Living the Dream

Years ago, the Bellflower Community Bike Shop was but a dream for my good friend David Samora. Now it's becoming a reality!

In his life, David has faced a challenging road that has taken plenty of unexpected turns and dips, that ultimately left him out on the street. It was at that time, that he met a man at a local park, who fixed bikes. Times were tough for David, but this man was a welcomed ray of light piercing into the darkness of his addiction and homelessness. That man at the park provided a space of both welcome and belonging for all of the folks he worked with, no matter what walk of life they came from. He fixed bikes for local kids and adults alike.

David was inspired.

After years of unemployment, David got connected with Kingdom Causes and started working his way through the Good Soil Industries social enterprise. By the time he graduated the program, David had a new vision for himself; to start a bike shop. This wasn't to be your average shop, this was to be a place with purpose. David wanted to channel the essence of the space that the man at the park had created for him, into the very fabric of this new shop. One does not simply just start a bike shop though... It takes time and commitment. David would not be deterred, and held tightly to his dream.

After months of campaigning, David was finally given a small space in the back of the Kingdom Causes Community Center at 16429 Bellflower Boulevard. Since that point, the dream has only continued to gain traction. What was once a small operation out of the back of the community center, now occupies window front space on the boulevard in the community center.

The vision for the Bellflower Community Bike Shop continues to morph and change, but the foundation remains the same. Here at the bike shop, we are a place where strangers of all ages are welcomed, find belonging, and also learn about bicycles.

This where you come in the picture.

Do you bike often? Would you like to learn how to keep it running well?

The Bellflower Community Bike Shop is for you.

Are you someone who fixes bikes? Are you looking for a way to give back to your community?

The Bellflower Community Bike Shop is for you.

Do you know some kids in your neighborhood who don't have a bicycle of their own?

The Bellflower Community Bike Shop is for you.

Do you have a bike that's done little more than take up garage space? DONATE IT!

The Bellflower Community Bike Shop is for you.

If you are interested please contact Robert VerWys at robertverwys@kingdomcausesbellflower.org for more information or swing on by the shop tonight with your bike from 6-8pm! Hope to see you there!

National Good Neighbor Day

How did we not know that was a holiday!???

Well, we do now.  And what perfect timing, because we are launching the Good Neighbor Cohort this Fall.  We believe a healthy city is full of thriving neighborhoods.  The Good Neighbor Cohort will train neighbors across the city in the areas of basic emergency preparedness, family-friendly neighborhood event planning (like a front-yard ice cream social), understanding existing resources (like Neighborhood Watch and NextDoor.com), and how to be a good neighbor without being too creepy.

Want to learn more?  Come to our kick off meeting on Monday, October 19th at Kingdom Causes Bellflower.  Email admin@kcbellflower.org for more info!

The homeless hands and feet of Jesus

Last Wednesday Gerardo* stumbled into our community center reeking of alcohol and unable to stand up straight.  We struggled to complete our typical homeless assessment with him, even though it took twice as long due to the state of intoxication.  He stumbled back out of our office an hour later.  (Just a normal day at Kingdom Causes.)

Friday morning, I walked into our community center and found Gerardo, along with a few other homeless neighbors, helping April stuff the Fall newsletter mailer.  He proudly announced, "I've been sober for 1 day!"  I could tell by the severe body shakes.  It actually seemed unfair to have him stuffing envelopes with such trembling hands, but he wanted nothing else but to volunteer alongside his friends.

Mark, our newest staff member, recognized the need for detox for Gerardo and spent the morning calling around to find a program that would take him.  After several frustrating calls, he was able to find one place that would take Gerardo, but unfortunately they couldn't take him until Monday morning... and he had to be sober.

Now, for an alcoholic with decades of constant drinking, staying sober for three days is almost impossible (and even dangerous).  Most people wouldn't be able to survive that long without treatment.  But, when Gerardo's friends learned that he had a place to go on Monday, they rallied around him and swore to us that they would do everything in their power to help him stay safe and sober over the weekend.

One person promised: "We'll take him with us to dinner and Celebrate Recovery tonight"

Another person promised: "I'll make sure he gets breakfast and showers at Calvary Baptist in the morning."

Another person promised: "We'll stay with him to make sure he's sleeping okay throughout the night."

This morning, Gerardo was dressed in his best clothes and waiting at the door of Kingdom Causes for his ride to the residential program in LA.  As promised, his friends had stayed with him 24-7 over the weekend making sure he was safe, fed, and most importantly, sober.

