A Center for Hope

It’s back to school season here in the Midwest District.  Some schools start as early as the end of July, while others start after Labor Day.  One thing is certain, kids are preparing to go back into an area of greater access to each other as the school day claims a great percentage of their week.  Kids and teachers have the opportunity to let Christ shine through in their relationships with those around them.  After all, Christ did the hardest thing by incarnating himself to live among us and show us God through relationship.  He gave us ultimate access to himself.  In Danville, IL, I recently spent time with one of the families that is all-in to giving kids access to God as they give kids access to themselves through relationship.

The Lenstra family leads the Hope Center in Danville, IL. Located within a public housing complex, the center maximizes their time with families through after school programs, VBS weeks, day camps, resource classes with parents, and more .  When I first came across the ministry of Hope Center, I was blown away that the Housing Authority  gave the Lenstras an apartment for free to reach out to the kids, fully aware that Christ was centric in absolutely every lesson and activity.  Following up a few years later, they have moved to a much larger space in a more prominent location, also offered by the Housing Authority for free – rooms and rooms and rooms of space to have classes, large meetings, and places for kids to get their energy expended.  Why? Because people have watched the Lenstra family consistently show up and care for them.  They are giving families access to God through a consistent relationship with them.

You don’t have to take their word on it, either.  As we moved through the building and I gawked at the commercial kitchen, laughed at the pink restroom stall doors being replaced, and loved the new colors being painted in the classrooms, I noticed a sweet little face and a pair of grubby hands squished up against the door to the large community room.  Three more boys hung back at a distance, but based on the angle of their head tilt, they were also very interested in one thing: Would they get unexpected access to Hope Center today?  Lauren laughed and explained, “Whenever they see movement in here or the lights come on, they are here hoping to come in.”

Nathan Lenstra, pastor and director of Hope Center, has an education degree in chemistry.  While he does miss a challenging math problem, he is also humbled and obedient to the opportunities God puts in front of him. Lauren, his wife and program coordinator, has a degree in social work and beautifully complements Nathan’s affinity for teaching.  Together they serve with Barb, a gregarious woman with a huge capacity to nurture and intercede for this highly transient demographic that occupies the surrounding apartments.

How exactly do they do it?

Watch Nathan and Lauren’s daughter, who is a copy & paste example of their ministry model.  She goes through her normal day alongside kids at school that need to laugh and need to cry.  She understands that life can be challenging and often times their bad behavior reflects just how challenging their life is, but she always puts an arm around them and reminds them about Jesus and how much bigger he is.  Whatever the schedule is, or whichever curriculum is chosen, that’s what the Hope Center exists for – to live alongside families and tell them about Jesus’ deep, deep love for them, because they fully expect the love of Jesus will cause people to grow and to flourish.

The Lenstra family has learned some life lessons doing urban ministry:

• Be culturally aware. Learn the slang and use it in spiritual truths.
• Be flexible. Go with the flow and stay adaptable to ever-changing circumstances. You never know who will show up, so wait to see and then adapt your plan to those God has in front of you.
• Be present. Find relational ministries (like BBQs, kids activities, et cetera).
• Don’t give up and leave; keep showing up. This builds trust with the gatekeepers of the community. The Lenstras have been at this for more than ten years.
• Dwell in the Word. Keep a consistent cycle with the Lord.
• Acknowledge and understand the traumatic experiences of the people you’re working with. Lean into a social worker to help you learn.

Giving People Access to God

We are surrounded by people in our own weekly schedules. Our kids and teachers are about to gain increased access to one another.  How are we giving others access to God through our relationship with them? Oh, that we would live in a way that whenever people see the movement of Christ in our lives they would press in on us wanting to have access to the center of our hope!  May we not see the dirt on their hands smashed against the windows of our souls, but the hunger in their eyes for more of Jesus.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES for URBAN MINISTRY

• Agape Center (children’s ministry training by Cru)
• Crossroad Kids (characters with darker skin in the curriculum – YouTube)
• Say Yes! (children’s urban ministry curriculum)
• Making Neighborhoods Whole by Wayne Gordon and John Perkins (book providing a philosophy for Christian Community Development)