Why Would a Church Run?

This coming Sunday, 26 October is the Inaugural CCR 5KM Fun Run. I am eager to see what the day will bring. Honorable Minister of Local Government Protais Musoni will be our Guest of Honor. I hope you will attend with us. Some of you have asked some questions, and I am writing this e-mail to answer the most common questions.

Why would a church host a run?

When CCR opened on March Fourth 2007 we made a Contract with Rwanda. A portion of this contract states:

"Christ's Church in Rwanda recognizes the government as God's appointed institution to exercise authority on earth. As such we pledge to submit to the government's laws, processes, and vision... The sounds coming from our facility will be the reasonable sounds of Christian joy, the teaching of God's word, the laughter of playing children, and thoughtful dialogue and debate as our community seeks to find solutions forward."

We are serious about keeping our word. Thus we keep listening to the topics of discussion concerning Rwanda's development and seek to find ways to cultivate dialogue in a community. In May 2008 I was invited to attend a seminar hosted by the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) that discussed values for churches to promote that would lead to development. One of these values was "SPEED - A COUNTRY IN A HURRY." (This has since been refined to "SPEED AND RESPECT FOR TIME.")

Instead of just preaching about speed it seemed wise to our CCR Pastoral Staff to create a teachable moment for the discussion. Thus we decided to host our Inaugural 5KM race as a mechanism to create thoughtful dialogue about speed.

What will happen?

Registration for the race will begin on Sunday, 26 October at 7:30 a.m. at CCR. At 8:30 the race will begin. We anticipate our first runners will finish in about 15 minutes, but others may take as much as an hour. We hope some will cheer. We hope after the race finishes most will stay to enjoy visiting and making new friends.

CCR worship will begin at 10:00 and last to 11:30. We hope many will stay for the topic of discussion which will be "WE MUST RUN." Don't worry if you are dressed appropriate. For this day sporty / casual attire is acceptable. In fact, I'll wear my race t-shirt, running shoes, and casual pants as I speak.

Do I have to run?

No. You are welcome to walk. Also, if you want to cheer on the race participants your encouragement is vital to the race's success. A few of our participants will go very fast, but for most of us this race is more about our community engaging in a common journey for a purpose. Just enjoy the journey.

Do you need more help?

Yes. We are completely dependent on volunteers to make this race a success. We need help with registration, marshalls, distributing water, first aid, etc... If you can help us as a volunteer please arrive Sunday at 7:00 a.m. (Volunteers do not need to pay to participate in facilitating the race's success.)

Who are the sponsors?

We have a great group of sponsors who include MINALOC, RIEPA, ORTPN, MTN, Utewrwa, New Times, Contact FM, Masaka Farms, the ROC Foundation, and First Impressions Day Care.

How much will it cost?

Race day registration to participate as a race runner / walker will cost 5,000 Rwandese Francs. This will include a race day t-shirt, a bottle of water, and bananas.

Can I get a discount?

Yes. If you register before Sunday, 26 October registration is only 3,000 Rwanda Francs for students and 4,000 Rwanda Francs for adults. Just drop off your registration at CCR during the week with any of our staff. Feel free to call us before you stop by so that we make sure we are available to help.

What about breakfast and my kids?

We always try to make CCR a positive environment for your whole family. Feel free to bring your whole family. My kids will run the race and I hope yours also will enjoy the run. During worship we'll dismiss your children to their own bible class so you can pay full attention to the message.

If you don't have time to make your family breakfast before coming to church, Masaka Farms will sell pastries, cheese, yogurt, juice, and coffee at the race.

Can I bring a friend?

Yes. Feel free to forward this e-mail on to others who you think may have interest in participating. We would love to have your friends join us this coming Sunday.

Imana ikurinde,

Dave Jenkins

Found Hope?

I am eager to see many of you in a few days as my family returns to Rwanda. During the next few months at CCR we will study the values of those who create and build. We will seek to become entrepreneurs of faith who lead in the formation of the institutions of community. As is my habit, we'll look to the bible and history to find our best illustrations of how to become entrepreneurs who build institutions that last.

One continual illustration we will embrace is the experience of the Old Testament Jews who lived in exile for 70 years, and then returned to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. They were distinctly changed by their Diaspora. One of their intellectual and emotional wrestling matches involved processing the tragedy of the violent Fall of Jerusalem. Jeremiah, the leading spokesman for God during the Fall of Jerusalem wrote a book called Lamentations as he wept for the fallen nation. (Lamentations is just a psuedo-spiritual word to mean complaint.)

