Providing vital Christian resources from the YMCA past and present to nourish inclusive, equitable work in our diverse and global neighborhoods that build up healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
What kind of spiritual vitality marked the founding of the YMCA in 1844? With what we learn about Williams and his steps for building a “healthy spirit” with those who worked near him, what is God’s Spirit stirring in you?
How might you adapt these “steps” for your spirit-work in your Y, for moving the spirit-health of your branch and association forward?
Each Young Man first assumed a special care for certain unconverted friends.
He would then regularly and by name pray for each one.
He would speak to them on serious matters.
He would persuade them to accompany him to church.
He would urge them to sample the prayer meeting or a Bible study group.
Binfield observes that it wasn’t just the “steps” that contributed to the early and enduring success of the YMCA, but also the character and charisma of the founding men, specifically marking the personal leadership and spirituality of George Williams.
George Williams as a young man
The 1840’s “were ready for this” as Binfield writes, “a decade notable for movement”. And, as George Williams records in his diary “Oh shout God is at work…”
Binfield goes on to comment about the “steps”:
Such a system makes sense of aspects of William’s diary; there was something businesslike in it, at once quite rational and wholly Evangelical.
Yet no system, least of all involving ‘soul welfare’, can work unless the personalities concerned are sympathetic as well as powerful.
It might have required a system to make Williams abstain from gluttony or jump earlier out of bed.
It needed no such thing to make him deeply anxious for his fellows.
With this qualification, it is possible to see a development in intensity and spiritual awareness (which is not quite the same thing) amongst the Christians at Hitchcock, Rogers.
Here’s some of the paragraph Binfield writes about Williams:
…George Williams show[ed] the abundant geniality which impressed all who met him.
There was a genuineness about him which transcended other qualities.
Without this the atmosphere at St. Paul’s Churchyard would have been intolerable.
With it, the activities of the first Christian Young Men became natural, even unremarkable, and entirely acceptable.
There was, moreover, a persistence about Williams which only a strong character and formed intelligence could resist.
The young man was manifestly good at his job and he was no fool, despite the crevices in his intellectual armory.
From the first his ability in harnessing, utilizing, and keeping the abilities of more articulate men, and better organizers of greater men of the world, is striking.
This was partly the good businessman’s ability to delegate authority without abdicating responsibility.
Partly it was an extension of the good draper’s sixth sense – an ability to sum up and mentally to clothe his fellow man.
It was certainly the one thing needful to transmute the activieis at No. 72, St. Paul’s Churchyard into a Young Men’s Christian Association.
George Williams as a successful businessman
With what we learn here about Williams and his steps for building a “healthy spirit” with those who worked near him, what is God’s Spirit stirring in you?
How might you adapt these “steps” for your spirit-work in your Y, for moving the spirit-health of your branch and association forward?
What are some obstacles that seem to be in your way?
What inspires you about Williams and his “steps” of faith?
What kind of transformation might happen in you and those around you if you stepped courageously forward, like George and his friends did in 1844?
The word ‘movement’ suggests motion, change, growth, evolution, transformation, progress, and action.
As YMCA professionals who are committed to lifting up the “C” in our name we need to be on the move.
Based on Isaiah 58, God has given us 7 Moves that will Enable us to Embody and to Expand the Christian Faith within the YMCA.
Rev. Dr. Garth Allen is the Spiritual Life Director at Silver Bay YMCA, NY
[This article is adapted from a message delivered on 11.4.2021 in Morse Hall, it was slightly edited for this format by Tim Hallman; all revisions were approved by Dr. Allen]
During the last 7 months, as the planning team prepared for this Summit at Silver Bay, Isaiah 58 continually bubbled up in our conversations as one of the scriptures that should guide our gathering this year.
I am grateful to have the opportunity to examine this ancient biblical text together as we seek to embody our Christian Faith within the YMCA movement at this current and critical moment in our history.
Dr. Allen
ONE:
We need to Move from Unconscious Hypocrisy to Conscious Altruism!
This movement is particularly difficult because we may be unaware of those areas of our lives that are not aligned with the faith we profess.
It is helpful to have a person or people who we give permission to ask the hard questions of us and who unflinchingly share their insights with us. It may be a colleague, a therapist, a spiritual director, etc. . . .
The key is that we have someone who can confront us with our blind spots.
This movement must be intentional and conscious.
