Kingdom Balance: Economic Outputs and Inputs

Dear Friends:

How can today’s body of Christ live out the Bible’s kingdom economic principles? Are we challenging ourselves to look at our economy through the lens of the Bible? These questions overwhelm me when I realize that through my work, I bear the responsibility to craft programs and policies for many groups: our ministry team (the full and part time staff of Advance Memphis), our graduate employees in the Advance Memphis Staffing Program, and even for volunteers and donors. Bob Goudzwaard argues that while socialist and capitalist economies focus on maximizing OUTPUTS (more production, more money), the biblical economy focuses on INPUTS (taking care of workers, of immigrants, of land and animals). As I’ve studied these principles and begun trying to apply them at Advance and in my home, I am constantly asking myself if my priorities reflect the kingdom principles of INPUTS first, or if I’ve fallen into the trap of OUTPUTS obsession. 

For example: am I more focused on outputs, such as the number of graduates employed, the number of GEDs, and the number of dollars in the bank—to the exclusion of people’s hearts? Or am I, instead, concerned with how to honor and develop the individual spiritual gifts and talents of our participants and staff? Do I consider the humanity of our Staffing Program graduate employees and, in turn, craft employment policies that give image bearers dignity? I’m also reconsidering how I view Advance staff, donors, and volunteers. Are they merely “labor” and a means to an end? Are they commodities to use to get ministry results as inexpensively and as efficiently as possible? 

My focus on outputs shows up in a lot of ways. I know there have been times when I’ve been guilty of an attitude and practices focused only on results and on financial “stewardship,” rather than on encouraging and developing the image-bearers I encounter at Advance. Unfortunately, I’ve defined stewardship as “getting the most bang for my buck.” I’ve asked employees for as much work as possible with as little compensation as possible in the name of stewardship (a reduction of Biblical kingdom stewardship). I’ve worried about quantity over quality. In this, I’ve failed to love my neighbor as myself. Remember: it’s a command God gave His people to love our neighbor. I’ve asked Christ’s forgiveness for my mistreatment of my fellow man and of His natural resources, and I ask your forgiveness as well. Today, I’m working to reconnect with the inputs while learning to trust God for the outputs even as we continue setting goals and working toward results. I’m acknowledging that stewardship may mean doing what’s right in loving my neighbor, even if it costs more. 

Recently, I’ve worked on increasing the tangible ways that I’m caring for our inputs. We’ve added professional development days for full time staff and we’re working to add them for Staffing Program employees. Advance challenges ourselves to move as many employees as possible from temporary to permanent employment, even if it makes our work more difficult. We’ve begun giving employees “flex time” to acknowledge the evenings, weekends, and early morning hours that they often work in order to serve and love our neighbors. We’re sharing the surplus from the Staffing Program with its employees, increasing wages (longing for the day when a full day’s work is a living wage for the employee) and offering bonuses for attendance. 

We’re also having “Feast Days”—enjoying time with Staffing employees, mentors, and business owners as we grill and eat lunch together. Counseling is now available for everyone at Advance: on site for participants and off-site for staff members. We’re adding new ways to develop our Staffing Program leaders, preparing them to move to permanent positions. We’re taking steps that value the image-bearers we encounter, but there’s more work and learning to be done.  Skills and wages must increase for our neighbors, especially sinceTennessee leads the nation in minimum wage workers.

When viewed through a Biblical lens, how does your place in our economy change? Does it change how you manage your home or business—or even daily errands? Does it change who you hire? Does it change how you manage or how you work as part of your team? 

These are the questions that I’m struggling to answer, and I invite the Church to join me in this prayerful struggle. Sovereign economy? No! Sovereign man? No! Sovereign God. YES! PLEASE join me in our application of Biblical truths regarding inputs and outputs. It matters to our Creator. I believe that through prayer, God’s word, diverse and challenging personal relationships, and humility, we can experience a foretaste of God's kingdom economy in the midst of our own lives and community.

Steve 

Art for Jobs 2014: Get Involved Starting NEXT WEEK!