My guess is that many of us live in seasons where our language to God outside of the public face of church is one of complaint and process. It seems that God so much desires for us to talk to him that he actually thrills to hear us cry out to Him seeking answers even when our language sounds like the complaints of little children.

Then the God moment occurs. We remember that God is a God of Hope. He is full of compassion. He grieves with us. He is always faithful. It is good for us to hunger with questions in our youth so that we can be filled with hope in our old age. The Lord will restore our hope (Lamentations 3:21-40).

If you are like these people of old - hungering to find hope and understanding I invite you to join us this Sunday as we begin our journey of spiritual entrepreneurs.

Imana ikurinde,

Dave Jenkins

Race Day Registration

As we are coming to the close of our CCR Series: From Crisis to Opportunity we will soon reach what may be the most enjoyable part of this journey. To teach on the value of Speed: A Country in a Hurry CCR will host a 5 KM race on Sunday, 26 October. We trust this will be a wonderful opportunity to gather as a community, enjoy some exercise, socialize, and refine our thinking. Rosette Rugamba, the Director of ORTPN will serve as our Guest of Honor.


Attached is a poster and flyer. If you would like to distribute these to others please feel free.


For the next two Sundays registration will take place at CCR immediately following worship. Pre-registration for adults is 4,000 FRW and for students is 3,000 FRW. Race Day registration will cost 5,000 FRW.


Registration costs will cover for a t-shirt, and bananas and water.


Several businesses in Kigali have agreed to be sponsors of this race. For those who may not have an opportunity to eat breakfast during the race day, Masaka farms will be with us to sell pastries, cheese, yogurt, juice, and coffee.


Registration for the race day will begin at 7:30 a.m. The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. Our worship will begin at 10:00 a.m.


Though a few of us may run fast please feel free to participate in this event as a jogger or walker. Also, please feel free to attend worship with us on Sunday, 26 October is sporty / casual clothes.


I look forward to sharing this run with many of you.


Dave

P.S. We still need several key volunteers for the race. If you can serve as a volunteer please see Heather Rhodes or e-mail us at ccr5km@gmail.com

Excellence During a Chaotic Journey

October 3, 2008

This Sunday we will continue our study of the Habits and Values of Entrepreneurs who build the Institutions of our Community. It is quite a task to turn a crisis into an opportunity, but that is the journey of God's people. This week we'll look at the MINALOC topic of Quality of Delivery - High Standards. It really seems like an impossible task.


Do you have weeks like mine? I deposit a needed check at the bank, but it does not clear until 2 weeks after I expect. I juggle to find some cash and limp along for a couple days trying to squeeze every Franc. I intend to do some work at home and bring home my computer, but we have no power. My son needs some medical care and I spend most of the day waiting for 20 minutes attention from a doctor. My wife is sick and for a few days I function as a single parent with 5 kids and frequent visitors. It seems like I'm always adjusting to the newest unforeseen issue. It's hard to keep up. I seem to always be behind of what I hope to get done. Could excellence really be possible in my daily chaos?


I imagine we are not alone. In fact, it seems that when men have made their greatest historic advancements it's been about performing with excellence during a chaotic journey. This week we'll look at a text in the Bible that most of us skim over very quickly - The Construction of the Worship Tent (Tabernacle) for Israel as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land. It is a story full of many boring details. However, it shows that our God is one of excellence and if we pursue Him, he'll allow our work to stand above the crowd.


I hope to see you this Sunday as we continue this journey.


Imana ikurinde,


Dave Jenkins


P.S. Our Women's Fellowship will meet this Sunday at 8:00. Come for tea, coffee, cake, and to hear what the Lord is doing through our sister's lives.


P.S.S. Our Beginnings Class to introduce the vision of CCR to those considering becoming our members will be this Sunday after worship. It should take about 3 hours to complete and we will serve a light lunch.

Who is Right?

How many times have you walked into a shop and watched the attendant look away? Have you had them read the newspaper, drink a cup of coffee, answer their phone, share a joke with a colleague, and then finally notice you? When they do notice you have you felt like you are creating a problem for them?


