MICAH KEPHART

On Intimacy and Action (& Other Stuff)

So Far In Livingstone

I arrived in Livingstone at about 1:30 pm yesterday. This town has been on my heart ever since we started uncovering some of the underlying issues attributing to such a high HIV prevalence in this city. Country wide, the infection rate is 1 in 6. In Livingstone it is double at 1 in 3. On the surface, it seems likely that the city’s tourist draw increases an appetite for commercial sex. But as I have visited the brothels, the lodges, and the night clubs, there are no “coloreds” there. Only nationals. The situation is much more complex than simply a booming commercial sex industry. There has to be other factors intricately related to the push and pull dynamics in Livingstone. Last night, I had the opportunity to meet with two of the ladies that we have been working with in our baseline surveys. I will change their names to protect their identities.

Patty and Anna are both from Zimbabwe. They were forced to flee the country under the weight of Mugabe’s oppressive regime. There is no work, no food, no water so they set out for “greener” pastures. They had heard that there are opportunities in Zambia to do cross-boarder trading. This entails receiving a small micro-loan (around $200) to purchase and travel with a bail of clothing, blankets, and accessories to be sold across boarders. When they came to Zambia, they were informed that the loan would not be given to them but had to be earned. Their option was to wait tables to earn the money for the loan. The problem is, accommodations alone for them costs K70,000 ($13) per day. It is impossible to earn this kind of money by waiting tables, so in the short term, they begin to incur a debt. They were then presented with an alternative idea…prostitution. A way to pay their debt, rent, and begin earning the capital they need to start their trading business. After a year stuck in prostitution, both women were pleading with me to help them. They want out of this. They begged me for the start up capital. They begged me for prayer. As much as I wanted to empty my pockets and give them each a couple hundred bucks, I realized that it’s not that simple. The physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual abuse that they have received in the past year is profound. As they shared some of the violent encounters involving, force, deceit, and even witchcraft, my heart became like a weight inside my chest and I couldn’t force the lump down my throat. On top of their physiological state, cross-boarder trading would only prove to be a greater threat to these women. Imagine them traveling to South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia ALL ALONE. Their goods could easily be stolen, they could find themselves stranded in dangerous places without transport, and they are an easy target for Jons (men who exploit women sexually). More than likely, if it didn’t take their lives, they would be back in the business that they are currently in, but only more damaged and vulnerable than they are now. After I prayed for them, I gave them enough money to pay rent for the day, hoping that it would give them a “day off”, but I felt like I was only delaying the inevitable. How do we stop this vicious, complex cycle of supply and demand in order to make lasting change? Oh God, help us out here.

We are still working on our plans to help women like Patty and Anna. There is nothing simple about securing their freedom and empowering them to live a healthy and productive life. I won’t go into all of the complexities, but would ask for prayer as we continue to discover, create, and implement a program that is going to change the future of Patty and Anna forever.

On a side note, many of you know that I have been working with a woman by the name of Sandra. She is from Zimbabwe and was forced to service nearly 25 men daily in Livingstone. She is gone. I can’t find her anywhere. I shed heavy tears last night thinking that I will never see her again. That I didn’t get to her in time. That I failed her. If not me, than who will help Sandra? God, I place her in your hands. Set her free.

Pleading for your prayers.  This scripture is guiding mine!

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make you righteousness shine like the the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37:5,6

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There is No Meat in My Sanctification?

OK, so the title is way more aggressive than the intent of this post but serves only to “wet” your appetite and draw you in.

I have been a vegetarian for over two years now and it is interesting to me how offensive it can be to the carnivorous type. I am growing weary of feeling it necessary to apologize for my meat abstinence, or being sensitive to other’s sensibilities about what is “normal”.

I have given up meat and lately, all animal products, for one reason. I DON’T WANT TO BE A FATTY AGAIN! Yep, my stomach has been my God in the past and I gave it all it could handle, plus. My brother-in-law and I had a joke that we were constructing a new workout program called the Uni-Ab involving a mandatory box of Twinkies after 10pm every night. I now realize how sickly I really felt after a 12oz steak, or worse, Don Pablo’s Chicken Fajitas. I figured frequent trips to the banyo combined with severe stomach pains following a meal was…well, normal.

