Human kings, prime ministers and presidents will be shoulder to shoulder with the poor, the unpolished and the vagrant (that would be me) - eyes fixed on Christ, loud praise and uninhibited joy from the lips of even Presbyterians!

In chapter 11 of Acts we see the spirit of God’s mission fulfilled in a small way. And we, some 2,000 years later, have the privilege to build upon what was accomplished there.

What happened at Antioch was a big redemptive WOW! The event was unprecedented in prior history and was a milestone of the Spirit’s new work. What was the big deal? The big wow was the simple fact that Jews and Gentiles were allying themselves in common worship, teaching and mission. In so doing, not only did they break a well-established social contract, they witnessed fulfillment of God’s original plan in their midst, and experienced a foretaste of God’s eschatalogical dream.

Up to that point, the movement of which we are a part, was called The Way - a name that never quite caught on. Though we called ourselves members of The Way - the world would have utilized a different word to describe us. They would have called us Jews.

You see, up to that point, we were perceived as a Jewish sect - and that is what we were. Because we were Jews ministering to Jews. But at Antioch a radical change occurred. Jews and Gentiles became one - forming a new bond in Christ.

There was another closely related historical event at Antioch. It was in Antioch that we were first called Christians. “Why?” - you might ask. Not because of what some well-intentioned exegetes have suggested - that we had become like “little Christs.” That’s not it - that’s not even close.

You see, we were called Christians, because at Antioch our movement lost its ethnic identity and distinction. We could no longer be called Jews because we were half-Gentile. But we also were not exclusively Greeks, Romans, Egyptians or Africans. So what was the world to call us?

As the world looked at this new development - this multi-ethnic movement - they gave us a new name. They called us Christians! At Antioch we became a new race. A race from all the races who were united in Christ as a new humanity - thus the theology of Paul in Ephesians 2.

And when we assemble, because of our common belief in Christ and our commitment to His ongoing mission, we have the unique opportunity not only to add to the legacy begun at Antioch but also to taste what is to come.

Those who spend a lifetime worshiping in a racially monochrome, monolithic, mono-cultural church, miss the greatest opportunity we have on this side of the Jordan - to bring a little heaven to earth.

I’m excited to be pastoring Centerpoint Church, which intends through its mission of outreach to reflect the full racial, cultural and socio-economic composition of the city. I’m telling ya…I haven’t been there long, but I’m excited about the challenge and the reward of being there, laboring for His Kingdom to come!

I hope you will pray with me toward that end.

We got all my kids in school today, including Lindsay who will be taking 3 college courses at Tallahassee Community College. Everyone seems happy, though we are all sad about the passing of Corey. And my kids are a little mad that they have to stay behind for school.

Rebirth is setting a fund-raising goal for September and October of at least $50,000, to help the organization to get caught up financially and to position us for a productive fall and following year. Will you pray with us during this time that God might meet our needs abundantly. In addition to taking on a new church, we are advancing the vision of Rebirth.

If God leads you to give, perhaps you could target 2 or 3 others to match your gift. Right now, anything and everything will help. If you are able to give, you can either make an on-line gift at our website or you could send a check to:

P. O. Box 62600, Dept. 1395
New Orleans, LA 70162-2600

Pray for the Paul family this week as we plan together Corey’s funeral. Pray that God would use this tragedy redemptively in the lives of many.

You see, Centerpoint is an extraordinary church.  Its young.  But its on track.  They are hungry to be fed.  And desire to be led.  They are passionate for the city.  They are burdened for the poor.  They are theologically astute while relationally inviting.  While Ellen and I have not felt generally called to pastor, we nevertheless feel led to do so here at Centerpoint.

The phone rang. It was George Angeletti - one of my key leaders and former staff members at Desire Street in New Orleans. I thought about ignoring the call in case the church was trying to call at the same time. But I didn’t.

“Coach, I just got word…Corey Paul has been shot in the chest.”

I was stunned and immediately began to pray.

15 minutes later the church calls…”Welcome to Tallahasse! Welcome to Centerpoint! We’ve voted you to be our new pastor!”

A number of folks came teeming into the place where we are temporarily staying, to celebrate the good news. Then the next phone call from George…

“Coach, Corey is dead.”

The prospect of this transition is bittersweet - the sweet thought of a new beginning, in a precious fellowship of believers with a Kingdom focus is mixed with the bitter pill of leaving the city I gave 18 1/2 years of my life to in ministry. But I didn’t know how bitter the departure would really be.

