Whispers of Innovation

This year's CCDA Conference focuses on the theme of innovation, especially as it connects to creative solutions to the broken American educational system.
Last night we heard from pastor Thurman Williams of Baltimore, MD as our plenary speaker.

Williams expressed theological and biblical foundations for innovation and creativity in ministry, connected with the concept of God as a profoundly innovative doer of new things.

Wind, Fire, Whisper

Williams grounded his call for innovation in 1 Kings 19, where the discouraged prophet Elijah encounters a difficult question from God while on the run from the powers that be.

The text is an interesting one. God asks the fleeing prophet: What are you doing here, Elijah?

Paraphrased, his answer is "Running for my freaking life because I'm the only one in the whole wide world who gives camel spit about you and your justice."

God's response is to tell him to go outside the cave he's squatting in, onto the side of the mountain. You know what happens next:

A mighty wind tears the mountain open and rips rocks asunder. But God is not in the wind.

A burning fire roars across the mountain, but God is not in the fire.

Then, ears still ringing, Elijah hears a whisper calling him again to the mouth of the cave. It is in that small, good thing that he hears God again, who simply takes him back to the original question: what are you doing here Elijah? God ends by sharing a surprising revelation. Go look it up.

The Last of the Faithful? No.

It's a perennial human temptation to set ourselves up - regardless of our religious affiliation or non-affiliation - as the "last of the faithful." Whether through well earned discouragement, or just myopia, we miss what God is doing in the world. Why? Because we always expect him to be in the wind and fire, when the truth is that the All-powerful very rarely shouts. He whispers. 

It's encouraging to attend a conference where our best an brightest minds dedicated to community development are gather to address the "civil rights" of our generation - public education.

I'm meeting with men and women in the trenches, doing tough, grueling ministry, often among people and communities who have very little thanks to give back. This is real, vital ministry to people, caring for the forgotten, seeding the roots and fruits of Christ's redemption in soil that local government has frequently given up on, in neighborhoods without positive identity. God is whispering through the local church, using the most unlikely of people. I am hearing stories of it.

You are not the last of the faithful, I am not the last of the faithful. God is doing profound, major things in the lives of people, neighborhoods, cities.

Elijah is a good reminder. If we do not see the work of God, maybe it's because when we show up we prefer to break wind. We would set things ablaze.

Maybe we just need to listen. And whisper a bit ourselves.