My wife was challenged to engage in a Daniel fast and reluctantly, but for the purpose of solidarity, I decided to do join her. For eight weeks we gave up the “rich meats of Babylon” and ate mostly fruit and vegetables. OK, so we weren’t thaaat strict about it. Sunday night is PIZZA night. It’s a family tradition. God would understand right? So we ordered extra-cheese instead of…the “rich meats of Hungry Howies”.

I decided to combine this new religion, hmmm, I mean diet with exercise. What a novel idea. I was an athlete in college but I forgot how difficult it is to “get in shape” as I don’t recall ever “getting out of shape”. I thought I could still run three miles in under 20 minutes. Uh, try 30+ minutes, with chest pains, and puking.

Long story short, when the fast was over my wife rejoiced with a meat binge. Kidding, though she was happy to give up this diet for good. I wanted to keep it and she responded, “fine, I will eat whatever you cook.” I have been the house chef ever since and I can’t tell you how therapeutic it has been for me.

Over the course of a year and a half, I lost 50 lbs!

There is sooo much I could say about science, statistics, and the health realities of a casein (animal protein) free diet or the obscene amount of money needed for health care due to issues surrounding obesity, not to mention the environmental issues created by our meat consumption, but that would only incite an argument. What I do want to say is that as an ordained minister in The Wesleyan Church, I wished we talked about diet and faith more.

Below is a statement from our founding father, John Wesley, from v.6 of his collected writings.

“By ‘extraordinary strictnesses and severities,’ I presume your Lordship means the abstaining from wine and animal food; which, it is sure, Christianity does not require. But if you do, I fear your Lordship is not thoroughly informed of the matter of fact. I began to do this about twelve years ago, when I had no thought of ‘annoying parochial ministers,’ or of ‘captivating’ any ‘people’ thereby, unless it were the Chicasaw or Choctaw Indians. But I resumed the use of them both, about two years after, for the sake of some who thought I made it a point of conscience; telling them, ‘I will eat flesh while the world standeth’ rather than ‘make my brother to offend.’ Dr. Cheyne advised me to leave them off again, assuring me, ‘Till you do, you will never be free from fevers.’ And since I have taken his advice, I have been free (blessed be God) from all bodily disorders.”

I would like to state that if my not eating meat offends, as it would some of my Zambian friends who slaughter and prepare a goat in my honor (equivalent to a months wages), then I will humbly eat. But good Wesleyans NEVER (unless absolutely necessary) drink. Whether total abstinence remains to be a measure of the sanctified life today (and I believe waaaay too many still hold to this), it has, at least, been a moral measure in the past. I don’t want to argue about the morality of total abstinence because I think it involves the wrong set of questions, but I do want to ask a question in this same doctrinal frame.

Is our belt line a measure of the sanctified life?

I tread extremely lightly here because I know many personally who struggle to lose weight even when they are trying to “work their butt off”. I also know that there are health conditions that contribute to over-fatness. But for those of us who are just lazy gluttons, isn’t it a double standard to teetotal but eat like a pig?

WHY CAN’T WE STRIVE FOR MODERATION IN ALL THINGS AND LET THE SPIRIT INFORM PERSONAL CONVICTIONS?

I know. Oversimplification of a complex issue. That would be a mess. Christ followers would then depend on one another in authentic, biblical community involving mutual accountability and prayer in following the Spirit who leads us into all truth. Doctrine is waaaaay cleaner.

For me, my diet and exercise has greatly impacted my faith. It wasn’t for the sake of morality but for health, which has profoundly affected my psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It has made me more like John…hmmm I mean Jesus. For that, I will no longer apologize that there is no meat in my sanctification. There wasn’t in Wesley’s, and we still loooove his quadrilateral.

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The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there and the battlefield is the heart of man.

