…Your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Joel 2 and Acts 2
Have we lost our desire to dream again? In the barrios of the city, I occasionally see those who still have a dream but for the most part people are just surviving.
Most are worried about their kids getting involved with gangs or drugs. They are concerned about jobs. I talked with a married couple recently. They grew up in a mixed Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles experiencing the violence and despair of the barrio. They shared with me that if they had a hope of surviving as a couple they needed Jesus.
Why do I choose to minister in the city? I look into the eyes of the people in the city and my heart aches. Most in the city only experience an institutional brush with Jesus, if even that. To most Jesus is just a distant cultural heritage or a lucky rabbits foot.
My vision is for urban revitalization. Not by benevolence alone, the city has more than enough food banks and after school programs. My vision is to be found in the small family of believers gathered together, living out their faith in a dynamic, city shattering way. I hope we will dream again.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
-Psalm 126
By: Kim Gasaway (Metro Los Angeles)
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