Humble Pie in Hallowed Halls

I was standing in a distinguished chapel at Yale University with towering stone walls under vaulted ceilings sustained by ornate pillars. The architecture was from a distant century - the acoustics like no room I’ve ever played in before. No one so small as me has been privileged to perform in so grand and dignified a place. I was singing but underneath I was reflecting about the significance of the moment. I was thinking that I’ll never forget this occasion - I’ll remember it always - the day that Mo Leverett performed his music in these hallowed halls.

And then it happened. And God seems to always do this to me in the moment I need it most. He fed me some humble pie.

It started with one person, then another, then two more - exiting in the middle of a song. I thought at first…maybe he’s got a night class…and then I remembered it was Saturday. After the second one left I thought…maybe he has another commitment. But then when the two girls left abruptly, I got the message. It was God. And He was thumping me on the head while saying…”Hey you down there! Get your head out of the clouds!”

And so I awakened from my little dream. I finished my little concert and I gave my little talk.

But there was a girl in the back - an uninhibited black girl with dreadlocks that swayed to the rhythm of my music. When I finished, I put up my guitar, gathered my lyrics and licked my wounds. She rushed to the front of the chapel and when I turned around she threw her arms around me, thanked me, gave some encouraging words about my songs and my talk. It seems that I got through to her, maybe others, who knows? But it doesn’t matter. I preached. I sang. God remains sovereign.

I’ve preached in other less dignified places like the locker room at Carver High School or the simplicity of my own living room. I’ve seen those humble places turned into sacred ground as empowered by the Holy Spirit of God sinners turn to the Savior. In truth it matters not what surrounds you when you preach, but who surrounds you when you do. And truth be told, I’d rather be at home teaching and training them.

Nevertheless, my time in Connecticut has been good. I’ve performed and taught at the University of Connecticut, Hartford University, Wesleyan and Yale. I have done a little workshop for urban ministry workers in New Haven. I’ve consulted with a couple of church’s venturing into new works in the inner-city. Tomorrow I will speak in a Presbyterian church’s Sunday school and then hustle over to the Baptist church’s worship service to preach. I’ll then drive to JFK Airport in New York and fly to Orlando to ready myself to teach a week long urban ministry course at Reformed Theological Seminary. I will then sing in 6 or so services the following weekend at Northland Community Church. Between those services Greg Doles and I will record the remaining number of hymns for my next CD project. When I’m done with all these things I’ll fly home the following Tuesday just in time to catch a few beads at a Mardis Gras parade with my Manny Man as well as the rest of the family.

Pray for my family while I’m gone. And pray for me as I miss them all terribly! Pray for stamina for myself until I return. Pray that God would be glorified and His Kingdom advanced. Pray that my many efforts would go a long way in providing the support necessary for the new initiatives at Rebirth! Thank you for your prayers and partnership!

While you’re praying, I’ll be finishing the last bite of my pie. Blessings…

Ministry Update 1/8

Dear Friends,

We’ve had an exciting year of ministry development, consulting and replication - thanks to you. I’ve taken a little break from developing the ‘08 plan to write this letter of thanks to you for your significant contribution to our successful first year of existence. We have the beginnings of a ministry at Clark High School and in the mid-city area of New Orleans. We’re scoping out possible locations for the development of the Center for Rebirth which will house our local ministry initiatives, a church plant and our ministry replication training programs. We are developing significant partnerships in ministry and community development. We’ve assisted many other churches and ministries across the country with training and consultation. Moreover, I’m continuing to travel and advance the principles of urban mission in seminaries and colleges around the country. I should have a new CD coming out in the early part of the year - a compilation of hymns! Ellen and I and the kids are doing well and are excited about continuing in the call that God has placed in our lives. I hope you will pray, support and spread the word about Rebirth in the new year! Again thanks a bundle. I hope to see you all in ‘08!

Yours for the mission of God,
Mo Leverett

Fighting the Good Fight

a ministry update from Mo Leverett, December 29, 2007 -

We had a lighter Christmas than usual. Were it not for the generosity of our children toward one another, the presents under the tree would have been conspicuously sparse.

My son Manning requested but three things: 1) baseball cards, 2) a remote control car and 3) boxing gloves. He got precisely what he asked for. His favorite however, by far, was the boxing gloves.

