Moving back home with my parents has afforded me many privileges, home cooked meals and an adorable canine companion Sami being only two. One privilege however, is both a blessing and a curse. It's cable television. For three years I was without cable and never thought about what I was missing. But now I have access to hundreds of channels on demand. Who would have thought there would be a need to watch game shows twenty four hours a day! Yet the game show network shows a plethora of new and "retro" game shows for my viewing pleasure.
Just this afternoon as I was eating lunch my father was watching "Let's Make a Deal". Do you remember the colorful game show hosted by Monty Hall where contestants dress up in unusual costumes to catch his attention? If chosen, contestants then compete and make deals to win whatever prize is behind three curtains. Invariably, there's a "zonk" behind at least one curtain; a prize like a donkey that a hopeful contestant has already traded for what they thought would be a better prize.
Even before today that game show had come to mind. You see, I've been struggling, like many of us, with being content with God's best. I had come to feel that God's best for me was something like that zonk behind curtain number three. Not an awful prize if you're in the market for a a donkey, but certainly not as great as the shiny red convertible. I wanted to make a deal with God something like: "God I'll trade my single life for a husband, three kids and my own house. You can make that house be in Rwanda, but just let me trade this life in for something I can call my own." I felt like what he had given me right now was that zonk, for which I wanted to make a deal for a better prize.
Then I realized what my problem has been. I've been thinking like a cat. I took part in Perspectives, the US Center for World Mission's, missions overview course several years ago. The first class session was entitled, "Cat and Dog Theology - Living Passionately for the Glory of God." I pulled out the companion book by that title and got to reading and boy, was it convicting!
According to the authors, Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robinson, there are two types of Christians: cat Christians and dog Christians. Cat Christians in essence say to God, "You exist to serve me,"while dog Christians on the other hand say, "I exist to serve you." Lately, I've been thinking like a cat. I've wanted God to serve my whims, my needs and my desires instead of giving myself fully to him and seeking to give him glory and fame in whatever circumstances he chooses to put me in.
As I re-read "Cat and Dog Theology" a couple of phrases stood out to me. Sjogren and Robinson say, "God is under no obligation to be faithful to our expectations; God is only required to be faithful to Himself, and cats have a problem with that." In Deuteronomy Moses writes a song that ascribes to God, many incredible attributes of his character including faithfulness, "For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he." No where does Moses ascribe faithfulness, justice and greatness to God because of what God had done for him. Rather he ascribes these attributes to God because of who God inherently is. God is faithful because He is God, not because He does what I want him to. He does not exist to serve me. Even when I feel that his best is like a zonk hidden behind curtain number three, He still remains faithful and His work is perfect. I was having a problem with God and his work because I was a cat, expecting Him to serve me.
Later on in their book the authors say, "Dogs sometimes realize that like our Lord, they must sacrifice their own joy and pleasure for the advancement of God's kingdom. At the heart of it, dogs have a passion for God's glory." When I was thinking like a cat, I wasn't willing to sacrifice my own joy and pleasure to advance God's kingdom in Rwanda. Rather I was more interested in seeing my own joy and pleasure fulfilled and still try and advance God's kingdom in Rwanda. Yet when my focus was on my own joy and pleasure it was off of God's kingdom and I certainly didn't have a passion for God's glory. The only thing I had a passion for was my pleasure. I was in all ways thinking and acting like a cat! I had forgotten that my purpose is in all things to bring glory to God; even when I am seemingly living out God's best that is hidden like a zonk behind curtain number three. I had forgotten that, "For from him and through him and to him are all things." All that I am and have comes from God and all is to be lived out and given back to him in order to bring Him glory.
Towards the end of their book, Sjogren and Robinson compare the similarities of dogs and cats. Yet they identify one main difference, "Dogs do everything that cats do. Their lives are parallel in every way except one: their mindset! They do everything as an act of worship to God and to make him smile. This is because they define everything in terms of God's glory! Life was designed to be one big worship service as we live for and reflect the glory of the Lord. But with cat theology, we have turned it around so that we no longer worship the Lord. We've been busy worshipping ourselves. Oh how we need to dive into Dog theology and once again worship the Lord for who He is and not for what He can give to us." Going to Rwanda as a single woman, without a husband or children can be done as an act of worship to God and to make him smile. When my focus is on bringing him glory and making him smile, what seemingly felt like a "zonk" really does become God's best. And why is it God's best? It's because it is what will bring God the most glory and fame right now.
