One of the most rewarding aspects of this summer is the fact that three summer interns had carte blanche to create the first ever "High School Mix." During one of the initial planning weeks I had the thought that we could partner with my home church, Tabernacle Baptist, on their annual summer trip to New York City. A lot of grace and patience later ... the trip was a success!

There are so many other things I say that I need, such as gas in my car so that it will get home, or money in my account so that I can make purchases.  But driving home from Pennsylvania with about 12 children and their luggage in a van for eight hours made me see that I don't really need money or gas or anything else...I need a Savior.  I need a loving Father, I need the power of the Spirit, I need to be wrapped in His arms and like a lamb with its shepherd to be picked up over his shoulders and carried.  Yesterday God brought us all home because He is steadfast and faithful.  

As interns we have been completing a number of readings and participating in weekly discussions pertaining to the texts.  It has been extremely beneficial and insightful to supplement our experiences with Scripture, book readings, and open conversation.  Recently we read (and I really enjoyed) Spotting the Sacred: Noticing God in the Most Unlikely Places, by Bruce Main, director of UrbanPromise, a Christian community development organization focused mainly on children in Camden, New Jersey that serves as a model for CHAT.  In one of the opening chapters of the text, he states: "Like so many people, I have subconsciously (an consciously, for that matter) compartmentalized my life.  I have my 'spiritual appointments' (namely church, personal devotions, retreats, and worship) when I am consciously looking for some kind of revelation from God - guidance, wisdom, and insight.  And then I have my other appointments, such as board meetings, meals, teeth brushing, bill paying, doctors appointments, and all the 'distractions' along the way - moments when I am not exactly looking for God."

Whenever I heard someone say, "I've been truly humbled by this leadership experience," I thought they were being a bit ridiculous. Humbled? Leadership is supposed to teach you that you are smarter and more responsible than so many other people. Leadership is supposed to give you confidence. "Man, that's dead wrong."

In the last BLOG I talked about the role that hip-hop music plays in today’s generation and how we, as Christians, have to be willing to “cross over”, in ways that may be uncomfortable, to reach the children. No, I’m not saying that every Christian worship song has to be made into a rap song, but I do think that this is one of the many ways that we can begin to reach the kids of today. Most people here at CHAT are fans of Lecrae, Trip Lee, Flame, all which are great Gospel Rap artist that have made the name of Jesus Christ known all over. I am attaching a like to a song that many probably haven’t heard, but should. This song is called “Ain’t He” and was written by Rashad Lowery, Dave Gonzalvez, Ian Marshall, Jarhon Giddings and Josh Duinker, all of which have graduated or are currently students at The University of Richmond along with me.

A few weeks ago the interns read More Than Equals, a book that addresses racial reconciliation from the standpoint of Christian community development. The authors point out that the church remains one of our nation’s most segregated institutions, and challenge the reader to address his or her own ethnic self-exclusion. The reader is encouraged to go through a checklist of questions to assess whether or not he or she is truly engaged in building authentic relationship with members of another race. Do you, as a white person, have a friend who is black whom you would call in an emergency? Is there a black person in your life to whom you would turn if you needed someone to watch your children? And so on. 

                              When I read the Bible there is one question that I tend to ask myself, "Did they really mean that? This is particularly true of the verse the CHAT interns are reading this week from Acts. In the verse Acts 4:32, the apostle Luke writes, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had" (NIV). At first glance, this verse seems to stand in opposition to the individualism of my culture and the importance placed on personal property in capitalist America. If this verse is to be a prescription for our lives we may be missing a significant element of the gospel as seen in this early community.

“Got money on my mind, I can’t never get enough... &every time I step up in the building, everybody’s hands go UP... AND THEY STAY THERE...”

So, here we are. Halfway done. Still is a little unbelievable to me. I really don't want to have to leave Churchill; I honestly could see myself living here one day. Anyways, day camp has been good. Kinda crazy last week with 2 field trips in a week, but still awesome. This last week we went to VA beach, which was kinda breezy and the water was cold, but still a blast. I think I do worry quite a bit about the kids and their safety and recognize I need to relax more for me and them to have more fun. Then we went on a scavenger hunt Friday. It was a pretty interesting experience. Ben and I were the only 2 interns on our bus of a few street leaders and 12 and 13 year old boys and girls.

Just being at CHAT I've recognized that I need to stop overanalyzing the words and actions that I do. I forget how short this internship is and it's already halfway done. I worry about how what I will say may appear to others and fear that I may make mistakes during day-camp when I am disciplining and guiding the kids. At the same time, I am reminded of my purpose here to be an example of Jesus in everything I do. Which means disciplining in love, having self-control, and always ready to forgive whether it's deserved or undeserved. During my time here, I have been continually reminded of God's command of putting others above myself. That I live each day not for me but for others and hold them in the highest regard as Jesus did for me.