What Could Happen if the Tide Where to Rise in the Albuquerque Desert

This past weekend millions of people around the world gathered together to march, to speak, to protest, to demand, to fight, to mourn, to remember, to look ahead, to hope. Children, teens, adults, celebrities, household names, anonymous and unknown individuals all gathered with a common goal, to do something, to change something, to say "enough is enough" and to state and ensure #neveragain. It was a huge movement, and to see the photos of the gatherings and marches around the world was impressive, and made you think that this very well be the start to something happening, to something changing. What is even more impressive is that this huge gathering of people around the world, estimated in the millions, with around 800,000 in Washington D.C. alone, represents, probably, less than 2% of the US population (official world-wide attendance numbers are not solid and vary greatly), that's it, but that very well may be enough, only time will tell. This 2% (0.25% if you just look at the main event in DC) was/is passionate, and devoted and determined to make a change and to do whatever they need to to see that what they believe in comes to fruition. It seems that the tide may be changing, that a tidal wave may be growing.

Here in Albuquerque there were around 10,000 individuals that participated in the local event. That also represents a little less than 2% of the Albuquerque population. What I see in this is that people believe they can make a difference. Even if they represent a massively small percentage of the group they are trying to change (because even if many more support you, silence doesn't enact change, action does, those who mobilize and act are the ones who have the potential to change things) they believe it's possible and are willing to fight to see that change.

This brings me to the real focus here. Albuquerque.

By many accounts, Albuquerque is a terrible place to live. We have one of, if not the, highest rates of violent crime per capita, as well as property crime per capita, close to 20% of our population lives at or below the poverty line. We have a massive drug problem, think Breaking Bad. Our high school students, in 2016, ranked 2nd in the nation for cocaine and Ecstacy use, 5th for meth and 8th for heroine.

New Mexico in general ranks 49th in the nation for overall poverty, 51st for unemployment, 50th for on time high school graduation, 48th for disconnected youth (18-24 without high school degree, not in school and not working), 47th for teen birth rates, 48th for hunger and food insecurity and we have about twice as many alcohol related deaths as the national average.

Sure, there are great and amazing things here as well: Sunsets, Balloon Fiesta, the outdoors, solar industry, movie/entertainment industry, etc..., but in a lot of ways that matter to people on a daily basis that affect their lives, we're terrible.

Now, with that said, Albuquerque also has somewhere along the lines of 250-300 Christian Churches of one denomination or another. We have 6 mega churches. Exact attendance numbers are difficult to know for sure, but based on probable weekly attendance, roughly 2% of Albuquerque's population attends services at just one of these mega churches weekly. If you factor in the attendance of three of these mega churches you are nearing 5% of the city's population. That's just 3 churches, obviously, three of the largest churches, by far, in the city, but still, there are well over 200 more, which means that the percentage of church goers in Albuquerque far surpasses the 2% number, probably falling closer to 10% or more, that attend church on a weekly basis.

In fact, if you look at the Pew Research Center's study from November 2015, across New Mexico, 75% of adults are Christian, 59% of adults say religion is very important in their lives, and 36% of adults attend a religious service at least once a week.

So, what's the point? Here it is. Many of these churches, in fact Christianity itself, claims that it changes lives. Radical transformation, total and complete life change, metamorphosis, is claimed and championed. With this life change, Christ also taught/demanded that His followers look after and care for the poor, children, orphans and widows. That we forgive, that we love, that we look out for the interests of others above ourselves, that we respect authority, that we be good stewards of the Earth, that we care for our bodies. However, unfortunately, for many churches, many Christians these qualities are not evident. There is not a radical transformative evidence of Christ flowing through them. We are like everyone else, we just happen to go to a church service on a weekly basis. There may be minor changes in our lives as a result of our faith, and most truly want their lives to be transformed, but for a variety of reasons we don't let Christ work in us, individually or collectively. There are some who do, who give everything to Christ and are changed, and in turn make change around them, but imagine what our city would look like if it was more than just a few. If we all lived like we were changed, and did it not just individually or as separate churches, but collectively, gathered together with a common goal to change our city.

This past weekend we sang this song at church.

"We are a sea of voices
We are an ocean of Your praise
Gathered under one name
We are a tide that's rising
And we cannot be contained
Gathered under one name"

What could happen if the tide were to rise in Albuquerque, moving together under a single banner, seeking to improve our city, by improving the lives of those in the city, by throwing off fears and insecurities and allowing ourselves to be radically changed and move in the lives of our neighbors, coworkers, classmates, clients, acquaintances, and even strangers, living like Christ has called us to live, and not just in an Evangelical, convert people, way, but a genuine care for all aspects of their lives. The city would change, because: "Even if they represent a massively small percentage of the group they are trying to change (because even if many more support you, silence doesn't enact change, action does, those who mobilize and act are the ones who have the potential to change things) they believe it's possible and are willing to fight to see that change."

So what could happen if the tide were to rise in the Albuquerque desert? The dry and weary land would be transformed to a land flowing with milk and honey. So, what are we waiting for? Bring on high tide.