CRM - Empowering Leaders

A Day in the Life of an Apprentice: Minneapolis

Depending on the season of the year, (we do live in the tundra) the activities of an apprentice will vary. We will try to give you a snapshot of what our lives are like as the “happiest missionaries” (as we like to refer to ourselves).

A typical day starts out with time in the Word as we meditate on Jesus’ life as found in the Gospel of Luke. Our Luke Companion guides us with questions of how the text interacts with our experiences in the neighborhood. After some time of contemplative prayer, the three of us set off for our daily activities. Apprentices #1 (Rachael) and #2 (Lucy), head out to a neighborhood private school where we cultivate relationships with students and families to see whom God has chosen as “people of peace” in our lives. Meanwhile, Apprentice #3 (Brad) heads to work at a local coffee shop to build relationships with people in the neighborhood. The majority of the patrons are drug dealers and prostitutes. In the evening he coaches a basketball team primarily made up of Somali refugees.

Although these activities keep us busy, there are no typical days in the life of a Minneapolis apprentice. The following is an example of an eventful Sunday where the Lord blessed us through our friends in the neighborhood. Lucy’s day began with a breakfast meeting talking to potential supporters. That morning, Brad and Rachael attended a local church then went to loan Rachael’s car to a neighbor. They arrived to find their neighbors sleeping; this caused the endeavor to take longer than expected. By the time they got back there was a message from Lucy. Lucy was driving Gloria and her four children to a special communion service for the oldest daughter who was joining the church.

Brad and Rachael met Lucy at the church and the three enjoyed the service together (the part they understood…it was in Spanish). After the service, Lucy took pictures of the special day for Gloria. Then the apprentices and the family head back to Gloria’s apartment. There was much work left to be done to prepare for the fiesta to honor Jasmine. Lucy, Rachael, and Brad quickly start to prepare the carne en jugo meal, decorate the laundry room (where the fiesta will be held), get last minute supplies, pick up the cake, and play with the kids. After their work, the three apprentices snuck away for a short nap before the party. The party was a great success.

The day ended with our weekly church service held in Brad’s home. Here at Celebration Community Church, the three apprentices experience another expression of what it means to be the church. Through the relationships that have been made over the years by the InnerCHANGE team, Celebration Community Church emerged.

Over this past year, we have seen some of our friends brought into this fellowship. Just recently, Gloria and her family (mentioned above) have begun attending our church. Through these experiences, the Lord has taught us how discipleship flows from a committed relationship with your neighbors.