Jacob at 2!

Breath: A Poem for Transformational Action
by Lisa Sharon Harper 08-18-2009

I recently wrote and performed a spoken-word poem for the Transformational Development (TD) Conference at Eastern University, co-sponsored by Eastern and Food for the Hungry. Transformational development is the kind of development that does not only seek to transform the infrastructure of societies, but pays special attention to the development and nurture of human dignity in ones who have carried the crushing weight of poverty in our world. Poverty does not only take bread out of the mouths of children. It sucks self-worth and dignity from the souls of marginalized peoples.
I share the following poem with you with sincere hope that it might lead to transformational action now. Now is the time.

Breath A spoken-word poem by Lisa Sharon Harper

Da da – da da daDa da – da da daDa – da – da da – daDa – da – da da – da
Disconnected breath breeds disconnected beats
Drumming and strutting at a half-step
Then a quarter
Like a hunched over woman
Hands danglin’ from dead arms,
Dreams danglin’ lifeless behind dead eyes…
Da da – da da daDa – da – da da – da

Too many needles,
Too many hopeless visits to the parole officer And the judge mandated shrink
Too many hits from her pimp and her john
To many hits from the needle and the pipe.
To many days too far from heaven…
And wholeness…And family…And truth…And goodness…And beauty…And self…
Hands dangle Her soul limp Still
And the breath of God hovers over the deep.
The chaos The stench And fear takes cover Running – hiding from light
Chaos scatters in all directions
Kingdom breaks forth Kin-dom breaks forth
Love cuts darkness
Rise – rise hunched over one
Find your feet
Stand and find them
They are there.
I made you with feet strong enough to walk the face of the earth.
I made you with arms strong enough to maintain the integrity of my creation.
I made you with dreams strong enough to see what is NOT there YET. Dream!
Da da – da da daDa – da – da da – da

Kingdom breaks forth
Calling forth humanity to live as humanity
Calling forth hunched over queens
To receive their crowns
Calling forth pressed down princes
To stand and deliver
And commanding those who stand on their backs – imitating little-g gods.
“Bow to your knees.”
Face your humanity.“
Bow to your knees.”
Embrace your humanity.
Kin-dom locking arms
Limp arms, strong arms, and dead arms
Encircling
With tracks up and down
We will stand together in the darkness
And the breath of God will hover over the deep.
And we will all – all of us – Breeeeeeeathe…

Lisa Sharon Harper is the executive director of New York Faith & Justice and author of Evangelical Does Not Equal Republican … or Democrat.

"Transformational Development"

Centro Cultural Tlaixpan
A ministry of Christian Community Transformation: The future is now!

As a 30 year veteran missionary who has worked with traditional “faith” mission agencies doing church planting through activities like English teaching, local Bible studies and kid’s clubs, as well as spending 12 years in an urban neighborhood engaged in what is called Christian Community Development, I want to affirm that what we are witnessing in this XXI century is something very different. Many missionaries from the activities listed above are recognizing this shift and helping to define it. As one example, a recent book by two of the “founders” of the CCD movement, John Perkins and Wayne Gordon is subtitled: “How Urban/Surburban Partnerships can Transform Communties.” The difference between Development and Transformation might seem small but accurately defined can lead to very different results. Before I highlight some of these differences allow me to give a little history.

The 60’s and 70’s can be remembered among other things as the rise of community organizing led by such activists as Saul Alinsky and adopted by many mainline Protestant and some Catholic churches. A very brief synopsis of their teaching might be outlined as Analysis, Assets and Action. First you identify a problem in the community and analyze its roots and what is needed to bring change. Then, maybe a more recent addition to community organizing, is to discover the strengths or assets within the community that can be harnessed to help bring about this change. Finally, you go into action usually on the streets through some sort of pressure put on the powers that be.

The 80’s and 90’s saw the rise of community development as an activity to bring about what their practitioners call a “deeper” change. It’s Christian form sees this as combining spiritual change with socioeconomic change. In the classic definition by CCD founder, John Perkins, what is required are the “3 R’s.” Relocation is the actual physical presence of those engaged in CCD who get to know the people of the community through life experiences. Reconciliation means healing the differences among the people themselves and dealing with the racism between Anglo-Europeans and ethnic people of color. Redistribution most commonly as meant the transfer of money and other gifts in kind from suburban people of means to the urban poor through their religious institutions.

Just as a way to try to show that change is and has always been inevitable allow me to try to paint in very broad strokes the historical transitions that have taken place in past centuries. Because what we are really talking about here is a way of being and doing church in the world. During the first half of the XX century we saw the shift from Fundamentalism to Evangelicalism. Or as some have described it as moving from a “rescue boat” mentality to an involvement with the world for evangelistic purposes. The XIX century saw a major shift from the more historical and hierarchical churches (Anglican, Lutheran and Presbyterian) to more Congregational churches (Methodists, Baptists and Pentecostals). Before that of course was the “Magisterial” shift from Roman Catholicism to Protestantism.

So how does what we are proposing with Christian Community Transformation fit into this historical stream? While we happily borrow from each of the foregoing in our methods we are quick to point out that the results we are looking for are quite different. The transformation we are expecting must be on the local, national and international levels. Because we live in such a globalized, inter-connected world where communication is instantaneous and what someone does in one country can directly affect the lives of millions in other countries. Our Center here in Mexico seeks to bring awareness to the local people of our community of the causes of their own poverty and oppression through educational means. We also seek to build networks with other social movements who are on a similar path of education seeking transformation. Finally, we seek international partnerships with people who understand this reality and are willing to challenge their assumptions and divest themselves of their own privilege that there might be equality (II Cor. 8:13).

If you have “ears to hear” this call and desire to partner with us please contact us at: swanyriver@aol.com or view our blog at: www.rocajem.blogspot.com or send a donation to Palm Missionary Ministries at: 1315 Campo Sano Ave., Coral Gables, FL.

Summer '09

The "Chiapas Adventure" team from the Mexican barrio of Chicago (and Pastor Pedro!).

Jacob loved the trampoline at the Soneson home.

and walking the maze at the Arboretum with Aunt Kathy.

and at the petting zoo with grandpa.

We enjoyed a wonderful family reunion at nephew Tim's wedding to Ashley.

Here's the new Mr. & Mrs. Soneson at their beautiful outdoor wedding in the rocky mountains of Colorado.

Jacob bringing mommy's bag to her at the wedding.

Jacob and his "oseeto."

Jacob and his parents would like to thank all of you who made our US visit last month so enjoyable. Thanks also to the La Villita church folk and friends in Arkansas.