All too often we forget that our homeless neighbors *can* give back to the community.  We see them as "needy" and keep them categorized as the focus of our charity and good deeds.  But, you'd be surprised how many of them are starving for the opportunity to help others and serve the community.  I am so moved by this particular group of homeless friends and how they cared for their friend.

They were the hands and feet of Jesus to Gerardo.

*Name changed to protect his privacy

Feels like Hope

You do you work the best that you can
You put one foot in front of the other
Life comes in waves and makes its demands
You hold on as well as you're able
You've been here for a long long time

But Hope has a way of turning its face to you just when you least expect it
You walk in a room you look out a window and something there leaves you breathless
You say to yourself it's been a while since I've felt this
But it feels like it might be Hope.

It's hard to recall what blew out the flame
It's been dark here since you can remember
You talk it all through to find it a name
As days go on by without number

-Sara Groves "It Might Be Hope"

If you've read our Fall newsletter, you know that it's been a hard season for us at KCB.  Some of the neighbors we've been working with for months (even years!) have experienced major setbacks.  Our hearts break when hope seems so far away even after so much hard work.  These people are not *just* our clients--they are our friends and neighbors.  The summer was full of holding back tears while we tried to remain hopeful and positive on behalf of them.

But, this morning.  Something feels different.

I walked in this morning to an office full of staff buzzing around with hope.  They were excited because a homeless neighbor we've been working intensely with for months got the thumbs up to move into his home this afternoon.  They were moved because they witnessed a group of homeless neighbors surround a vulnerable friend, also homeless, as he fought to stay sober over the weekend so he could get into a medical detox program this morning.

I'm now holding back tears of joy and gratefulness.  As much as my selfish and messed up heart breaks for the struggle of my neighbors, I know that God cares and hurts even more.  It's an honor to serve and believe in such a compassionate and loving God.

We invite you to join us in this beautiful work of walking alongside our neighbors.  It hurts, but it's worth it.  If you'd like to learn more about how you can get involved, please fill out this volunteer form and we will get back to you with the current opportunities.

(If you would like to receive our quarterly newsletter, please email us or call 562-804-2189.  You can listen to Sara Groves' song here.)

Final Summer Reflections

Crystal

 Final Art Show

       At the start of this internship, I was ready to make an impact, ready to see a new side of Bellflower. But what I found was so much more. I’ve realized where my place is in this city by helping others find theirs. It’s incredible to think that my mom & I moved to Bellflower when I was five, and this summer, I worked I worked with kids around that age who call this city their home.

       The best thing about interning with Kingdom Causes is the ability to see faith driven dreams become real in our everyday lives. Simple tasks such as setting up a community art show became what I looked forward to in my weeks spent here. I learned so much about myself as a leader and as a person. I know what my weaknesses are, and what I need to work on. I also know what my strengths are and where it is that I shine. 

       Most importantly, I’ve learned what the heartbeat of my city sounds like. It sounds like a mother’s “Thank you” or a child’s smile at their artwork or a neighbor’s patience as we help them find a place to call home. There’s a certain rhythm to the heartbeat of Bellflower. It goes, Struggle. Triumph. Repeat. 

      Our staff has taught me so much and has shed insane amounts of grace. It’s been a busy summer and it’s been a tough one as well. Despite all the chaos, God has shown me what His peace really looks like. It’s not the absence of struggles we should be hoping for, but the presence of His Spirit in the midst of them.

En Agape,

Crystal R. Luque

Ashley

Community BBQ @ Caruthers Park

This summer has been filled with so much joy, laughter, and hard work. I have learned so much these past couple of months while working for Kingdom Causes. Not only did I learn about event planning, time management, and community development, but I also learned more about God. Summer of 2015 has been the most memorable summer I have ever had.

I have learned so much about God this past summer and it is something that I never want to give up. I not only learned, but I saw God moving through people that I encountered in my role this summer. Even though I saw people in their struggles, I saw more people filled with gratefulness and love for God than I have ever seen. Our neighbors said so much with just their smile and that is one 

thing I will always remember.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was with regards to perspective. I got the full experience of my internship when I was able to put myself into another person's shoes. I got to understand as much as I could about someone and their situation when I just tried to see things in their eyes. At times, it was really difficult but doing so made me grow and I am glad that I was able to have this experience.

As this internship comes to an end, I will remember all the fun times I have had with the amazing people in the office and the great experiences I have gotten through this internship. I will truly miss the Kingdom Causes staff and am so grateful that I got this opportunity.