This September 11th, we'll host the 4th annual Art for Jobs event, our art show and sale that benefits the programs and people of the Advance Memphis community. It's my job to run this event -- but it's also the one of the most fun and encouraging things I do all year.

We're starting work NOW to make sure that this event is the best yet. And we plan to have a great time doing this work -- so join us! There's something for everyone, and your time will benefit one of the hardest working communities we know!

• Help us market the event to churches and groups all over Memphis...as simple as telling your book club or Sunday school class about the event...as fun as helping us choose the poster art! 
• Help us recruit artists -- everyone from your talented neighbor who paints on the weekends to the well-known artist with pieces in your favorite shop. 
• Help identify and communicate with potential sponsors. These generous businesses make all the difference in the impact of this event! 
• Help us organize volunteers. There will be 40-50 volunteers here on the day of the event! We'd love your help in recruiting them and getting them all pointed in the right direction as they arrive!
• Help us throw a great party! We need all the elements of a good time -- food, drinks, music and people. If you enjoy making all those things come together, join us!

Meet us at Cheffie's THIS Monday, March 31st, at 7pm OR on Thursday, April 3rd, at 11:30am. Pick the meeting time that's best for you and we'll see you there! If you've got questions or want to let us know you're coming, please contact kate@advancememphis.org. 

Hope to see you next week!

Kate

Grind 'Til You Shine: Mural Completed at Art for Jobs

Artist Brandon Marshall recently completed a mural on the west wall of our building with the inspirational words "Grind Til You Shine." The mural also contains symbols and imagery that came directly from Brandon's brainstorming session with Jobs for Life participants where they discussed the beautiful things and the challenges that they see in their community. (SEE FULL ARTIST'S STATEMENT BELOW). The mural has serpents to represent the fall, circling arrows to represent renewal and change, and an apple to represent a plant bearing fruit. When asked what the phrase "Grind 'til you shine," meant to him, participant Walter Brown, said "Staying down for what you really want, working until you get a better outcome." There's much more packed into this beautiful piece; stop by to see it and learn more. More pictures from Art for Jobs are here; thank you for supporting this event!

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

Because we talked so much about the importance of Booker T. Washington in the community, we wanted to use some kind of reference to the school itself. We mentioned how something having to do with the mascot, "The Warriors," could be a good metaphor to relate to the mission of Advance Memphis, as well as a reference to the people in the neighborhood, encountering their own day to day battles, and fighting for their families.  This is why I adopted a traditional Native American art motif: I think that it's unique, transcendent (which also relates to the Gospel) and relates to Battle and the Supernatural. 

Another important element that kept being mentioned was the Grizzlies basketball team. While I did not feel a straightforward Grizzlies logo would be appropriate, I did choose a Bear as the central figure for the piece. The Bear is not only a subtle reference to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Spirt of Grit and Grind, but it also represents strength, persistence, and overcoming hardship. It is framed by two wings with Crosses in them to symbolize freedom within the Gospel.

You will notice that below the bear figure are two serpents, which is a reference to the Creation & Fall story in Genesis. The snakes are placed below the Bear, encouraging the viewer to rise above temptation.  You can also see that within the snakes there are the three circular arrows which refer back to the Negative Life Cycle that so many become trapped in.  Again, this is a reminder to the neighborhood, and especially the graduates to rise above the temptation of becoming stuck once again in the Cycle.  Above the Bear there is a small Apple, which is a Biblical Reference to Bearing Fruit. These things are strategically placed above the serpents as things to focus on and strive for. Because they are at the top in the hierarchy of scale, they become more important. 

I also used the image of Hands 'holding' Hope, as well as Arrows pointing up based off a sketch that one of the people in the class did. I'm not sure if the wall will permit for this exact composition, but if need be I can use the Hands on the sides of the mural. 

One of the other things the class mentioned that was unique to the neighborhood was the movie Hustle and Flow, and how it was filmed in the area.  While we could all agree maybe the message about the lifestyles of the characters in the movie was not appropriate to reference, the class did say that it was important to note that everyone in the neighborhood had a hustle.  Everyone had a Grind, whether that be washing cars, cutting grass, and so on. No one could deny that inside of every community member was the God-Given desire to work hard and enjoy the labor of their hands. So something I thought of that might speak specifically to the community was the phrase, "Grind Til You Shine." Maybe unconventional, but I believe everyone who lived in the area would appreciate it.