My prayer is that I increasingly live the life of a dog; worshiping God for who He is; completely unconcerned with what He can give me. Sure, God can give me the home and family that I desire, yet if he chooses not to, this in no way diminishes how awesome He is. I am charged with the awesome responsibility and privilege to bring him glory and fame. And the greatest part of it is that I get to do that in Rwanda as I share His truth with Rwandan children! I get to invite Rwandan children to be a part of this life that is meant to be "one big worship service." I get to use my singleness and the freedom that it affords me to go halfway around the world to minister to more children than I could ever dream to have on my own. Certainly when I start thinking like a dog and reject my cat-like thinking, this does not become the "zonk" hidden behind curtain number three but rather the grand prize revealed behind curtain number one.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Missions Reporters at Redeemer Montclair
This past Sunday was a big day! I debuted the Missions Reporters program at my home church, Redeemer Montclair. We had a blast learning about the Who, What, When, Where, How and Why of Missions. We even had time at the end for the kids to write their own creative newspaper articles about missions.
For those who are more interested in the Missions Reporters Program I'm posting general information about the program below. I'd love to debut this program at your church. Post a comment or drop me an email to find out how I can visit your church.
_____________________________________________________________________
Summary – The Missions Reporters mini-missions adventure is an interactive program for children in 1st-6th grade to learn about missions and missionaries. Through this adventure students learn who missionaries are, what missionaries do, where missionaries go, how they as children can be missionaries and why God wants everyone to be a missionary.
Students are charged with the responsibility of becoming “missions reporters” as they visit three interactive stations to play games, take part in group activities and participate in teacher led discussions centered on the theme of missions. Karen Jacobsen, Food for the Hungry missionary candidate to Kigali, Rwanda facilitates the Missions Reporters mini-missions adventure with the help of three youth workers or Sunday School teachers from your church.
Students are given “reporter’s notebooks” and are encouraged to record what they’ve learned in order to write newspaper articles about missions.
The Adventure – A Synopsis
WHO – are missionaries? (5 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a true/false game show format geared at the whole group, Karen will help students understand that missionaries are normal people from all walks of life, with real struggles who have accepted God's mission to share the good news– overseas or in their own neighborhood.
WHAT – do missionaries do? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a memory game pairs of students learn what missionaries do. They learn that while, some missionaries are pastors and teachers others are videographers, musicians, nurses and airline pilots. Children learn that God can use everyone’s skills and training in missions work.
WHY – does God want us all to be missionaries? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through Bible Verse puzzles small groups of students learn why God wants everyone to be missionaries. Students will examine Psalm 105:1-2 and Romans 10:13-14 and learn that God wants people to be missionaries to make known all of his wonderful acts and what he has done and because people need to hear about Christ in order to believe in him. Through a teacher led memory verse activity, students will be challenged to memorize Psalm 105:1-2
WHERE – do missionaries serve? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through small group board games students will learn more about the countries that your own church’s missionaries serve in. Students will gain a global awareness of the world that God has created and learn about ways they can pray for the world.
WHEN – can I be a missionary and HOW – can I be one right now? (10 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a large group discussion students learn that they can be missionaries now by telling their friends about Jesus. In pairs, children will come up with creative ways to tell their friends and family about Jesus to share with the whole group.
TAKEAWAYS - Each child will be given their own missions reporter notebook as well as a double sided newspaper article. One side will tell about Karen’s upcoming ministry to Rwanda. The second side is left blank with spaces for writing and pictures for children to write their own articles about what they have learned.
For those who are more interested in the Missions Reporters Program I'm posting general information about the program below. I'd love to debut this program at your church. Post a comment or drop me an email to find out how I can visit your church.
_____________________________________________________________________
Summary – The Missions Reporters mini-missions adventure is an interactive program for children in 1st-6th grade to learn about missions and missionaries. Through this adventure students learn who missionaries are, what missionaries do, where missionaries go, how they as children can be missionaries and why God wants everyone to be a missionary.
Students are charged with the responsibility of becoming “missions reporters” as they visit three interactive stations to play games, take part in group activities and participate in teacher led discussions centered on the theme of missions. Karen Jacobsen, Food for the Hungry missionary candidate to Kigali, Rwanda facilitates the Missions Reporters mini-missions adventure with the help of three youth workers or Sunday School teachers from your church.
Students are given “reporter’s notebooks” and are encouraged to record what they’ve learned in order to write newspaper articles about missions.
The Adventure – A Synopsis
WHO – are missionaries? (5 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a true/false game show format geared at the whole group, Karen will help students understand that missionaries are normal people from all walks of life, with real struggles who have accepted God's mission to share the good news– overseas or in their own neighborhood.
WHAT – do missionaries do? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a memory game pairs of students learn what missionaries do. They learn that while, some missionaries are pastors and teachers others are videographers, musicians, nurses and airline pilots. Children learn that God can use everyone’s skills and training in missions work.
