Labels

We live in an interesting world of societally-created designations. Put in simpler terms, we create some interesting words and labels. For example, take Kingdom Causes Bellflower. KCB is a “faith-based” organization, which is a designation that we embrace. We are unapologetically about loving our neighbors as ourselves because this is what Christ asks of His followers.

If you go to our website, you can read through our mission and vision statements, as well as our Statement of Faith. Included in our mission is the vision statement, “Our VISION is to see Bellflower transformed as God’s people live out the Great Commission locally.” That is what drives our work, and why we continue to pursue our mission.

What has become clear over the years is that society is not always comfortable with faith-based organizations. The concern is usually centered on two areas. One, there is a fear that faith-based organizations will only help their own, and that there may be a literal or metaphorical ideology detector at the front door. Two, there is a concern that the work being doing is restricted to proselytizing, which is a big word for witnessing, evangelizing or sharing a specific religious message. In practice, the fear would be that KCB walks up and down the streets hurling Bibles at our homeless neighbors, rather than helping them with more tangible needs.

We have found that some foundations will not even consider funding us because we are faith-based, even when we present clear evidence that we have a proven track record in the areas of homeless prevention, affordable housing, job creation and neighborhood development. The frustrating irony is that faith-based organizations can be the victim of discrimination by other entities that are fearful of discrimination. As I said, we live in an interesting world.

Lest this become a long lament about government designations or narrow foundation criteria, let us focus on some realities. In recent decades, the church has not done a good enough job showing love. We have talked about love, but we have also talked about a lot of other things that have turned society off to the Gospel message. To be fair, being a Christ-follower has never been about fitting in with society, nor will it ever be. In addition, the church has also done some amazing work around the world, loving people in myriad ways.

The point here is that we can still do a better job convincing people that when we talk about love, we mean it. Obviously, the word love is very broad, and secular society has used that word to justify all sorts of random behaviors and lifestyles. That doesn’t change the fact that we can always help our neighbor. At KCB, we do our best to get people off the street and prevent them from ending up there in the first place. We work to repair broken families, and keep fractured units from splitting. In addition, we work to create jobs, so that our neighbors can sustain themselves, make good choices, and be contributors to society.

Our faith-based status is something that we will not compromise on, and in some cases, it will cost us. Some people will understand that our faith is not just what we do, but why we do it. Regardless of who we encounter, we will do our best to help them. Society will suggest that you don’t need a specific faith to help your fellow human being, and they would be right. However, it certainly adds to the meaning when you consider that you are loving your brother or sister in Christ.

Social Justice

I heard a sermon the other day from the book of Amos. You must give pastors credit when they tackle the minor prophets, because generally the authors do not tend to be the most upbeat individuals. That said, we can certainly understand lament since we see reason for it every day.

One of the topics that was addressed in the sermon was the oft-debated topic of “social justice.” There are a lot of challenges with this concept, simply because it lacks a universal definition in society. Language can have a lyrical beauty when it is creatively assembled, but it can also be a frustrating part of the human existence, simply because meaning can quickly push people down different interpretational paths. Without starting a political firestorm, I know that words like “liberal,” “conservative,” and “evolution” can also carry enough metaphorical baggage with them to fill a cargo ship.

Just to provide a context, I looked up the Wikipedia definition. This controversial but terribly helpful website defines the phrase as, “justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.” When we read this type of general definition, we understand why people can engage in fierce debate about meaning, interpretation and application. Very quickly we find ourselves in a situation where “rich” and “poor” are categorized as fundamentally oppositional forces. Those that have quietly worked hard to earn a measure of money can feel like they are suddenly being persecuted for being successful. In addition, the conversation can wander into side arguments about poor lifestyle choices, government policy, racism, prejudice and economic philosophy.

To keep us on track, let me suggest a simple interpretation to this much-debated concept. In multiple places, the Bible tells me to love my neighbor, and be aware of people around me. Social justice should not be about forcing one group to fix the problems of another. Rather, it should fuel a daily desire to help our fellow brother and sister overcome the obstacles that are in front of them, whether they are from personal choices or external circumstances. This may be a simplistic interpretation of social justice, but sometimes it is best to focus on the basics. People have needs, and many individuals have the means to help them. Those means were given to us by God.