I’ve paid a heavy price for his new passion – punches in the stomach, the side and yes, the head and face. He doles out all of this punishment with smiles, grit and irrepressible joy - reminding me much of someone else I know. You see, Manning’s Dad, for better and worse, is a fighter too. I was renowned on the play ground, school bus and neighborhood for my fists – not as a bully, but I enjoyed fighting for what I believed to be a good cause, and I often did. Some things never change.

I remember one fight I was in with a boy in our neighborhood. It was short. Though he was two years older, he left having been humbled. However, I did not know that his defeat led to his increasing desire for revenge. He decided to drink a gallon of milk for greater strength and power. He came out of his kitchen with a renewed confidence and countenance that frankly was intimidating. I decided that I could not contend with his two years advantage and a GALLON of milk, so in fear, I retreated. Looking back, I think one body blow would have done him in!

I am still attempting to fight the good fight. I fight daily with the flesh, the enemy of my soul. Frankly, while some have believed that our ministry of 17 years in the Desire neighborhood took courage - the fight with the flesh requires more from the soul than any other foe or challenge I’ve faced in my 42 years of life. It is my flesh that grows weak, tired, discouraged and angry. It is my flesh that is pessimistic, bitter and biting. It is my flesh that is unforgiving, relentlessly rude or impatient. And while I have dissenters and bone fide enemies in this life, none is more effectual than the enemy within.

In this fight, as in all other spiritual enterprises, Christ is the protagonist. He is the one who will triumph and prevail. My efforts when they are limited to such, fall significantly short. But He will finish the work He began in me. I make no excuses in this, only apologies and acknowledgments that Christ is not finished with me yet. There are many more cavernous places in my heart and soul where His love and healing power have yet to heal and restore. Therefore, I wait on Him to add strength to my jabs, hooks and uppercuts.

However, as I’m waging this war within, I’m seeking through God’s strength to fight for His Kingdom by advancing the gospel of word and deed into the hearts of others. On this front we’ve made much progress but we have far to go. I’m not as fleet of foot as I used to be. Hopefully I will be able to press against the schemes of my opponent through wisdom and reliance where my own agility has given way to the aging body I posses. And where the punches I’ve absorbed along with my many falls to the mat have jostled my cerebrum, I pray the Lord will supply his strength to endure and to refresh.

When Manning presses against me with his new gloves, I laugh and long for that youthful exuberance that I once knew. I pray for the will to continue to fight, punching my way out of the corner of defeat and to strike a crushing blow against the enemy of my Savior. I look forward to looking over that enemy of Christ with the sweat and blood off our collective brows falling finally towards his slumbering body.

Happy New Year everyone! Thanks for the help you continue to provide for the fight! I have a rather big and talented corner, I know that very well!

Christmas Blessings to All

Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope your holidays and hearts will be filled with much joy and prosperity in grace!

Briefly, here’s some exciting recent developments for us at Rebirth:

1. The Leverett family is the new owner of an empty lot in the Gentilly area in New Orleans! We will be meeting with our builders on tomorrow to discuss floor plans and such.

2. Gregory Jacobs, one of our local board members and partners, has just opened his second Subway Restaurant on Franklin Avenue and Claiborne Avenue! We’re awfully proud of him and happy for he and his wife Cajoya and four kids!

3. An interesting opportunity to acquire a flood-damaged facility in the Gentilly area of New Orleans may have opened for us. The facility would provide needed small assembly space for Weekend Workshops, Internships, Bible Studies and church. There is educational space for tutoring and small groups as well as kitchen facilities and administrative space. Please pray that God would lead, direct and provide.

4. We hosted a Christmas party at our home last night for folks who were involved in our former work and others who are involved in our new one. There was much sharing, reminiscing, dreaming praying about our future!

We believe that 2007 was a productive year in laying a foundation for a new life-changing work in our wounded city. We have assisted many other churches and ministries beyond New Orleans. For instance, just recently I received this e-mail:
Thanks to you, Bridge Ministry of Acadiana has now been in our neighborhood for 4 years… Five years ago we visited you in N.O… This began our journey.