WHY – does God want us all to be missionaries? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through Bible Verse puzzles small groups of students learn why God wants everyone to be missionaries. Students will examine Psalm 105:1-2 and Romans 10:13-14 and learn that God wants people to be missionaries to make known all of his wonderful acts and what he has done and because people need to hear about Christ in order to believe in him. Through a teacher led memory verse activity, students will be challenged to memorize Psalm 105:1-2
WHERE – do missionaries serve? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through small group board games students will learn more about the countries that your own church’s missionaries serve in. Students will gain a global awareness of the world that God has created and learn about ways they can pray for the world.
WHEN – can I be a missionary and HOW – can I be one right now? (10 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a large group discussion students learn that they can be missionaries now by telling their friends about Jesus. In pairs, children will come up with creative ways to tell their friends and family about Jesus to share with the whole group.
TAKEAWAYS - Each child will be given their own missions reporter notebook as well as a double sided newspaper article. One side will tell about Karen’s upcoming ministry to Rwanda. The second side is left blank with spaces for writing and pictures for children to write their own articles about what they have learned.
My Name is Miss Jacobsen Again!
The biggest change in my life lately (besides deciding to go to Rwanda) has been the decision to return to teaching. In late February I accepted a new job at the Geneva School in Manhattan to teach fourth grade. This was a big change for me since I haven't formally taught in five years; though I've taught ESL, Sunday School and done curriculum development in that time.
The Geneva School is a classical Christian school in midtown Manhattan. It's a great school - academically rigorous yet a small welcoming atmosphere. I have ten students in my class who are all bright, precocious and talkative! I have to say, I'm loving it!
The transition from a desk job back into the world of teaching has been challenging yet rewarding. Since I'm going to Rwanda to do curriculum development this is a great opportunity for me to transition back into the world of formal education. As always, I'm enjoying the lesson planning and curriculum development aspect the most. There's nothing I enjoy more than finding creative ways for children to learn!
With that passion in mind I'm especially excited that curriculum development is going to be my job and my ministry in Rwanda. I can't think of anything I'd rather do then find creative ways for Rwandan children to learn the truths of the Gospel!
The Geneva School is a classical Christian school in midtown Manhattan. It's a great school - academically rigorous yet a small welcoming atmosphere. I have ten students in my class who are all bright, precocious and talkative! I have to say, I'm loving it!
The transition from a desk job back into the world of teaching has been challenging yet rewarding. Since I'm going to Rwanda to do curriculum development this is a great opportunity for me to transition back into the world of formal education. As always, I'm enjoying the lesson planning and curriculum development aspect the most. There's nothing I enjoy more than finding creative ways for children to learn!
With that passion in mind I'm especially excited that curriculum development is going to be my job and my ministry in Rwanda. I can't think of anything I'd rather do then find creative ways for Rwandan children to learn the truths of the Gospel!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Being Mary White
Oftentimes life imitates art. I didn't realize it until a month ago, but this has been the case in my life!
As many of you know I grew up at Brookdale Baptist Church. It has a long and vibrant past and has been ministering in Bloomfield, NJ for 114 years! Fourteen years ago, when I was still a teenager, Brookdale celebrated their hundreth anniversary. This was a momentous ocassion with former pastors preaching, lots of music and even an original play. I got to play a very small role in that play. The part I played? Mary White.
I'm sure you've never heard of Mary White. If I hadn't of grown up at Brookdale, I wouldn't have either. Mary White was Brookdale's first missionary. She was sent as a young single woman to Africa as a nurse. On the night of the play my "starring role" was to go on stage, alone, with my old fashioned suitcase, spotlight beaming on me, while the narrator read about my life. This was to dramatize Mary's decision to go to Africa as a missionary. I distinctly remember wondering at 16, if I'd ever follow in Mary's footsteps.
Well, as you all know I am following in Mary's footsteps - in more ways than one. I too am going to Africa as a single woman, though not as a nurse. And I too am a Mary White, but the Mary White of Redeemer Montclair. Though my home church, Redeemer Montclair supports several missionaries within the denomination, I am the first missionary to be sent from our congregation. I am honored and excited to be Redeemer's first missionary.
I've chosen as my life verse Jeremiah 29:10-13, "For I know the plans I have for you," declare the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Indeed God has known the plans of my life. It was in his plan that I would be Mary White....that I would go to Africa as single woman. My prayer now is that God would prosper the ministry that he's given me in Rwanda and that before I leave and when I'm there I would seek after him with all my heart.
As many of you know I grew up at Brookdale Baptist Church. It has a long and vibrant past and has been ministering in Bloomfield, NJ for 114 years! Fourteen years ago, when I was still a teenager, Brookdale celebrated their hundreth anniversary. This was a momentous ocassion with former pastors preaching, lots of music and even an original play. I got to play a very small role in that play. The part I played? Mary White.
