Are you the runner of your generation?

It's great imagery.

Philip, a disciple of Christ having received instruction from an Angel of the Lord ran to catch up to a man of Ethiopia traveling in a chariot, who was a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians.

This man had traveled to Jerusalem to worship and was returning to his country when Philip got the 'call' to run.

As Philip ran along side the chariot he observed the man reading Isaiah the prophet and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' The man's reply? 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' and he asked Philip to come up to his chariot and join him.

In the conversation, Philip preached Jesus to him which ended up in the man being baptized.

This example of a 'run along beside' ministry can be found in your Bible in the book of Acts, chapter 8.

We are living in a world where more and more people fit the description of the Ethiopian man. People who see but have no understanding.

Many people see the need to serve meals to the hungry,
Many people see that pregnancies are out of control among our youth,
Many people see there is a need to house the unhoused,
Many people see the importance of reaching parents,
Many people see the incarceration rates among African American men is astonishingly higher than any other demographic,
Many people see the recidivism rate of incarceration and addiction moves like a merry-go-round,
Many people see that the median age of the unhoused is getting younger each year,
Many people see the church is AWOL in areas of justice,
Many people see the church is still the most powerful certainty on this planet,
Many people see that unaccompanied youth in our society is a growing concern on our streets,
Many people see we need change at every level of all sectors of our communities.

Many people see - but not many people truly possess an understanding of what they're seeing.

It is this lack of understanding that is creating, and in many cases exasperating the already existing problems within our communities, homes and churches. For example, because we don't understand the fundamentals of poverty, we think just because we can see where poverty exists we know enough of what to do - but do we?

Here's today's example question; "Since the impoverished of our communities continue to receive the same treatment year after year which amounts to hand outs of everything from backpacks and school supplies in the fall to block parties in the spring and summer, what has changed?

Are the impoverished no longer impoverished, or are we instead seeing new generations of poverty; the sons and daughters of those we have 'served' year after year.

The outcome and perspective regarding the work and service being conducted in our communities should tell us that we see, but do not understand.

Are you the runner of your generation?

Can you be called upon to run?

It's runners we need - those who not only see, but understand.

Now, more than ever we need the development and release of the 'run along beside' function of following God. It's time to add to our seeing the ability and function of understanding.

This year, I'll be participating in and releasing along with other key leaders; 'The Philip Project'. Our attempt is to identify and recruit men and women of all ages who see, but desire more - they desire to run. I'll keep updating this initiative as it unfolds. If you desire to know more, drop me a line; danrogers@cherrystreetmission.org.

How will they understand if there is no one to guide them?

Dan
a runner