Seek the Welfare of the City

A message from a Richmond Hill community member on how they see it from up on the hill as we seek God’s transformation of Metropolitan Richmond through prayer, hospitality, racial healing, and spiritual development.

My name is Tripp Hudgins and I am the new Pastoral Director at Richmond Hill.

I have been in this new role for five weeks now and have had to introduced myself a lot. It’s an exciting time. I am especially excited to be introduced to you. Your commitment to the mission and ministry of Richmond Hill – some of you from the beginning – is a large part of the how and the why we who live and work here can respond to God’s call in our lives.

We are called to pray for the racial healing and transformation of the city of Richmond.

We are called to offer hospitality to others so that they too might respond to that same call and experience transformation of their own lives.

God is at work here.

Jeremiah reads: “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you…”

It is a familiar verse to many of us. It’s inscribed on the wall over the main entrance. It has guided us for many years.

Seek the welfare of Richmond. All of her residents. Black. White. Brown. Indigenous. Immigrant. Rich. Poor. LBGTQIA+.

Everyone. No one is excluded from the grace of God’s love and Richmond needs the reminder just like every other human community – with all of their complexity – needs the reminder.

Richmond needs people who pray for its transformation.
Richmond needs people who will pray for its healing.
Richmond needs people who will pray for its salvation.
…and then do the work required when one prays.

For that is what is on the line. The work of salvation. Here. Now.

But this is not an easy road.

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you…
…into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Our relationship to the city is often an uneasy one. We live as exiles. Even for those of us who carry great privilege. My great-great grandfather is buried at Hollywood Cemetery. I carry great privilege.

But that privilege does not exclude me from doing the salvific work of God’s grace. Rather, the privilege requires me to do so.

We are called to live as exiles…to escape privilege. 

My welfare depends upon it.
Your welfare depends upon it.
The city’s welfare depends upon it.

I have been looking for a long time for the theological antithesis to privilege.
Welfare is the antithesis of privilege. Welfare is an equalizer. It is grace born out.

Welfare requires generosity and humility. It requires discipline and dare we say in this day and age, a kind of sacrifice. We are to put down roots and grow here. We are to find our lives here in this place.

We are all called to a place and time. All of us. 

All of us gathered here. All of us who have ever given our time and resources.

All of us have been called to the work of Richmond Hill.

We live in chaotic and even dangerous times. Certainly we live in violent times. But this is precisely why we are called. This is why Richmond Hill is needed. This is why you are needed – to seek the welfare of the city. 

– Tripp is the new pastoral director of Richmond Hill and, as a prolific and gifted writer, will be contributing reflections to the Staying Faithful Newsletter regularly. He and his family moved into the Richmond Hill community about a month ago, and we’re so excited to welcome them into the life of this special place.