Ashley and I have been involved in a number of community
activities in the city for a while now,
both together and on our own. Most of these we have talked about before
in either our newsletters or our blogs.
We’ve got our hands dirty with the St. Paul’s garden project, Ashley’s
craft group, “Blingo” night at school,
and events through a partnering organization called Inspiring Leith such
as Archery day, Movie club for kids, and the community “Map of Leith”. But there is one more group worth
mentioning,, perhaps the group that I (Nic) am most passionate about, Pub Poker
Night.
Hopefully that doesn’t drop too many jaws. Yes, it does involve gambling (6
pounds, less than the price of a
movie ticket). Yes, it is in a loud and sometimes rowdy pub often full of very
“earthy” people. And its
absolutely incredible!
It should be
said that Pub culture here in the UK is much different than in the states (at
least in my experience and by reputation). “Pub” is short for “public house”
and is very much seen here as a central piece in the community. In my pub, the
Harp & Castle, there are darts leagues, pool leagues, domino leagues, and
loads of groups in to eat dinner and watch the football.
Now, if you have ever tried to interact with “locals” on a
mission trip, or even just moved to a place where you don’t know anyone, then
you know it can be difficult to connect with people who seem like they couldn’t
be more different than you. And you likely over emphasize and cling to the one
relevant issue you think you may have in common. That certainly is the case even here, in a 1st
world, English speaking nation. As a 24-year old American from a middle class
family who just finished a masters Biblical studies, there’s not much reason
for Terry, a rugged 37 year old street cleaner, to converse with me, let alone
build a relationship. There’s no real reason Mic, a 55 year old roofer, or Connor, a 20 year old University
student, to strike up a conversation with me when I walk into a pub. They are
locals, born and raised here. They brought their own friends. I’m not saying we
wont have a conversation, even a very pleasant one. I’m simply saying that
there’s not always an easy “in” to these people lives for outsiders. And without a reason to see the same
people often, it’s hard to get to a place in a relationship where you can speak
truth into the lives of those you do life with. That’s where Poker comes into
play.
I love it! I’ve played the game since Junior High. Its
exciting and competitive and awesome. You might say, “Nic, there have to be
other “better” or more wholesome groups that you can be apart of to connect
with people. There are others, and we do some of those as well. But honestly, I
think this is where Jesus would be. In these sorts of places, engaging with
these sorts of people where they are. Plus, I know of few better activities for
building community.
On a typical poker night, there are between 20-30 men and
women show up, most of whom have know each other for years. Approximately 3/4 of
the group actually work in casinos around the city. I go in to the pub and chat
with a few familiars, grab a pint, and sit down at a table
with 7 other people. Most nights I wearing the same “University of Edinburgh”
jacket I normally do. I typically am “in the hand” (actually playing/paying
attention to the game) 1 in 3 hands. The rest of the time we talk about life. I
have to tell you, no other activity in my time here has generated more deep,
honest conversations about God, the Bible, the Church, and religion than playing
poker. They have accepted me as a friend and a “regular” so the
hard part s over. I’m not a faker. In their eyes, I have a legitimate reason to
be there and engage them in discussion. I ask them about themselves and they
tell me about their lives. We talk about their financial struggles and about
abuse in their marriages. They talk about football and about exams they crammed
for the night before. Normal conversation. Then, seeing my jacket, they ask me
what I study, I answer, “Biblical studies”…… EVERYONE has an opinion about the
Bible.
The first time I showed up wearing that Jacket, I was asked
about my studies, Jimmy has tons of questions for me. He lives in government
housing a few blocks away from us; a place full of “trouble and drugs” (his words). As soon as he heard me say
that I studied “biblical studies,” he got on the defensive. He jumped at me
saying “I’d study Islam or any Eastern or New Age religion before I looked more
into the Church.” This then turned into a 30-minute conversation about the
modern Church versus what is seen in the Bible, and even historical reliability
of various religious texts. No one was saved, but no one stormed off from the
table either. Jimmy and I have since had several interesting and relatively deep
conversations. I have to believe God is working on his heart!
My friend Richie is probably the nest poker player I have
ever met. He is also an incredible, stand up guy. He’s a 33-year old
construction worker that comes with his wife, Lorna, that works in the casino.
As luck would have it, we have ended up at the same table most nights I go. One
three separate occasions, we have been joined by men who have either had
entirely too much to drink to be playing poker, or are high on Marijuana. They
are hopeless at a table like this, easily taken advantage of. Even though these
men have been loud and annoying, I’ve tried to see this as an opportunity to serve
and get to know people better. So, on these occasions, I have acted as their
nurse-maids: making sure they put in the right amount of chips, helping them
collect their winnings, making sure no one takes advantage of them in their
state. After the second time of doing this, Richie complemented me on playing
nursemaid to “those poor buggers”.
And preceded to buy me a pint—one of the highest forms of flattery in a place
like that. Since them, Rickie and I have talked about his life, and he has
heard me talked several tomes about the Bible and about the way Christians are
suppose to live their lives, which is often very different than what have
experienced in the local, disconnected churches around the area.
There are so many relationships I have cultivated now that I
know God might use me in. There is Dave, the league organizer that spoke with
me for nearly an hour about the way Christians have hated the homosexual
community. Mike and his girlfriend Sarah are broken, but brilliant people, who
spend 5 nights a week jumping around to different pubs. Paul, the perpetual
stoner. Nikki and his girl friend Jenna. Carman. Connor, who just ran for
student body president of his university class. I’ve met Terri, who thinks I
have a deep southern accent and always makes fun of me, but who has a deep love
for his sick wife. I’ve got to know Brian, a floor manager at a casino in town
and gets incredible respect from the guys. He also buys me drinks on occasion,
and we carry on extended conversations well after we finish playing at the
poker tables. There are probably 2 dozen people in all that know me by name and
would carry on a conversation without hesitation in that poker group and that I
take great pride in. Many of these people I have seen and conversed with on the
streets of Leith, because this is their home, and they recognize me as part of
it.
Incarnational ministry, by living incarnationally—meeting people
where they are, befriending them, loving them, speaking truth to them…. That
what it’s about. That’s what Jesus would be doing. That’s the only way these
people are going to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
I hope this doesn’t come off as bragging, especially since
no one has been led to Christ …yet. But it is really exciting stuff and I come
home many nights (very late) excited about the friendships and conversations
God has placed in my life. Please continue to pray that I am wise, strong, and
a continual representation of Jesus in a place and to a people who desperately
need him…. They just don’t know it yet J.
