The real reason I started this blog was to document the work of God in Lower Bucks County. I live in the town of Feasterville. Feasterville is the kind of unincorporated suburban sprawl that you can drive through without ever knowing you were in it. We have traffic lights. And chain stores. And ex-high school football players who yell things at you out their windows while you jog. Our local bars sell PBR, but not ironically. I do not live in a cool place. When I was considering taking the job at the Well, there were 27 reasons in the pro column, and one big fat ‘Feasterville’ in the con category. And I mourned my chance to live out my 20’s in a cool place for the first 6 months I lived here. Then something weird happened…
“But blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear.” God is present in Feasterville and not in quiet ways. Yet my stubbornness of heart made me blind and my desire to be hip made me deaf. When I set the agenda, God was only in the dramatic places – the city, the ghetto, the hipster town, the third world country – places that were exciting for every selfish reason. When I submitted to God and went in obedience, I found God in Feasterville.
7 months ago, I was ready to quit this town. Tonight, a random woman called me about our poverty forum we are hosting this week. We discussed our struggles to help the poor in our midst. We discussed their church’s desire to start a shared meal for all people in Lower Bucks County. We discussed the grim economic news in our daily headlines. And we challenged one another to use this time to build a community where we take care of each other rather than let scarcity drive us to deeper selfishness. God is alive in Feasterville.
Next week is our mission trip to Lower Bucks County. 7 months ago, I saw nothing in this place. This week, we will partner with 9 different non-profits and ministries. We will share in the mission of thousands of people who have been at work for years showing the love of God to our community. And we will have 25 people from our church serve Jesus, not abstractly, but in a very specific place. We will pray for our community – for Feasterville, for Trevose, for Bensalem, for Bristol, for Langhorne, for Levittown, for Hatboro, for Morrisville, for Trenton, for Doylestown, for where we are. I invite you to pray for us, that our eyes may be opened wider to God’s work in our midst; that we might be witnesses to Christ and others may come to know Christ; that we might serve well.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, in Feasterville, as it is in heaven. Amen.
[...] Go read his blog. Now. I’m certain that reading his most recent post will hook [...]
When I first realized I was going to marry Brian, one of my cons was that I would live in Bristol Township. I struggle to see the goods things in the L-town of Bristol. But I learned more about myself and community through my time there. And I’ll appreciate the Boro that much more when I move there (and hopefully have more skills to make change in the community).
Thank you, Gary. I lived in Europe (Scandanavia) for over 13 years. Moved back to the States with a real desire to do God’s will, but always finding myself needing to care for my family. (go figure!) I always stayed close to the mission… through, inspite of and because of my family.
Recently I went to the Philippines to visit Frontline Ministries in San Pablo City. I am so thankful for the people God has sent to that nation to live among and love the Filipino’s (they certainly are lovable!!) But what I came home with was a renewed love for the very people I live with. I saw the same issues…but upsidedown. A different kind of poverty, an abundance with sadness instead of a little with joy.
It continues to amaze me that the answer to both is the same, people with much, giving to the people with little. For one, the letting go of stuff – the other receiving much needed help.
I remember thinking the signs at the exits of churches – “You are now entering the mission field” as a little corny. Now I still think they are corny – but I get goosebumps anyway.
Well, well, well… It looks like the blogisphere has thwarted your strength in conforming to the patterns of this world and have begun the work of blogging. You were doing so well… :) Seriously though – I am glad your voice is on the web. For no other reason, blogging has been a great stress reliever for me; getting my thoughts out in the open and available for me to read throughout the days, months, and even now, the years of my journey. I will be actively engaged with your thoughts. Thanks for sharing.
It’s true. Living in suburbia is not an easy choice to make, especially when you’re still young & single as well. I had a tough time making that call when I moved down out of Manhattan in 2005. At first, I felt like I had voluntarily banished myself. However, there is a lot of comfort in knowing you’re where God wants you, and I think it helps to grow my faith and trust in Him and His plan for my life. The fact that I’m sitting tight for the time being is a pure act of obedience since I can think of many other places I’d rather be! But as you so eloquently said, God is present in Feasterville (and Holland and Southampton and Newtown and Bristol and Bensalem) and ultimately isn’t that what we all long for – to just be where He is?
[...] Finding God in Feasterville Some blogs worth checking out: [...]