Incarnate 2018: English Cafe

These four lovelies are the three ladies from our theater track and our lone dancer, who were on placement together for one month in Montenegro. Those smiles say it all! Here's some of their stories from Grace. (You may want to backtrack to the previous blog post to hear her story.)

 

"English Café is a ministry of OM Montenegro’s team in Bar, held at their house church. People of all ages are invited to come and learn English. Since many Montenegrins speak a bit of English, the chance to practice and learn more is exciting for them. We were not allowed to openly talk about the Gospel; however, we were able to use our artistic gifts to start important conversations. 

"The first cafe we attended, Ali (our dancer) and I performed a piece we created based on Psalm 42; the topic of conversation that day was art and creativity. Questions like these were discussed: 'What is an artist? Do you consider yourself an artist? How would you define art? What does it mean to be creative?'

"My favorite question was asked by one of the locals, 'How does your faith influence your art?' With that wide open door, we were able to talk about our faith and share the Gospel.

"In addition to the English café, we also helped the Bar team as they hosted an All Christians Conference in Bar, inviting Christians from around Montenegro to gather for fellowship and to be filled with God’s word. 

"We did 2 creative projects: one for kids and one for adults. For the kids, the topic was Agents for Christ. We wrote a story based on the 12 spies that went into the Promised Land. It was translated into Serbian and read by Natja (OM Bar team) while we acted it out for the kids. It’s very hard to act out something that is read in another language! We really had to know what we were doing! 

"For the adult conference, the topic of conversation was relationships with others and the church. We did a skit called Facebook in Real Life where we made fun of the things people post of Facebook."

Arts Festival 

"The last major thing we did in Montenegro (literally the last: we flew out the next day!) was an arts festival, called Darkness into Light. The house church really wanted to do something outside of any existing ministries, to draw people into the church—and we did too. We were very excited when the church band agreed to play for us so we could have music in our festival. Abi (OM Bar team) said she would be willing to share a spoken word. And Santa (also OM Bar team) joined us in the 12 spies play; she never thought she could act and serve God at the same time. We were excited because one goal of our Placement was to encourage local Christian artists to use their talents for God."

Darkness into Light 

"When I visited the Orthodox church (Russian Orthodox is the main religion in Montenegro), I was inspired to write a monologue: God speaking to men, asking what happens when the candle light goes out. Is there no one to continue to pray? 

"We opened the festival with this monologue, followed by Darkness into Light. The theater team had originally this piece in Italy, but we sensed God calling us not to do it there, but in Montenegro. The piece consists of famous quotes about darkness and light and then ends with the scripture, 'In Him was life, and that life was the light to all mankind. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not overcome it.' It is performed by candle light which was very powerful because in the Orthodox church, candles are lit to represent prayers for yourself or the deceased. There is very little communication with God beyond that. 

"Ali then danced a piece called Hypocrisia. The dance transitioned into another piece the theater team created, based on the woman caught in adultery. This became part of Abi’s spoken word, her testimony essentially. 

"Finally, we ended the acting/dance section of the festival with another monologue I created based on Ephesians 3:20-21:

 “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to know how long and wide and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to measure of the fullness of God.” 

"I talked about the length, width, height, and depth of Christ’s love and what that looks like. The idea of this section was going from darkness and despair, being transformed and moving into the love of Christ and His marvelous light. 

"The band then played a couple of songs, one of which was a celebration song in Shona, the local language of Zimbabwe, sung by our team member Ruth who was from there. We closed with snacks, coffee, tea and conversation. 

"We performed the same show 2 nights in a row. The first night was open to the church and the second to the English café. We passed out flyers to other people we met in town. My favorite comment was from one of the ladies from English Café who said, 'I am going to have to go home and really think about what I just saw.'” Praise God for more seeds planted!!!!

Shattered Chains

I’ll call her Grace. Listen as she shares her discovery of Christ’s power to break the power of pornography:

"Before I came to Incarnate I had been struggling with pornography and I had asked God to break and release me from those chains of addiction.