Now, the justice part is obviously complicated. When justice is “served,” it does not automatically mean that everyone gets what they want. Much like other nebulous concepts like “love,” how we help people can vary greatly. Sometimes God calls us to sacrificially give of our time, talents and treasures. Other times he calls us to empower the individual by letting them make their own choices to move forward.

There is one other piece to consider, which is the social aspect of this little phrase. After the sermon, a friend of mine asked if justice needs a qualifier. After all, isn’t “true” justice able to stand alone? Can’t we say the same about “true” love or “the whole” truth? This is a good point, but after thinking about it, I think there is value to the extra word in this context.

In this case, the word social personalizes the value of justice. Think about the phenomenon of social networking. Again, “networking,” does not necessarily need the social aspect, but the modern interpretation of this idea is that a social network is another way of saying MY network. In the same way, I wonder if social justice could be interpreted in a positive way to reflect our personal responsibility to act.

When we talk about the concept of justice, there can be a psychological distance between us and broader society. We have the same problem when we say phrases that start with “someone should…” or “someone needs to…”. Without the qualifier, we leave the responsibility to someone else.

You can’t fix every problem in this world, but that isn’t what God calls us to do. Start with that person you encounter on the street, at the mall, at our office, across the driveway, or in the pew next to you. We can keep debating the broad meaning of social justice, but let’s do our best to focus our energy on loving our neighbors in tangible ways. There are needs to be met, and the dictionary can wait.  

Family connections

I have always found family trees to be an interesting aspect of our journey here on earth. If you have the privilege of being in possession of an extensive family record, you can’t help but wonder what life might have been like for some of those people on distant family branches. The stories that do get passed down can be fascinating chronicles of human achievement, struggle and a desire to leave a legacy.

Last week we said goodbye to Margaret Streelman, a saint of a woman who exemplified Christian love, hospitality and a true understanding of what it means to love your neighbor. Margaret provided the inspiration for Margaret’s House, which today has evolved into a hospitality home that provides shelter for families that are working towards stability in their living situation.

At the entry of Margaret’s House, there is a plaque. The plaque reads, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.” This verse is from Hebrews 13:2, and it is a reminder that you never know who you will encounter each day. The key is to show the love of Christ to everyone you meet, not just at select times when we find it convenient.

From a perspective of genealogy, Margaret and I were distantly related if you pieced together a few branches from adjoining trees. The details are not crucial, but it is one of those grandparent-cousin-twice-removed-by-marriage situations. Regardless of how close our family trees aligned, it was one of those fun connections that make for good conversation. As people, we are always looking for new connections. Whether it is family, ideology, geography or rooting for the same sports team, we often look for ways to feel closer to other people.

As I think about Margaret’s legacy, I think about the writings of Father Greg Boyle, who founded Homeboy Industries while ministering to gang members in downtown Los Angeles. One of the prevailing themes of Father Boyle’s writing is that we need to have a sense of kinship as we approach our daily interactions with people. In other words, you aren’t ministering to a group of people. Rather, you are helping your brother or sister in Christ.

Kingdom Causes Bellflower works with a wide variety of people, including veterans, individuals who are struggling to find employments, and folks that are looking for a better housing situation. In particular, homelessness comes with a lot of labels. Over the years, I have heard people that are struggling to stay housed referred to as “bums,” “pan-handlers,” and “beggars.”

Without getting into a long discussion about the dangers of labeling and stereotypes, these names are an unfortunate reminder that we put people into categories. We may still acknowledge in a general sense that they are people, but by giving them a name that reflects their social status, we chip away at their humanity.

What is the point? The point is that everyone we meet is truly our brother or sister, or at least a distant cousin. The person’s family tree may be planted at quite a distance from yours, but to echo Father Boyle and emulate the love of Margaret Streelman, everyone is your kin. I understand why people are hesitant to reach out sometimes. People are frustrating, and sometimes they are in poor situations because they have a history of making bad decisions. That said, everyone needs love at some point in their lives. The love that is given can come in different forms. Sometimes it is a tangible helping hand, and other times it is loving, firm accountability. What we must remember is that the key aspect of ministry is attitude. You aren’t doing charity work. You are loving your brother, sister or cousin, even if you would have a hard time matching up your genealogies.