We must make a concerted effort to care for and help those in need . . . we must view this work as worship of the Triune God.
We need to Move from Unconscious Hypocrisy to Conscious Altruism!
There is a danger that as time passes the spiritual practices we perform or the services that we lead are done out of a sense of duty (something we do for God) rather than from a sense of delight (joy from our relationship with God and His prescience with us).
Dutiful worship and service becomes dead drudgery, while worship and service that flows from gratitude for God’s relationship with us through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit within us brings fullness of joy and delight!
We need to Move from Duty to Delight!
THREE:
We need to help Move people from Bondage to Freedom!
This involves seeing beyond what is (ancient ruins, broken and empty forms) and seeing what can be (new structures, remodeled buildings).
The foundation is fixed – Jesus Christ and God’s Word!
However, new construction may be built on that true and solid foundation.
The new construction will be fit for the needs of today and tomorrow.
Repairing the broken places and restoring what has been lost will bring safety, security, peace, and hope to those who are in desperate need of these things!
Rebuild, Raise up Repair, and Restore represent the way forward for the Christian Mission of the YMCA.
We need to Move on from the Broken, Stagnant Ways to Dynamic, Reimagined Ways!
SEVEN:
We need to Move from Incessant & Inane Activity to Sabbath Rest!
Jesus tells us that the Sabbath has been made for the people of God . . . the time of rest, reflection, listening and communing with God is good for our souls.
Yet I (maybe we) often choose busyness and mindless activity to keep God at an arm’s length.
We must embrace and practice Sabbath if we are going to advance God’s Kingdom in the YMCA and if we are going to impact those people God places in our paths.
Burnout is rampant among those who serve in Christian ministry of all sorts.
When I am brunt out I am not able to fulfill God’s calling on my life and I am unfit to minister to others.
Sabbath provides time and space to renew our relationship with God so that we can re-enter the battle and make a difference for Jesus Christ.
We need to Move from Incessant & Inane Activity to Sabbath Rest!
Conclusion:
I’m not sure if any of these things resonate with you.
I hope that God spoke to each of us about at least one of them.
The bottom line is that we need to keep moving for the YMCA to fulfill its Mission and the promise of its Christian heritage.
Let’s keep moving . . . and let’s do it together. AMEN
I’d like to give a bit of historical background which I think will aid us in getting the most from this passage.
Isaiah the prophet lived and ministered in Jerusalem during the late 8th and early 7th centuries BC. His ministry intersected with the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and perhaps even Mannaseh.
During this period the Assyrian Empire was on the rise and posed a constant threat to the Kingdom of Judah.
During this time of uncertainty and anxiety, Isaiah emphasizes that God is the Holy One of Israel who rules over history and who would provide a Savior and Redeemer for his people at just the right time.
Isaiah also wrote repeatedly about the stubbornness and inflexibility of God’s people.
Isaiah wrote during a time of nervousness and fear to a people who were stubborn and set in their ways . . . sounds familiar. I’m sure we can find something applicable here.
I’d like to simply work through this passage in sections and make comments on each. This will give context regarding a call to action for YMCA leaders as we seek to live out the truths that the prophet Isaiah has given to us.
Verse 1: God’s Declaration to Isaiah the Prophet
The opening phrases of this passage suggest that God has an extremely urgent message for His people.
The trumpet was used to call people to pay attention . . . it was use by armies to call soldiers to prepare for battle.
God’s task for Isaiah – declare to my people their transgressions and sins.
This would not be a feel good message with “3 points and a poem” as my dad likes to say.
No this would be a message that confronted God’s people with the harsh truth of their sinful patterns.
Verses 2-5: God’s Complaints Against His People
Two little words in verse 2 give away God’s initial complaint: “as if” . . . the people presented themselves in one way, but acted in a completely different way.
They projected an image of righteousness and obedience, but their lives were far from it.
The saddest part is that God’s people were not even aware that they were being frauds.
In verses 3-5, God calls into question their practice of fasting.
Instead of using the time for self-examination and listening to God, the people pursued business and pleasure, they treated their workers unfairly, and they physically attacked one another.
They oozed false humility . . . their bowed heads, sackcloth, and ashes displayed the outward image of piety, but there was no heart engagement . . . it was all a show.
Verses 6-7: God Expresses His Hope for His People
These two verses are both expressed as questions, but the response does not require much thought.
God’s people are expected to reply to each question with a simple “Yes!”
