Exiled Community

Good News Out of China

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Steve LaMotte

News broke this morning that China is officially ending their “One-Child” Policy. This policy has been in effect for 35 years in an effort to stem over population and over taxing the economy. China now has a growing economy and an aging work force- so this, in part is an economic decision to have a younger workforce.

The consequences of the policy are well known: Small families, abandoned babies, forced abortions and sterilizations, and heavy fines for those who have a second child. In recent years, the policy was relaxed and some families could have a second child if they were the product of a one-child family (along with the payment of some hefty fees).

As parents of an adopted son from China, we will never no why our son ended up in our family. It certainly could have been a result of the one-child policy (though hard to say with certainty). Our hope is that this change in policy will decrease the number of orphans in China and create new opportunities for families to welcome children into their families.

China is a beautiful country with beautiful people. Perhaps this is the beginning of seismic change where some of the chains that keep the population bound can be loosened. Perhaps it is an opportunity of the Gospel to continue to thrive by coming above ground as people hear about the ultimate family- the family of God.

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Happy Family Day!

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Steve LaMotte

Family Picture from July 2015

Today is the one year anniversary of Malachi joining our family. I cannot believe that it has been a year already. There has been so much change and growth in him and in our family. I’ve tried writing this post multiple times, but cannot really put into words what it has been like to have Malachi in our family- especially to see the way he has grown over the last year.

Perhaps the biggest change is that Andrea and I have gone from being caregivers to Malachi to being “Mommy” and “Daddy.” In the beginning, Malachi stayed close to us because he was in a world that was foreign and around people who sounded and looked different than him. This began to change around January of last year. This summer, we’ve seen another big move forward in his attachment to us as parents. One only needs to see the smiles when he calls our names and gives out hugs. We are truly blessed!

While here is a lot of joy celebrating Malachi being part of our family, he also had to lose everything in order to be part of our family. Today, we are praying for Malachi’s birth parents. We do not know their names, bu God does.

Words probably cannot express the last year the way that pictures can- so here are some pictures of our journey over the last year.

Picture from Malachi’s file. This was our first look at him in May 2014. The picture was from earlier in the year.

Andrea’s first time holding Malachi on September 15, 2014.

Malachi at Fifer's Fall Fest in October 2015

Malachi at Fifer’s Fall Fest in October 2014

Bath time is one of Malachi’s favorite times! January 2015

Malachi received leg braces in May 2015 to help straighten and strengthen his legs.

2nd birthday for Malachi! (first with our family)

Even little hipsters need to brush their teeth before going to bed.

Posted in Adoption | Tagged adoption, Family, Malachi | Leave a comment

Pastor Confession

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Steve LaMotte

It’s time for a pastor confession…

…I like shiny things.

Whether it’s a new gadget, music, or something else, there is something that lures me in.

I wrestle with this in ministry as well. I have a pull to want worship to be shiny, new, attractive, and cutting edge. If it were up to me, especially a few years ago, I would have a Chris Tomlin/Hillsong United kind of band leading worship (probably scoring a lot of points on Jon Acuff’s metrosexual worship leader scale). Worship would feature slick transitions and great visuals.

My struggle is that while sounding good (and even looking good) is not wrong- I want to be authentic.

Our family attended a church this summer while on vacation. It was our third summer visiting the church. (In fact, when the pastor greeted us he asked, “Aren’t you the family that comes once a year while on vacation?” My response- “Yes we are!”) When the service began, the worship team was your somewhat typical 20-something hipster dress. The keyboardist/worship leader wore a hat that I could never wear. There were sound problems. The segues weren’t smooth (in fact, there weren’t any, really). But worship that day was moving- because it was authentic. It was a bit messy. It was hopeful. It was seeking Jesus.

As we begin our Fall season of ministry at Hope and Magnolia church, I want to be authentic in worship- in joy, mourning, brokenness, and laughter. I hope that you’ll join me (wherever you worship) in a deep hunger for God to move in our lives.

Posted in Church, Worship | Tagged Authenticity, church, Confession, R.E.M., Worship | Leave a comment

The Power of Small Things

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Steve LaMotte

We are in week two of our series At The Movies at Hope Church and Magnolia United Methodist Church. Each week we are looking at a movie as a parable that can open up dialogue to teach us something about ourselves and about God. This past Sunday, we discussed the Marvel Comic movie, Ant-Man.