Today, we balance our sadness by remembering that Margaret is now sitting with Jesus, having fulfilled her calling to remain faithful during her earthly walk. May we honor her legacy by continuing to love the brothers and sisters that we meet each day.

Transitions

I started my fundraising career at age 13, raising money for a 24-hour world hunger awareness fast held at my junior high. I took to the task of getting sponsors with gusto, not because I was excited about fasting for 24 hours, but because I believed in what we were doing.

31 years later I am back in a fundraising role as the new Development Director for Kingdom Causes Bellflower. The circumstances have changed a bit, as has my understanding of the world around me. While there are still people in faraway lands that need help, there are also brothers and sisters in our neighborhoods that need to feel the love of Christ.

What hasn’t changed is that fundraising is so much easier when you truly believe in the cause.

After nine years on the Board of Directors and five years as President, I felt like it was time to step away. There were other people who were capable of leading, and every organization can benefit from a different perspective from time to time. Serving on the board was an amazing and challenging experience, as we prayed many prayers of “give us today our daily bread.” KCB has been blessed by so much support from the community over the years, but I can honestly say that we have never experienced sustained comfort from a financial standpoint. Perhaps that is part of task of remaining faithful to the work of loving others. When we are unable to get comfortable from the standpoint of worldly wealth, it keeps us focused on the reality of daily needs in our community. Looking back, I have been reminded constantly that humility is part of the journey for all of us.

The stories are endless. Some stories have been heart-wrenching, while others have brought tears of joy. People are complicated and lives are messy. That is a constant, and something that will always be a part of our work.

I find it fascinating how God equips people for certain tasks. Most people I encounter don’t love to raise funds, and writing grants does not exactly cause others to covet my small role in the organization. For whatever reason, I enjoy both. Maybe it is because both functions provide an opportunity to tell some amazing stories of transformation.

In the coming weeks, I will share more of my experiences and perspectives as I tell the story of KCB to a broader audience. In the meantime, I encourage you to think about your role in your local community. The functional elements of my job focus on the financial realities of sustaining a non-profit organization, but I don’t just want your wallet. More importantly, I ask you consider giving your time and your heart.

KCB has been blessed with the opportunity to bring together a lot of amazing people over the last ten years. Much progress has been made, but the work continues. I look forward to finding a way for you to join us in this journey.

Brent Webb

Over the weekend I attended the memorial service for a long-time volunteer of KCB--Brent Webb.  Calvary Baptist's sanctuary was packed full of hundreds of people whose lives were impacted by Brent.  Pastor Ken opened up the service for people to share a memory of Brent... and after 10 people shared he had to cut it off because half the room had a story about how Brent had helped them out and prayed with them in their deepest time of need.

It got me thinking...

If Brent was so busy helping hundreds of his friends from Cider House, Celebrate Recovery, and Calvary Baptist, how did he and Michelle have time to help lead our Teen Bible Study & Dinner on Eucalyptus back in 2008?  How did he have time to help us with plumbing emergencies at Margaret's House when it first opened?  How did he have time to hang out on Saturday mornings at Homeless Breakfast & Showers for so many years?  How did he have time to work with our team as we moved a storage unit on his property to keep furniture to use when a homeless neighbor got moved into their own home?

How did he have time?

Phillip Marshall, a close friend of Brent and one of the founding members of the KCB Homeless Task Force, got up and spoke during the service.  He urged us all to take Brent's lead and pick up where he left off.  If one man can be such an encouragement to hundreds, imagine if we were all a little more intentional with our time.  Brent lived life to the fullest as an extension of God's hands and feet.  He loved like Jesus loved.  Bellflower lost one of it's most compassionate and dedicated neighbors.  Let's do our part to fill in the gaps!

Intern Update: Thomas

Wow what an incredible start to summer!