Corey Paul was one of my favorite persons at Desire Street. I spent more time with him than just about anyone. I helped him to get off to college in Bakersfield, CA and then to New Mexico State University. I visited him numerous times. I loved him. I introduced him to Christ and to salvation through Him.

After Katrina, we lost touch. And now he’s gone. He is now with His heavenly Father.

And so our grieving has tempered the celebration. The gospel makes it possible to rejoice in the worst of times, as well as the best, but it seems that my joy is always tempered with sorrow. On this side of the Jordan, we will never be fully at rest. Nevertheless we rejoice in God’s provision and leading in our lives.  I have wept over the tragic loss of Corey, while I simultaneously rejoice over God’s leading us to Tallahassee.

Over the last few weeks more than one friend has urged me to read Jer. 29, where the Lord’s plans to prosper is clearly stated. I am trusting Him to do so. After Katrina we have suffered much loss. We have struggled to find the path laid out for us. Our best intentions to make a way have been thwarted by one circumstance or another.

And now that we have taken this step of faith toward Tallahassee, our heart’s remain broken for the city of New Orleans.

Corey’s sister is the director of administration for Rebirth. She is my trusty side-kick. She is delightful, competent and grieving. Would you please pray for Christian and her whole family. Pray for all of us.

Rebirth’s replication and consultation efforts have continued to prosper even as our finances have dwindled. (I hope that you will pray and consider what you can do to help in this regard. If only 200 of our friends gave $100 or more, we would be close to returning to financial health.)

The effort in New Orleans will continue to be led by Richard Johnson who I hope to visit every 4 to 6 weeks. Richard and Christian, as well as many others, despite these present struggles, will attempt to keep the fire burning.

Shane and Kristen Fast are working hard for East St. Louis. He is in the fund-development phase and should relocate to the city by January.

There is a sweet couple considering a call to Prichard, AL - just north of Mobile.

There are other things happening which I am not at liberty to discuss presently. But just know the work is worth the investment. I believe that within the next 10 to 15 years there could be as many as a 100 new works bringing rebirth across our country and beyond.

Pray for us as we transition to Tallahassee.  Pray for Rebirth to continue to prosper the cities across the nation.

God is faithful - in the worst of times and in the best of times. He is faithful - in death and in life.  Our eyes are on Him.

I had a last round of interviews with staff, elders, search committee and the entire congregation. I delivered a sermon. Now the search committee is saddled with a decision to make. They have sent out a mass e-mail to the congregation for feedback. Tonight the committee is meeting to discuss whether or not to recommend me to the congregation to become their pastor, or to widen the search.

If the committee recommends me to the congregation, the congregation will vote on that recommendation on August 17th.  School starts on the 18th.

I’ve made clear that my interest in the position expires at the end of the summer. I cannot, after everything my family and children have been through post-Katrina, ask them to enter new schools in New Orleans, form new friendships, extract them from said schools in two months and adapt academically and socially in Tallahassee.

So pray for the search committee tonight, that they would hear from the Lord - that they would have wisdom from above and that the Lord would lead according to His perfect plan!

Sometimes planning is advisable. Other times it only gets in the way of God. My plans are just that - my plans - and they sometimes overlap with His. However, God is sovereign and I am a subject in His Kingdom.

For the past 18 years I have enjoyed a love affair with the city that care forgot. It is my heart’s desire to remain here. But it is becoming clearer every day that God may be leading me away from the city of my affections.

Often I’ve thought - the Lord needs me here. He clarifies - I need no one. Often I’ve thought - I want to finish the task I began. He clarifies - the work is not yours to finish. Often I’ve thought - I will not abandon those who depend on me. He clarifies - I am the only One worthy of their dependence.

You see, there is an ambitious church called Centerpoint, in the great city of Tallahassee, who has dared to pry me from New Orleans. And despite my resistance, their efforts appear to be prompted by the Spirit.

I did not aspire to the position, but it sought me. I put out fleeces. The Lord met them. I was sure my family would buck. They haven’t. My closest counselors agree - “this is an ideal fit for you”. Many who want me to stay, nevertheless acknowledge the Lord’s hand and timing.

I preach to the congregation on August 3rd. They decide August 17th. School starts August 18th.

That would give us 24 hours to sell the house, to move our stuff, find a place to live, get our kids in school and the many other unseen things that would need to be done!

Rebirth International would come with me. Our vision for expanding urban ministry initiatives across this country and beyond has not dimmed. We believe that God’s purpose in calling me to pastor a church would not be to diminish the work of Rebirth but to anchor, expand and under gird it.

