A Fresh Word

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of speaking and teaching at the ZOE Conference in Lubbock in Texas hosted by the Monterey Church of Christ... It was, for several reasons, a rewarding experience. Each ZOE Conference is challenging and engaging for I enjoy working with church leaders from all over the country asking the question, “How might we better navigate the river of the Gospel between the banks of Scripture and Culture?”

On Friday, I co-taught a leadership class with one of my chief mentors/rabbis, John York. We talked with women and men in critical leadership positions about understanding the emerging context of practicing the Christian faith in North America.

On Saturday, I taught three classes on the subject of “experiencing God”—with a social justice twist, of course. We talked about seeing the image of Christ in the least of these and the “throwaway’s” of the larger world. I told some stories about the work Kara and I have done with college students from Rochester College and family members from the Rochester Church in Cass Park. Cass Park… one of the worst neighborhoods in one of this country’s most dangerous cities. I told them part of the story of Professor Jack, which I’ve shared with others in many different contexts.

One man, who came in for the third class of “experiencing God” in the margins, shared his testimony of being rescued from addiction, powers, and desires now leading the Monterey Church of Christ in working with incarcerated persons and persons who are without family, shelter, and basic needs. The spirit of God radiated from his very words.

But God was trying to speak to me in more subtle ways that Saturday in Lubbock.

One woman sat through most the three classes without saying a word. She was also volunteering as a servant for the weekend, helping with the hospitality room for the speakers. After I was done teaching this sixth class (third class of day two), she found me sitting at a table, exhausted from the two days of work.

“Josh. I just want you to know something. You’ve really blessed me.”

“Thank you for the kind words, I put a lot of time into this, I appreciate your words.”

She jumped in “…several years ago, I had a son named Josh. He fell off of cliff in a tragic accident. My only son Josh would’ve been about your age. I’ve been through a dark, dark time in my life…God has been faithful, but it was a dark place. And I can’t help but think that my Josh would’ve been serving the Lord much as you are doing with the poor and vulnerable of Cass Park.”

This friend-in-Christ went on to share more of her journey, how she’d completely quit church, experienced a tough divorce, come to faith (again) because of the grace and love the Monterey Church. Her words were fresh words of faith needed for this preacher on this particular day.


This, my friends, is why we cannot be Christians unless we are a part of Christ’ church. All of our stories bleed into one, a tapestry of redemption and transformation.