These past few weeks with Kingdom Causes has been an absolute rush. I’ve learned so much more than I thought I would from this internship, and we are only halfway done with the summer. Seeing the work, struggle, and success of KCB first hand has given me a clearer picture of what it takes to make an impactful difference in this community. The amount of work to get one of our homeless neighbors into a suitable home is extraordinary and takes so many people’s dedication and time. I was blessed enough to take a very small part of getting one of our neighbors housed by helping move some donated furniture into his new place.

This summer I have also been assisting in a couple of camps throughout Bellflower. By working with Bethany Christian Reformed Church, we have been able to put on science, basketball, art, and soccer camps for local children. In addition to these camps, I have also been helping our good friend Mark run his sports camps at Ramona Elementary. Needless to say, running around and trying to keep up with these kids has shown me just how old I’ve gotten. But the amount of joy I get watching them compete and learn more about our Savior more than makes up for the aches, pains, and exhaustion.

What this internship has taught me more than anything so far is that sometimes our plans fall through and we have to make the most with what we got. Many times this summer, the camps we are running have run into both major and minor hiccups. It’s easy to get frustrated, angry, or accusatory when things don’t go our way. However, when we remember our ultimate goal as both Christ followers and as disciple makers, we focus on how to utilize the opportunities we are given to reach the lost and bless our neighbors. As the second and last month of this internship comes upon us, I’m really trying to work on my reliance on God for satisfaction, especially when plans go awry and when we don’t see any tangible impact on others through our work

Meet our 2016 Summer Interns!

Each year, through a generous donations from one of our long-time KCB stakeholders, we are able to provide a summer internship program focused on providing training and experience in Christian Community Development.  These are the lovely faces we get to work with this summer!



Meet Keaulani:

Happy summer everyone! My name is Keaulani Quiatchon, and I am one of the summer interns at Kingdom Causes Bellflower for Neighborhood Engagement. I was born and grew up on a little island called Saipan. But for the past eleven years, I've been lucky enough to call the City of Belflower my home. I just finished up my first year of college at San Diego State University, majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and minoring in Child Development to hopefully become a speech therapist for children. A church I briefly attended in Norwalk had fellowship between the hearing and the deaf, which really strengthened my interest to pursue that in college. Working the in the community has always been one of my values, since doing community service through different organizations like Key Club and tutoring elementary and middle school students through Olive Crest. So working with the youth in the neighborhood is something I'm looking forward to. Being away for college, I didn't hear about this internship until my mom sent me the information for it a few weeks before my last final of the semester. I'm very excited to see where this opportunity takes me while working with the staff and other interns and seeing God's plan for me and the city!

Meet Andrew:

Hello! My name is Andrew Burger. I am twenty years old and am lucky enough to be a summer intern here at Kingdom Causes Bellflower. I am studying Applied Math and Economics in my third year at California State University, Long Beach.

My interest in KCB stemmed from two passions of mine, economics and service. I find the work that Good Soil Industries fascinating as it combines my interest of employment economics and service in order to benefit the community.  For the summer, I will be working with Jason on marketing and business analysis for Good Soil Industries. I am excited and grateful to have an opportunity to serve while developing and understanding for how Non-Profits run.
 
  
  
Meet Grenisha:
 

My name’s Grenisha Parker and this summer I have the honor of working as the Homeless Outreach Intern at Kingdom Causes Bellflower. Not only am I excited to be joining a team who is striving to love their neighbor as themselves. But I am also so humbled to simply serve my brothers and sisters in my community as a believer and daughter of Jesus Christ. This summer will be a beautiful journey because I’m learning how to love my neighbors well and learning how to trust Jesus in all that he does. One thing that I look forward to during this internship is letting go of all my expectations and believing that God’s ways are higher than my own and He is capable of providing all of their needs. There is much joy in knowing that I get to help people in need but I also get to build friendships with them.
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

Meet Thomas:

Hi! I’m Hi  Thomas Nishimoto and will be interning this summer at Kingdom Causes Bellflower. I am so excited to be able to join the KCB team and bless Bellflower this summer! 