Thanks, Brandon. 

The Complexity and Shame of Addiction

Compiled by Cindy Goad from materials edited by David Sper, written by Tim Jackson and Jeff Olson, "When We Just Can't Stop: Overcoming Addiction"

Addictions raise many questions. Are they moral weaknesses, diseases, habits, or sins? Are they physical dependencies, or complicated spiritual cycles? What’s needed for change? Is it medical treatment, family intervention, daily group accountability, or spiritual transformation? Can behaviors be changed quickly, or will recovery be the process of a lifetime? The answer to these questions are anything but simple. Honesty demands that we acknowledge the complexity of addiction. Defining Addiction: An addiction is an enslaving, destructive dependency… “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.”

Because a person can be physically predisposed to an addiction, and because of the likelihood of medical complications, addictions are often viewed as a disease. It would be a mistake, however, to think only in terms of the physical dimensions. Most addictions are rooted in moral choices and spiritual needs. 

What is most important is not whether we are predisposed to an enslaving habit, but whether we are willing to do whatever it takes to bring this predisposed “diseased body,” habit or idol under the control of reason and faith. Addictions are not just diversions of choice. We see them as lifeboats necessary for our survival. Addictions give us something we believe we must have in order to live. They provide predictable relief and power in an unpredictable and painful world.  Our addictions provide a remedy that helps us to forget the pain--at least for a little while.  In time, they become worse than the pain we were trying to relieve. Now we find ourselves needing relief not only from our inescapable losses but also from the shame of our own foolishness. We feel shame for an addictive behavior that made our problems worse. 

Shame, however, is also a deceiver. In the beginning, pleasure holds us in the addiction.
In time, shame has the same effect. 

With shame, unless you first identify the problem, you will pass by the many treatments in Scripture without ever seeing or hearing them. Shame. You feel worthless, rejected, dirty and exposed. Sometimes you feel it because of what you have done, in which case your badness must exceed community standards. Shame attaches itself to our sins and does indeed have many faces. It seems to be everywhere and yet still be elusive. Maybe that’s why we can’t do anything with it until we put words on it. But God puts words on it, so we should too. That itself can be hopeful. It can also leave us wanting more. If you want more right away, just watch Jesus. He goes out of his way to meet, touch, bless and restore the shamed and addicted. 

At this crossroads of invitation, there is an opportunity for change. It is an opportunity to discover life through a process of admitting our addiction, acknowledging our pain, accepting responsibility for the damage we've done, pleading for mercy, choosing surrender, and caring for others. Here at this crossroads, our hearts can come alive in the presence of One who, while knowing everything about us, still wants to come into us and be the God and Friend we've been looking for. It will become clear that we need undeserved help and forgiveness. Mercy will become our new found joy. Mercy invites us to a change of heart, a repentance, that will cause us to gladly turn from our idolatrous obsessions. With failure behind us, mercy now calls us to a new dependence on God. For the first time, we will have more than momentary pleasure. Now we will have reason to destroy the idol and break all ties with it.

In our reflective moments we will always have to admit that the pleasure of our addiction doesn't deserve to be compared to the mercies of God. 

Titus 2:11-14 

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

--Cindy Chapple | Leader of Overcoming through Christ at Advance Memphis | cgoad@advancememphis.org

A Volunteer's Experience with Advance

Jay Webb, pictured at center, above, has volunteered at Advance Memphis for over a year. Below are the notes he wrote before presenting to a meeting of his church members about his experiences at Advance. We were encouraged to read about his perspective on the Lord's work in 38126. Read his notes, below. 

What is Advance Memphis:

For me, the transformative statement of Advance Memphis is that is a relational example of the Lord’s work and intent. The program is serves individuals that have been lost in the abyss of apathy, neglect and/or self-induced pain.

