A FAITH JOURNEY IN REVIEW

By Nicholas Pope

On April 21, the Columbia Bible College community joined together to celebrate our 76th Graduating Class. With 147 students in caps and gowns, it was our biggest graduating class ever. Over the past 4 years our community has been blessed to have several outstanding individuals. Nicholas Pope, a Biblical Studies graduate, is an extraordinary student with a deep passion for social justice and a genuine love for his neighbour. Nicholas shared the following part of his story with his friends and family during the graduation banquet.

"Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. Great is his power, infinite is his wisdom, and relentless is his love.

I came to Columbia four years ago, and I am now a very different person than I was back then. My life has been affected by the community around me, my thinking has matured, and my understanding of what it means to truly follow God has become more accurate.

In my first year of Columbia I was readily embraced by a community. I was in Quest, where the idea of being fully known and fully loved was emphasized, allowing me to be vulnerable and make good relationships that spurred me on to seek God and love others more. In this community, I was encouraged to face the challenges I had not wanted to deal with, including the challenge of relationship with my family. It was here that I started to realize that I should not just leave them behind as a part of my past life, that it is so important to try to reconcile those relationships. This started a slow journey of trying to change old habits and ways of relating with them, and it’s still an ongoing process that might take a while, but God has brought me this far. He has convicted me, guided me and given me people to support me as I seek to live out the ministry of reconciliation and ethic of love that he has given us.

This community he gave me was so good, yet I valued his gifts above him, the giver. The summer after Quest, I realized that I was loving relationships with people more than relationship with God, and this was idolatry. Community is great, but not when it is relied upon more than him. People are not God, and they will fail us. Trying to get my fulfillment in life from having good relationships with people did not work out, and even caused some harm in relationships as I expected from my friends what only God could give. So, I asked God to help me put him first, and he answered.

Returning to Columbia, I found myself without many good relationships as nearly everyone I knew from the year before had not returned. From this position of aloneness, God drove me to seek him and find my fulfillment in him. I was blessed by the many opportunities there were to join with others in trying to seek God and be in relationship with him through prayer. In this time, though I often found it hard to see or hear God, somehow, in the very act of seeking I think I may have found him. And although I often felt alone, through seeking God I found community with others who were seeking him as well.

This community has been so important to me especially in my later years at Columbia. Throughout my time here, I have been on a journey of seeking the truth - seeking the truth about God, about life, about who I am; about ethics, the Bible, relationships, history - seeking a truth that is useful and guides me into a better way of living. This has led me to ask many questions. I have had to ask questions about the very core elements of my faith, and challenge my most basic presuppositions about life. This has at times been very unsettling, leaving me confused and uncertain about my beliefs, yet this community has helped me through the process. At Columbia I have enjoyed the safety a place where I can be completely intellectually honest without fear of rejection or condemnation. I have been surrounded by others who are going through the same process, giving me a sense of normalcy in the my tumultuous journey. And I have been provided with many different voices from books, students and profs, so that I could make informed decisions and be cautioned when my thinking is leading me to be less loving. It has been so freeing to be able to be intellectually honest and seek the truth no matter how unsettling it may be.

In my seeking of truth, I have been led to a much better understanding of what it means to truly follow God. Coming into Columbia I had no desire to pursue a secular profession because I wanted to follow him fully with my whole life. I did not want to seek my own gain during the day and only seek him on Sundays and evenings, or just live out my faith by doing something as trivial as being nice to people. But, in my time here, I’ve seen how I do not need to be in a traditional ministry position to live a life of ministering. I have been shown how important faith is to every aspect of the world, not just the parts traditionally labelled “spiritual.”

I have been shown that true faith requires having such a trust in God’s salvation that I take the risks and act for the purposes of his kingdom in such a way that would be considered foolish by the world - That would be considered foolish if not for the reality of a saving God. That true faith is not having all of my systematic theology figured out, but is seeking justice, loving people, and walking humbly in the will of my God.

And so, I see my faith leading me into the ministry of the legal profession. To help protect the rights of the oppressed and be part of a movement for justice. In these four years I have learned more of the character and will of God. Now I hope to clothe this knowledge with fitting action and go to law school to learn another skill which I can use to take part in the inbreaking of his kingdom into this world. I want to be open to be someone God will use to bring freedom - freedom to those enslaved in the chains of physical oppression by humanity’s greed, and freedom to those enslaved in the chains of the North American myths that say that consumerism and entertainment will bring them fulfillment in life.

In all of this, I confess to you, that I do not really know what I’m doing. I’m just a fool searching for his father. I am still seeking to try to know him and love him, and to love people both those who are close to me and those who are far. I do not have a grasp on God, but I believe that he has his grasp on me.

I am so thankful for my time at Columbia. It has had its confusions and struggles, but there have also been so many simple joys. Communal meals in the dinning hall, unit meetings, Vespers, talent shows, camping trips, coffees, sunny days, snowy days, walks, games, study parties, Greek, and all the crazy things we got up to in guys’ dorms - God’s hand has been over it all.