“I have been free for over 3 years now, but I didn't realize those chains were still at my feet because I was still fighting the images that I had poured into my brain. May (our small group leader) had suggested to me that the chains may have been broken but had I asked God to destroy them? I had not. During our Sabbath service, the two of us prayed that God would do so; I watched with the eyes of my heart as God shattered those chains and gave me a new identity: ‘Dearly Loved.’

“Previous to this moment I had been writing a monologue about this struggle. I had only written the first part—lies the voice in my head (Satan) had been telling me: that I was trapped, and would never be rid of these images, etc. After May and I prayed together, I was able to write the second half of this monologue, truths that God had spoken into my life. The monologue recreated the battle in my mind; the Truth of God triumphed. Now every time evil tries to pull up those terrible images in my mind I have the power to declare FALSE and those images shatter like glass and are gone forever!”

Before we left Italy, we were delighted when the director of the facility hosting us, Centro Evangelico, had a special request. I’ll let Grace share her reaction to that request:

"The most exciting thing that happened was when this piece, called, Two Words, was so loved by the directors of Centro Evangelico that they asked if they could take my monologue, translate it into Italian, teach it to their staff and use it to minister to the youth that would be coming all summer long. I’m so honored and excited to see how my story can help bring youth to Christ this summer in Italy.”

The Centro is the leading evangelical camp in Italy. We can only imagine how many young people will be affected by Two Words.
 
Grace’s story continued on Placement:
 
"After our first English Café I had a conversation with a 15-year-old young lady named Luna. Undecided about believing in God, she admitted, 'Half of me believes but the other half doesn’t.' 

"As I was talking to her, it was like talking to a mirror. So much of her story reminded me of mine. Because our stories were so similar I was able to freely share about Christ with her. I was able to share with her the kind of love God showed me and that He could do the same for her. A seed has been planted and I hope the OM team there continues to work with her and minister to her."

Please pray for Grace and others who experienced deep healing and release from this plague, that they can stand firm in their freedom and not succumb again to temptations. 

Pray too for those young Italian campers who will hear Two Words and get free of pornography. Especially in our sex-saturated visual cultures, when so many are caught in this, we need prayer to stand clear by the grace of God.

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.—Psalm 101:3

Letter from An Artist

"After I started to get to know the others going on my placement at Incarnate, and began to realize just how different we were (and began to stress about it), I made an effort to pay attention to the ways you all got along and balanced the leadership. Over and over, you all kept mentioning the importance of praying for unity, and the power of unity, and how this one quality can really distinguish Christians from others. 

"Unity requires such a dying to the self sometimes. It requires treating all members of the body of Christ equally....in fact, it requires identifying oneself with the weakest member of the body of Christ. I realized that this was often lacking in overseas service, which makes it so trying at times. And I thought, "Never again, God." If I prayed for one thing and one thing only, it was going to be unity, because I saw that it WORKED among the Incarnate leaders. And not just once or twice, but every day, and every time I started to feel the team fracture under pressure. I knew it didn't mean I had to be best friends, or even like everyone on the team.....there was just something more important at stake. Our unity was perhaps our most powerful testimony.

“I believe God confirmed that unity as well by placing us in circumstances where, as I think back on it, we actually couldn't have functioned without each one of us. The projects would have been impossible without the efforts of every member. We had so much to do, and we truly had to rely on each other. Praise God for His grace.

“I mentioned to Bill once that when he and Teri [OM Arts Director and his wife] had to leave for the conference, something changed in the spiritual atmosphere around Incarnate. Two of my fellow students also felt a kind of spiritual heaviness descend on the group. That was the beginning of the spiritual flu season for many of us. Without Bill's leadership, there was almost a chink in the armor, so to speak.....but I believe that had ANY of the leadership left, the effects probably would have been the same. Even when one of you was sick, the atmosphere changed. So I truly believe that one of the greatest lessons for me coming out of Incarnate--one of several “elixirs"*--was this importance of unity in diversity as a defining characteristic not only of the body of believers, but of God Himself. And this particular placement, with this particular team, drove that point home for me in a very real way..."