I'm sure you've never heard of Mary White. If I hadn't of grown up at Brookdale, I wouldn't have either. Mary White was Brookdale's first missionary. She was sent as a young single woman to Africa as a nurse. On the night of the play my "starring role" was to go on stage, alone, with my old fashioned suitcase, spotlight beaming on me, while the narrator read about my life. This was to dramatize Mary's decision to go to Africa as a missionary. I distinctly remember wondering at 16, if I'd ever follow in Mary's footsteps.
Well, as you all know I am following in Mary's footsteps - in more ways than one. I too am going to Africa as a single woman, though not as a nurse. And I too am a Mary White, but the Mary White of Redeemer Montclair. Though my home church, Redeemer Montclair supports several missionaries within the denomination, I am the first missionary to be sent from our congregation. I am honored and excited to be Redeemer's first missionary.
I've chosen as my life verse Jeremiah 29:10-13, "For I know the plans I have for you," declare the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Indeed God has known the plans of my life. It was in his plan that I would be Mary White....that I would go to Africa as single woman. My prayer now is that God would prosper the ministry that he's given me in Rwanda and that before I leave and when I'm there I would seek after him with all my heart.
Friday, December 21, 2007
A Marrakechi Merry Christmas!
As you can tell by my title (and for those of you who are around me all the time and have heard me mention it.....oh, about 1000 times) my brother and I are traveling to Morocco for Christmas. We leave, today, Friday and return to the States on January 1st.
I am absolutely excited for many reasons! First off, we're getting to go to Morocco....enough said! I've wanted to visit the country for over ten years. Secondly, I'm excited for the opportunity to visit an officially Muslim country. Though I was exposed to Islam quite a bit in Lebanon, the community that I lived in there, Mansourieh, was Christian and reflected the religious diversity in the country. Finally, it's one of my last chances to take a trip with my brother for some time. As many of you know my brother is my favorite travel companion. We share the same philosophy in travel, ie. lots of street food, small hotels/hostels and experiencing as much of the authentic culture as we can.
This is my first time being out of the country for Christmas (and in a country that is not Christian) but that does not minimize my well wishes to you! Thank you to all of you who have prayed for, encouraged, supported and met with me about my upcoming ministry in Rwanda. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. May we all remember the "reason for the season" and experience first hand the love and the character of a God who sent his son to be the sacrifice for our sins.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I am absolutely excited for many reasons! First off, we're getting to go to Morocco....enough said! I've wanted to visit the country for over ten years. Secondly, I'm excited for the opportunity to visit an officially Muslim country. Though I was exposed to Islam quite a bit in Lebanon, the community that I lived in there, Mansourieh, was Christian and reflected the religious diversity in the country. Finally, it's one of my last chances to take a trip with my brother for some time. As many of you know my brother is my favorite travel companion. We share the same philosophy in travel, ie. lots of street food, small hotels/hostels and experiencing as much of the authentic culture as we can.
This is my first time being out of the country for Christmas (and in a country that is not Christian) but that does not minimize my well wishes to you! Thank you to all of you who have prayed for, encouraged, supported and met with me about my upcoming ministry in Rwanda. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. May we all remember the "reason for the season" and experience first hand the love and the character of a God who sent his son to be the sacrifice for our sins.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Reconciliation - Better Had in Real Life Than in Hollywood.
Hollywood. You've got to love how they neatly package life into two hour segments; resolving all conflicts, making everyone happy and closing all loose ends in a short span of time. If only life were really like this.
I recently watched a movie that I initially really liked. I rented "Talk to Me," the story of sixties and seventies era shock jock Petey Green and his manager Dewey Hughes. There is a very moving scene at the end of the film. Petey and Dewey haven't spoken for years after Petey has sabotaged his appearance on The Tonight Show that Dewey has set up for him. Dewey accuses him of being a low-life ex-con, the same as his incarcerated older brother. They sever their business partnership as well as their friendship.
As time passes Dewey realizes the error of his ways and goes to Petey to make things right. At this point Petey is dying. In a moving scene he goes to see Petey and the two reconcile with tears and much emotion. Within a couple of minutes of this scene Petey dies and Dewey is seen delivering a moving eulogy at his funeral, expressing his love for his best friend.
After watching this touching reconciliation of two friends I was moved but also deeply curious. I wondered if the story had really happened like this. Typically Hollywood, the story was completely different. There was no neat, packaged reconciliation. Instead Greene and Hughes parted ways never to reconcile again. As a matter of fact when Greene died, Dewey Hughes didn't even so much as send a condolence card to the family.
