A HEALTHY DISAPPOINTMENT

Friends,

Once a week, a small group of young adults meet at our Center for leadership training.  We focus on five areas: personal development, the art of leadership, organizational dynamics, mentoring others, and neighborhood community development.  In our pursuit of following Jesus and developing leadership skills, we study some material together, pray together, and then commit to a common practice or discipline for the next week.

Recently, due to some unforeseen circumstances, we had to cancel a meeting.  I called each person, and something fascinating happened in that process.  One young man, in his mid twenties, who is fairly new to our group, was obviously let down.  His voice slowed down and began to fade.  I asked him if something was wrong, and eventually he told me.  He was seriously disappointed that we would not have our meeting on that day.  I had assumed that some young adults in their twenties would be perfectly okay with getting out of a meeting and having extra free time, but he was obviously let down.  He told me how much he looks forward to the meeting and how it gives him something good and positive to do.  He values our gatherings and our times together.

In our short conversation, I was moved.  Although on one hand I was even more upset that we had to cancel the meeting, on the other hand, I was amazed how much this young man appreciates this leadership program.  It gave me hope.  He is now leading basketball practices twice a week for a group of high school players from the neighborhood, and they all look up to him and our other coach.  (It doesn’t hurt that this particular leader and coach has perhaps the best jump shot in all of East Oakland, and scored 25 points for our adult team on Saturday).

This brief phone conversation gave me an energy boost for our work in East Oakland.  There are young adults out here who are ready to flourish and lead when given guidance, opportunity and resources.  Would you pray for our young leaders?  They need courage, wisdom and patience to take their next steps towards health, wholeness, love and service.

We believe that God can do spectacular things in and through their lives

Thank you for caring about Shalom of Oakland.  Stay tuned for a special announcement in the next newsletter about our name change!!

Grace and Peace,

Nate Millheim for Shalom of Oakland