Ryan

My time interning at Kingdom Causes has come to an end. It's really a bittersweet moment. Sure I don't have to work anymore, and I get to go back to school soon (Yes I said, "get"), but I also have to leave a wonderful place and wonderful people. Everyone here has been a great help to me. I would name them all, but that would take too long, and I'm not THAT sentimental.

I am very thankful for the opportunity I was given to work here. I learned a lot about the inner workings of non-profits and finances. I gained and improved many valuable skills as well. Sure, there were challenges, but those challenges helped me grow and develop. I will never forget my experience working at Kingdom Causes.

Thank you all for supporting me, but most of all, thank you for supporting Bellflower.

Others-Centered Parenting

My daughter Emma likes to pretend that she can read. She’ll often flip through the pages of a memorized book and “read” to her younger brother. I was caught off guard the other day, though, when she picked a textbook (I think she thought it was a Bible) and began “reading” this story to me:

“Once upon a time there was a woman who had done bad things. So the mean people made a circle around her and were going to throw rocks at her. But Jesus stopped them. He said, ‘Haven’t you done bad things too? Then you can’t throw rocks at this woman’. The End”

I was stunned… where had she heard this Biblical account of the adulterous woman before? It’s not a typical choice for preschool Sunday School classes!! Then I suddenly remembered that I was the one who had told her that story a few months back.

Our family has continued to be involved with a young, homeless friend (I wrote about her a while back here). This friend, Samantha*, has weathered many highs and lows over the past few months. Addiction, life on the streets, a shattered home life, and various other barriers have kept her from being able to realize her God given potential and worth. Both of my kids (ages 4 and 2) know Samantha well, and she is very caring and compassionate toward them. However, Emma is a pretty observant 4 year old, and it wasn’t long before she would ask me more pressing questions about Samantha. Why doesn’t she have anywhere to live? Why does she look like that? Why isn’t she allowed to stay at our house anymore? She also began to resent the time that I spent with Samantha, not understanding why she had to join us all the time… “Why can’t it just be our family?!”

One day, we were driving home discussing a phone call I had received from Samantha. Emma could tell that it had upset me, so we were talking about it.

Emma: Did Samantha do something bad?

Me: Well, she didn’t make a good decision.

Emma: Well, I think she’s bad! She shouldn’t be able to come over anymore! 

Me: That’s not the way it works, Emma. We all make bad decisions sometimes, but God forgives us and gives us another chance; so we can do that for Samantha, too.

(I then told her… in preschool terms… the story of the adulterous woman above and what it means to “judge” someone as bad/good.)

I had all but forgotten about that conversation in the car until Emma “read” the story to me last week. I asked her if she remembered the reason why I told her that story. She did. In crystal clear detail she explained, “we need to keep helping Samantha even if we don’t want to because she has had a hard life and that’s why she makes bad decisions.”

At this point, my eyes were filled with tears. I continue to be hopeful that Samantha’s life will change… But honestly, there have been times when I’ve wondered if it’s worth it. All the hours, the “inconvenience” to my family or finances, the constant up and down… it’s hard! But this conversation with Emma brought me to tears because it reminded me about why we have tried to make service to others part of our family’s DNA.

When we serve, we’re sanctified. Sure, the person we’re helping may benefit, but each member of our family also gets a little closer to the heart of God with each “inconvenience” that we deal with on behalf of the marginalized.

My kids are learning that the world doesn’t revolve around them, that loving others is the best way to show that you love Jesus, and that sometimes loving others is Hard Work. My husband and I are still trying to navigate what this all looks like, but we’re thankful for the many families that have modeled this type of “missional parenting” to us.

I hope that when Emma remembers her childhood, she remembers a loving and warm family environment, lots of fun… but also a Jesus-centered family that put others’ needs above their own. That’s the goal, at least!

-Abbey :) 

*not her real name

P.S. We’re thinking about hosting a “Service-minded Families” training at Kingdom Causes sometime soon. It would be a few hours of learning together how to make service a family priority (for all stages of life, kids ages, etc). If this is something you are interested in learning more about for your family… comment here, email me at anishimoto@kcbellflower.org, or call 562-804-2189. Thanks!

Mid-Summer Intern Update

It's hard to believe it's already late July, and the end of our summer internship season is just around the corner. Our interns this year have been nothing short of all-stars, as they have all grabbed ahold of their roles and accomplished and learned much. Continue reading below to hear some brief updates from our summer interns!