After finding out about the true life account of Green and Hughes I began to ask some questions? What does the Bible have to say about reconciliation? Is it possible to have reconciliation outside of a Christian context? What is it about reconciliation that makes us crave it; so much so that Hollywood would neatly package it up in two hour segments? Is reconciliation so infrequent in our culture that Hollywood must fabricate its existence? What do other cultures have to teach us about reconciliation? As I prepare to go to Rwanda I am constantly confronted with the word and the concept.
In 1994 Rwanda suffered from a brutal genocide where over 800,000 people were slaughtered in a mere 100 days. Under the influence of propaganda and hatred, Hutus rose up against Tutsis savagely killing more than 10% of the population. This was not a case of strangers killing strangers. Rather, in many cases neighbors slaughtered or led killers to their own neighbors.
Yet in spite of this tragedy, thirteen years later Rwanda is recovering. And amazingly, victims and perpetrators are being reconciled. I watched a documentary entitled, "Rwanda: Living Forgiveness." This documentary tells the story of one man who lost 14 family members during the genocide, all killed by the same man. After the genocide he is convicted by God of the need to forgive those who have killed his family. He ends up going to prisons to share God's message of forgiveness to those who murdered during the genocide. One man in his prison audience realized that he was the one responsible for killing this man's family. Consequently he repents and asks for forgiveness. Now, victim and perpetrator travel throughout the country sharing God's message of forgiveness.
Though I watched this documentary months ago I am still astounded by this man who was able to forgive someone who murdered fourteen members of his family. Yet, not only did he forgive this man, he also reconciled with him, working side by side with him and calling him his friend. The documentary shows him dancing and laughing with the man who brutally slaughtered his family. His story is humbling to me, an American woman who has suffered much less than this who still struggles with unforgiveness.
What these stories of reconciliation in Rwanda suggest is that true reconciliation is found only through the power of Christ and because of his work on the cross. Reconciliation in Rwanda is encouraged by churches and pastors who realize the Biblical claims of 2 Corinthians 5: 14-21,
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
I know that once I arrive in Rwanda the message of reconciliation and forgiveness will become more true to life than it ever has before. Yet from this passage I've learned the following that is not only true for Rwanda, but true for the US, where reconciliation may be so infrequent, yet so craved that Hollywood finds the need to fabricate it. I've learned that:
*Reconciliation finds its root in Christ and Christ considers this reconciliation final. (There is no need to re-ask for His forgiveness or feel guilty any longer) In the passage it says that "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them." God no longer holds our sins against us because Christ satisfied the punishment for them. Likewise, once a perpetrator comes to ask for my forgiveness, my forgivess and the resulting reconciliation must be final. I cannot count and re-count peoples sins against them.
*I am given the charge to become an ambassador of the message of reconciliation. My work in Rwanda must firstly stress that man be reconciled to God. It is only from reconciliation with God that true reconciliation will extend to the rest of society. In Rwanda (and here in NJ for that matter) I am Christ's ambassador who must bear this message. Likewise, I am convicted that if I am to bear this message of reconciliation, I must be practically living out its applications in my day-to-day life. (Humbling thought for someone who struggles with unforgiveness...thank God that I can daily depend on his power working through me, since I struggle to do it in my own strength)
*Reconciliation with God begins with Christ's work on the cross but also involves us not regarding Christ from a worldly point of view. Similarly, if we are to be reconciled with others we cannot view them from a worldly point of view either Because of Christ's work on the cross we become new creations who are called to operate by a new Biblical world and life view. This suggests that in order for any of us to be reconciled (Rwandan and American alike) both victims and offenders must reject worldly points of view against either party and adopt a Godly point of view instead. Victims can no longer view offenders from the worldly point of view as, "miserable sinners who have no hope of changing." Likewise offenders must also reject the worldly point of view that views an offender, "someone who will never forgive me." Adopting a Godly point of view allows victims to release vengeance and anger and offenders to repent and cast out fear.
*Being reconciled to Christ involves repentance and cannot be had without it. Repentance means a changing of your mind and actions. Reconciliation cannot be had unless offenders repent against those whom they have hurt. Reconciliation involves two parties and cannot be achieved unless both parties are willing to do the hard work of it. Certainly the work of Christ was difficult in order to achieve our reconciliation just as the work of victims is difficult in the process of reconciliation, especially in Rwanda.
*Being reconciled involves the offender giving the offended that which he does not deserve, We certainly do not deserve God's righteousness, only he deserves this. Yet through Christ, God offers us that which we do not deserve. This applies to Rwanda and the US as well. Those who have slaughtered others in Rwanda, (or to bring it closer to home, those who have offended me) do not deserve forgiveness and reconciliation. Yet it is clear from this passage, that I also, do not deserve forgiveness and reconciliation. None of us really deserve any measure of reconciliation and forgiveness. The only way we can obtain it is through the work of Christ on the cross. Therefore, if God was willing to offer reconciliation to me, someone who does not deserve it, certainly I can offer it to others. Just as compelling, I realize that if this man in Rwanda can forgive someone who has slaughtered fourteen members of his family, surely I can forgive those who have sinned against me in much less drastic ways.
