Iteration is a strategy. Persistence, long obedience in the same direction: A holy stubbornness. BHITC has been consistent in knowing what it is committed to, but the “how” has often taken more than one season to discern. Part of this stems from a founding at Trinity where resources were scarce and you started with what we had and built from there. Not unlike many of the people we serve.

BHITC has a high tolerance for risk. This lesson is also one of our core values as an organization. We embrace being the outlier. BHITC has been an outlier since the start. Trinity was considered a bit of a renegade Lutheran parish. BHITC left the “Lutheran bubble” to partner more widely with the Body of Christ. BHITC has avoided being “claimed” by any one group or denomination. We’re an outlier among resettlement providers for our approach at THC. We’re an outlier in that our social enterprises are not fixed on serving one population. Our funding model is an outlier to most other nonprofits doing what we do, etc. Finally, we’re an outlier in community development work, which largely ignores churches and faith-based organizations as being able to play a significant role in the community.

God journeys with us at exactly the speed we need. Koyama’s book reminds us of the lengths He goes to be in a relationship with us. And, He invites us to be equally generous toward others. Of course, relationships are easier said than done; in fact, it can sometimes feel like brokenness is more present than the Spirit whenever two or three are gathered! Thus, transformation takes time, patience and a commitment to continued reconciliation. But the results are powerful.

A strong understanding of place makes us better missionaries, people better able to contextualize the good news of Jesus to a specific location, history and culture. Because places are so varied and so rich in story, Christians must draw closer, or get more proximate. In doing so, we mimic Jesus in His incarnation. As we cultivate a healthy posture of curiosity about varied places and people, God creates a rich opportunity for dialogue and exchange, through which relational windows are opened.

Miracles are not only sometimes dependent on us, they can also be dependent on us allowing them come through the most unlikely and seemingly unqualified of people. This is the wisdom of God: that He chooses the weak to lead the strong, He makes the last first. The miraculous restoration of our city will gain greater and greater traction as we invite the people with the least amount of power to the table with us! They, too, have something important to provide. To assume this truth is to agree that development, rather than charity, must be the Church’s preferred posture in our city.ption