subway sona and the love that transcends
It was ten o'clock pm.
The lights of the subway quaked with every bump upon the corroded track below,
the car empty except for our team; silent, stretched out in empty seats, exhausted, half-asleep
and one girl in the back, the darkness barley cloaking the wheels turning in her head.
She stared out out into the distance, her short hair fixed tightly against her head, legs crossed daintily with big boots fixed at the ends, hands in her lap, piercings reflecting every change of light in the turbulence.
Sona.
She was the unique type you know, the kind that makes me jealous,
the kind that makes we want to turn my home into a commune and play base guitar
the kind that hates 'the system' but in a gentle sort of way
the kind that takes delight in walking to the beat of her own drum- oblivious that other drums are even beating
There was something sweet about her and the Lord would not let me shake her off my mind.
He would not let me go to sleep on that subway.
So I glanced back, searching for some source of conversation,
some gem to breach the silence & get a glimpse into her mind.
I wanted to know what she was staring at. I wanted to know her story. I wanted to know her name.
I scanned and schemed and talked to the Lord, manipulating my way out of doing anything at all.
Then I saw it.
A beautiful tattoo on her wrist.
Bingo.
We love to talk about our tattoos.
And I wanted to hear about hers.
Before my flesh convinced me otherwise, I was up, across the train, and, face to face with the object of my curiosity.
"Your tattoo is beautiful!" I cooed. "Do you mind if I see it?"
It was a cage with an open door
the "I know why a Caged-Bird sings" kind of thing
"Freedom" she said. "It's for freedom."
Two more tattoos and a few laughs later, I was fixated. I knew with certainty that the Lord was going to do something in her- that he wanted me to tell her about Jesus. And so I did.
She wanted to know why we were in New York;
a Brooklyn native now working in the city and trying to untangle her ambitions,
she was curious and inviting.
She wanted to know how Christians felt about her lifestyle.
She wanted to know "why Christians hate gay people."
She wanted to know if I felt restricted- giving my whole life to a ' set of laws.'
She cried when she pondered that a man would die for her
and fumed frustration when she considered the rejection she's felt by the church and Christians.
She skipped her stop and decided to take the long way home so we could keep talking.
She had a story- a deep, intricate story of experiences and hurt and a need for love just like the next subway stranger.
And I told her about Jesus.
and I told her about a fierce love- a love that is selfless and selfish all at the same time
a love that will fight for you if you let it.
I told her how God feels about her lifestyle & her reckless, full-on pursuit sin.
I told her how God feels about gay people,
and all people, for that matter.
I told her that the world is empty and she's been digging herself in a hole....
... not the kinds of things you normally tell a stranger....
And her stop came.
And she got up. And she rushed to the subway door.
And just when I felt like I'd said too much,
she turned at looked at me in desperation
"Please tell me your name. I have to facebook you.
I have to talk to you.
I have to know more about this Jesus.
He doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard before."
Today she added me on facebook and she wants to talk. I about jumped through the roof.
Please pray for Sona.
I have a weird feeling that God is going to use her for really big things.
empire state of mind
Although we stayed in a hostel in Brooklyn during Spring Break, we also were able to do a TON of fun things throughout all the Burroughs: Carnegie Deli, Broadway Shows, Bryant Park, Union Park, Times Square, Central Park, Tiffany's, Empire State Building, traveled near Coney Island, went to a Knicks games at MSG and shopped in China Town and Little Italy (where I got to be the personal purse shopper for the moms of nearly every guy on the trip- I felt so rich!). The former Bama Crusade directors (Clay and Lynn & their two little girls ) invited us over to a spaghetti dinner in their home on the East Side, too! We attended Tim Keller's church (Redeemer), mastered the subway system, and wore our feet down to the bone. I really, really enjoyed getting to know these students better!