Or have you ever purchased an item in a shop taken it home only to find it was faulty? Maybe it was not an original part? Maybe it was broke? Maybe you just got tricked? The honest thing seemed to be to return to the shop to get a replacement or a refund, but when you did you found a long list of excuses and pseudo-business policies all designed to avoid responsibility.


Or maybe to make this a bit more personal - When you are doing your daily business do you find people are a bother? I have to admit sometimes I do. After all for me isn't pastoring about preaching great sermons and designing wonderful programs? That requires time to think, discover, and organize. Why do people keep disturbing me with their problems that require me to listen, pray, and seek solutions? People are just messy. I'd rather work with ideas.


Then I hear that old business motto - "The Customer is Always Right."



This week we will continue our series From Crisis to Opportunity. We will continue to discover the habits and value of entrepreneurs who build the institutions of our community. Our topic from MINALOC's list this week will be Customer Service Mentality.


History's greatest philosophers and religions have wrestled with this issue - How do we deal with problematic people? Here are there answers:


Bahai: "Ascribe not to any soul that which thou would not have ascribed thee."

Buddhism: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."

Christianity: "Do to others what you would have them do to you."

Confucianism: "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do for you."

Hinduism: "One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself."

Islam: "None of you (truly) believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself."

Judaism: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

Plato: "May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me."

Socrates: "Do not do to others that which would anger you if others did it to you."


Though I believe Jesus of Nazareth is unique, His answer to problematic people is the same with the best minds of humanities history. We must treat others as we want to be treated. Then Jesus used an unfamiliar Greek word to explain what this meant. The word is Agape which means to love someone so much that you are willing to sacrifice your very life for them. Many Christians use this odd Greek word as their mantra of feel good relationships, but it is just the opposite. Agape means painful sacrifice. It is the type of love that hurts to give.


Wow. I wish he had not said that, but He did. Thus we must fearlessly pursue Jesus' answer to problematic people.


Will you join me in this journey?


Imana ikurinde,


Dave

Who Pays the Debt?

Do you ever have those moments when you feel like you are missing something? Everything seems to make sense, but something is still out of place. I have had one for months. Currently, CCR is going through a series on the Values of Faith Driven Entrepreneurs. The list of topics came from a seminar I attended hosted by MINALOC about 4 months ago. Something was missing from the list. I think I've found it. Tomorrow, we'll talk about it.


Stewart Emery, Jerry Poras, Mark Thompson, in their book Success Built to Last, wrote "by their nature Builders do quickly discard blame… they are clearly missing the natural human tendency to dwell on blaming other people and things for our problems. Builders may explode, grieve, and (privately) blame everything and everyone, but most appear to drop it quickly. Instead, they look at what they can change and deal with that directly without prolonged whining…. They don't make the future pay the debts of the past. They don't make the next job, or next company, or next lover, pay for their last bad experience. … You can't let the past invent your future. … Obsessing on grudges keeps them alive; letting them go forces them to die as you get back to business. … Some call this … "forgiveness," but that implies absolution, resolution, or restitution—or at least an adequate apology… much of what happens is rarely completely resolved or healed… Builders find a way to move on anyway so they can create the future…. It doesn't mean that a crime didn't take place… They don't spend their days creating conflicts built to last but success built to last. They turn wounds into wisdom by never wasting a moment of what is left of this life—never taking tragic comfort in a victimized belief that he cannot make a difference."


What is missing? We can't make the future pay the debts of the past. Theologians call this idea forgiveness. Secular leaders generally ignore it, but the best business researchers know this concept. If we don't find a way to move forward we destroy the future.


Desmond Tutu said, "There is no future without forgiveness."


Tomorrow, we will look at what many consider their favorite story in the Bible - Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers. We'll get past the childish appraisal of the story and deal with the ugly details. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers. As a result he lived as a slave and prisoner for 13 years. Then he got his chance. He rose to the Prime Minister's Office in Egypt, and his brothers came begging for food. Joseph at first did what you and I probably would do. He spoke harshly and even imprisoned them. However, as time went on he discovered his brothers were suffering more than he. Also, they had deep regret. His brother and father were still alive. The family's future had only one option. Joseph could not make his brothers pay the debt of the past.


How did he do this? I don't completely know, but I know I need to discover more.


I hope tomorrow you will join our journey of discovery.


Imana ikurinde,


Dave