Walk Across Alabama

Alabama Live Interview

First, I have to say “thank you” to WSFA and Kim Hendrix for allowing us another opportunity to share about the work of ARM and more specifically the walk. I was glad to have Carla Reddle join us. This will be Carla’s second summer of serving with us and she will also be a support driver. I’m not sure what is worse-walking 20 miles a day-or driving 20 miles.

So, I’m really excited! We will have people joining us in some of the communities as we stop through and we are having the United Methodist television crew coming to Selma to film. It will be very exciting but it is still really about those we will be serving. I love where Jesus describes his mission as to give sight to the blind, release the captives, and allow the oppressed to go free.  I pray that is our sense of mission. As we get closer, I will be writing a little bit more about our call to serve with the poor and those who struggle.

If you still want to walk but aren’t registered, we have extended the deadline to June 4th. If you are in Tuskegee or Auburn, we would love for you to join us for the launch event and possibly walk a mile or two. Our next big rally time is in Selma and we will have a workday on the 13th. We will meet at Church Street UMC in downtown Selma. A reception is planned in Livingston on June 19th as we finish our journey. So, please pray for us or find us somewhere on HW 80!

Finally-please pray for me…I’ve been a bit under the weather which makes training somewhat difficult.

Blessings!- see you on the walk

Between 11:00 and 12:00 today you can catch us on WSFA Channel 12 Alabama Live with Kim Hendrix. We will be talking about the walk. If you can’t view it today we will post the link on our site!

Depart: 7:30 AM Burkville UMC, Montgomery AL
Arrive: 5:00 PM Vicinity-Whitehall, AL (Shell Station, 102 mile marker)  Sleep point is TBD

Depart: Launch time is TBD-Frazer UMC, Montgomery, AL
Arrive: 5:00 PM Burkville UMC, Montgomery, AL (Mile Marker 82) Sleep point is Burkville UMC

Depart: 7:30 AM Shorter, AL Fire Station
Arrive: 3:00 PM Montgomery, AL- Frazer United Methodist Church, - Arrive Annual Conference. Sleep point is families from Frazer UMC

Launch: 7:30 AM Tuskegee, AL. (Tuskegee, United Methodist Church)
Arrive- 5:00 PM Shorter, AL. Stopping point is at the fire station 20 miles from the church on HW 80. Sleep point is at Bradford’s Chapel UMC in Shorter.

Last night was special! I missed it because of military duty, but it was something! Last night our summer staff for the camps arrived in Tuskegee. They will spend the next 10 days training here, then split to there sites for a week of setup before they begin hosting the youth work teams. So, what happened last night?

It was a down home party. Potluck dishes, a comfortable Alabama Spring afternoon, some live music-even a bit of line dancing and this was all organized by some of the families we have served with by repairing their homes. ARM is designed as a family based ministry. We do not view the families we serve with as “projects” or a number…they are, well, our friends.

Christ called us to be in ministry “with” people. Many times you hear people say we are going to minister “to” children in Africa or be in ministry “for” the homeless. Prepositions can say so much. If we are not in ministry “with” or participate in ministry “by” others…we could be a bit short sighted. Why is this? Ministry “to” has a paternalistic connotation and assumes people can do nothing of very little for themselves and need the advice and expertise of what we have to offer to them. It is the “savior on the white horse syndrome”. It can be extremely damaging. Ministry “for” is a bit softer and is more maternalistic. It tends to feel sorry for people, does not create opportunities for people/clients to participate in the actions and again sees people more as projects. The name of Christ or Immanuel means “God With Us”. We are actively engaged in Christ’s saving work and further expression of grace. Ministry “with” and “by” allows participation by all parties, sees us all as agents of change, and creates a more holistic approach being in mission together.

So, on Thursday night, we call came together and our families gathered with us to prepare savory down home dishes, pick some tunes on a guitar, and even have some spirited line dancing. This was closed in prayer. Our notion of fellowship was taken to a new level. Imagine these kinds of celebrations breaking out across our state. White, black, low income, moderate income, young, old, and much more just coming together to celebrate and share. That looks like the “party” that the angels could get excited about. All these things are another reason to walk! Just a few weeks away!

See you on the walk!

I have enjoyed so much my daily walks and the things I get to think about and notice. This weekend I have been in Alexander City. On weekends when we have National Guard drill, this is where I stay. Alex City has an amazing Sports Plex which is basically a large park with all kinds of recreational facilities. It blends this with walking trails, ponds, and tons of trees. It makes it a pleasant experience just to walk through…and so a few notions came to mind as I took time to walk through this area. Mainly, I noticed the ways that God reveals His presence to us; and that He uses His creation to signal his all encompassing love.

As I began my journey, I came across a water wheel gently spinning through a stream. As its paddles dipped into the cool creek; it scooped up water, poured it over its top, and started the cycle all over again. Water has so many meanings; purification, life, and of course the symbol of our baptism. I was reminded of Christ who taught us that when we become His followers, one of the symbols is to be baptized. As we go under the water, or are sprinkled, it signifies our dying to our self and our old life and rising again new as Christ resurrected. On this afternoon, I remembered the new life given through Christ and the gift of my baptism.

The second thing I noticed was the tops of the pine trees. With it being spring, there are signs of new life flooding all around us. If you have allergies, then you are not impressed with the swollen tufts of pollen engulfing the trees. But, look closely- as this occurrence will be gone shortly…but as you gaze at the very tops of the trees, the styluses form small crosses. The tree branches seemingly raise their boughs in praise to their Creator. And near Easter, these pine trees take on the sign of the cross. What an incredible witness of God’s presence.

Thirdly, well this one will seem odd…but other things catching my attention were the cars, picnic tables, buildings, and all the things we haven been able to create. God made us with an incredible ability to make invent, dream, and create-something He knows all too well about. And so I was able to say thanks for the intelligence he gave us and the opportunity to dream and make items that help enhance our life experience. To take this one step further is to put these items in their proper place. All these things are God’s and belong to Him; he’s just allowed me to use them. I don’t have permission to hoard them for myself but rather to share and use them for His glory. 

So, just a few thoughts for you as we get closer to June 8^th. I know this is a bit long for a blog but just a few thoughts for the walk.

Just five weeks away!!!! See you on the walk.