I struggled to find someone and place to live in North. I looked at a number of house, talked to different people, but nothing seemed to line up. I ended up deciding to live in an Urban Homeworks house, against my first instincts. It came down to it being my only option, even though I didn't want to live with 5 other people. Well, it ended up being a wonderful decision because Urban Homeworks is a fantastic organization and I learned so much being a part of it. It was a great place to grow and learn about living in the city intentionally, and provided a lot of resources and connections for me. To make a long story short, I started the Aveda Institute for cosmetology in January 2009, and continued to live in my Urban Homeworks house until August. Meanwhile I was still working for Sanctuary a little bit, substitute teaching minimally in Minneapolis Public Schools, and becoming more and more invested in Urban Jerusalem. This was formative for me for a number of reasons, but one huge one is that I was a minority at this church. As I started to invest more time, I spent more time with the Pastor (Stacey Jones) and get to know him more. We have had such crucial conversations about church, African American history and traditions pertaining to the church and just the culture in general. I have and am still learning many lessons in what it means to be a leader in a place that I have no cultural context for. I have been breaking down walls, assumptions, and personal issues I have had and not even known since serving in this church. God has done and is doing a great work in me through Urban Jerusalem and I stand in awe daily because of it.
Fast forward to August 2009-I move out of my house with 5 women and move in the the Jensen family. I have known Marque for awhile from working at the Sanctuary CDC, and just our paths crossing in many ways. He invited me to live with his family (I rent a room upstairs right there with the rest of the fam!) and I accepted, knowing that I couldn't afford my own place, I couldn't get any of my friends to move with me to North, and that this could be a fantastic opportunity. I really believe God prompted my heart prior to Marque asking me and led me against my own instincts to accept the invitation. Marque has intentionally lived in North for over 20 years with his family, has taught in the schools, founded and co-pastored a church in the community, and has dedicated his whole life to living in and among his community taking on their pains and burdens and fighting for justice alongside his brothers and sister. I greatly respect him as a man of faith, and was excited to have inside insight to how to live out the gospel in the daily ins and outs of life. What I didn't realize moving in was how valuable an experience I would receive in witnessing firsthand a healthy Godly marriage, and what a privledge I would have in mentoring their 15 year old daughter.
The beautiful part of all this is that when Marque started his church, he co-pastored with an African American man named Nate Orr. Their families meshed together as they lead a church and I know so much growth and learning took place in their relationship. When Pastor Stacey moved to Minnesota in his early 20's from Connecticut he not only lived with Marque for awhile, but also he lived with the Orr family as well. (I am not sure of the length, or details...) Stacey also pastored at their church. I also don't know all the capacities of that role, but I do know that Marque and Nate poured a lot of themselves into Stacey and they had (and have) and beautiful and dynamic friendship. Now I am living at Marque's and being mentored and poured into by Stacey-which I just feel like is so incredible because it is true generational community being lived out, and I cannot believe I get to be a part of it.
I have lived at Marque's for year now, am enjoying a really fun job at Salon on the Edge (a mile and half from our house!), serving part time at Urban Jerusalem, working a little for the CDC, and just finding more ways to be invested and serve where I live. I strive to be a learner everyday, ask questions, and never stop reading. I am convinced I am exactly where God wants me to be, and for the first time I am not looking forward but living in the present. I can't separate my faith from pursuing reconciliation and justice, and I know this is a lifelong journey. I know I have much more to learn and experience, but I am thankful for the relationships I have, for the desires of my heart that are unfolding before me, for the community that is part of who I am, and for the faithfulness of God who continues to guide the journey beyond and emotion and obstacle I encounter.
Ephesians 3 says:
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
