I love escalators. It does something I don’t want to do. It walks for me. It takes me up and it takes me down. Thanks to service-machines like the escalator there is now literally more of me to love. Most escalators I’ve been on takes a good 30 seconds to a minute to ride up and down. If you’re like me you’ll usually find yourself staring into space as you glide up or down, waiting for the dreaded release back to pedestrian life.
But on one occasion, Spring of 2013 to be more precise, during a Q conference in the heart of LA I found myself in an unexpected dialogue with God… on an escalator. A seminar had just ended and being a faithful conference attendee, I quickly headed back to the main hall. And on my way up I felt a stirring, a summoning. {Don’t worry, I’m no Moses, it wasn’t audible, it was an “impression”, a “word”, God using my imagination to inspire and to direct, at least that is what I think was happening.}
I felt as if God was saying,
“Bryan, I want Ekko’s missional expressions to be about the orphans. All the preparation in creating a home for me, for Others, this will be a natural overflow from it. It will be one of the primary missional expressions from Ekko Church.”
Directives from the Apostolic Constitution* to the churches, clergy, and laity.
- to the orphans the care of parents;
- to the widows the care of husbands;
- to those of suitable age, marriage;
- to the artisan, work;
- to the disabled, sympathetic response;
- to travelers, a house;
- to the hungry, food;
- to the thirsty, drink;
- to the naked, clothing;
- to the sick, visitation;
- to the prisoner, help,
- to young persons, assistance that they may learn a trade...
[adapted from ANF, vol. 7, p. 435] (see below)
In my mind’s eye, I saw a world map, with dots coming from other countries and other cities headed towards our church’s location much like the missions wall and map in the foyer of churches everywhere with missionary families’ pictures pasted onto it. You know, the ones that remind the members who they are supporting and who they should be praying for. I saw a similar map and picture-board except these families were to be missionaries by staying put and creating a home. In doing so, they will become extensions of Ekko’s mission; i.e. Home for God and Others so that we may practice God’s Commands, mainly Love. Basically, they’ll be “missionaries” via hospitality, by the loving and Christlike act of adopting!
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." - James 1: 27
The conversation didn’t end. It continued when I imagined him asking, “Bryan, did you know I was adopted?” Bewildered I asked, “What do you mean?”
In my heart, he continued, “Was Joseph my father? How did Mary conceive? Was not the incarnation an immaculate one? Joseph had to decide whether he would take me on despite the many challenges this would pose for him and his family. Mary had to brave the circumstances and choose to have me. I want you to name the adoption initiative after them, I want to honor their courage and love, name it, ‘Mary and Joseph’ for my ‘mom’ and ‘dad’.”
God basically entrusted his only Son to Joseph and Mary, believing that they would embrace him as their own and raise him in righteousness.
God was adopted.
God was a foster kid.
I then imagined him saying this, “Each child is mine. The imago dei is on each child making every child inherently valuable and worth loving."
“Each person is sacred, no matter what his or her culture, religion, handicap or fragility. Each person is created in God’s image; each one has a heart, a capacity to love and to be loved.” - Jean Vanier
By the time I reached the top of the escalator, I realized this was no ordinary ride. God had turned a mundane escalator ride into a dream session... on that moving "stairway".
I think Jacob's words would have sufficed at this point,
“Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
Jacob named the place where he dreamed of a stairway to heaven,
Bethel,
meaning House of God.
And like Mary and Joseph, we are going to do our best to make a home for God's children.
Mary and Joseph Initiative is our attempt to welcome as many kids into the House of God.
Upcoming | News
On Sunday, November 2nd, Ekko will be joining the national conversation with dozens if not hundreds of churches on all things Orphan and Foster Care.
On Anniversary Sunday, November 23rd, Ekko's entire Tithe + Anniversary Offering will go towards the Mary & Joseph Initiative as an act of faith and investment in the things God cares about. Pray with us about giving heart-felt offerings this Anniversary Service, which by the way, we're turning 6!
Special Note
Although we want to start asap and get our hands dirty in all this beautiful work and join the saints all over the world in supporting the cause of the orphans, we are looking at a 5 year, gradual-learn-as-we-go, "launch" to this initiative. There are so many things to consider, research, and plan that we want to make sure we are doing our part in forming an excellent Orphan care ministry. Thank you for your patience and feel free to ask questions, volunteer, pray, etc. Let's do this together. The more we know, and as soon as we know, we'll update more. Thank you!
Cathy has been leading the charge during this crucial R&D period of our Mary & Joseph Initiative.
*Apostolic Constitution
"A is a Christian collection of eight treatises which belongs to genre of the Church Orders. The Apostolic Constitutions contains eight treatises on Early Christian discipline, worship, and doctrine, intended to serve as a manual of guidance for the clergy, and to some extent for the laity. The work can be dated from 375 to 380 AD." - Wikipedia