I know that God has chosen to send me to Rwanda for a reason. Firstly, I am to be his ambassador of the message of reconciliation, urging Rwandans to be reconciled to God and to others. Yet, I suspect that God has other purposes in mind in sending me to this country that is daily confronted with the challenges of forgiveness and reconciliation. I believe that he wants to challenge me to discover what true forgiveness and reconciliation is and to become a woman who seeks after that with all her heart; a woman who is willing to let go of past hurt and forgive - then go the extra step and be reconciled with those who are the offenders. Likewise, being confronted with the stories of Rwandans who have repented and sought forgiveness from those whom they have hurt, I feel God tugging at my heart to compel me to seek forgiveness from those I have offended.
Above all it is my prayer for myself, for Rwandans and for all of us, that reconciliation will become such a part of our daily lives that it does not need to be a theme fabricated by Hollywood. Rather a I pray that it becomes a strong thread weaving through the fabric of all of our daily lives.
Hollywood. You've got to love how they neatly package life into two hour segments; resolving all conflicts, making everyone happy and closing all loose ends in a short span of time. If only life were really like this.
I recently watched a movie that I initially really liked. I rented "Talk to Me," the story of sixties and seventies era shock jock Petey Green and his manager Dewey Hughes. There is a very moving scene at the end of the film. Petey and Dewey haven't spoken for years after Petey has sabotaged his appearance on The Tonight Show that Dewey has set up for him. Dewey accuses him of being a low-life ex-con, the same as his incarcerated older brother. They sever their business partnership as well as their friendship.
As time passes Dewey realizes the error of his ways and goes to Petey to make things right. At this point Petey is dying. In a moving scene he goes to see Petey and the two reconcile with tears and much emotion. Within a couple of minutes of this scene Petey dies and Dewey is seen delivering a moving eulogy at his funeral, expressing his love for his best friend.
After watching this touching reconciliation of two friends I was moved but also deeply curious. I wondered if the story had really happened like this. Typically Hollywood, the story was completely different. There was no neat, packaged reconciliation. Instead Greene and Hughes parted ways never to reconcile again. As a matter of fact when Greene died, Dewey Hughes didn't even so much as send a condolence card to the family.
After finding out about the true life account of Green and Hughes I began to ask some questions? What does the Bible have to say about reconciliation? Is it possible to have reconciliation outside of a Christian context? What is it about reconciliation that makes us crave it; so much so that Hollywood would neatly package it up in two hour segments? Is reconciliation so infrequent in our culture that Hollywood must fabricate its existence? What do other cultures have to teach us about reconciliation? As I prepare to go to Rwanda I am constantly confronted with the word and the concept.
In 1994 Rwanda suffered from a brutal genocide where over 800,000 people were slaughtered in a mere 100 days. Under the influence of propaganda and hatred, Hutus rose up against Tutsis savagely killing more than 10% of the population. This was not a case of strangers killing strangers. Rather, in many cases neighbors slaughtered or led killers to their own neighbors.
Yet in spite of this tragedy, thirteen years later Rwanda is recovering. And amazingly, victims and perpetrators are being reconciled. I watched a documentary entitled, "Rwanda: Living Forgiveness." This documentary tells the story of one man who lost 14 family members during the genocide, all killed by the same man. After the genocide he is convicted by God of the need to forgive those who have killed his family. He ends up going to prisons to share God's message of forgiveness to those who murdered during the genocide. One man in his prison audience realized that he was the one responsible for killing this man's family. Consequently he repents and asks for forgiveness. Now, victim and perpetrator travel throughout the country sharing God's message of forgiveness.
Though I watched this documentary months ago I am still astounded by this man who was able to forgive someone who murdered fourteen members of his family. Yet, not only did he forgive this man, he also reconciled with him, working side by side with him and calling him his friend. The documentary shows him dancing and laughing with the man who brutally slaughtered his family. His story is humbling to me, an American woman who has suffered much less than this who still struggles with unforgiveness.
What these stories of reconciliation in Rwanda suggest is that true reconciliation is found only through the power of Christ and because of his work on the cross. Reconciliation in Rwanda is encouraged by churches and pastors who realize the Biblical claims of 2 Corinthians 5: 14-21,
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
I know that once I arrive in Rwanda the message of reconciliation and forgiveness will become more true to life than it ever has before. Yet from this passage I've learned the following that is not only true for Rwanda, but true for the US, where reconciliation may be so infrequent, yet so craved that Hollywood finds the need to fabricate it. I've learned that:
*Reconciliation finds its root in Christ and Christ considers this reconciliation final. (There is no need to re-ask for His forgiveness or feel guilty any longer) In the passage it says that "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them." God no longer holds our sins against us because Christ satisfied the punishment for them. Likewise, once a perpetrator comes to ask for my forgiveness, my forgivess and the resulting reconciliation must be final. I cannot count and re-count peoples sins against them.