From this same student as the internship came to an end:

“Little tidbit of news we received a few days ago: the people from the village where we painted the mural told us that news spread among the children of the village about the newly-constructed playground and the mural at the church, and attendance at the day care jumped from 14 kids to 70 in just one week! 70 kids! Thank you Jesus! Safe travels everyone!” 

Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹ How good and pleasant it is
    when God’s people live together in unity!

² It is like precious oil poured on the head,
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
³ It is as if the dew of Hermon
    were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
    even life forevermore.

* Elixir = a term we introduced in the final spiritual formation teaching module, signifying a transformational lesson learned during Incarnate, which the student would return with, and that would be healing for their community at home.  The term comes from a writer’s device known as the Hero’s Journey.

House of Healing, House of Joy

One of the highlights of Incarnate is to walk with a student through a deep spiritual journey—a journey deeper perhaps than either the student or me expected.  An unexpected journey.  It might be healing, reconciliation, a bondage of some type, an unrecognized lie believed as truth, or an identity crisis.  Maybe it’s a creative block, which almost always signifies a spiritual or emotional block. 

Erica was such a one.  Let me tell you her story (with permission).

Our first few weeks showed us the playful Erica: a gifted illustrator, who drew whimsical characters, an ironic sense of humor, a runner, voracious reader, and lover of country dance.  Erica gave us a much-needed diversion one evening by teaching us dance, which helped forge community in those critical first weeks.  As leaders we were grateful; as human beings, we had fun!   

To see this delightful young woman begin to sink then, saddened me.  I noticed her shedding tears with increasing frequency, not unusual in itself at Incarnate, but this usually led to a request for a conversation, which was not forthcoming.  We watched and prayed; as a rule, we encouraged students to seek God in these times, and come for help if necessary.  We don’t probe until the student is ready to ask for help, ever conscious of the sacred line between short circuiting a work God might be doing in a heart and bearing one another’s burdens.  But Erica was clearly in a tailspin; was it time for an intervention?

Finally, at the insistent prodding of another student in our small group, Erica asked to meet me, and I quickly agreed. 

A torrent of words and tears spilled out, and I got a glimpse into Erica’s complex world.  One issue after another tumbled out, as I pulled tissue after tissue out and handed them to her.  But then it was dinner time; and Erica, an athlete, needed to eat.  We scheduled another time to meet and walked into the cafeteria together.  Erica seemed well able to reel in her emotions and socialize; I didn’t know if those were good coping skills or good masking skills.

The days rolled on, and Erica’s tailspin—what she called a ‘spiritual flu’—continued.  It was as if everything she had ever believed was collapsing, every emotion running erratically through her.  Her creativity blocked and she needed time off from the studio.  We continued to work with her and pray. 

One Saturday afternoon, when most of the community was away on outreach, I invited Erica and the rest of our small group over for coffee.  Only Erica showed up.  It became a God-appointment as more of Erica’s story unfolded, and we ate, prayed and talked together. 

Still Erica didn’t seem to be making any progress; she was caught in despair.  I asked one of my partners, then another, to join us; perhaps as a team we could diagnose this spiritual flu, and at least Erica would have more helping hands than just me. 

And then—imperceptible to Erica, but obvious to all in the community—her face and eyes brightened.  She began smiling more.  We were delighted the day Erica stepped up before the entire student body, and confessed her lack of hope.  Deeply touched by the bravery of other students in confessing sin, making choices, reconciling, speaking out where voices had been stolen, she had decided, in her words, “to keep going” in her Hero’s Journey of faith because of the Hope we have.  A small, but critical choice.  I could have leapt for joy, but probably would have embarrassed Erica :)

Erica went back to the studio.  She produced two paintings for her final exhibit, depicting the restoration of two houses in ruins, and entitled them, “House of Healing” and “House of Joy.”  She shared how God had been wooing her, with words from Isaiah: “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” (Isa.a 58:12)  Giving visual expression to an interior process, they couldn’t have been more accurate to her spiritual process—or more beautiful.  One of our staff bought one on sight. 