Most importantly, however, three of our students were able to sneak onto a movie set (with Leah Michelle, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Swift, and about a zillion other celebrities) and will be making their big movie debut before you know it!
new york
This Spring Break our staff and 8 students met up with Mississippi State, UGA, College of Charleston, & the New York Crusade team for seven days in the Big Apple! For two of the days, we were divided into teams of four and sent onto campuses throughout New York where we began spiritual conversations, took surveys, and shared the Gospel with as many students as possible. One day we packed sack lunches, divided into new groups of 3-5 and ventured throughout Manhattan to share a meal and our faith with the homeless. The conversations we had were incredible and the practice the students received for sharing their faith with their friends was invaluable. And let me tell you, these Alabama students blew my socks off! Every time I turned around, one of them was talking about Jesus to a stranger on the subway, cashier, cab driver, customer in a restaurant - anywhere and everywhere! What's even more surprising is that, prior to the trip, almost none of them had presented the Gospel to their friends, much less strangers! The conversations were so natural, so genuine- I could not help but overflow with pride that I get to be associated with such amazing folks. Seriously.
snow ordinary night
January Newsletter
** Click on photos to enlarge so you can read! Click again to utilize magnifying glass feature to zoom in. * Note* This is merely an image of my monthly newsletter. To join the newsletter listserve, simply email allison.gortney@gmail.com **
Exodus 18:19-23
This morning I read the most wonderful verse pertaining to this business of dividing up students and being strategic in disciple-making:
Exodus 18:19-23
19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. (Deal! I'd LOVE some advice on what to do!) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. (Ok, so not just teaching them but living it out with them too)21 But select (note* character traits) capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(whoa! these students are expected to make a BIG impact!) 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. (Yesss! Thank God! This is a great idea!) 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” Love it.
Also: Judges 7:2-8 & Acts 6:1-7,
Also: Judges 7:2-8 & Acts 6:1-7,
Learning a Structure that Works: Making Disciples
1. Continuing to grow in my understanding and practice of prayer
2. Developing a new, smarter strategy for discipling students
For the past several months, that's all I seem to do. Play with ideas, rearrange my meeting schedule.... all in attempt to get a better look at how Jesus mobilized His followers out into the world. Well! Great news! I think I have it figured out! (For the time being, at least!) I wrote each of the 36 girls I've been working with onto index cards & spread the pile across my bedroom floor. I selected five girls who will be my primary focus this semester, those who are most hungry for information and guidance, and then grouped all of the remaining students in pairs or groups of three. This way I can meet with several girls at once! They can feed off of and challenge each other, not to mention maximize my time! So far its' going really well! It was through prayer, Jesus' model of discipleship, and guidance from my staff that I've begun this plan.
Please pray that God would use these discipleship groupings to encourage my students- helping them see their need for growth and outreach on Bama's campus! What I need is hungry students, girls who come to me with ideas and initiative. It will be those kinds of students who can really make an impact in this town.
Friends on the Move
Change of plans! Instead of featuring :Friends on the Move blog posts, I will post links for family and friends on the side bar of this blog. That way you can check them out and help make their businesses successful at your convenience!
November December Newsletter
** Click on photos to enlarge so you can read! Click again to utilize magnifying glass feature to zoom in. * Note* This is merely an image of my monthly newsletter. To join the newsletter listserve, simply email allison.gortney@gmail.com **
Kate & Lauren to South Africa... TODAY!!
Today is VERY exciting day!! Two of our prized students and recent grads, Lauren Smelley and Kate Balducci, are boarding a plane today to begin a one year STINT with Crusade in South Africa! The support raising process has been a huge test of their faith, as usual, but God has definitely provided and they are off!
Thank you so much for those of you who were a part of helping to make this possible. I can tell you in complete sincerity that these are two incredible girls who are going to make a huge impact in Durban.
Congrats you two! We are SO proud of you and cannot WAIT to hear back from you as soon as possible!
Lauren's Blog: Salt of the Earth http://laurensmelley.blogspot.com/
Kate's Blog: It only takes a Spark http://katebalducci.blogspot.com/
Christie on our staff always says "If you aim for nothing you'll hit it every time." Sooo......
2011 New Years Resolutions:
1. Make prayer a top priority in my life
( Currently reading Treasury of Prayer by E.M Bounds. SO good! Be looking for lots of quotes from that!)
Prayers of the Saints
he potency of prayer hath subdued the strength of fire; it hath bridled the rage of lions, hushed the anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in it’s course, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt. Prayer is an all-efficient panoply, a treasure u.n.d.i.m.i.n.i.s.h.e.d, a mine which is never exhausted, a sky unobscured by clouds, a heaven unruffled by storm. It is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings. { Chrysostom}
______________________
Throughout the next month, it is my deepest desire to grow in my understanding and practice of prayer. I'll take all the advice I can get.
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