All Peoples

This past weekend Aaron, Melodi and I went to Milwaukee to wish Pastor Greg Van Dunk, founder and pastor until yesterday of All Peoples Church, farewell and Godspeed as he accepted a call to Atonement Lutheran Church. Melodi and I each spent a year working with Greg at All Peoples following college graduation. The weekend was filled with many memories and people we love dearly.

Worship at All Peoples is an experience like no other. The church is filled with people who are open in many various ways. The often silent realities of life are freely shared among the community. Aaron and I sat in Sunday School with, among others, two bi-racial committed homosexual couples and discussed the non-traditional view of God from 1 Samuel. During worship, gospel hungry sojourners surrounded us. In front of us was a woman who took in a family of five when their mother became addicted to drugs. Beside us was a young adult who lost her mother at a young age and is an abuse survivor caring for her 6 month old nephew. On our other side was a junior high student that lived in a homeless shelter when I met her and during the past week lost her home and everything in it to a devastating fire. Behind us were two elderly ladies who have been lived the neighborhood for over 50 years, are committed to the community, and are pillars of faith for All Peoples. Yesterday, the burdens of life were laid down as we celebrated the ministry of Greg and his family for the past 15 years.

On our way to the cities, Aaron and I began processing our weekend. I was glad to be able to share the experience of All Peoples with him. The experience from yesterday forward will be different than what anyone has known. This is good, and this is bad. There is never a good time to leave, someone is always in the middle of a crisis and someone else beginning the journey. All Peoples begins a new chapter today. I pray that it will continue to be real and relevant to all who walk through its doors.