Richard Johnson has agreed to take the mantle of leading Rebirth - New Orleans. And Richard is more than capable of doing so!

In a little more than a year and a half, we have no less than 4 urban ministries in the oven - New Orleans, E. St. Louis, Mobile and Tallahassee. A pretty good start.

Rebirth’s financial position continues to be weak. Nevertheless, we know that God has purposed for us to remain steadfast, patient and confident - trusting in Him.

Will you pray for me, that I would have wisdom, discernment, assurance and more wisdom?

We cherish our friends and partners daily. Please feel free to contact me with wisdom, feedback, questions or concerns.

Blessings!

Would you consider giving a contribution to help Rebirth send kids to camp?

We have an opportunity coming up July 20-23 for the senior players at Clark to attend the LSU football camp. Some of the kids I believe have an opportunity to land scholarships, and it will be good for them to get the exposure.

Also, it is always great to be able to give kids the chance to get out of their regular environment and meet different kinds of people, and to see what a college campus is like. Some of these kids have never even been outside of New Orleans except for evacuating for the hurricane, so a trip like this is a pretty big thing for them.

I plan to also use this opportunity to have Bible studies with this smaller group of kids and hopefully develop some spiritual leadership in the team.  Most if not all of them have already given their lives to Christ!

This camp costs $300 per student, which covers their room and board for 3 days and 2 nights. If you are interested in giving towards helping a student attend this camp, just send the contribution to:

Rebirth International
P. O. Box 62600
Dept. 1395
New Orleans, LA 70162-2600

Or you may go directly to the website and make a contribution on line.

Thanks for your help.

Coach Richard Johnson, Jr.

Trust me if you saw it, you would be inspired by Maggie’s mature artistry. And if you had the privilege of knowing my Mags-a-million you would be equally inspired by the artistry of her sheer determination.

I wear it with pride. It represents more than naturally proud father sentiments. It also symbolizes the level of support I’ve enjoyed from this amazing family that I husband and father.

I remember the first economic downturn we endured. It was right after we built a $3 million facility across from the Desire Projects. Our budget tripled, as did our staff. Opportunities were bursting at the seams. There was more than we could handle - more than we could afford.

I knew of many other ministries that went under or were in the risk of doing so. We were vulnerable too. At the end of the summer I was staring at a $200,000 deficit.

I had two undesirable choices - either drastically cut staff and programs or hustle. I chose to hustle.

I remember coming home and sheepishly looking at my wife, telling her, “Honey, I need to travel.” What that meant was that I was needing to travel more - almost perpetually - that every invitation would be accepted - no opportunity ignored. I was determined. Our ministry was not going under, not if I had anything to do with it. Nor would any of my staff lose their jobs.

I’m now in the middle of our second major economic downturn. Everyone is hurting - feeling the pinch. I know that. Frankly, though I’m not an economist, I feel this one may last longer and cut more deeply than the first. So what’s a guy who’s committed his life to developing ministry among the poor to do?

We have now consulted with ministries and churches all across the eastern U.S. We are looking to launch new ministries along the I-10 and I-55 corridors - E. St. Louis, New Orleans, Mobile, Tallahasse, Orlando and more. We are connecting with my alma mater - Reformed Theological Seminary - around a partnership to prepare future urban missionaries for the unique task before them. There is a lot of opportunity. But there’s a shortage of funds.

Nevertheless we endure and press on. I am hustling. But I’m not willing to become the road hog I once was.

I am pursuing alternative possibilities for creatively funding the Rebirth vision. I’m not sure how the Lord is leading, but I’m listening and looking.

Despite the shortfalls, my sweet family is doing amazingly well. Ellen is a woman of tremendous faith and long-suffering - a woman of tremendous stature - despite her 5 foot frame. My children are, simply put, the best Christians I know.

I am thankful.

I watched my daughter Lindsay play in the championship game in her fast-pitch softball league last night. You’ll never see anyone more attractively determined than my Dee Dee Brown (one of her Daddy’s favorite nicknames for her - there are more). Whether she is running after overthrown balls, sliding into bases or swinging for the fences, I realize that my daughter Lindsay, like her sister Maggie, has been cursed with her Daddy’s DNA. She’s also learned, for better or worse, from my example. We all have reduced drive and determination to an art form.

And so the Leverett’s are pressing on. We are encouraging others to get involved - hopefully in the most artistic of ways!