*I am given the charge to become an ambassador of the message of reconciliation. My work in Rwanda must firstly stress that man be reconciled to God. It is only from reconciliation with God that true reconciliation will extend to the rest of society. In Rwanda (and here in NJ for that matter) I am Christ's ambassador who must bear this message. Likewise, I am convicted that if I am to bear this message of reconciliation, I must be practically living out its applications in my day-to-day life. (Humbling thought for someone who struggles with unforgiveness...thank God that I can daily depend on his power working through me, since I struggle to do it in my own strength)
*Reconciliation with God begins with Christ's work on the cross but also involves us not regarding Christ from a worldly point of view. Similarly, if we are to be reconciled with others we cannot view them from a worldly point of view either Because of Christ's work on the cross we become new creations who are called to operate by a new Biblical world and life view. This suggests that in order for any of us to be reconciled (Rwandan and American alike) both victims and offenders must reject worldly points of view against either party and adopt a Godly point of view instead. Victims can no longer view offenders from the worldly point of view as, "miserable sinners who have no hope of changing." Likewise offenders must also reject the worldly point of view that views an offender, "someone who will never forgive me." Adopting a Godly point of view allows victims to release vengeance and anger and offenders to repent and cast out fear.
*Being reconciled to Christ involves repentance and cannot be had without it. Repentance means a changing of your mind and actions. Reconciliation cannot be had unless offenders repent against those whom they have hurt. Reconciliation involves two parties and cannot be achieved unless both parties are willing to do the hard work of it. Certainly the work of Christ was difficult in order to achieve our reconciliation just as the work of victims is difficult in the process of reconciliation, especially in Rwanda.
*Being reconciled involves the offender giving the offended that which he does not deserve, We certainly do not deserve God's righteousness, only he deserves this. Yet through Christ, God offers us that which we do not deserve. This applies to Rwanda and the US as well. Those who have slaughtered others in Rwanda, (or to bring it closer to home, those who have offended me) do not deserve forgiveness and reconciliation. Yet it is clear from this passage, that I also, do not deserve forgiveness and reconciliation. None of us really deserve any measure of reconciliation and forgiveness. The only way we can obtain it is through the work of Christ on the cross. Therefore, if God was willing to offer reconciliation to me, someone who does not deserve it, certainly I can offer it to others. Just as compelling, I realize that if this man in Rwanda can forgive someone who has slaughtered fourteen members of his family, surely I can forgive those who have sinned against me in much less drastic ways.
I know that God has chosen to send me to Rwanda for a reason. Firstly, I am to be his ambassador of the message of reconciliation, urging Rwandans to be reconciled to God and to others. Yet, I suspect that God has other purposes in mind in sending me to this country that is daily confronted with the challenges of forgiveness and reconciliation. I believe that he wants to challenge me to discover what true forgiveness and reconciliation is and to become a woman who seeks after that with all her heart; a woman who is willing to let go of past hurt and forgive - then go the extra step and be reconciled with those who are the offenders. Likewise, being confronted with the stories of Rwandans who have repented and sought forgiveness from those whom they have hurt, I feel God tugging at my heart to compel me to seek forgiveness from those I have offended.
Above all it is my prayer for myself, for Rwandans and for all of us, that reconciliation will become such a part of our daily lives that it does not need to be a theme fabricated by Hollywood. Rather a I pray that it becomes a strong thread weaving through the fabric of all of our daily lives.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will you be in Rwanda?
My initial term is three years. However, I am very open to being in Rwanda for longer. I'll be there for as long as God wants me there. (I would come home for a short time after three years though!)
When do you anticipate leaving for Rwanda?
There are two factors that influence when I will leave: having 100% of my monthly support raised in pledges and all of my oubound costs and attending the Phase II training held onsite at a Food for the Hungry ministry location. Phase II is held in April and September. The quicker I raise support the quicker I will be able to attend Phase II and go to the field. With that said I am aiming to leave for Rwanda in late summer or early fall 2008.
Why would you ever want to go to Rwanda?
God calls us all to different things. He has called me to the poor and confirmed that call in my life three separate times. I have a heart for children and the poor. Rwanda is where my gifts, calling and desire can be best used by God.
Please prayerfully consider becoming a prayer and/or financial partner in the ministry in Rwanda. When you commit to praying and financially supporting me, I become your ambassador, your partner in Food for the Hungry's ministry to the poor in Rwanda. Please visit my missionary page at http://www.fh.org/missionary61011 to learn more.