As Erica gave her Artist Talk during the festival week, she startled me again: “I didn’t know they were self-portraits.”  Yes they were, and I’m glad Erica didn’t miss it! 

Erica is currently in Moldova, pursuing her passion for missions, art and faith.  Last time I checked Facebook, there was a fantastic mural being painted in a new church being built.  Although she is not sure how to go forward, Erica learned at Incarnate that she cannot go back to the place of despair.  Pray with us that she can find the deep joy and healing she can so beautifully visualize.

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.”—Psalm 138:8

Start/Stop

Another of our debrief exercises was called Start/Stop.  It goes like this: 

"Finish these two statements:

"When I return home I want to START doing…

"When I return home I want to STOP doing…"
 
The caveat is: “The thing(s) you list should be specific and able to be done where you are right now, not ‘someday.'"

For our students, we are hoping they can find their way into vocational choices, maintain spiritual practices, implement theoretical teachings.  For staff, the answers might look a bit different.  Like: “I want to start emptying my inbox…stop eating so much pasta…start my exercise routine again…stop sleeping on a hard bed." As for me, a clutter of thoughts emerge immediately: 

I’m quite happy to STOP the packed schedule, crazy busy-ness, intense concentration, and endless preparation of power points. I’m ready to STOP living in intense community (much as I loved so many parts of it) and regain some privacy and solitude.  I want to STOP being task-driven and spend more time cultivating relationships.  I want to stop fighting with intermittent internet, but not trolling Facebook to see how our students are doing now, post-Incarnate. 

I want to START a normal life and schedule.  I want to start revisions on my book; start the publication schedule and marketing process of my new poetry book.  Start contacting publishers for my completed contemplative photography book.  Start fleshing out a new idea for a book, or at least outline the idea and hold it till I get settled into more of a routine. 

I want to START walking into the next transition, START looking for a new home, and develop stability in the next season.  I want to STOP the itinerant lifestyle and ministry as it’s been, and START ministry as it’s being revealed. 

Now that I’ve been back almost a week, it’s interesting to START cooking again, after relying on the cafeteria.  I’m looking forward to getting my car back—to STOP relying on others for a ride, or my legs for a long walk.  I can START catching up on so many phone calls, now that I have STOPPED “Airplane mode” on my phone! 

As the weeks and months roll on, I expect a few more starts and stops.  The Road Back is a roller coaster, but I have STARTED and will not STOP till I’m adjusted! 

THE ROAD BACK

It begins.  I am writing from Fiumicino Airport, which sounds idyllic enough if you discount the hour ride in traffic and the athleticism of navigating with four pieces of luggage through two shuttle buses, two escalators, two check-in counters, and (with two pieces left) one security gate.  I won’t talk about the bathroom stops, or keeping track of the passport and boarding pass (one does not always have enough pockets).

Mission accomplished, I arrived at my gate well in time for a toast to success: a parting shot of the Italian elixir known as coffee.  I didn’t lose my documents, found the bathroom in time, and no fingernail died in the process.  Bonus: a seat next to the coveted tech chargers; I could unfurl my technology without fear of running out of power on the 8 hr. return flight.

In an hour or so I would know if flying standby would work or leave me scrambling for a hotel (Lord have mercy).  An hour to begin to decant the experience of 3.5 months in this crazy culture, lived with 50 people of 12 nationalities (nuanced by multiplied layers of personal, family and religious cultures).  3.5 months does not seem sufficient to unpack all that happened, but one can make a beginning.  This is the Road Back. 

About a month ago, I taught our students about this stage in the Hero’s Journey.  A threshold time, a vulnerable time, it requires a death to self.  It tests the Hero: did he or she truly transform, or just have an adventure?  Did we transform, or just have some fun in Italy?  Did I?  What did I need to die to?  Can the Hero (me) return home with the lessons learned, or will those lessons get swallowed up in the challenges of re-entry?