When we consider the men of the Bible - we get a picture of the nature of achievable spirituality. Often they fail. And yet it is wrong to hyper-moralize their failure. Their failures not only open the door for grace, it demonstrates what is non-achievable spirituality - perfection.

I think one of the most unbecoming features of the American evangelical church is the perpetual state of surprise with failure. And while it is good to strive for holiness, even perfection, it is not good what we do to those who naturally fall short of it.

Ironically and sadly the church is no longer a safe place for sinners. An institution who is a recipient of the Kingdom of Heaven precisely because it acknowledged its state of sinfulness, is now in the state of denial about that same spiritual state - as if her sinfulness was a brief episode, a bad moment.

The biggest surprise for the perfectionist will be when the sinners they once judged and condescended to, will be appointed to judge them. Perfectionism is among the greatest of sins, not only because the perfectionist assumes the place of God - but perhaps more poignant than that, they withhold the grace that God so freely offers.

Despite the fact that David, for instance, King David, was a murderer and an adulterer - he was also a man after the heart of God, the author of divinely inspired psalms and the leader of an incomparable army of men. And while he has landed a sacred place in the family tree of Jesus, so that Jesus, the KING of kings is called the Son of David - it is quite uncertain whether or not the American church would receive him, much less defend his right to leadership.

Despite the fact that Elijah brought down fire from heaven and was the greatest of the prophets, he was bedeviled by a single solitary woman, sank into a great depression, wallowed in doubt and self-pity as he was exiled in fear.

The American church tends to worship perfection, therefore its leaders pretend to be so. And as the church perceiving the men of God statuesque in virtue behind their fancy pulpits, it should be known that their wives could pull the chord on the curtain in a moment’s notice, unless they too have fallen prey to the Christian masquerade. Some pastor’s wives are expected to represent a level of spirituality that sweet Mother Mary herself wouldn’t aspire to - no offense intended to my Catholic brothers.

Perhaps we should become more like Paul, also a murderer, and glory in our sinfulness, and wear the title with pride - Chief of Sinners, not because we love our sin, but because we love what our sin has wrought - the precious and limitless supply of grace that flows to us through Christ.

And when one pretends that he is not a sinner, he prohibits the flow of grace. Rather that we cut off our own limbs than to cut off God’s grace.

True men of God are measured not by the sins they’ve avoided in this life, but by their authentic encounters with grace. Fortunately, access to grace is not restricted to those who have achieved perfection, rather to those who have rejected it.

I for one want to be in the fellowship of sinners when they encounter the final dose of God’s grace. Then and only then will we be made perfect. And until that day comes, we will fail, fall short and miss the mark.

Rather than surprised, we should be supportive. For until that final day, we need each other. And we need from each other the identical grace that has been so lavishly offered to us. Then the church will regain her beauty and irresistibility to a lost, dying and sinful world.

So will you join me in realizing that there are times to punt. And while we’re at it, maybe we should give some thought to punting perfection.

I know when I’m pressing too hard - I tend to get sick, overwhelmed, excessively forgetful and disengaged. My symptoms today are evidence that I’ve been pressing too hard.

I’ve been pressing, though, because of our present dire financial situation. My inability to make payroll was causing me to feel vulnerable, anxious and afraid. Money issues are larger than maybe they ought to be, but they loom large nonetheless.

What I failed to focus on was God’s perfect plan for my prosperity, my security, my salvation, my sanctification. I failed to remind myself that God’s mercies toward me have been renewed today, as it is everyday. I chose to think about the temporal instead of the eternal.

Even so, underlying every discouragement is the clear awareness within me of the call of God on my life toward this vision. I never really question it - never have, and I don’t now.

But this is hard, when you have a wife and children. Living in a state of total trust was easier when I was a young college student, living in my Volkswagen Rabbit, eating pimento cheese sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I have been on the faith walk for almost 20 years now. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to the post office box on the day of payroll and SHAZAM - there it is! The fact that I’m coming up short has me looking into alternatives about how to make the vision of Rebirth work.

No matter what, I’m committed to this vision - because I’m convinced of God’s call. However, running all over the country, living off the last sold CD or the most recent honorarium is not going to cut it. This summer is going to be tough. I have very few concerts scheduled - no high dollar consulting or speaking engagements on the docket.

And so I need your prayer. But, no matter what happens, I am reminded that God’s love is steadfast for my orphaned soul, that He sustains through the times of drought and famine, that He is above it all and that this vision is HIS, not mine. He cares for me, and what more could I ask for?