July 22

Day 130: Little Detroit

Will Juneau end up like Detroit? Who's to know (?)

The population of Detroit fell by 25% between 2000 and 2010. The automotive industry had been propped up by the Federal Government for decades. The demand for American-made vehicles had lessened, therefore production was reduced.

The auto companies, therefore the city could not overcome the remaining fiscal deficits. The unemployment numbers skyrocketed. People left town.

Detroit was given survival options by their Governor and State. Eventually, in 2013, and as their only remaining option, the municipality of Detroit declared bankruptcy.

The automotive industry,. world-wide,  had to reconsider how business is done. This required innovation, and creative advertising. "Subaru is Made with Love" anyone?

And the city of Detroit had to come to terms. Their finances had been mismanaged, and were in complete disarray. Their margins were based on a tax base of 750,000 households. They no longer had the tax revenue to keep their city budget afloat. Talk about "defunding the police"; in Detroit entire neighborhoods were defunded.

Doomsday predictions could lead us to believe Juneau will become a little Detroit. We don't manufacture automobiles - we manufacture tourist experiences. And that is not happening right now.

We may see more residents leaving than arriving. We may see a complete recalibration of anticipated tax income, therefore that of services rendered. All of this feels like such a downer.

There has to be alternative way of looking at all this.

Habakkuk had it figured out. He stated his outlook this way.

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls...yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places."

In spite of whatever negative we see, the Church continues on. New church-plants in Detroit are happening in greater numbers than in recent memory. We are still seeing disciples made and churches initiated in greater numbers here in Alaska too!

Circumstances have never been the determining factor for God's work to continue, for Kingdom expansion to expand. In fact, God does some of His best work when the work is most needed, and the people most needy.

But outlook is essential. If it's based on our present metrics, there's not much room for optimism.

But if our outlook is instead platformed on rejoicing in the Lord; Him in whom we find our ultimate joy; knowing He is our strength; the One who keeps us on higher ground.

We will not see Juneau as a little Detroit waiting to happen. We will see a different Juneau. Maybe leaner. And maybe made ready for a rich harvest of souls.

This might be the mission opportunity many of us have prayed for.

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau