GBGM

I've been meaning to share about my trip to GBGM (General Board of Global Ministries) for quite some time now, and I finally have a good amount of time to sit down and reflect, so here goes:

Our intern class visited GBGM last Thursday, and I think it's safe to say that each of us were blown away by the experience. After taking a couple subway trains from Alma Mathews and walking a few blocks down Riverside, we arrived at a building that hosts agencies from various denominations (GBGM being one of them). As I walked in and received a visitor's badge from the front desk, I couldn't help but feel like I was entering the Ministry of Magic or something (Sarah, I know you'll appreciate this, as will any other Harry gurus). It's just that everything at GBGM felt so underground-- I heard about and witnessed programs that I never knew existed; I saw diverse people working together to promote change and reform around the world; I saw beautiful pieces of artwork, entire office spaces dedicated to mission-work, healthcare, disaster relief. It's the most incredible thing to think these people have been doing these wonderful things right under New York's nose, with little praise or publicity, because they feel compelled by their faith to engage in the work they do.

I think being there blew me away, too, because I hear so much about the negative aspects of society and the church-- I know all about the ways the church isn't living up to its call; I've read countless reports about the disparities that exist in America, the tragedies that occur around the world, the people who are suffering and who are in need of help and support, and I just have to say that it felt so good to see such far-reaching programs of ministry, aid, and support-- programs that have been doing good for years and years without feeling the need to make a big hooplah about themselevs.

Not that I think the church can be proud of GBGM and stop there; of course we can always grow, always expand, always redefine the ways we are reaching the people around us, but for someone like me, who gets overwhelmed thinking about all the needs in the world and wondering even where to begin, it was a beautiful thing to see a building of people dedicated to making the world safer, more just, more beautiful, and to see a list of outreach programs that went on for pages, and pages, and pages, and pages...

I am so pleased to say that I left GBGM feeling incredibly hopeful. There are so many beautiful people on this earth who are making an impact across the globe. Is that not an incredible, refreshing realization?

I think it becomes so easy to get stuck in the "we could be doing this" mentality and sometimes I think God may want us to step back, take a breath, and wonder at all the beautiful ministries that are taking place around us. I definitely had one of these moments after visiting GBGM-- a moment that God allowed me to be encouraged and inspired by the brave, hard-working, passionate people who have made the church feel alive, magical, to me once again.