Who knows how many new works will appear out of the seeds we sowed this year in Atlanta, Mobile, Augusta, Corpus Christi, Houston, Dallas, Birmingham, Orlando, New Hampshire, Covington, Chicago, Valdosta, Gainesville, Slidell, Daytona, Memphis, Smyrna, Nashville and other places. I spoke before campus ministries from Harvard, Yale, Georgia College and State University, Brown, University of Florida, UConn, Valdosta College and many others. Through the Lords blessing, I believe that many new works will mushroom in pockets of poverty around our country and the world where the light of gospel shines the brightest!

Thank you for helping me to continue in this call. I appreciate and love you all!

Pray for us as the Lord leads you to do so. God is on the move. I hope only, by the Spirit’s enabling power and provision, to keep pace.

Making our Father Proud

Dads are mystical figures. Whether they intend to or not, to our betterment or detriment, they yield incredible sway over our lives. Even when they are not there, their absence is impactful. When they are there, the impression is deep, even as we resist. When their numbered days expire and they pass, their shadow nevertheless clings, their memory lingers, their presence remains.

Ellen and I had taken our kids to the mountains. We took a short hike to a majestic waterfall which cascaded into a shallow pool of water my kids could safely swim and play in. Bored, I decided that I would climb the left side of the 100 foot waterfall until I had reached the top. After a rather arduous climb through brush and over slick rock, I reached the top overlooking the falls and waved to my kids from this high perch. I then came down after enjoying a moment of quiet solitude at the crest of the falls.

When I returned, my son, who had been mightily impressed with his father’s conquest of the falls, was fixated on my right thigh. He said with as much grave concern as a 5 year old can muster, “Daddy, what happened to you?”

“What?” I said as my eyes followed his…until I saw 5 or so deep scratches into my thigh. I must have run unaware into a little briar bush. There was blood trickling from the wounds, but I was not aware of it until my son had pointed it out to me. Of course, this was an opportunity for a tall tale, the occasion for which I rarely miss with my boy. “Ohhhh….” I said. “You’re talking about the bear scratch….that’s nothing!”

Seeing my son’s eyes widen was priceless. I wish I had it on videotape. I continued….
“Manning,” I said, “there was a bear on top of that waterfall. He was staring down off of the mountain looking at you when I reached the top. I yelled at him, ‘Hey, what do you think you’re doing?’”

The bear incredulous, responded with a gruff voice, “I’m going to eat that little boy and I’ll eat you if you get in my way!”

Manning’s eyes widen further…

“Over my dead body!” I exclaimed. “No man or bear is going to hurt my son!”

I look hard into the eyes of Manning. I continued…”Then it’s hard to describe. It happened so fast. The bear on all fours began to run toward the path towards my family! I jumped out in front of him sliding down a rock and like a carved statue stood in front of the bear. He also stood up on his hind legs and took a swipe for me. I jumped back - (that must have been when the bear scratched my leg). I then countered with a left fist into the side of the bear. He buckled, surprised and a little hurt. I then followed with a hard right hand square into the nose of the bear. He stumbled backwards, regained his footing just in time to run away humbled and afraid deep into the woods.”

Manning quickly followed, “How big was the bear Dad?”

Oh he was big, son. Real big.

Then my wife decided she had heard enough. “Mo…stop!” she said.
Then my conscience struck. I shouldn’t be telling this tall-tale to my gullible child. So I said,

“Manning, I was just teasing.”

Manning responded. “OK, Dad…but how big was he? How big was the bear?”
No matter what I said, Manning had chosen to believe the story. It was branded upon his heart and he was not going to let it go! It was not until recently that he figured out that it was just a story.

My son looks up to me, still. My older children have matured enough to have a more sober view of their father. Even so, I know that my life is indelibly important to theirs. It’s funny…I’ve spent the first part of my life trying to impress my Dad. I’ve spent the second part trying to impress my children.

Some of you may know already where the name Manning came from. My first son, who is in heaven, received my name. Ellen picked out the name Manning out of a name book because she liked it’s meaning - Son of a Hero. I’m not sure that my wife has ever paid me a higher compliment.

The other day my son asked, “Dad, what do you do for a living now…besides type on the computer?”

I responded…Son, I’m trying to build a new ministry. One that will make my…I mean, our Father proud.

He said, “I love you Dad.”
I got a little lump in my throat and said, “I love you too, Manning…I really do.”