architect - Omaha, NE Pastor - Omaha, NE Certified Public Accountant - Cresent, IA Multi-Media Services - Evansville, IN Christian Counselor - Atlanta, GA Associate Professor of Economics - Wilmore, KY Nurse Practitioner - Washington DC Small Business Owner - Omaha, NE Student Ministries - Wilmore, KY WMF Director of Administration - Wilmore, KY WMF Executive Director - Wilmore, KY

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T H E

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A WORD FROM A DIRECTOR

Nations of Children
from phileena heuertz, director of child advocacy
What does it mean to be a child? For two-year-old Ruth, it means misery. With sunken eyes, matted hair, skin afflictions, and intestinal worms, little Ruth wakes up each day not knowing where her next meal will come from. Born into a world of poverty and injustice, Ruth has little to look forward to. Her mother, Betsy, is a street girl of sixteen, driven to the dark places of Lima, Peru for reasons I may never know. She too is just a child in many ways. I think of where I was at age sixteen - often still needing to be held by my mother and father, still needing their protection and guidance, support and unconditional love - and I want the same kinds of provisions for Betsy and her daughter Ruth. Childhood should be a protected period of life in which a little one can grow and develop, discovering the beauty of life within and outside of himself. With the guidance of a loving caregiver, a child can discover his value and dignity and begin to realize that he is a child of God, created in His likeness, with a purpose. This is the childhood that most of you and I experienced, and we want this kind of childhood for our own children. But for children like Ruth and her mother Betsy, their childhood has been stolen by poverty, hunger, sickness, abuse, and neglect. Unfortunately, Ruth and Betsy represent an enormous number of children around the world whose childhood has been stolen from them. It is difficult to get our mind around large numbers, so lets think of the following statistics in terms of nations. In reality that is what were talking about - nations of children whose childhood has been stolen from them! The International Labor Organization estimates that there are currently 250 million child laborers around the world. Compare this figure with the population of the United States: 276 million. According to UNICEF more than 140 million children are growing up without access to education. Compare this number with the population of Pakistan: 141 million. There are an estimated 100 million street children (UNICEF). Mexicos population is 100 million. 25 million children are refugees. Thats more than half of all refugees worldwide! (Human Rights Watch and Refugee Republic). Population of Afghanistan: 25 million. It is estimated that as many as 10 million children are caught up in the sex industry: child prostitution, sex tourism, and pornography (World Vision and Action International). Population of Portugal: 10 million. 14.6 million children die every year because they dont have enough to eat (World Vision and Action International). Population of Chile: 5 million.
Photo: Chris Heuertz

Phileena and Dinesh

As many as 300,000 children under the age of 18 serve as soldiers in government forces or armed rebel groups. Some are as young as eight years old (Human Rights Watch). Population of the Bahamas: 300,000. Hunger, exploitation, displacement, abuse, injustice. This is the life nations of children are forced to live! Terribly shocking, but real. An 18-year-old girl from England, putting into words her thoughts from her first night with the street children in Lima, said, Its pretty shocking, but this is reality. Many times we dont want to face reality. We want to pretend these things arent true or dont happen. But, I think the shock is good. We have to be shocked to recognize the reality so that we can do something about it. If we would want a better life for our own children, shouldnt we want the same for our neighbors children? We know from His Word that God cares for children. He views them with the highest regard, honoring them though others look down on them (Matt. 19:13-15). Jesus thinks so highly of children that he identifies with them (Matt. 18:5). He commands protection for them (Matt. 18:6, Ps. 72:4, Is. 1:17). He says we must become like children (Matt. 18:3) and that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the children (Matt. 19:14). Therefore, recognizing the horrific reality that our children around the world are forced to live and choosing to honor these children as God does, motivates us, as the Body of Christ, to enter their pain, offering hope. Let us walk together along this Making children a priority, especially the most path with our sisters and brothers vulnerable of children, is in this broken world of ours. Let a Biblical mandate. We us walk together along this path mustnt think of all that we as individuals cannot do, with Jesus, and discover that it is but what we can do. We a path of hope. must begin where we are, - Jean Vanier in The Broken Body addressing the opportunities that God has given us to make a difference. For the sake of the children, the least of these, please ask the Lord how you can make a difference. He will lead you and open doors you never knew were there. Lets do our part to restore childhood to the children. As we enter their pain, well all be brought closer to Jesus. g
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THE CRY

F O R

COMMUNITY

IN THIS ISSUE: CELEBRATING A LIFESTYLE OF COMMUNITY

BOWING BEFORE THE BABY

by tina bevill
Auntie, will you come to see us in the Christmas play? We have big parts! Two years ago this season, I was in Madras, India visiting the Word Made Flesh childrens homes and celebrating Jesus birth with the WMF India family. On the evening of their performance, the childrens eyes sparkled in anticipation of their cues. As guests, we sat back and watched the Christmas story unfold. God revealed His salvation story to me in a new light through the presentation of these precious orphan children.

Photo: Chris Heuertz

Arun in his shepherds costume

For God sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth in identification with children in need. He understands the plight of poor children and of all people who recognize their need for Him. Jesus died for the sins of all who will come to Him as children seeking repentance and believing in Him. Several days after the pageant performance, our team visited with Patrick and Victoria Samuel (the parents and administrators of the childrens homes). Victoria shared that each night after the play the kids had requested, Lets practice the play again. Arent we going to practice the play tonight? Victoria told the children, The program is over. We are finished for this year. So, without their adult directors, the children all filed out to the porch outside under the overhead lights that Patrick had hung, and practiced the play on their own. Night after night, they took turns being shepherds, wise men, angels and Mary and Joseph. And night after night, in their final scene, they bowed before the baby King Jesus bowing in their decision to give their lives to the Christ. g

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