God’s desire for the fasting/worship of His people is two-fold: bring freedom to the captives and provide the basic necessities for those who lack them.
I was stunned by the final phrase in verse 7: “not hide yourself from your own flesh.”
This suggests that God’s people were actually ignoring the basic needs of their family members and still attempted to project holiness as they participated in fasting and worship.
True worship/fasting is active, engaged, and practical. It involves caring for others in tangible ways.
Verses 8-14: Promises for Those Who Embrace God’s Hope
The final section of this chapter expresses God’s hope for those who are courageous enough to affirm the fast that God “chooses.”
This hope is profound.
When God’s people care for one another as an act of fasting/worship, then:
Light breaks out in the darkness.
Healing happens quickly.
Prayers are answered.
God draws near and guides His people.
Satisfaction and Contentment reign.
Ruins are repaired.
Foundations are laid for the future.
People feel safe and protected.
Sabbath rest returns.
These promises are amazing and encouraging, but they are not automatic.
Silver Bay YMCA Sunrise
Four times in these seven verses the word “if” appears . . . if you do this, then God will do that . . . if, if, if, if. These promises are conditional.
If we practice the fast that God chooses, then these promises become reality.
If we worship God with lives actively poured out in service to others, then these promises are ours.
But . . . but if we fail to embrace God’s fast and if we continue in the same paths, then we will miss out on all of these amazing promises.
It is quite clear from this passage that God is not happy with His people.
Their actions in worship are not in synch with the way that they treat one another.
God’s people, upon hearing these complaints, should be ready to change their ways . . . to move from where they are to where they should be.
It is this concept of movement that guides our call to action.
I find this particularly insightful for us because we refer to the YMCA as a movement.
The word ‘movement’ suggests motion, change, growth, evolution, transformation, progress, and action.
As YMCA professionals who are committed to lifting up the “C” in our name we need to be on the move.
Based on Isaiah 58, God has given us 7 Moves that will Enable us to Embody and to Expand the Christian Faith within the YMCA.
[This article is adapted from a message delivered on 11.4.2021 in Morse Hall, it was slightly edited for this format by Tim Hallman; all revisions were approved by Dr. Allen]
One of the long-standing gifts of the YMCA in a community is bringing people of different religions and faith traditions together – in the gym, in the sauna, in the locker room, in the board room, in the playground, in the hallways.
Let’s keep embracing this opportunity, this responsibility, this calling to strengthen our religiously diverse association, to be the welcoming heart and hands of Christ in this global community.
I applaud the efforts of Christians in the YMCA to study and collaborate and suggest ways we could deepen our interfaith work and enrich our religious inclusivity.
It is necessary and crucial to us living out our Christian principles, it’s a way to stay faithful to the Paris Basis, our Mission, and our Constitutional Purpose.
Here is a helpful document that YUSA published in 2017 regarding an overview of diverse faiths of members and ideas on inclusive practices:
But: it assumes that someone else is nurturing an inclusive Christian personality and an inclusive Christian society that is ready to do interfaith work in a welcoming, gracious, in imitation of Jesus.
As a Christian Emphasis Director, it seems to me that an obstacle to more Christians participating in interfaith dialogue and events is their neglect of interdenominational and interconfessional participation.
If we are disregarding religious folks that believe some key things different than us, but still regard Jesus Christ as their God and Saviour, then it will be very difficult to take seriously the need to be understanding and empathetic to neighbors of other religions.
What can the YMCA do to encourage, nurture, even challenge its Christian members to embody the prayer of Jesus in John 17?
More Christians writing and working out practical ways we can embody The Beatitudes of Jesus, The Golden Rule, The Great Commandment, The Great Commission, with inclusive, gracious, hospitality will be helpful.
Jesus makes it clear in the Gospel According to Matthew that loving people that are like you, who can pay you back generously, is good – but doesn’t go far enough if you are going to love like God loves you; we must love our neighbors who won’t or can’t pay us back, we must love strangers, even our enemies – that is what God-like compassion, mercy and kindness looks like.
One of the long-standing gifts of the YMCA in a community is bringing people of different religions and faith traditions together – in the gym, in the sauna, in the locker room, in the board room, in the playground, in the hallways.
Let’s keep embracing this opportunity, this responsibility, this calling to strengthen our religiously diverse association, to be the welcoming heart and hands of Christ in this global community.
