As many of you know by now, yesterday the Chicago Kroc Center Groundbreaking was held yesterday, Thursday, October 7, 2010, with many dignitaries and icons present. There was Scottie Pippen and Carlos Quentin (who I had the privilege of sitting only a few feet away from), Mayor Daley and Governor Quinn, and many other government officials. It was a great event, filled with an understanding of what the vision of The Salvation Army is.
Just to give you a glimpse of what the morning was like, here’s what Lt. Colonel Susan Bukiewicz posted on her Facebook about the event: “Chicago Kroc Ground Breaking should have been called “Church”! We worshipped! Then went to beautiful Blue Island for a small, intimate lunch for 200 people and had church some more.”
Now it’s not surprising that one of the heads of The Salvation Army in Chicago would understand the spiritual weight of such an event. But what was particularly different was how so many of the speakers from the public arena were able to perceive that weight as well. Alderman Carrie Austin spoke from Hebrews 11, quoting verse 1 as she talked about the long road of bringing the Kroc Center to Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Governor Pat Quinn referenced verses from the prophet Isaiah.
One of the most stunning statements, though, came from Mayor Daley. In his speech, he shed light on the idea that The Salvation Army doesn’t build a building for themselves, but for the community around it. In other words, The Salvation Army doesn’t build a building to sit in it all the time, but to use it as a vehicle of outreach. It’s a means to an end. And that end is bringing others into light of God, and worshiping Him there. And obviously, this is the mission not just of the Army, but of the universal Church. And that’s the challenge for us today. Are we so wrapped up in our building that we forget that we, the church, exist as the light of the world? Remember, the church is not a building. We are the church. Let’s bring the light outside.
NOTE: The Mayor did say we don’t build churches. We absolutely do. The point is that we don’t build churches just for ourselves, but for those around us.
Don’t believe me? Watch the video for yourself and hear Mayor Daley’s speech firsthand. Pay attention around 0:45.
(photo courtesy of PhillipC)