What is important to know about Ant-Man is that he is an ordinary guy looking to be a better father and to atone for the mistakes of his past. He has no superhero powers until he puts on a special suit- which transforms him into the size of an ant. His small size allows him to do things that he wouldn’t otherwise be able to do if he were larger. Small things can make a big impact.

In our Christian lives, I think we can often struggle with fleshing out how Jesus makes a difference in our day-to-day living. Certainly, we are forgiven of our sins and called sons and daughters of the King. But how does that look on a daily basis?

Paul, writing to the church at Colosse, tells them about how to live in harmony with one another. He tells the believers that their lives are to be hidden in Christ- which is a beautiful image that other people should see Jesus in our living since our lives are hidden in Jesus. Paul writes to “put to death” sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed”- and to rid ourselves of “anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language.” This is our old life.

Instead, we are to “put on” or “clothe ourselves” with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

Paul doesn’t tell the believers to preach to the masses or to hand out tracts to show a life hidden in Christ. He says to be kind. Be compassionate. Live with humility. Be gentle and patient. Bear with one another even when someone hurts you. Forgive as God has forgiven us.

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure that my mom told me to do those things, too! It’s not rocket science. What a difference it makes when we show someone an extra measure of kindness, or patience (or when someone shows us extra patience!). Showing other people Jesus through our lives does not have to be difficult. It starts with the small things. Small things can make a big impact!

*To hear this sermon and others, visit hopedover.com to listen to archived sermons.

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Ant-Man, Movies, Sermon | Leave a comment

Excluding Jesus

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Steve LaMotte

Abbie helping make Guacamole at our local Men’s Shelter.

Our oldest daughter, Abbie, spent one year in pre-school before moving on to Kindergarten. Her preschool was not a typical preschool experience. Our school district has a county wide school for children with special needs. It’s a school where my wife, Andrea, taught for about 9 years. This is the school that Abbie went to preschool at. She was one of a handful of typical students integrated with more students with special needs at a varying degree of severity. This year of preschool was a year long glimpse of the Kingdom of God. Children of all colors, cognitive and physical abilities formed a community and a bond with one another. I remember standing with some of the parents of children with special needs and one remark how beautiful the class was because it may be the last time that their child was integrated with “typical children” and given a high level of acceptance.

Jesus was present in that class. That year, I saw so many examples of love, grace, acceptance, and forgiveness that came through the children learning to live together in community. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, writing on community says this:

“The exclusion of the weak and insignificant, the seemingly useless people, from a Christian community may actually mean the exclusion of Christ; in the poor brother Christ is knocking at the door. We must, therefore, be very careful at this point” (Life Together, 38)

When we look around at our churches and our faith communities- have we made room for the poor and the homeless? Have we made room for those of bad reputations? Do we look at the margins of our community and invite those very people into our communities? Our social circles? Our families?

If we do not, we may actually be excluding Jesus from our church, our communities, and our families. As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 25:45, “Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did no do for me.”

Posted in Church, Family | Tagged Abbie, Bonhoeffer, Community, Life Together | Leave a comment

Bonhoeffer to Pastors: Don’t Complain!

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Steve LaMotte

I reread chapter one of Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer this morning. While there was a lot that stood out about how we are to live in community, what stuck out the most was Bonhoeffer’s advice to clergy in regards to their congregations.

“A pastor should not complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people, but also not to God. A congregation has not been entrusted to him in order the he should become its accuser before God and men. When a person becomes alienated from Christian community in which he has been placed and begins to raise complaints about it, he had better examine himself first to see whether the trouble is not due to his wish dream that should be shattered by God; and if this be the case, let him thank God for leading him into this predicament. But if not, let him nevertheless guard against ever becoming an accuser of the congregation before God. Let him rather accuse himself for his unbelief. Let him pray God for an understanding of his own failure and his particular sin, and pray that he may not wrong his brethren. Let him, in the consciousness of his own guilt, make intercession for his brethren. Let him do what he is committed to do, and thank God.”

As pastors, we are called to shepherd and lead people. To encourage them in the path of discipleship. It is, however, very tempting (and easy) to complain about a congregation who is stubborn, immature, or dysfunctional when, as pastors, we should take responsibility for our calling to lead such people and to be their shepherd. We are to recognize our own shortcomings, intercede for our flock, and commit to shepherding our congregations for the glory of God.

Posted in Leadership | Tagged Bonhoeffer, Community, leadership, Life Together, Pastor | Leave a comment

How Do We Go On?

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Steve LaMotte

I’ve been preaching through the Book of Acts this spring/summer. It’s been a lot of fun seeing how the Holy Spirit called and equipped ordinary men and women to spread the Good News of Jesus. Yesterday, while I was studying I was forced to stop and consider a scripture that is easy to move past. Luke records in Acts 14:19-20

“Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconic and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.”

Opponents came from miles around to oppose Paul. They stoned him and dragged him outside of the city. The stoning was so bad, so severe that the crowd believed that Paul was dead. So they left. I assume that Paul was unconscious for the crowds to believe he was dead. The disciples in the area gather around Paul- and he was able to get up and go back (!) into the city.

Isn’t this a picture of how the church should live in the world? This is a picture of community. We have so many brothers and sisters who are physically, mentally, and spiritually abused and beaten- yet we will often leave them behind because ministry takes a lot of time. But the believers show us how to care for the one in our midst who is left for dead. When we feel like we can no longer go on, it is our fellow brothers and sisters who surround us, gather us up, and help us put one foot in front of the other.

If you read this- meditate on this text today. How must have Paul felt to be opposed like this? How would it change his ministry? His outlook? What would his response to the beating be? Do we surround those who appear defeated? Or do we gather them up to bring healing into their world?

Posted in Bible | Tagged Acts, Bible, Community | Leave a comment

Change Is In The Air

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Steve LaMotte

This Sunday, I shared with Hope Church some changes that are being made in my life in regards to my ministry with The United Methodist Church, and I want to share some of that with you here.

Andrea and I have spent a great deal of time over the last 8 months talking and praying through our life, our priorities, and our goals. Part of the process was that my passion is with the local church. I love serving the people of the church and community and seeing them connect and grow in their faith. One of the difficulties during the past three years was that as a pastor and campus minister/chaplain I felt like to couldn’t do either job to the level that I wanted to. So last Wednesday, I turned in my resignation as campus minister/chaplain at Wesley College, effective June 30th. I have enjoyed my three years serving Wesley College. I can think of many great conversations, times of pray, and ministry here at the college. I am grateful for the many great students, faculty, and administration members who encouraged me during my time here.

While I resigned from Wesley College, I will continue to be the pastor at Hope United Methodist Church. We have been through a lot together over the past five years and I am looking forward to the next five (Lord, willing!). I believe that Hope is in the right place to be a vital congregation in downtown Dover.

In addition to Hope, I will become the pastor at Magnolia United Methodist Church in Magnolia, DE beginning June 28th. Magnolia Church is at the epicenter of a small but growing community just south of Dover. I am excited to get to know the people of Magnolia and to see how both Hope and Magnolia can make famous the name of Jesus in Kent County!

As you read this update, please keep me and our family in your prayers as we make this transition. Pray for Hope and Magnolia Church that we would be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus. Pray for Wesley College and their search for a new chaplain that spiritual growth and development will continue to be part of the Wesley College experience.

Posted in Ministry, UMC | Tagged Appointments, Ministry, UMC | 8 Comments

Praying Through the News

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Steve LaMotte

The other day, I had the evening news on. The kids were home, so the evening news on the TV is worse than not having the TV on. Abbie, our oldest, asks, “Why do you watch the news?” There are a lot of potential answers:

To stay up-to-date with what is happening in the world.
Because I don’t have enough negativity in my life

But the answer I gave Abbie was this: I watch the news so I know how to pray and who to pray for. Just then, a story about the recent earthquake in Nepal came on and we discussed how to pray: for the families of those who died, for the rescue workers, for the aid that would be arriving, and so on. We could watch the stories about the protest in Baltimore and pray for the safety of the law enforcement men and woman as well as the protestors. We could pray that those acting in violence would be filled with a peace that passes all understanding. We can pray that those experiencing injustice, racism, poverty would experience justice, reconciliation and provision.

The early church, when they heard Peter and John’s story of what happened fell on their knees and prayed. They did not, however, pray for safety in the midst of persecution. Instead, they prayed for boldness.