A little bit about my personal life: I am a junior at Grace College in Winona Lake Indiana, but I was born and raised right here in the Bellflower area. My hobbies when I’m not pretending to study are fishing, hiking, sports (especially Volleyball and Basketball!), and playing Super Smash Bros (a video game) competitively. 

 I have been connected with KCB for years and have seen their amazing work in the community.  My sister-in-law had worked with KCB and so both my family and church has been able to bless this community through Kingdom Causes.  I know this organization makes real, tactile change in the community and they have been able to bless this entire community through their works. Knowing how amazing this place is makes me so eager to start working for them. You can catch me this summer running science, art and sports camps at Bethany Reformed Church , or working at the KCB.  I’m looking forward to becoming more connected to my neighbors here in Bellflower. This summer will be new and interesting, but I’m thrilled to be doing it with Kingdom Causes

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Summer Volunteer Opportunities

Summer Volunteer Opportunities

Move-In Team

We need your muscles!  The Move-In Team helps recently housed neighbors move in to their new home.  Be a part of the final step that takes our neighbors from homeless to housed!  If you are interested in being on call to help our staff on moving days throughout the month, please call us at 562-804-2189 or email Mark: mtigchelaar@ourplacehousingsolutions.org.

92° Team

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward." - Matthew 10:42

When the temperature rises above 92° in Bellflower, we need a list of people who are willing to bring ice cold gatorade, water, or popsicles out to our Good Soil Industries landscaping crews.  This is ideal for families who are home for the summer vacation and have the flexibility during the week to make a 10-minute run to drop off refreshments.  If you are interested in blessing our GSI guys, please call us at 562-804-2189 or email drustad@kcbellflower.org.

Summer Neighborhood Programs

Programs:

Soup-er Theater Summer

Co-hosted with Neighborhood Christian Fellowship

July 12-August 12

Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10am-12pm

Location: NCF • 9603 Belmont St. (enter on Ardmore)

$5 per participant

Kids ages 5-9 will participate by playing roles in the play SOUP FOR THE KING by Leondard P. Kessler.  Kids ages 10-12 will participate by assisting memorization of lines, creating backdrops and set, directing, creating play bill, serving the soup for attendees, and all phases of play creation.  The program will culminate with a "Souper" Theater show in August at the NCF auditorium where friends and family can watch the final production while enjoying a bowl of soup!  Sign up at KCB office or by calling 562-804-2189.

Summer Sports Camp

Tuesday nights from 6-7:30pm

June 28-August 7

Location: Ramona Elementary School Field • 9351 Laurel St.

$5 per participant

Anyone from 7 years old to 8th grade is welcome! Kids will learn skills in soccer, basketball, and football!  Sign up at KCB office or by calling 562-804-2189.

Bethany CRC Men Bless Good Soil Industries

Seven of our Good Soil Industries and Kingdom Causes Bellflower guys attended the Bethany CRC Men's Adventure Weekend in Bishop, CA in April. For many of the guys, this was the first time they had the opportunity to go on a Christian retreat, let alone in such a beautiful location. They came back refreshed, energized, and completely blessed by the relationships they built with God, each other, and with the other men from the church. 

A few guys who recently reunited with their children are now planning camping trips with their own families.  We are so grateful that Bethany CRC provided such an amazing opportunity for our hardworking men who are working their way out of poverty.  If you would like to know more about being a friend or mentor to our GSI alumni, please email Jason (jason@goodsoilindustries.org).  

Here are some pictures from their time:

75

We praise you, God,

we praise you, for your Name is near;

people tell of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 75:1

75 is the number of people we were able to help get off the streets and into safe, permanent housing since July 1, 2015.  It's a big number for us--something we celebrate because it means 75 people have their own bed to sleep in, their own bathroom to use in privacy, their own kitchen to make nutritious food, and a roof to shelter them from the hot sun, rain, and bugs.  

We praise God for our many supporters who make donations, big and small, and keep us in their prayers.

We praise God for our church partners who open their doors to the vulnerable in our community through their food pantries, clothes closets, and warm meal times: Calvary Baptist, Warrior Center, Bethany CRC, Holy Redeemer, The Lord's Church, Rosewood CRC, Journey of Faith, St. Bernard, Salvation Army, Hosanna Chapel, St. Dominic Savio, Bellwood Church, St. George's, Emmanuel, The Journey, and Cityline Church.