 I will borrow from the programs mission statement: Advance intends to empower members of their specific community (Claiborne –Foote, the 38126 zip code) to recognize their specific skills and value as unique and gifted individuals - children of a Father, who created all of us to find joy and meaning in work. Advance has 3 distinct initiatives:

1.       The nationally recognized Jobs for Life program - candidates encounter a 6 week soft skills training program for those who are unemployed or under employed.  It begins with simple elements of work place conduct and is finished off with literacy and GED certification.  Jobs are then assigned with the cooperative partners.

2.       Faith and Finance – while working the candidate attends an 11 week program of financial literacy skills which is required for the 3^rd part of the distinct program.

3.       Individual Development Account (IDA) – graduates are incentive to save with a $2 match to $1 dollar saving program. These funds are used to assist in the essentials of obtaining transportation, housing or additional education.

Why am I involved:

In preparation to speak with you, I had to search, why am I involved? There are dozens of reasons why and most of them are selfish in nature. Does that sound strange? No, because most of you serve and or volunteer. Don’t we get more than we give, when we serve?  Serving the specific community of 38126; one of the poorest zip codes in the U.S., and walking in the doors of Advance you are connected with some of the most ambitious folks you will ever encounter. Overwhelmingly, the filter of the front door brings the true players, the truly ambitious, those who have prayed for change. Those most motivated, walk through that door and in to the fold of its director, Steve Nash and the Advance staff. You are not working with “lost folk” (as Rocky use to say) inside Advance. Within that door you find relationships that are built on love, mercy, grace and acceptance. That is not to say, that you avoid the installation and foundational components of accountability and discipline! The key emphasis; and this is very important, the message and treatment is delivered with human dignity and compassion for another human.  The result of this environment is tremendous! If you want to witness the impact of Christ spirit and visitation, come with me and attend the graduation day. You will be washed in the joy of accomplishment; you invariably will witness the testimony of a candidate or see the new or refreshed commitment to Christ! The energy of the room is amazing, the dull room takes on new dimensions, and people are changing their life’s direction!

This summer, our ministers have been repeating the message of redemption.  Barton Kimbro’s delivery of the meeting of Jesus and the lowly tax collector Zacharias, Mitchell’s sermon, Jesus acceptance and validation of the Samarian women. Dan Brown, he probably thought I wasn’t listening while he discounted his abilities, but the delivery of the idea - God accepts me, but in an insecure moment – you think, will your neighbor accept you, will he/she forgive me, will they recognized your redemption? Can I have the second chance?

 Second chances and recognition of redemption is the strike zone of Advance. It isn’t genius on their behalf; they simply follow Christ teachings and methodology!   We/they serve the individuals who fell off the assembly line of education as teenagers and woke up to find themselves in their early 20’s without work skills , unfinished educational and most often, a criminal record for various destructive reasons. We all know the national statistics of crime rate in our youth between the ages of 13 to 21 years of age. When you add the lack of education on to the equation, the multiples jump.

Closing:

 I have had all the chances one person can be given. That said, I am an advantage immigrant, a product of a father in the military, whose marriage dissolved with my Mother when I was young living in my Mothers native country. As an ace in my hand, my mother was incredibly strong willed and devoted. Additionally, I have been fortunate to have had mentors that served as role models and nurtured me with good habits and emphasized the value of education.  I can’t say that - I found them or they found me! The reality is that mentors were always provided. Wonder, how that happens? Do you think someone was in their ear, like I and our churches are in your ears? I was very fortunate to have had these mentors and most of all they been grounded the Lords grace and capabilities.   

Our Lords acceptance of me is paramount, His gifts have been plentiful, my family the greatest gift of all. I am at Advance, developing relationships and delivering the message of redemption, education or re-education, because it is my responsibility!  It is my responsibility to serve others and nurture those who God loves and who love him.  Who in here has never had adversity? Show me hand! The rest of you are qualified to serve.

How can you get involved?

Contact Advance on Vance Avenue, up the street from Streets Ministry.  Call or write Steve Nash, the Director.  Go to advancememphis.org. Look for a staff member in this room. Grab me.