Why do you have to raise support?
Food for the Hungry asks all of its Hunger Core missionaries to raise support to cover their living and ministry costs so more funds can go to programs in the countries they minister in.
If you're not leaving for the field right now, why are you asking for support now?
In order to be able to leave for the field, I must have 100% of my monthly support amount pledged in advance. Though you may begin giving monthly pledges now (that money would go towards my outbound costs) pledges that are pledged in advance help Food for the Hungry be able to give the field a better idea of when I will be able to join them.
Are you scared?
Sure, who wouldn't be? Though I am afraid of the unknown a little bit, I am confident that God has called me to Rwanda and will take care of me. Really, I'm more excited than I am nervous!
What are you excited about?
I'm excited to obey God's call in my life. I'm excited about making an impact in childrens' lives in Rwanda. I love kids and cannot wait to meet and get to know precious Rwandan children. Even more, I am excited about doing things that will encourage them to develop a Biblical world and life view. I'm excited about living overseas again; I can't wait to experience the new sights, sounds, tastes and smells.
I would love to chat with you more about Rwanda. Please feel free to email me at my Food for the Hungry email: kjacobsen@fhi.net or my personal email: karenljacobsen@yahoo.com You can also call me on my cell at 973-508-5354. I would welcome the opportunity to talk to you.
My initial term is three years. However, I am very open to being in Rwanda for longer. I'll be there for as long as God wants me there. (I would come home for a short time after three years though!)
What organization are you going to Rwanda with?
I am going to Rwanda as Hunger Core missionary with Food for the Hungry. Food for the Hungry is a Christian relief and development organization ministering in over 26 countries worldwide. For more information please visit http://www.fh.org/
When do you anticipate leaving for Rwanda?
There are two factors that influence when I will leave: having 100% of my monthly support raised in pledges and all of my oubound costs and attending the Phase II training held onsite at a Food for the Hungry ministry location. Phase II is held in April and September. The quicker I raise support the quicker I will be able to attend Phase II and go to the field. With that said I am aiming to leave for Rwanda in late summer or early fall 2008.
Why would you ever want to go to Rwanda?
God calls us all to different things. He has called me to the poor and confirmed that call in my life three separate times. I have a heart for children and the poor. Rwanda is where my gifts, calling and desire can be best used by God.
What will you be doing in Rwanda?
I'll be working for Food for the Hungry's Child Development program designing curriculum to help children develop a Biblical world and life view and training Christian education workers.
What is Rwanda like?
Rwanda is a beautiful country nicknamed, "The Land of a Thousand Hills". There are lakes, mountains and lush forests. Safari lovers love it's rich wildlife like zebra, waterbuck, hippopotamus, workhog, impala, buffalo, and elephants. It is also a very poor country. 84% of it's population live on less than $2 a day. Most Rwandans are subsistence farmers. Rwandans eat bananas, legumes, sweet potatoes, maize, cassava and potatoes.
Please prayerfully consider becoming a prayer and/or financial partner in the ministry in Rwanda. When you commit to praying and financially supporting me, I become your ambassador, your partner in Food for the Hungry's ministry to the poor in Rwanda. Please visit my missionary page at http://www.fh.org/missionary61011 to learn more.
Why do you have to raise support?
Food for the Hungry asks all of its Hunger Core missionaries to raise support to cover their living and ministry costs so more funds can go to programs in the countries they minister in.
If you're not leaving for the field right now, why are you asking for support now?
In order to be able to leave for the field, I must have 100% of my monthly support amount pledged in advance. Though you may begin giving monthly pledges now (that money would go towards my outbound costs) pledges that are pledged in advance help Food for the Hungry be able to give the field a better idea of when I will be able to join them.
Are you scared?
Sure, who wouldn't be? Though I am afraid of the unknown a little bit, I am confident that God has called me to Rwanda and will take care of me. Really, I'm more excited than I am nervous!
What are you excited about?
I'm excited to obey God's call in my life. I'm excited about making an impact in childrens' lives in Rwanda. I love kids and cannot wait to meet and get to know precious Rwandan children. Even more, I am excited about doing things that will encourage them to develop a Biblical world and life view. I'm excited about living overseas again; I can't wait to experience the new sights, sounds, tastes and smells.
Is Rwanda safe?
Most of Rwanda has been calm since the war and genocide ended in July 1994.
I would love to chat with you more about Rwanda. Please feel free to email me at my Food for the Hungry email: kjacobsen@fhi.net or my personal email: karenljacobsen@yahoo.com You can also call me on my cell at 973-508-5354. I would welcome the opportunity to talk to you.
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