Blessed are you, oh Lord our God, king forever!"

Nicholas graduated in April with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies. This summer he will be working on a leadership team for the camp he has served at for several years before pursing his vocational goals in Law. Nicholas is pictured here at Petra last summer on a trip to the Holy Land as a part of his Biblical Studies degree. To learn more about Biblical Studies at Columbia visit www.columbiabc.edu/biblicalstudies.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Reframing Men's Spirituality

by Gareth Brandt

www.mensspirituality.com

Men are famous or infamous as it may be, for being independent sorts. Strong men have traditionally or stereotypically been “lone ranger” types, fiercely independent and self-reliant. Jokes and stories abound about men who are hopelessly lost yet refuse to stop and ask for directions or consult a map. “It must be around here somewhere,” is grumbled after the umpteenth time around the block. When men are injured they often stoically grin and bear it, moving on to the next task or play. “I’ll be fine,” as they hobble along with an excruciating grimace that would make even the most cold-hearted mother reach out with assistance. I’d like to counter this tendency by saying, “Be man enough to ask for help!”

This book has been a communal project. A lot of people helped. Being a man, it did start out that way. My quest began in a tangible way with a four day retreat of complete silence and solitude on Vancouver Island. I was skeptical of the Christian men’s movement but had never spent a lot of time investigating what it was really all about. Maybe I needed to give it a chance. During my retreat I read all the books on men’s spirituality from all perspectives I could get my hands on: secular, Roman Catholic, mainline, evangelical. I read stories of men in the Bible. I wrote in my journal in response. I walked for miles along the beach listening to the waves. My retreat of solitude and silence was a very valuable time for me, but all my reading left me deeply unsatisfied.

I did not set out to write a book on men’s spirituality. I set out on a personal quest. After reading almost a dozen books on the subject I was left with the craving for another voice. And a voice inside said, “Then speak up!” The thought of writing a book on male spirituality terrified me because it seemed that I was just at the beginning of this journey of discovery. But maybe this was a good way to start the journey- by writing about it. It did not matter if anyone else would ever read it.

Although I am an introvert and was invigorated by my retreat, after my time of solitude I was convinced that this is not the path to a healthy and holistic male spirituality. This path must be traveled in company with other men: men of the Bible, my spiritual ancestors throughout history, and most importantly my friends, brothers and colleagues. Are we all traveling alone thinking that this is the only way to go?

Purchase your copy of Under Construction

I wondered about the possibility of discussing my writings with a small group of men. I e-mailed a few dozen friends from my church and colleagues at work and in less than 24 hours I had a table full of men (and a waiting list!) that were interested reading my writings and then meeting together at a local pub on a regular basis to talk about male spirituality.

In conversation I began mentioning to people what I was working on during my sabbatical and found an unexpected and enthusiastic interest in this men’s spirituality project. Because of the interest I thought I might increase the circle of conversation by starting a “virtual” group as well and contacted acquaintances across the continent. Again, within a very short time I had a response of about 30 people who were interested in reading and responding to what I was writing and a number suggested others they knew who would be interested.

How did it come about that I used the story of Joseph in the Old Testament as an outline for the book? As I was reading books about men’s spirituality I wondered whether the archetypal models are particularly Christian or biblical. As a Christ-follower, it is important for me that the metaphors, models and motifs for male spirituality come from the authorities and traditions of my life. The Bible, as a revelation of God’s story and God’s person, as well as the human story, is an important authority in my life. What biblical story would help me in exploring men’s spirituality?

Perhaps it would be good to see all the men in the Bible as our community of spiritual wanderers. They have great variety and so do we, but for simplicity of presentation it would be good to have one narrative. Is there a story of one man that might provide us with a multiplicity of metaphors for male spirituality? I had a dream during my retreat that said it should be Joseph. How can I argue a dream!?

2 Aside from the dream there is more about why Joseph is a good choice in chapter 3 of the book.

An interview with Gareth about his book, Under Construction: Reframing Men's Spirituality. 

 

Gareth Brandt cycles to work every day in Abbotsford, BC where he teaches practical theology at Columbia Bible College. His educational background includes degrees in spirituality, theology and psychology with an emphasis on the spiritual formation of young adults. He has a background in congregational and denominational youth ministry.

THE HEART OF A CITY: A Reflection on Urban Ministry

By Dan O'Coin

It was not with humility and a mind ready to learn with which I walked into my Urban Mission Adventure weekend. My original attitude was one of arrogance and pride rather then one of submission and service. That attitude was rocked to the core when *Shane, a missionary serving with the Salvation Army on the streets, came and talked with us on Saturday morning. This short, two hour lecture was a critical event in my life. Shane found a way to strip my arrogance, pride and pity for the poor and use my new rawness to instill a truth that he pressed into my soul.

