With-Ness [A Reflection on Contact Work] by Nick Palermo

A guest post by Nick Palermo

The WORD became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.  

(John 1:14 Message)

There it is! The greatest example of contact work ever! If you have been around Young Life for any amount of time, you know this is at the core of what we do.  Entering into the world of kids and building friendships.  So I am not going to repeat what you may have already heard once or a thousand times.

What I want to reflect on together is the mutuality of contact work with our Capernaum friends.  Because with-ness is at the core of our Capernaum values.  We go into a kid’s world to be with them and encounter Jesus together.

Did not Jesus do this very thing? He entered our world in vulnerability and took the posture of receiving from his own creation.  But what could we possibly give to God in the flesh?  Until we read Hebrews 5:8.

                  Although He was a son

                  He learned obedience through

                  His sufferings

Jesus learned.  And He learned while with us immersed in the human condition.  A learner by definition receives.  So if the Son of God learned and received from us through contact work can we do any less?

Over the years I’ve known many of our friends who are nonverbal, need total care, and are very impaired intellectually.  On the surface it seems a one-sided relationship.  But that’s only appearance.  

Here is some of what I have learned and received over the years from my silent prophets.

I’ve learned the value of silence.  Of being still and simply being in each other’s presence and God’s.  In a world full of endless words and relentless noise this is a longed for gift.

I’ve learned how much anxiety I have being silent especially when sitting next to someone not responsive.  Yet I’ve learned to love it.

I’ve learned love has little to do with words and much more to do with presence.

I’ve learned my value is in being created in the image of God as a human being rather than a human doing.  Production doesn’t determine worth; God’s affection determines our worth.

I’ve learned in a greater way that salvation comes solely from Christ and not what I can contribute.

I’ve learned prayer without words. And on and on it goes.

I don’t think we can live out authentic contact work without an orientation of learning and receiving from every kid we meet.  Ironically as we do, our very presence in a kid’s life in such a humble posture affirms their worth and allows them to give.

Again ironically, when we die to how much we have to give, we receive.  And this enables our friends, whom most see as being unable to contribute, to actually produce growth in our lives.

With-ness… Mutual contact work! Be encouraged with all our friends, but especially from our silent Prophets.

Nick is the founder of Young Life's Capernaum Ministries which was established in 1986 in San Jose, CA.  He has served on Young Life staff since 1983 as a Club leader, Capernaum founder, Capernaum's National Director, and currently is the Director of Capernaum's Metro ministry in the Santa Clara Valley.

Nick received a BA in Sociology from San Jose State University and a Masters in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Born and raised in San Jose, he is married to Sumarah (Sue) and has three sons: Joel, Zack and Sam.  He is a member of Bethel Church in San Jose.