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Written by Catherine Williams
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Monday, 05 January 2009 15:32 |
MONTREAT, N.C.—Friends, co-workers and roommates Jenny Mavity and Lisa Dougan joined the Invisible Children movement as road crew members on the 2007 National Tour.
Since then they’ve given their time and their talents to the movement, which seeks to raise awareness and to foster long-term development among those displaced by the military conflict in northern Uganda.
But for a half-hour on Saturday afternoon, Dougan turned her thoughts to her own faith journey, sharing her interpretation of “Outrageous Generosity” with the participants of the College Conference at Montreat Conference Center.
The recent college graduate began by saying, “I know as a representative of Invisible Children coming here, it’s probably expected that most of this talk is going to be about Africa, child soldiers and social justice…”
But she explained that in preparing for her plenary address this weekend, she felt the Holy Spirit asking her to go to the root of the issues Invisible Children handles.
“When I talk about the root of it,” she said, “I believe the Scripture is so clear: The root of outrageous generosity is knowing Christ deeply.”
Dougan brought her statement into the context of Scripture by looking at the story of the widow (Gladys, as Dougan named her) and the coins, a passage that was used to publicize the conference’s theme.
“That moment of her dropping those two coins—in which we’re told that’s all she has—that was the culmination of a relationship with God so full of intimacy and trust… that she is so willing to drop those coins,” she said.
We must live a life that celebrates our dependence on God, she said. “We bear fruit; we don’t produce fruit,” she said. “When we are attached to the vine, the vine produces fruit and we just hold onto it. People are like ‘Oh, what’s that? Where did that come from?’”
“The world is not asking us questions because they’re not curious about our lives… But when we live lives that demand explanation, people are going to ask. We point them to the vine. We give an answer to the hope we have, and people will be drawn to Christ.”
In a question-and-answer session later in the afternoon, Mavity and Dougan challenged those in attendance to get involved, whether that involvement leads to northern Uganda or to one’s own city streets.
“My encouragement,” Mavity said, “would be to do what you heart breaks for.”
Dougan continued her sentiments. “When you look at what’s going on among youth [in America]… that is the fruit of hopelessness, a lack of purpose, a lack of community, not feeling like you have anything to offer this world. “
Being able to serve or contribute makes people feel more human, she said.
“Part of how we can help America is to invite America into the adventure of compassion.”
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