Some reflections on the Silent Auction and Benefit Concert that was June 6th. Thank you to all.
1. We went to the beach with the Beasts of the Beat--who are from Detroit. They had never been to West Michigan before, or the beach. Fun. Joy. Friends burying friends in the ground. Friends throwing friends into 50 degree water. Hot sand. Football. Frisbee.
2. We went to the school to set up. So did siblings, parents, friends. Empty space turns to beauty. Silent room fills with beats. Music. Willing hands. Empty tables fill with items. Donations. Each one a token of trust, a token of generosity from somebody.
3. People show up. First, grandma (always). Friends. Relatives. Neighbors. The Church. Hugs. Ice Cream. Words. The people who showed up were not those who we stretched flyers and invitations far and wide in hopes of having them enjoy the spread we had prepared for many. It was those we knew, and those who already knew and loved us.
4. People buy the items with money, and that money is all donated. We like to see a silent auction as really just a way for us to a) allow those with gifts in business and/or making to share those gifts and b) to give back to people who are donors. With a silent auction, you get something back for donating. Which is pretty cool.
5. Kait, Chris and their band showed us what BLENDING WELL means. Talented people can get on stage together, and not sound good because each is singing, playing on their own accord. The alternative is listening. Listening to what is happening. Hearing what is needed. Filling the void tastefully. The result is somewhat supernatural. Can we approach our lives, our Kingdom contribution (in Holland or Guatemala), in a similar way? Can I put down the demons of standing out, of leading the pack, of bucking culture? Can I just listen to God and do what he says, and in so doing, join the song that he is composing and conducting creation to sing?
6. The Beasts of the Beat showed us what OWNING A CROWD means. You've got to be doing something special to make Reformed people stand up and dance. To make a whole crowd wave their hands back and forth. To leave a crowd thirsting for more of your music, more of your story. Captured. Nobody was on their phone during that performance, save for picture-taking. Why? Every crowd-owning performer has their secrets. The Beasts did so by telling their story, and sticking to it. Genuinely. Each song had a meaning, and each lyric told only a piece of that meaning, that left us wanting to know, "What is behind all this? What has made these young men who they are?" Music has a powerful way of doing that. So they told their STORY, and added their STYLE--which was energy, authority, and youth. Sharing the gospel isn't too different. Sure, you want to OWN your audience. So to do so, I need to tell my STORY, and add my STYLE.
7. God loves us. He gives good gifts to His children. So while we're just very in need of His mercy, Christ has entered and made us God's adopted son & daughter. That's the arrangement. This night alone contributed over $5700 to our mission to Guatemala, and 15 folks were added to our "friends" list. So we've just breeched 75% of being funded for our two-year stint there. How good is God.
8. There was a very electric (exciting, good, and dangerous) combination of cultures here. A hip-hop group of kids from Detroit. Dutch grandmothers. 20-somethings from Moran Park Church. Families from a multicultural church in the core city of Holland. Holland Christian School, with all uppity, white stereotypes attached. Diverse Holland High School students. Upbeat acoustic folk. THANKS BE TO GOD that this collision was a beautiful one. We really prayed into this and had some help to make it something God's kingdom came out of this electricity.
9. As a result, there's some things to put up in prayer. First, thanking God for all things. Second, to supply those needs that are BEYOND funding--friends who will journey with us, prayer warriors, Spanish language, Biblical foundation (in two languages), preparing our hearts and our lifestyles, deepening our relationship with Justin & Jenny in Guatemala (who have been going through A LOT lately).
2. We went to the school to set up. So did siblings, parents, friends. Empty space turns to beauty. Silent room fills with beats. Music. Willing hands. Empty tables fill with items. Donations. Each one a token of trust, a token of generosity from somebody.
3. People show up. First, grandma (always). Friends. Relatives. Neighbors. The Church. Hugs. Ice Cream. Words. The people who showed up were not those who we stretched flyers and invitations far and wide in hopes of having them enjoy the spread we had prepared for many. It was those we knew, and those who already knew and loved us.
4. People buy the items with money, and that money is all donated. We like to see a silent auction as really just a way for us to a) allow those with gifts in business and/or making to share those gifts and b) to give back to people who are donors. With a silent auction, you get something back for donating. Which is pretty cool.
5. Kait, Chris and their band showed us what BLENDING WELL means. Talented people can get on stage together, and not sound good because each is singing, playing on their own accord. The alternative is listening. Listening to what is happening. Hearing what is needed. Filling the void tastefully. The result is somewhat supernatural. Can we approach our lives, our Kingdom contribution (in Holland or Guatemala), in a similar way? Can I put down the demons of standing out, of leading the pack, of bucking culture? Can I just listen to God and do what he says, and in so doing, join the song that he is composing and conducting creation to sing?
6. The Beasts of the Beat showed us what OWNING A CROWD means. You've got to be doing something special to make Reformed people stand up and dance. To make a whole crowd wave their hands back and forth. To leave a crowd thirsting for more of your music, more of your story. Captured. Nobody was on their phone during that performance, save for picture-taking. Why? Every crowd-owning performer has their secrets. The Beasts did so by telling their story, and sticking to it. Genuinely. Each song had a meaning, and each lyric told only a piece of that meaning, that left us wanting to know, "What is behind all this? What has made these young men who they are?" Music has a powerful way of doing that. So they told their STORY, and added their STYLE--which was energy, authority, and youth. Sharing the gospel isn't too different. Sure, you want to OWN your audience. So to do so, I need to tell my STORY, and add my STYLE.
7. God loves us. He gives good gifts to His children. So while we're just very in need of His mercy, Christ has entered and made us God's adopted son & daughter. That's the arrangement. This night alone contributed over $5700 to our mission to Guatemala, and 15 folks were added to our "friends" list. So we've just breeched 75% of being funded for our two-year stint there. How good is God.
8. There was a very electric (exciting, good, and dangerous) combination of cultures here. A hip-hop group of kids from Detroit. Dutch grandmothers. 20-somethings from Moran Park Church. Families from a multicultural church in the core city of Holland. Holland Christian School, with all uppity, white stereotypes attached. Diverse Holland High School students. Upbeat acoustic folk. THANKS BE TO GOD that this collision was a beautiful one. We really prayed into this and had some help to make it something God's kingdom came out of this electricity.
9. As a result, there's some things to put up in prayer. First, thanking God for all things. Second, to supply those needs that are BEYOND funding--friends who will journey with us, prayer warriors, Spanish language, Biblical foundation (in two languages), preparing our hearts and our lifestyles, deepening our relationship with Justin & Jenny in Guatemala (who have been going through A LOT lately).