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In a very literal sense, Brewster Rawls, Jr., grew up at St. James's. Early on, it was a natural thing, as he and his family lived in the church's backyard on Park Avenue for many years, and St. James's was just a short walk around the corner. Young Brewster regularly attended both Sunday School and worship services, along with his sisters. It's just what the family did on Sundays. But there was nothing perfunctory or mindless about young Brewster's engagement with St. James's and its many ministries. Like his parents, Brewster got involved. He was an acolyte and crucifer. He sang in the youth choir for many years. He was active in the youth group well past confirmation age. All of which by itself would make a lovely story, and one that would make any parent and church community smile even if there was nothing more to the story. But, of course, there is.
Fast forward a decade. Brewster is now in his late 20s, and the owner of his own business here in Richmond. As we all know, once the kids head off to college, you wonder whether their experience at St. James's will have any lasting impact. Has the message of Christian discipleship sunk in? Did the programs and ministries, sermons and retreats, youth missions and outreach projects - all the things our operating budget supports year-in and year-out - have any lasting impact? Well, you needn't have wondered at all. Instead, what you'd find is young Brewster sweating side-by-side with his father in the Utah desert on a St. James's adult mission trip to the Navajoland reservation to create a conference center out of a few junky, neglected acres. The mission is a new one for our church, and as usual, the work was back-breaking but satisfying. And it's exactly what Brewster believed he should be doing.
"There's no question that growing up in St. James's, the spirit of service to others is just baked into you, and it shapes you as a person," Brewster acknowledged. Asked to cite a particular experience that he remembers as pivotal, he doesn't hesitate: "CARITAS," he says. Brewster and his dad were always doing something during CARITAS week, whether serving breakfast, or chaperoning overnight, or just hanging out with the guests during and after dinner. "It wasn't even something we thought consciously about," Brewster stressed. "It was just an opportunity to help, and we were there. There were always opportunities like that growing up. Because of that, service to others just becomes a habit."
Sure, but that was then. What's a good-looking millennial doing in the middle of the New Mexico desert today? "You know, owning my own tree business, I'm lucky enough to be in a position to help someone else, essentially for free. If I decide on Tuesday that on Thursday I want to go out to the middle of nowhere to help some people with my skills and equipment, I can do that. Plus, St. James's just shapes you to be like that."
If you wanted to know how St. James's was doing in its effort to build a community of faith, here's a living report card.
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