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servant to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:29-30

The early church prayed for boldness. The boldness to speak. The boldness to withstand persecution. The boldness to asked God to perform signs and wonders in order to point people to Jesus. As we live in a world with great unrest and injustice, we must follow the lead of the early church and pray for boldness. We must pray for the boldness to

Listen- It takes boldness to listen- especially to those who are different than us. We must listen to others in order to seek understanding. In understanding we can properly advocate and act in concert with our brothers and sisters in need. I overheard a guy say, “I haven’t been following the events in Baltimore on TV” and then he proceeded to talk to his conversation partner for nearly 10 minutes on what he thought was the problem in Baltimore. When we listen, and put faces and names to the problems over the world, we realize that we can no longer rely on simplistic answers as these problems are very complex and nuanced. We must listen to those around us. This takes boldness to listen because our first inclination is often to speak.
Once we listen, to God and to others, then the Spirit empowers us to SPEAK. But what the Spirit empowers us to speak is not our opinion on a matter. When we listen and understand, the Spirit empowers us to speak the word of God. We speak life, hope, and grace. We speak the name of the resurrected Jesus as the only hope for the world. We speak out against injustice and oppression and we speak up for the voiceless in our society. Most importantly, we are to tell people about redemption and reconcilliaation through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Pray for the Boldness to ACT: After this time of prayer, Luke records that the early believers were United; shared everything so there was no one in need, and tells us about Barnabas- whose name means encourager. The disciples acted by continuing to be united in their thinking. The acted by pooling their resources to care for the most vulnerable in their communities. This action led to Luke being able to write that there was no one in need! Barnabas sold a field and gave the money to the Apostles to use as they saw fit and led Barnabas to be called the “Son of Encouragement.” Do your actions encourage others? Do they help others consider God’s love for them? How is God calling you to act in regards to the needs of the world?

We live at an intersection of the past, the present, and the future. The past creates the conditions we live in today. We live in the consequences of our ancestors actions and our own. The past creates the circumstances of today. How we choose to live today, in the midst of those circumstances creates all of our tomorrows. Sometimes this intersection of time can leave us uneasy and even fearful. The events of life should not cause fear, but should focus our prayers. As our prayers come into focus, the Holy Spirit calls us to listen, to speak, and to act with the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ.

Posted in Bible | Tagged Abbie, Acts, Baltimore, Nepal, Prayer | Leave a comment

Adoption Update: Malachi is Iron Man

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Steve LaMotte

When we entered the adoption process, we chose the route of adopting a minor-correctable special needs program. When we adopted Malachi, we knew that he had a few minor medical conditions that were treated and are irrelevant after being in the states for the last eight months. What wasn’t on any of his medical files was that fact that Malachi is bow-legged. Our doctors wanted to see if they would straighten out with better nutrition. But after 8 months they actually look worse. Which led us to the orthopedic specialist at AI DuPont Children’s Hospital here in Delaware.

Malachi has Bilateral Blount’s Disease, which is a growth disorder of the tibia (shin bone) that causes the lower leg to angle inward, resembling a bowleg. The disease is sometimes attributed to weight, small stature, and/or early walking. It is a progressive condition that will continue to get worse if not treated.

As of last week, Malachi started the most common form of early intervention- which is wearing leg braces in an attempt to curve the legs back inward to their proper alignment. By later this week, he will be wearing the braces for 8-12 hours a day. If the braces do not work (or bring enough correction) then there are some surgical possibilities for Malachi.

I can imagine that leg braces are not fun at any age- but especially at an age where you cannot fully understand why you are having to wear braces! The first several days were quite draining emotionally as Malachi would cry and scream about the braces. He made a bit of a turn on Sunday and seemed to be more accepting of the braces and is walking some on his own. At this point, his braces are locked and he cannot bend his knee while wearing the brace- which does make walking difficult and getting up off the floor near impossible without help.

If you have been around Malachi, you know how happy he is- and the reality is that he is still just as happy, even with the braces. Our prayer is that the leg braces that Malachi wears would be part of the healing process for his legs. So Malachi is the Bionic Man or perhaps Ironman, ready to save the world!

Posted in Adoption | Tagged Malachi | Leave a comment