Top 10 Things that would help our ministry right now:

1. Ranch Dressing.
2. A big van (preferably denoted to Keller Park Church)
3. Cross Word Puzzles.
4. Frozen Meals. Unfrozen drinks.
5. Prayer.
6. A.D.D. Medicine.
7. TV (that works).
8. Plastic cups.
9. Pencils.
10. Jesus.

Note: These are not in any specific order. If you would like to help out any of these ways let me know. :)

koryandalison@gmail.com

Blessings!

Kory and Ali

Can you help me?

When I first moved into our poverty stricken neighborhood I thought that I was the one that could bring all the help. I thought that providing my neighbors with gift cards, food, and any other need would be the best way to show the love of Christ to them.

I soon realized it wasn't that easy.

You can't help somebody if they don't think they need help. A doctor is invaluable if none of his patients think they are sick. Give somebody food and see how they respond if they think they are doing perfectly fine living on hot dogs and ramon noodles... they will not accept it.

Just because somebody lives below the poverty line does not mean that they have no sense of pride. The few men in the neighborhood still want to be the "man" of the house. They want to be the providers. They don't want me to come in and take their man-hood away by feeding their children and paying their rent. The women don't want your sympathy. They may take your money, but they don't want your help. They may take your food, but they don't "need" your help.

They need dignity.

They need dignity more than my help. They need help helping themselves. How can I do this? How can I help my neighbors help themselves?

I have found that one of the best ways to affirm the dignity in people is to ask for help (even when I don't need it). Ask to borrow an egg for a recipe. Ask to borrow a bicycle. Ask for help around your house. Ask advice on an issue in your life.

Ask for help.

Asking for help puts you on the same level as everyone else. Part of re-locating into a neighborhood of poverty is getting on the same level as your neighbors. But, if you move into a 3-story house, buy a 50 inch flat screen tv, drive a 2010 Toyota Camry, and eat lobster every night you lose ALL your credibility. If you wanted to make matters worse you should give your neighbors a $100 dollar bill and a bag of groceries every week. They may accept it, but would feel about as small as a pea. They would close their heart and soul to you quicker than you could blink.

So I am going to begin helping less and asking for more help. Backwards thinking I know. But I truly believe this is what it will take to restore a community and begin crossing the bridges of reconciliation. This is what it will take for my neighbor to begin learning that they have what it takes to help others and help their community. Giving back dignity is the first step to empowering those around me.

How can I get help today? How can I show my neighbor that I need them more than they need me?

INDIA(na)

We are now back from INDIA in good ole INDIAna! And wow is it different here in Indiana?! Different smells. Different sites. Different faces. Different tastes. Different attitudes. Different views on where to throw trash. Different ideas of how to drive a car. Different hunger for the Word. Many things were different in India... However, one thing was definitely the same as Indiana. There were a whole bunch of people who God has made perfect in His image. He then sent His son to die for ALL these same people. Both in India and Indiana, we have learned that people long to be loved and Jesus did that with EVERYONE. Jesus didn't care who they were, what they did, or how they acted. He loved each of them with love that can only come from the Father. He may have loved them in different ways, but he LOVED each one of them regardless.

Ali and I had a great time in India. The kids we worked with were great. They hung on every word that we said. They laughed at everything that we did. They interacted with us and expressed their appreciation for us coming to share with them. Quite honestly, we felt like rock stars! Why... I really don't know! If only they knew who we really were...

Now we are back... in Keller Park. We are no longer rock stars anymore. We are back in reality. We see hurting kids. We see hurting people. We see sinfulness, filth, dirt, and blindness. We quickly become overwhelmed and frustrated... feeling like we are running into a parked car over and over again. We are reminded that LOVING is hard and it hurts. We are not rock stars. We are people. And God has called us to love other people.

However, India has refueled us. We are ready to continue on with the call God has given us. We are excited to get our hands dirty again. We are excited to be obedient in the little things and not grow weary in doing good. We are excited to LOVE...

...people just like us.

India in January

I'm sorry that I haven't written this earlier, but I wanted to inform you that Ali and I will be leaving for India this Sunday, January 17, and will be gone until January 31. We have been blessed with the opportunity to go with Dave and Christy Engbrecht (Pastor and his wife of Nappanee Missionary Church) to help with 2 family camps. The first camp is in Ragunathpur and the second is in Northeast India near Bhutan. Ali and I will be in charge of all the games and teaching with the youth of both the camps (this consists of about 2 sessions a day). We are expecting around 700 people at each camp. Some of you may be wondering how we can afford to raise more support for this trip and also leave "The Transformation" at Keller Park. Well... We are NOT rasing any support as Nappanee Missionary will be graciously covering our expenses. We also have things lined up in Keller Park while we are gone. This trip is actually a much needed break as the urban ministry has been pretty tough lately. Satan seems to be working over-time here in Keller Park.