We praise God for our partners who collaborate and support us in the field: PATH, Helpline Youth Counseling, Whittier First Day, City of Long Beach Multi-service Center, St. John's Mobile Health Clinic, and Little House.

We praise God for our funders that provide the money to cover a majority of our housing staffing and the financial assistance to our most vulnerable neighbors: United Way of Greater Los Angeles, Gateway Cities Council of Government/Gateway Connections, City of Bellflower, Kaiser Permanente, and The Funder's Collaborative.

We praise God for the volunteers that help out at the weekly meals and food pantries throughout the city.  We praise God for the donors who make welcome home baskets for our homeless neighbors who are getting the keys to their own apartment for the first time.  We praise God for the volunteers who help us move furniture into the apartment of a newly housed neighbor.

We praise God for our local businesses that give us a break or donate their services: Admiral Pest Control, Expert Carpet Care, L&D Plumbing, Nate White, Mulder Electric, Mid-city's Electric, and Property Tax Assistance Co.

We praise God.

Last Day Reflections from Abbey

Today is my last day working at KCB, so of course I’m in reflection mode, and I can’t help but think back to my very first day.

I started at KCB as an Americorps volunteer, fresh out of college and knowing absolutely nothing about community development or nonprofit work. I thought I had come to KCB to run a teen drop-in center. As it turned out, God had other plans.

On my first day our Executive Director, Ryan, told me about a family who was living in the park. A young mother and her two toddler boys had been seen sleeping overnight at Simms Park, and the park staff had called Kingdom Causes to see what we could do. This started my “baptism by fire” into the world of social services and broken systems.

So as a young, privileged, and out of touch 21-year-old, I was frantically driving this mom and her kids around to various social services agencies, getting increasingly angered at the brokenness I witnessed first hand. Referral, after referral, after referral. Long lines, rude workers, and insensitivity abounded. By the end of the day, I was exhausted and heartbroken. Through some connections that Ryan had at KCB, we were able to get this young mom into a program where she and her kids were safe. I don’t know if she remembers that day, but in my mind it’s as clear as if it happened yesterday. I was forever changed.

Since that day, I’ve learned so much about poverty, community development, justice, and the role of the church in all of it. I’ve seen incredible life change and transformation:

-The dad who spent most of his life in prison, but committed himself to his daughter when he was released, and was reunited with her through a stay at Margaret’s House and job with Good Soil.

-The mom and kids who broke down in tears when they were given the keys to their first apartment of their own after fleeing domestic violence and suffering months of homelessness.

-The kids who began dreaming about what their future careers would be, after being exposed for the first time to professionals and education opportunities.

There are so many stories of life change among marginalized populations that I could name. But honestly, the change in me was greater than all of these. I learned that poverty is not about a lack of material things… it’s about brokenness. And we are ALL broken. Whether emotionally, relationally, spiritually, or socially… there are things in our lives that are in desperate need of repair, even if we might appear more put together than the person pushing a shopping cart down the street.

So, (not that anyone is asking) if I had to give one piece of “wisdom” or advice after working in this field for the past seven years… this would be it:

Stepping into relationship with those that are “other” makes all the difference in the world. It’s worth the risk.

At some point, a few of our “clients” became friends. As I recognized my own brokenness and pride, I began to see the image of God in every face and every story. I began to recognize the miracles that were happening all around (and inside) me. This is the difference between the way that KCB works and most other social service agencies. We recognize that reconciled relationships are what make the lasting transformation possible.

Is it risky? Of course. Entering into a REAL relationship with someone who is very different than you brings with it all sorts of messiness. People will take advantage of you, steal from you, cuss you out, and hurt you deeply. But didn’t we do the same to Jesus? Don’t we continue to take HIM for granted every day? Yet—he continues to love us.

So, what is poverty? One of my favorite speakers named Claudio Oliver puts it this way… “Poverty is a lack of friendship”. So, let’s end poverty together. Let’s make a new friend today.

-Abbey