Shane is not what one would call a gentle personality. Sherry, one of the people renovating The River Church on East Hastings, even gave a chuckle when we told her we had just had a serious talking to by the passionate man. Shane came and immediately told us that his friend and long time balance, Mitchell, had passed away a few weeks before. He let us know that Mitchell was the one that wanted the groups from Columbia working downtown. Shane would say Mitchell made dealing with a bunch of idealistic college students bearable, and now with him gone, he wasn't so sure.

Hastings and Main St in Vancouver.
Photo by: Arlen Redekop, The Providence

It was at this point that Shane proceeded to lay into us. Quoting scriptures and historical examples of just how being a missionary was not merely coming to the downtown East Side for a weekend and handing out sandwiches. He enlightened us to the sense of awareness and community that is rarely attributed to the corner of East Hastings and Main. He said groups like us were in danger of doing more harm than good. And then he left, leaving us to ponder his loving yet harsh words. I would hazard the guess to say that no one was rocked quite as much as I was.

I had always blamed the poor for their ordeal. I would use my past with drugs as an example of how getting out of that life was easy if you just had a little will power. However, after hearing Shane speak, I got to take a step back and seriously consider the lives of the folk living on the downtown East Side. Shane opened my eyes to the vibrant and active community that thrived on just a few city blocks and I grew respect for those a part of it. Shane told us of how his wife and four kids not only served in missions down on the streets, but that they lived with the poor too. He asserted that to truly affect change on the streets, you need to live and experience life with those on the streets every day.

The rest of the day was a haze as I looked at these familiar streets with new eyes. I saw the friendships and the desire for more relationship radiate from the people living down there. As we cleaned up The River, our next event after hearing Shane, I got to see the authentic heart that some of the missionaries had to help clean up these streets. And through these people the sense of love and community spread to me. 

As our group walked around town after our time at The River, we came across a couple wide-eyed and scared church groups handing out soup on the side of the road. I was shocked at how darkly I regarded these young students my age that just wanted to help. The look of fear and pity on their faces mixed with the steeled faces of the homeless that they fed proclaimed the disconnect between them. They approached each other like a shoddy business deal; avoiding eye-contact, barely grunting pre-memorized lines, and then walking away unchanged. Seeing that presence of body, yet absence of mind on both parties showed me how much of Shane's speech was true and how much things needed to change.

My message to Christians and Churches as they move into a plan of missions in an urban environment is primarily this: please do not go in arrogantly. Please. I can not over-stress this enough. Too often self-righteous and arrogant church and social justice groups think that they will heroically swoop in to save the day of those miserable poor people on the downtown East Side. Little do these groups know, their arrogance and self-righteousness is almost as noticeable as a bright neon sign. Church and social justice groups often carry with them the very best of intentions, but they lack follow through. They hand out shirts, clothes, blankets, food, homes, jackets and Bibles with a smile but as soon as their supplies are out they pack it all in and leave to go home to their comfortable beds and warm houses. This is where the disconnect is painfully evident.

Like most ultra-urban areas, the downtown East Side does not need more food vendors, clothes merchants or Bible pushers. They need friends, community and a real sense of Jesus in those that they meet. They have heard loud and clear that there is a Jesus and he wants them to love him. What they have yet to see is Jesus reflected through a solid faithful servant. The best way for Christ to be proclaimed to these people is through services like Potter's Place and The Paper Cup which focus less on the charity and more on the

Downtown East Side alley between Hastings and Pender.
Source: http://boppin.com/photoblog

community. The actual Christians behind such ministries would much rather build friendships and relationships with those who walk through their doors then just focus on providing food and momentary entertainment. They sacrifice from their weeks, every week, and are doing an actual good work on the streets through the relationships built through these ministries.

So whether you are planting an urban church, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or just hanging out downtown with those living in the uniquely urban areas you need to remember that you are coming to their turf, on their time, into their lives. You have to realize that they make the rules. The marginalized will only entertain a fake servant as long as there is a reward in it for them but it is the true servant that will shock the poor into the realization of the changing power of Christ. Too often they see the forced smiles of self-consumed youth group kids who are just trying to get back in their own beds with a callous sense of self-enrichment. These kids would be catatonic if they had to walk a mile in the shoes of the same people they are 'helping'.

I consider what my thoughts and beliefs of urban life and ministry were like just a few short weeks ago. My callous, arrogant and self-servicing attitude coming into this trek prevented me from preparing for the change that happened. Through some hard talks and harder realizations I came to a place where I got to see things through the eyes of the dedicated few who are willing to give everything up to answer the call to help the poor. Not by just merely handing out sandwiches but by being with the poor and fostering a community in an environment that is borderline hostile to the Gospel. I saw where the church can go right and wrong and I can only pray that future groups get involved with people and truly start community in Jesus Christ.

Dan O'Coin is currently enrolled in a BA in Biblical Studies. Urban Mission Adventure is a required component in most programs at Columbia. UMA focuses on learning through service and experience. It is a three-day Urban Plunge in the city of Vancouver designed to expose students to the realities of urban missions, recognizing the needs of both rich and poor. Growing a heart for the city is our focus. To learn more about Columbia's programs please visit www.columbiabc.edu.

*Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.