I am very proud of my family. Why?
Debbie Birkey tutoring at Breakthrough Urban Ministries
Yesterday, our local Oak Park paper, The Wednesday Journal, contained an article about my family’s involvement at Breakthrough Urban Ministries, in Chicago’s west side Garfield Park neighborhood [Link to Pouring Love, Breaking Through article].
The article was very well written by Abigail Cramton, who reported the topic with balance, intelligence and clarity. It featured many quotes by my wife, Deb, as well as Josh Hawkins photos of her and our son Noel tutoring some kids from the neighborhood. Kathryn, myself and our other sons are mentioned, as well as other friends (Cindy and Mo Russo) who also serve and volunteer in this ministry.
This kind of service is not a big deal for us Christians to be doing! Most of our neighbors would never do something like this… and they don’t. Yet, Christians do these things regularly and often, and are still too often perceived as being uncaring, separate, uninvolved, hate-filled and politically conservative. The same paper that featured this article often portrays us that way.
“Modeling and teaching service to others is one of our responsibilities as parents. The same way we are servant leaders to our kids, we want them to be servant leaders in their own worlds.” – Debbie Birkey
What I am most proud of is that we can be a part of breaking down the stereotypes that many in Oak Park have toward evangelical Christians who attend our church – Calvary Memorial. I think that this article more accurately and clearly communicates the worldview that we hold to and practice. I am all for breaking down and challenging those myths and barriers that many of our Oak Park neighbors have. I am for clearly presenting and modeling the teachings and example of Jesus by serving others, caring for the poor and oppressed, freeing slaves and prisoners, and declaring the good news that we can be reconciled with God.
Yes indeed, I am very proud of my family!
Arloa Sutter also commented on this article yesterday in her blog [Link to Blog Post].
I really liked your blog. Very useful information, I read it detail, also book-marked it and will be back in the future to read some more of your interesting posts ! keep up the good work.
Randy, I was delighted to run across that article in the Wednesday Journal. It was wonderful to read about how your family is involved serving the community in East Garfield Park by tutoring sixth grade students. I think you are right that your family’s involvement in this way will help break down the negative stereotypes some people have about evangelical Christians.
Did you see that Pastor Todd has also mentioned the article on his blog in his latest post: Bearing Fruit In Every Good Work?
Great post, Randy. And I agree that your family is a good example for Christians to follow. Although it is great to be recognized in the newspaper for doing good works, I believe God calls us to serve and be faithful when people aren’t noticing too.
There is a very important book that was written about this very topic a couple years ago called “Who Really Cares? The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism – Who Gives, Who Doesn’t, and Why It Matters “. The author of this book is a very methodical, detail oriented academic who spent years studying the charitable work and donation habits of Americans. He was himself stunned to discover that Christians, religious people and particularly conservative people were in fact the most generous and charitable segments of the American populace.
It is absolutely true that conservative Christians often do not live up to our beliefs. Every Christian who takes the words of Christ and indeed the whole Bible seriously must endeavor, with God’s help to do more. But I am gratified that we are, and have been, defying the myths that are pervasively spread by the media and even many well meaning Christians who are – in my view – trying to convince many fellow Christians that government rather than churches and individuals are the most important of charitable institutions.
Derek, thanks for your post. Your point is very true… and one that I feel an article like this will help to promote. The Wednesday Journal is most often very negative and stereotypical when it comes to describing and positioning local news that involves those “Christians” — especially of the evangelical or conservative kind. My exultation is more for the small step in breaking down the myths than it is that my family got noticed. I hope the point is made that my family is just a small part of a vast number of Christian people like us who reach out and serve others in the same kinds of ways.
I think it is great when people are recognized for serving and working hard to meet the needs around us. Just so I don’t leave an impression I didn’t intend to, you should absolutely be very proud of your family and I’m glad you shared this news story too. Partly because I am very much in favor of shattering some very stubborn myths, which is why I shared the link to Arthur Brooks’ important book and research findings.
The only reason I shared that we should and will often find ourselves working without recognition is because, as Arthur Brooks discovered, the most humble, hard working and generous people are not doing what they do for the approval of man, the society around us, PR purposes, the media or even for themselves- they are doing so because they are by nature humble and they also firmly believe that God will reward them in His own way, in His own timing.
Perhaps you should trade some of your pompous pride for humility, my son. You always were a braggart.
I find the post by Beezlebub very interesting. The person who wrote it obviously thinks they know me. Their IP address lets us know that they are in the Chicago area and use Comcast. They lied about their email, and said it was: “rbirkey@headstandmedia.com”
– really funny! Beezlebub is a derivative of Beelzebub, an alternate name for Satan based upon the ancient Old Testament god Ba’al… who was worshiped by pagan peoples with lascivious acts and child sacrifice by fire. Thanks for sharing.
Beelzebub- It’s ok to be proud of your family. Actually, if you aren’t proud of your family when they are doing the right thing, something is wrong.
Derek, thanks for the help with Beezlebub! Nothing like a little “spiritual warfare” to get the blood pumping!
On another note I realized that I wrote a post last year entitled “Evangelistic Atheists” that touches on some of your point above and the intent of my original post above. I thought others might like to see it also.