Look at it this way: confidently

Leslie's post is part of our Lenten Water Project. Throughout this Lenten season our writers will be focusing on the subject of water and what that means to them. Please donate to our well-building efforts, and if you have something YOU would like to say about water, let us know and we'll post it here!

Something that really gets to me are conversations that attribute the diagnosis for the ills ofthe earth to Christianity. There is an endless list of faults and problems with the church in these conversations that would depress even the most optimistic person. It makes me sad to watch people fall into that kind of cynicism, living life looking at the worst of everything. To offer an alternative, I find that it helps to think of the church as alive and well in a world that is better because of it. For example:

Since the start of 2010, countries all over the world have suffered from major natural disasters. Starting with the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, then in Chile on February 27, again in Mexico on April 4 and finally Indonesia on April 6, these disasters have devastated populations and left cities in ruin. In the aftermath of these earthquakes, thousands of households across the United States have donated to relief efforts. While hundreds of organizations and events contributed to raising these relief funds, the role of the church stood out to me. Churches do more than collect money - they send teams of people who want to help (including our moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow and a delegation from the PCUSA, who just informed us about 5 minutes ago via facebook that he arrived safely in Haiti this morning), they pray for the victims, they help people understand the tragedy and devastation, they remind people that this is not God’s wrath but a natural disaster; churches don’t donate and leave, they engage in healing.

Living in Nashville is a special religious experience, because when disasters like the Haiti and Chile earthquakes happen, churches from all over the city get together with musicians and other artists to really show the world just what Christians can do to help the world heal. Back in February and March, I participated in two fundraising events sponsored by two local churches, Woodmont Christian Church and Second Presbyterian Church. Woodmont Christian Church actually had a group of youth on a mission trip in Haiti when the earthquake happened - so they had a very special place in their hearts for the people of Haiti. They raised $12,000 in a one night concert benefit - one night! The congregation at Second Presbyterian Church got together with a group of Chileans in Nashville after the earthquake in Chile to throw a similar concert benefit which raised another $7,000! Two churches in two nights. The Church is ALIVE charity:water project is another example. Thanks to the 71 donations and other promotional help the project has received so far from people who have posted the project on their statuses and e-mailed friends and family, we have raised $3,732! Don’t tell me the church isn’t alive, thank you very much. So next time you hear someone dragging the church down, remind them of the churches you know of who are actively participating in healing wounds all over the world. The living church does make a positive difference every single day - that’s what it means to be alive!

(pictured below: images from the Chile Aid Event at Second Presbyterian Church)

Danny Salazar

two classical guitar players from Spanish Serenatta

(the dry erase board puts the total a little short of what we wound up with in the end - these were the volunteers from the community and the church congregation)