It’s Raining Men

So many things have been occurring during Africa. Saying goodbye to Rwanda has been the hardest goodbye yet. Now in Uganda, our squad has gone through team changes and are ready to start Month 5!!!

 

This team change, I am with BOYS! Cue Monica from Friends— “Now I have to live with a boy!”

 

Although living in community with the opposite sex can be pretty intimidating or nerve-wracking, I think I can say I got pretty lucky in being placed with these cool dudes— Brandon, Taylor, and Tom. (In that order in the picture below)

 

 

Already, I have been so honored to witness these three goons pursue God and His character. I know that this will be a growing season for our team but also a continuation of healing for my soul.

 

God has been challenging me on how reconciliation can be found during this season and it has had me thinking a lot about manhood:

 

“Whether you want to look at it sociologically or you want to look at it economically, no one could say with any intellectual credibility that the home is a better place when there aren’t men there, that what’s best for children is fatherless environments, what’s best for daughters is a man not to be anywhere near them, what’s best for women is for men to have no interest.

 

No one would argue that. You couldn’t argue it sociologically. In fact, the numbers say the very opposite is true. Where men refuse to be men, things crumble. They fall apart. They turn to dust. You can look at it sociologically. You can look at it economically. You get into the poorest communities imaginable and here’s what you’ll find: fatherlessness, broken marriages, absentee dads.” -Matt Chandler, A Beautiful Design Series

 

Headship— I love this word usage over leadership. Matt Chandler describes headship as the unique leadership of the man in the work of establishing order for human flourishing.

 

As I step on to this new team, I want to walk in a simple truth— men and women were created unique by God, both in the image of God, equal in dignity, value, and worth; but they have been meant to complement one another, not compete against one another. Scripture reflects complementarían relationship allowing for human flourishing that the Bible commends.

 

I could continue on explaining why I am so passionate about this topic and why I have been so encouraged lately to learn to love my brothers well and encourage them in their identity as beautiful men of God. But, the truth is that this desire has stemmed from a lot of pain in experiences and bitterness toward men whom I have not had a complementarían relationship with.

 

My heart aches in unimaginable ways for the sons of our Father throughout the nations. My mind plays back the memories and moments of young boys craving the love and affection of a protector, provider, nurturer and knowing that I couldn’t provide that for them. My soul pains with the thought of young men in homes without a figure to guide them to wisdom, strength, gentleness, and love.

 

My spirit breaks for the spirits of those who have been taught to be selfish, drunk, “macho,” possessive…

 

I saw a lacking of Men of God and an overwhelming flow of women ready to stand at the frontlines of the war that is taking our sons.

 

Men, Sons of our Father, Protectors, Providers…I am sorry. I am sorry that our culture has stripped you from the honor of being men— of being so masterfully designed as the headship of our communities; of our families.

 

I am sorry for the times we have not celebrated with you in the honor of the responsibilities of headship. Oh, how humanity flourishes at the sight of a man walking in design and purpose!

 

I pray for a generation of sons of the Almighty who will rise with power to walk in headship with honor. I pray for a generation of daughters of God who will rise up to be helpers of the Kingdom come.

 

Men, you are welcomed here. Men, you are honored here. Men, you are free here. Men, you are called to purpose and design here.

 

I am excited to walk alongside my two new female teammates and continue to learn to love our boys well, too.