    Youth/Arts Intern Crystal

Wow, what a crazy summer it's been! I can't believe how much God has accomplished in just a few short weeks. Seeking and serving Him has proven to be challenging, yet so rewarding. I have learned so much about what it means to not only work for the city, but with the city. There's a great difference in the two. To work with the city is to walk alongside the struggles and victories that life brings.

Our kids' summer programs are doing well! On Mondays, kids get to learn the fundamentals of art and have fun while doing it. Tuesday nights are about getting active and having fun with sports. Each Monday, I get to meet new kids in our community and see them express themselves in new ways that cant' always be taught. It's awesome to see their natural creativity being outworked in their artistic expression.

Here at Kingdom Causes, our summer internship is winding down, but each day (no matter how long it may seem at times) I'm realizing I truly am living the dream.

Finance/Marketing Intern Ryan

Hello, All! It has been over a month and a half since I started my internship at Kingdom Causes Bellflower, and I'm really enjoying it! I have been doing all manners of work for them. From handling Good Soil's finances, to designing flyers for community classes, I've been given quite the variety of tasks.

In order to get a better idea of what Good Soil industries is all about, I went out with one of the trucks and worked for a day. There I was able to interact with and get to know some of the men in the program. I had some great conversations that day. Knowing how much work they do each day has caused me to have nothing but respect for what they do. Jason has been doing wonderful work with the company.

I have worked most closely with Abbey Nishimoto, as she handles a lot of the financial aspects of Kingdom Causes. In the small amount of time I have learned an enormous amount about business and non-profits from her. With her by my side I was able to finish my projects with little headache. I am very grateful for her guidance.

As I look forward to the last few weeks of my internship I am thankful for the opportunity I have been given and the people who so want to see me succeed. Thank you all for supporting me and Kingdom Causes.

Homeless Outreach Intern Ashley

This summer has been one of the best I’ve experienced thus far. It’s not because the weather has been so great, with the hot sun shining down everyday, it’s because I have gotten to experience many things I didn’t think I could or would. This summer started off with getting what seemed like a million files together into a system by a deadline within the first week of working here. Crazy, right? But by doing that work I was able to learn and understand what this job really consists of. Learning this information now, I can use it for my future and have experience under my belt.

As I have grabbed ahold of how the systems work, I have been able to experience great things! I have gotten to see how unit inspections work and also see how moving someone into their new place can bring such joy to an individual or family. So far, this summer has been eye opening for me through seeing what God has done for everyone that I have encountered, whether it is from Saturday morning breakfast or in the office, it has been phenomenal and I am so happy to have gotten the opportunity to work with this organization.

Meet Our Summer Interns: Ashley

Hello readers, my name is Ashley Salazar and I am going to tell you about whom I am, what I love, and my exciting plans for this summer. Lets start with who I am and a little about myself. I am a seventeen-year-old girl who was born and raised in Long Beach, California. Growing up was amazing with my big loving family, we were all so close. I attended Valley Christian Schools all my life, and have made such great memories and friends through that community. My freshman year of high school I experienced the loss of my brother Jason. My family and I were very distraught and heartbroken. Although I loss one of my best friends, and it made me weak, but I was able to build a strong relationship with The Lord and I am so grateful for that.

            As a girl there is a lot of things that I am passionate about like shopping, cosmetology, and consistent Netflix movie nights. But, in my sophomore year of high school I experienced this thing that people liked to do in their free time called volunteering. I knew it had something to do with helping people, but I wasn’t entirely sure of what it consisted of. My first time volunteering was at the Long Beach Rescue Mission in downtown. I absolutely fell in love with helping people and I felt like God had called me down to the mission for a reason; to find what I love to do. What I love about volunteering with people and others in my community, is at the end of the day, seeing everything we have accomplished, and most importantly, seeing everyone with a smile on their face.

            Volunteering led me to join a class through my school called Service-Leadership which, in summary, is a class where every Wednesday, groups of students go out into the community and volunteer with different organizations, and that is how I came to know Kingdom Causes Bellflower. I have been volunteering with Kingdom Causes ever since (two years now) and I have developed great relationships with the employees here. I later discovered that they offer summer internship opportunities for high school graduates! I was so excited because I had recently decided that I wanted to go into Social Working and get my degree in it, so I thought this was absolutely God's calling for me to be a part of this organization.  I interviewed, and am thrilled to have been selected as an intern! I am going to be the intern involved with Homeless Outreach and Our Place Housing Solutions. I am so incredibly excited for this summer’s internship and I cannot wait to see what God has to in store for me this summer.