What did I need to die to?  I pondered the questions I had so recently asked others, and started jotting down lessons learned:

• Community: I discovered its power in a new way, with its invitation to trust it to accomplish what I can’t accomplish alone—an old lesson, newly absorbed.  Countless times, concerned about reaching a particular person in difficulty, I learned that others in the community got there first, and all was well.  I marveled to watch the synchronicity of gifts in action, each one helping to meet the needs of another.  The community thrived;
• Limits: some new, discouraging ones were generally related to the aging process; others, also related to the aging process, were more positive.  Fierce even--to protect new horizons and freedoms gained by experience and ‘mileage.’ I want to ‘act my age’ and not try to keep up with younger ones; but I also have some work to do.  How do I re-pace myself to do that work, and finish the race set before me?  There are things I could do 5 years ago that I can no longer do; but I can also do things now that I couldn’t have done 5 years ago. How can I leverage and protect what I know now for a new season of ministry?
• Enlarging: related to the above, I felt a new call to  “enlarge the place of my tent” (Isa. 54:3) and think bigger. There is more to Incarnate than Incarnate, which includes reproducing a model of community, leadership and spiritual life that is becoming increasingly rare, and much needed.  We are not just teaching artists how to be missionaries, how to articulate their faith in a foreign context, deepen their spiritual life, or understand the theological underpinnings of their call and gift. We are teaching them (and the Italians) about community, worship, revival; about transformation, the renewing of the mind, and healing for the wounded heart. 

But my hour is up and my name is called—I'm on!  I swiftly pack up my technology, and claim the coveted boarding pass.  I didn’t score business class, and haven’t finished compiling my ‘lessons learned,’ but happily settle into Zone 2, seat 21H.  I have 8 more hours aboard Delta’s Flight 445 to New York to decant. 

A NEW WAY OF SEEING

Today we read the report from the OM Italia communications director, featuring reflections from one of the volunteers at the facility we've been staying at, Centro Evangelico Isola.  I wanted to share it with you all.  Once again, we marvel at the 'collateral goodness' that happens during our Incarnate schools--other than students, we have a sometimes unforeseen impact on others.  Here's the story...as reported by Michel:  

A few days ago, Incarnate 2016, a 3-month school organized by OM Arts for Christian artists, ended. The purpose of the course was to help students explore the concept of art and better understand how it could be used to serve the Lord, the church and the community. Here are the spontaneous reflections of Sara, a volunteer at Centro Evangelico Isola, after the departure of the OM Group:

"I want to say something about these three months spent together. I know it will be difficult to fully express what I experienced, but I try. Before you came to Isola, I felt a little bit discouraged. I thought maybe I would not be well integrated, because English is far from me! But after three days together, I thought already to be part of you, as when one is in the family!

"I understand that the plan that God has for us does not let anything, let alone a language, hinder us from God, who does not spare His blessings!  The smiles, hugs, laughter, silence, gestures, sincerity—so many details have expressed more than 1000 words could!  Many different cultures, but a strength and a common love: God!

"This allowed us to see the best part of the other, to encourage it, appreciate it and encourage it. We knew this time would end and that's why we wanted to give, sparing nothing. Every moment should be lived! It was nice to discover a new way to worship God through art; it was uplifting, feeling stuffed with his Spirit, focused on his resurrection, on its beauty, the joy of victory—in this I heard a cure for my soul!

"It was nice, symbolically, to do what Jesus did: wash the feet of our neighbor, sharing the holy supper. So I understand that I need to live what Jesus lived. I understand that I need to do what God wants.  God spoke to me through you.  He made me feel loved, worthy, accepted, cared for. They have no importance—the pains of life, and no matter what we have ruined.

"I saw the resurrection and power in you when you said, “No longer I, but Christ!”  God gave me people who understood the need for a hug.  He gave me people who reminded me I have to be happy every day because this is life with God: to live in joy.  A new way of seeing, a way that contemplates His presence, contemplates the power of His name, and His victory in everyday life. Thank you all!  This experience at Isola would not be the same without you."

Have a look at some of our students hanging with some of the young Italian volunteers!