What_Is_BUI.pdf

“Is not this the fast that I choose:
  to loose the bonds of wickedness,
  to undo the straps of the yoke,
  to let the oppressed go free,
  and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
  and bring the homeless poor into your house;
  when you see the naked, to cover him,
  and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
  and your healing shall spring up speedily;
  your righteousness shall go before you;
  the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
  you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you take away the yoke from your midst,
  the pointing of the finger,
  and speaking wickedness,
  if you pour yourself out for the hungry
  and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
  then shall your light rise in the darkness
  and your gloom be as the noonday.

And the LORD will guide you continually
  and satisfy your desire in scorched places
  and make your bones strong;
  and you shall be like a watered garden,
  like a spring of water,
  whose waters do not fail.

And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
  you shall raise up the foundations
  of many generations;
  you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
  the restorer of streets to dwell in.”—Isaiah 58:6–12

This text describes a believer who is experiencing astonishing blessings from God. This is a person who is thriving and experiencing sweet communion with the Lord. He is refreshed and overflowing like a spring of water. He calls to the Lord, who answers, “Here I am.”

What might be the kind of things that precipitate these blessings? Personal piety? Church attendance? Surprisingly, those types of things are not mentioned in this text. The prophet instead lists things like freeing the oppressed, feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless, clothing the naked, and discontinuing belittling gestures and words.

These are the conditions under which the blessings are poured out. In fact, the point of this passage is that personal piety which does not result in manifestations of mercy is worthless.

Bethlehem Urban Initiatives (BUI) is a non-profit urban ministry organization of Bethlehem, which exists to mobilize the church to minister among our neighbors in the city.

BUI’s purpose is to glorify Jesus Christ through Christian community development and evangelism through the local church. As a sending agency for outreach ministers, we deploy people into the inner-city who can mobilize others for ministry.

We also operate many of Bethlehem’s urban ministry programs which create contexts for ministry. Additionally, we operate an urban ministry facility called the “16/33 Center,” which houses Jubilee Community Church (a Treasuring Christ Together church plant), Bethlehem’s Hispanic worship services, and the SAY Yes! youth outreach.

Join Our Ministry Efforts

• May your light break forth like the dawn as you mentor a child from a fatherless home through the SAY Yes! youth outreach or Life Coaches for Kids.
• May the glory of the LORD be your rear guard as you share the gospel with a student learning English as a second language at All Nations ESL, Hispanic Outreach, or SALT.
• May you call, and the LORD answer “Here I am” as you reach out to our Native American neighbors through Maajiigin Ministries.
• May your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday as your family welcomes a child in crisis into your home through Safe Families for Children.
• May you be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail as you build redemptive relationships with our Hispanic neighbors at the Hispanic worship services at the 16/33 Center.
• May you be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in as you disciple a man who is getting out of prison and welcome him to Bethlehem through the Fathers for Christ Prison Ministry.

For more information, or to learn what areas of BUI’s ministry need additional support, please visit bethlehemurban.org, or contact Scott Anderson at 612-455-3443.

Co-laborer for your joy,

Scott Anderson
Executive Director, Bethlehem Urban Initiatives

Scott Anderson is also an elder, serving the Downtown Campus. He and his wife, Julie, have two sons, Silas and Solomon.