I am excited to see what God is doing throughout our city. During the 40 days of prayer leading up to Palm Sunday a group of pastors gathered weekly to pray for the city of Bellflower and seek his blessing of our community.
During the last few months Pastor Tom from Bellflower Brethren Church, Pastor Dennie from the Neighborhood Christian Fellowship and Pastor Mosheh from By the Book Church have been meeting to brainstorm how these churches that share a common neighborhood, Oak Street, can work together to bless it.
This summer these churches will be working together through an intern who will be leading an effort of getting to know and organize neighborhood leaders for community transformation. We're seeing God expand the work of his people into another neighborhood! Praise him!
Friday, May 04, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Visit to Phillight Studios
On Thursday our photography class visited Phillight Studio in downtown Bellflower. The owner, Phillip Young, was gracious enough to spend time with our class showing the students how a camera works. We also were able to take some shots in the studio section and learn how to edit pictures with PhotoShop. If you're thinking of getting portraits done, you should definitely visit Phillight.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Signs of Transformation
Two years ago with our propane stove under the freeway overpass we met Kenny.
A relationship formed between him and many others who were part of Outreach and Engagement.
We would see him on Tuesdays and Saturdays and as we drove through a parking lot near a local food joint. He would come and chat. We would ask about his girlfriend and what he had been up to. Often times he would initiate good conversations which would lead us into prayer for sobriety and clarity for the future.
Many felt connected to Kenny because of prayer times. Each anticipating the next time we would see him and hope he was ready to live into sobriety.
Last week he gave me a small cardboard sign with a contact number and a message. I contacted the number and it was his mom. I talked with her and she let me know how much she anticipated some healthy direction for her son. Her other son had just got clean and she was delighted that Kenny seemed ready.
We got together with Kenny and his mom and talked about options for sobriety. We took him down to the Long Beach Rescue Mission where we talked with a Chaplain. I watched as the Chaplain asked Kenny about what it meant to be a Christian. He asked Kenny if he believed one part of him could be perfect. Kenny reflected that he was pretty bad- that his mental thoughts were wrong and that his physical body wanted to consume unhealthy things.
By the time we left the office, Kenny had energy about the idea that the Holy Spirit is perfect and once it was inside of him, it would guide and direct his mental thoughts and his physical actions.
Kenny is currently on his 6th day at the Mission and is awaiting entrance to a 1 year program.
Praise the Lord. He changes people!
Pray for Kenny. He wants a change!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Elementary Students Mentor Adult in Gardening (humbling & humorous!)
The Horticulture Program at Long Beach City College donated 5 flats of herbs, vegetables & flowers for us to plant in the neighborhood. I need to wait for my friend to get back before we plant any, because if I am in charge, the plants will surely die! Some of my favorite girls from the street walked by and helped me water them all. A few weeks ago they came over to see my mini lettuce garden (which was looking great at the time). When they saw it today, all shrivelled up from either too much water or lack of water, they offered their help in keeping the other plants alive. I found it pretty humorous. They're in 1st & 3rd grade! I'll try to get some pictures of our little project. If you have any gardening advice... please pass it on to me!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Whole Lotta Talent!!!
We took the class out last Thursday to take pictures at the City Plaza. Even though the sky was brown with dust from the windy day, the kids still managed to take some amazing pictures. Take a look:
Friday, April 13, 2007
Church of Bellflower Palm Sunday Potluck
"How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!"
Psalm 133:1
On April 1, Palm Sunday, several congregations of the church of Bellflower gathered for a time of connecting and celebration. During the 40 days before Christians through out our city were praying for our city. We prayed for our city leaders, for teachers, for gang members, for kids and many other people in our city. At the dinner we sang songs of praise to God for the answers to prayer that we had witnessed. People recieving healing, people moving from homelessness to health and more. God is good and it certainly is good and pleasant when we God's people live in unity!
Pastor Mosheh from By the Book Church prayed at the end of the night and he prayed that this event might just be the beginning and that some momentum might build for gatherings like this Palm Sunday Potluck to be more frequent. I agree!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Words of Transformation
The great Henry Nouwen speaks true words about the Human Condition. These words seem fitting for anyone who is trying to reach out and connect with someone- from your neighbor next door to the homeless individual you see weekly at the park.