Anyways, we ask that you could pray for our time in India. Here are a few specific prayer requests:

1) Pray for strength and energy as the camps can be very demanding. International travel can really take it out of you.
2) Pray against sickness as this can hamper any kind of ministry you try to do.
3) Technical parts of camp... specifically sound systems as power is often sporadic.
4) Translators... This is a key in any country where the language is different. Pray that the Holy Spirit will speak no matter how "good/bad" the translator is. There are at least 5 primary language groups in these camps.
5) Anointing of Holy Spirit in all services.
6) Safety for 1400 people that will be traveling 2-3 days to each camp.
7) Safety for our travel as in-country travel has a higher risk in India.
8) Humility as we share our messages. We will be sharing about issues such as persecution and many of the kids have already faced more persecution at a greater level than I ever will.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. If I ever have an update on the trip it will be on my personal blog korylantz@blogspot.com.

Blessings to all,

Kory and Ali

Going Back: Vanuatu 2010

It's official... I will be going back to Vanuatu for a discipleship followup conference this coming July! After much prayer and wrestling with God we feel that God is calling us back. If you would like to learn more about our endeavor back to Vanuatu please follow us on my blog at www.korylantz.blogspot.com. I will not be posting on this blog about Vanuatu because this blog is strictly for "The Transformation." I would love to share with any of you more about Vanuatu. I am very excited!

Pressing on,

Kory

The Truly Worthy Poor

Lupton, Robert D., Theirs is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America, ed. Barbara R. Thompson (New York, New York: Harper Collins, 1989).

This book was recommended to me by my brother this summer and I tried reading it some before I moved into Keller Park, and quite honestly, I didn't make much sense to me. It just wasn't relevant enough for me. It contains a variety of short stories within the urban context dealing with issues such as poverty, race, giving, grace, forgiveness, etc. After living in the neighborhood for over 3 months now these issues are becoming much more relevant and I can't really get enough of this book. It seems like a lot of these stories have been entirely directed towards me. I just read a story about the how to determine if poor people are truly worthy of your giving. I often find myself stressing over whether or not the person I just gave my money or possessions to really deserved it. Were they really worthy of that? The problem is... I never really find out completely if they took my money or gift and were truly a good steward of it. Why does this bother me? Maybe because I have burned too many times? Maybe because I don't know when to give and when not to? Maybe because I am selfish in my giving and want to feel good about what "I" did for someone else? Something I am wrestling with... but read below to see what the book says (it says it better than I can). Although I found this to be very true, I also found it quite humorous. Here are the potential "worthy" recipients of my giving:

1. A truly worthy poor woman: Is a widow more than sixty-five years old living alone in substandard housing; does not have a family or relatives to care for her. Has no savings and cannot work; has an income inadequate for basic needs. Is a woman of prayer and faith, never asks anyone for anything but only accepts with gratitude what people bring her; is not cranky.

2. A truly worthy poor young man: Is out of school, unemployed but not living off his mother. Diligently applies for jobs every day; accepts gratefully any kind of work for any kind of pay. Does not smoke, drink, or use drugs; attends church regularly. Will not manipulate for gain either for himself or his family; is dependable and morally pure. Does not act "cool" or "hip" like his peers on the street. Has pride in himself and is confident; may sleep in alleys but is always clean and shaved.

3. A truly worthy poor young woman: Lives in public housing (only temporarily) Has illegitimate children conceived prior to Christian conversion; is now celibate. Tithes her welfare check and food stamps; is a high school dropout but manages well with limited resources. Places a high value on education and nutrition for her children. Walks everywhere (grocery store, church, school, welfare office) with her children to save bus fare and keep her sparsely furnished home spotless. Occasionally runs out of food by the end of the month, but will not beg for handouts. Will not accept more than twenty-five dollars per month in help from friends even if her children are hungry because this violates welfare rules.

4. A truly worthy poor family: Is devout, close-knit. Has a responsible father working long hours at minimum wage wherever he can find work. Has a mother who makes the kids obey, washes clothes by hand, and will not by any junk food. Lives in overcrowded housing; will not accept welfare and food stamps even when neither parent can find work. Always pays the bills on time; has no automobile. Has kids that do not whine or tell lies.

I find myself looking for these "worthy" people to give to, but still have not found ONE! My challenge to those who are reading this: During this Christmas season find somebody to give to (money, possessions, food, time) without finding out if they are worthy to receive. Can you do it?

Thanks for the good read Kyle!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

This Thanksgiving we were blessed to have my mom cook a whole Thanksgiving meal for the Crew (our youth group at Keller Park)!! Not only did she cook a whole Thanksgiving meal, but it was for about 25 people! Thanks to her willingness to come down and cook for these kids we had a great turnout of about 15-20 teenagers from the neighborhood area. We set tables up in our living room and feasted. My brother Robbie and his wife Kristin joined us in serving food to the kids and hanging out. It was a blast, kids stuck around till 10:30 at night. It was a great way to start off the Holiday weekend, being thankful for the relationships God's allowing us to build with these teenagers.