—

The Brothers Karamazov

By Fyodor Dostoevsky

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Compassionism

I recently came across an article in Reject Apathy on “Consumer Compassion” or “Compassionism.”  It’s a phenomenon that has exploded in the last 10 years or so.  Now more than ever, compassion is cool.  It’s reflected in our clothing, accessories, bumper stickers, even ice cream.  The other day, I saw a bumper sticker that said, “End Routine Infant Circumcision.”  Okay, so that didn’t necessarily make the “cool” list, and I’m not sure how worthy the cause, but it seems that every cause has to have a sexy brand, marketing strategy and goods to sell if they want to be successful.  The ONE Campaign, TOMS shoes, Warby Parker and even Ben and Jerry’s have helped to make compassion cool.

Before I criticize, I would like to admit that I am guilty as well.  We have done our best at Poetice to have a neat little brand and to sell things that people want to buy.  I have also been guilty of being indifferent whether or not consumers really care about what they are supporting.  Sure, I’d love people to buy product and tell our story, but at the end of the day, ministries like ours NEED MONEY to do what we do.  Selling stuff is a great way to help with practical funding needs.  I’ve also been the consumer, on occasion, for the specific reason of being hip and relevant.  I bought a TWLOHA shirt way before I knew what they were about.  I felt a little silly when someone asked and I didn’t know.  I’ve compared, copied, coveted—you name it—to get the cred, to raise the funds, to help the poor.

I am also hesitant to criticize organizations that have made such a huge impact on our globe.  I don’t know how many children in need are sporting a pair of TOMS, protecting their feet from disease and infection.  I do know that there are at least 15, and that’s simply because I personally know at least 15 people who own at least 1 pair of TOMS.  Warby Parker provides glasses for children in need.  I am on my 2nd “Home Try On Kit” to find a pair for myself.  They have distributed way more eyeglasses than we have. Poetice has currently distributed, well…zero eyeglasses.  So my criticism is not the work, but how that work affects and involves people.

I have learned the richest lessons in my life from the working poor.  I have learned what faith and dependency really look like.  I have learned the power of simplicity and the profundity of joy in sorrow.  And I have learned these things by entering into the world of the poor.  The word compassion literally means to “suffer with,” and true compassion always involves sacrifice.  So what is the ultimate goal of compassionate ministry? I would argue: gaining solidarity with the poor.

I am reminded of this every time I read the story of the widow’s mite in Mark 12 (By the way, when I Googled “widow’s mite” to find the reference, the first thing that popped up was jewelry…hmm).  The Pharisees would pull up at the temple gates with a slam dunk “sacrifice” so that their “money shot” would create a large clanging sound at the bottom of the coffers (#istrugglewithsportsanalogies).  Jesus uses the widow, who gives everything that she has (the equivalent of $0.005), to show the power of motives.  The Pharisees were guilty of “devouring the widows’ houses.”  Wealthy officials would often take the offerings in the Court of Woman and misuse them.  On top of that, they would “gobble up” the land of the poor and even charge them for greater offerings, leaving them indebted to the officials who were supposed to care for them.  Charity affords us the opportunity to give out of our wealth and continue to live fatty lives—even destructive lives.  But true compassion is giving in a way that challenges our individualism, consumerism and greed, which are at the root of the very systems that perpetuate poverty in our world.

I say all this to pose a question to all of us, especially in the faith-based, non-profit sector.  Should sustainability based on economics be our ultimate goal in funding the work to which we are called?  After all, it’s how we get things done, right?  Or is God longing to do something greater in the hearts of the givers?  What happens when compassion isn’t cool anymore?  What happens when bracelets aren’t stylish anymore?  What happens during winter when you’d get frostbite from wearing TOMS in the snow?*

*Scratch that, one of my friends just reminded me that TOMS carries a line of winter-friendly boots.

Well, I met a good friend for the first time at a retreat a couple weeks ago.  He is starting a ministry called Meals with a Mission.  The idea is simple.  Get people together at a meal, bring $10, talk about a need and give.  He said that his ultimate goal is to cultivate generous people.  So simple, yet so on the mark.  Cultivating a spirit of generosity and sacrifice in givers is essential in being compassionate.  Unless our western ideals are challenged, only charity will prevail.  But let the widow and the Pharisee give side by side, hand in hand, so that we can work together to build the widows’ house, so that we can give with a spirit of compassion and gain solidarity with the poor.  This will outlive cool.

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