The Future Looking Back - PICO Training 1

Tonight at our first meeting Michael-Ray Mathews asked for volunteers to give a faith reflection one morning this week. The purpose was for us to learn about each of our different faith backgrounds and how those inform the work we do in our communities. He wanted a good representation of all the faith traditions of the 90 people that have gathered here this week. I thought about doing one of these, knowing that I was most likely the only Seventh-day Adventist in the group, but decided not to. I had the thought that our church history and tradition has not really contributed to my entry into organizing work and doesn't necessarily inform it now. Later after the meeting Michael-Ray asked me why I didn't volunteer to share the Adventist perspective. I told him my thought process and he said, "hasn't your local church informed your work?".

Good question.

He went on to describe how he saw our church as pioneers in our faith tradition. He said he believed as time went on looking back our little church would be seen as the beginning of something great in our denomination. Furthermore, the struggles we may face theologically and culturally within our denomination in respects to organizing are important to share with others and valued learning for those to come after us. I felt I had been 'blessed' in the Jewish sense of the word. That he had spoken a compelling vision over us as a church and denomination.

Sometimes it's hard to be out in front pushing the way forward. It can feel lonely and isolating at times. I was encouraged as I was reminded tonight that in many ways we are writing a new page in our church history. I thank God that we have this opportunity and that we have friends like Michael-Ray believing in us and helping me to see the future looking back.

Shalom,