Mas Christ!

A letter of encouragement and a yearly anniversary

When I was a kid my family adopted two boys from Guatemala.

They didn’t speak a word of English and we didn’t speak a word of Spanish. The only thing I remember learning was the word más, which meant more. Más popcorn, más apples, más water; if they wanted more it was más. A few years ago, when putting up the Christmas box, I was reminded of that word más; rearranging the letters in Christmas I inadvertently came up with what has become our unofficial motto around this time of year, ‘más Christ’. When I think about the mad hustle and bustle of the upcoming consumer driven holidays, and the strain it puts on the families in our community so that their children don’t feel forgotten, I long for other ways. I long for ways to rearrange the way we do things so that we can get at what we really need, more Christ. 

This year, Dec. 25 marks two major anniversaries around our house, our fifth wedding anniversary and the first anniversary of moving into our inner city community. Of course the biggest of these has been seeing God’s hand move through our lives and into our community in very vivid and wonderful ways as we try to put skin on the words of Christ. We’ve had some rough patches but God has provided many opportunities to implement His words and actions within our family and within the community God has placed us.

God’s hand has opened many doors as family after family has allowed us to become a “part of”. As “part of” we go places as “family”, meeting God and His people in His wonderful creation. We envision a new generation of undefeated youth leading within their own neighborhoods of need as they reconcile man to Christ and man to man. Like a friend of mine says, “Another day in paradise!”

I think of Jayla, all vim and vigor, knocking at our door and storming through our house to pick over the community fruit box. Before we can even catch our breath to say come in she has found an apple and plopped in Stacy’s chair by the window. Like a tornado that loses all its bluster she softens as Stacy gives her a hug. Asking about lunch, Jayla answers, “I don’t eat lunch. The food stinks at school.” Digging into her apple she picks up a worship book and catches a glimpse of Love. Her mother arrives home, and shares a felt need with us by inquiring about buying our family van, quietly asking, “Could I set up a payment plan? I really need the van right away since I have more children now.” No longer outsiders, God has shown us a vision that only He can complete, placing us right where we need to be, fully under His authority and care.

This year God has shown up in a major way and it has been the perfect gift for our fifth wedding anniversary, so this year we are celebrating in a big way. We want to carry out our más Christ to its fullest meaning so we are planning on giving our Christmas away. We’ll print up vouchers for free babysitting, family meals, tutoring, and transportation. We’ll turn our house into a makeshift toy store, toys for the young, backpacking gear for the older children.  Parents, instead of losing their self-respect with another handout, will be able to “shop” for their kids, allowing them the dignity to “purchase” at a reduced price so that they don’t feel degraded. Also, we’ll be “giving” our van to the family upstairs as we dream of a used passenger van for our community so that as we “family” together for camping trips, grocery runs, and excursions throughout the city we can include all those God wants to embrace.

Jesus preached powerful sermons and performed awesome miracles, but the greater part of His ministry was giving those little attentions. He touched people—little children, lepers, blind people, a feverish woman, and his own disciples; transformation by touch. His heart embraced the people in His life—and His words and actions showed it. We all need these little attentions, and we need to give them, too. That’s an integral part of walking with God. We hope that you will partner with us in opening our “store”, keep an eye out for a van, and continue to support us as we invade our neighborhood for Love. Let’s not forget to embrace those whom God places in our life as we begin this más Christ holiday.

By Sweeney Family