about Globalscope England: at the GS Dessert Night

I first just want to say that while you may have noticed some rain in that video- don’t be concerned.  It actually doesn’t rain very much in England at all.  Some of the team members from the other Globalscopes have been known to make up vicious rumors that somehow its especially wet in England-and I’m here to tell you that they are all liars. If you grew up imagining, like me, that England was probably very similar to Narnia-then you are absolutely correct.  The climate can’t be beat. 

And I guess that what I am supposed to do here is tell you all the ways that Canvas-thats our name-by the way, is going to be the kind of place that you are going to want to come and be an exchange student, or an intern, or a team member.  And let me say that that is something you certainly want to do.  

England is going to be exciting if you like a challenge.  England is going to be great if you love social justice-if you love serving people. If you love staying out late.  If you have a special affinity for the Queen’s English.  

If  you want to change the world-then you can’t go wrong with England.  You can’t go wrong with Globalscope.  

I was having coffee with someone a few weeks ago, it was one of those late night, Octane Coffee types of conversations, and this person-I respect and love a whole lot-I asked her a question, I asked her-what does changing the world mean to you? And she told me that it means this: that where ever she is, with whom ever she around, that she is going to try to have impact on them. That she is going to try to be jesus for them in their lives-no matter where she or where she goes. 

Isn’t that sweet?  Because the world really is changing.  I thought that it might have been a cliche-or that we were all just hopeless dreamers-but no.  God is doing a new thing.  Its true.  The world is changing….and here is how its going to happen in England...

Right about now-in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham, England, there is a guy who is finishing up the last round at a pub near the University.  Him and some friends are about to hop in a cab and go to the city center.  He will be out all night..he will sleep late into mid afternoon….. and I don’t know his name.  I don’t know where he is from or what his favorite beer is or what soccer team he cheers for….i don’t know a whole lot about him, but i do know this-that he has questions.  He wonders late at night about who he really is.  Why won’t his insecurities go away, will he really ever be loved, does he have a purpose on this earth?

But one day we’re going to meet.  We’re going to go out to a pub and we’re going to talk and laugh and tell stories.. and one day he is going to come to canvas…

and he’ll get in a small group…

and he’ll be in our leadership group…

and he’ll be our intern…..

and he’ll come to my wedding one day and i’ll go to his….

and Jesus will have washed another pair of dirty feet. 

And one day he is going to learn how to sing that song...that precious song that we have been singing since the morning of our salvation….

the song that our father has been singing out since before creation…

its the song that they’ve been singing down in mexico and chile and thailand and spain these past few years….its the song that they’re taking to germany.  

its the song thats blasting through the roof of 763 Techwood Dr. 

its a song of love and sacrifice and joy and redemption. its a freedom song. 

and as the kids in birmingham learn this song, as the students from all over the globe learn this tune--the kids that you and you alone will find at the student center at the university, at the park, at a game of soccer, at a club…

as we all together join to sing….

well.  you won’t just see england change.  you won’t just see the world change.  you will feel it shake. and we’re never going to be the same again.