Other notes:

 It personifies everything that is right n the Memphis community. Let me say, there is a lot going on in Memphis that is good and just. This church, our churches, its members, its leadership and objectives are energized and gaining momentum.  Advance is a component of that energy and momentum! Using Christ example and scriptural mandate, we are accepted and worthy of redemption. My favorite poet wrote, “We are one, we are not the same, yet - we must carry each other”. I identify with that statement. It was written for a different occasion, but it is as true a statement in regards to our community as any other statement that can be made. 

Bus Route Cuts

Did you vote in local elections last fall? If so, you either voted for or against a proposed one cent gas tax that would have helped fund the MATA bus system. Only 38% of voters approved this tax. It failed, and now dozens of routes are being drastically changed or eliminated. Some Advance alumni are losing their transportation to or from work. In the poorest metropolitan city in the nation, can we afford to cut services to the working poor? 

In both Old and New Testaments, the Bible testifies to two central economic convictions:

·         God created people to work, and

·         the faith community is responsible personally and corporately to make sure that work WORKS for those who work.

OT laws like the Jubilee and gleaning laws testify to the great sacrifices Israelite society was to make in order to ensure that people could earn their own living (see: http://tinyurl.com/lszg7nv ), and James’ words condemn those who employ workers but don’t pay them enough to provide for themselves (James 5:4-5).

Last week, we found out from a concerned neighbor that MATA plans to make serious reductions to bus service beginning next month. The vast majority of our graduates use the bus service to get to work, and one of our biggest staffing customers, WM Barr, will no longer have any bus service on President’s Island. Already, low-income Memphians have seen a 30% reduction in bus service over the last 5 years. Furthermore, with the elimination of big public housing projects, poor Memphians are being relocated further and further from downtown services AND workplaces. This means we need more bus service, not less.

Even in times of tight budgets, Christians must fight for robust public transportation because this is the only way that work can be a viable option for the poor. Saving on our city budget by making it harder for the poor to get and keep jobs is like sawing off the tree branch you’re sitting on. Many of our residents don’t have cars because they don’t have money; if they can’t get a job because of reduced bus service, what are they supposed to do? Old Testament saints made the edges of their agro-businesses available for the poor to glean from; must we not fight to keep access to work places available for our low-income neighbors? If the faith community does not take responsibility for making work WORK, then we should not be surprised if organized crime flourishes; if people can’t get to work, they’ll take what work they can find nearby, legal or otherwise.

The time to act is NOW! Here are some action steps you can take in the next 3 days. They won’t take much time, and each one will put pressure on our elected officials!

1. Call your council representative. You can use this website to get their emails, or send an email to all of them (http://www.cityofmemphis.org/Government/CityCouncil/CouncilMembers.aspx). To find out who yours is, you can use this one: http://www.cityofmemphis.org/Portals/0/pdf_forms/2011_Redistricting_Maps.pdf. If you know yours already, a list of all council email addresses is here. 

2. Email your thoughts before Friday at 5 p.m. to publiccomments@matatransit.com 

3. Go to one of two public meetings. These are on Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm. Info here: http://www.matatransit.com/newsandalerts/public-meetings/

Thrift Store Survey: Help Us Complete Research for Co-ops

These interns are hard at work doing biz dev research to support our investigation into the feasibility of beginning worker owner cooperative businesses here in 38126. Support them in their efforts! Read below to see how you can help them by completing a brief survey. 

Why did God give Israel laws requiring His people to share ASSETS among the poor as well as INCOME (Leviticus 25)? In God's economy, the poor are given access to more than hand-outs or even wages; through the Year of Jubilee they also receive access to ownership! 

Advance Memphis is exploring ways to help our South Memphis neighbors live into God's economy through empowering local entrepreneurs and launching worker-owned cooperative businesses. 

You can help us with the early stages of this research by taking our brief survey on RESALE STORES (thrift, consignment, antique shops, etc). Here's the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CLHZYQZ. 

Join us as we not only try to teach folks to fish, but just as importantly, make sure that every fisherman has access to the pond. 

Thanks!

The Advance Memphis Co-Op Research Team