By Joe Culumber
I sat quietly as the line marched by to the table.
They look like just any ordinary gathering of humanity.
“But now you are God’s people.”
These are my people.
They have taken time out to honor this ancient ritual.
With open hands and bowed heads, they partake.
“This is my body, broken for you.”
These are my people.
Today millions across the globe have joined them.
Every nation, tribe, people, and language
“The blood of Christ, shed for you.”
These are my people.
The world feverishly seeks an identity — a place to belong.
A tribe, a clan, a party, a group, a flag to follow.
“I will be your God and you will be my people.”
These are my people.
They are misunderstood, scorned, and vilified by the world.
Yes, some of it has been justified. Yet still —
“A chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation.”
These are my people.
They have built hospitals, orphanages, and universities.
Sought justice for the oppressed and cared for creation.
“You are the light of the world.”
These are my people.
These people, like no other, have a vision beyond themselves.
A just and eternal kingdom. A new heaven and earth.
“The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.”
These are my people.
The world has labeled them irrelevant and out of touch.
Still, they serve the poor, widows, runaways, and refugees.
“Inasmuch as you did it to them, you did it to me.”
These are my people.
I chose to write myself into their story decades ago.
The journey has been inspiring, frustrating, challenging, and humbling.
“You didn’t choose me. I chose you.”
These are my people.
Here I find my own identity. A community like no other.
We worship, sing, pray, eat, and weep together.
“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God.”
These are my people.
They have taken me in, supported me, and become my family.
We are the church. This is my tribe. Here I will stand.
“I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
These are my people!
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Joe Culumber is the author of “The Story of Bob” and “The Missional Pastor.” He served for 13 years as the pastor of Seattle’s Rainier Avenue Church in the nation’s most ethnically diverse ZIP code, and he recently led a Seattle church plant that attracted many Iranian refugees. His roles in academia have included director of Greenville University’s leadership and ministry graduate program and president of Light & Life Graduate School of Theology in the Philippines. He also has held key leadership positions in the Free Methodist Church USA such as executive director of its international men’s ministry and vice president of its urban fellowship. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in church growth from Fuller Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and religion from Greenville University. He and his wife, Caryl, are the recipients of the B.T. Roberts Earnest Christian Award.
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