Hospitality –Creating Space for the Stranger
Estrangement, a feeling of not belonging, is one of the hallmark characteristics of the experience of homelessness. One becomes separated from usual activities, relationships, and sense of place and purpose in the world. Literally, one becomes a stranger. The longer
homelessness persists, the more deeply ingrained this sense of alienation becomes.
“Offering the gift of hospitality” is a useful way for care provider’s to think about overcoming this estrangement. In his book Reaching Out, Henri Nouwen defines hospitality as “creating free and friendly space for the stranger.” This definition takes us well beyond images
of tea and sandwiches being shared in a pristine setting. Instead it points us towards new and deeper relationships in our lives. Hospitality offered to the stranger is an invitation to a relationship – a relationship that provides a welcoming face and presence – that
creates a sense of refuge from an often impersonal, hostile world. Hence, the person experiencing homelessness can have a taste of being “at home” in the context of a safe, friendly relationship. A hospitable relationship comes with no strings attached. It does not pass judgment and does not make demands. Instead, it provides a space in which the other can freely explore one’s own needs, abilities and hopes. Such a relationship becomes both a “resting place” and a
“guiding light.” It provides a place of self-reflection and restoration. It instills and renews hope.
The power of hospitality lies not in coercion but in careful listening, reflection, information and kindly persuasion. It encourages, but does not force. It is built upon the trustworthiness, competency and integrity of the provider. When we think of our own experiences of being graced with the hospitable presence of another, we remember it as calming, orienting
and renewing. It is like remembering who we are – returning to our true home – so that we can once again move ahead more confidently in our lives. The absence of such a presence often leads to isolation, dis-orientation, confusion and despair. Like all of us, people experiencing homelessness need hospitable relationships in their lives. Hospitality is offered in many ways – sometimes by a simple gesture of acknowledgement, a warm smile, a cup of coffee, listening
patiently without interrupting, offering information, a word of encouragement, or simply by being present with the other person in silence. Hospitality requires time, patience and kindly persistence. It cannot be rushed. It sees the “bigger picture” rather than seeking the
“quick fix.” As trust within the relationship builds, a sense of companionship develops (see Rennebohm’s Relational Outreach and Engagement Model). Time is spent together on a more predictable basis. The homeless individual shares more and more of his or her story. Small
tasks are shared. Inquiries are made about other resources. In time, hospitality leads to increasing the “circle of care” to help the individual access needed resources and services. In this manner, medical, housing, financial, counseling and other treatment and social service
needs are met. Over time, as the individual progresses toward greater stability, the relationship moves into a phase of increasing mutuality. It is not just one-sided. Once a stranger, the individual has now become a neighbor and friend. We discover that our stories are interwoven and that we are bonded by our common humanity. In this mutuality, each person is recognized for the strengths and gifts that they bring to the relationship as well as to the larger community.
In the end, hospitality that is given becomes hospitality received.
- Ken Kraybill
Hospitality –Creating Space for the Stranger
Estrangement, a feeling of not belonging, is one of the hallmark characteristics of the experience of homelessness. One becomes separated from usual activities, relationships, and sense of place and purpose in the world. Literally, one becomes a stranger. The longer
homelessness persists, the more deeply ingrained this sense of alienation becomes.
“Offering the gift of hospitality” is a useful way for care provider’s to think about overcoming this estrangement. In his book Reaching Out, Henri Nouwen defines hospitality as “creating free and friendly space for the stranger.” This definition takes us well beyond images
of tea and sandwiches being shared in a pristine setting. Instead it points us towards new and deeper relationships in our lives. Hospitality offered to the stranger is an invitation to a relationship – a relationship that provides a welcoming face and presence – that
creates a sense of refuge from an often impersonal, hostile world. Hence, the person experiencing homelessness can have a taste of being “at home” in the context of a safe, friendly relationship. A hospitable relationship comes with no strings attached. It does not pass judgment and does not make demands. Instead, it provides a space in which the other can freely explore one’s own needs, abilities and hopes. Such a relationship becomes both a “resting place” and a
“guiding light.” It provides a place of self-reflection and restoration. It instills and renews hope.
The power of hospitality lies not in coercion but in careful listening, reflection, information and kindly persuasion. It encourages, but does not force. It is built upon the trustworthiness, competency and integrity of the provider. When we think of our own experiences of being graced with the hospitable presence of another, we remember it as calming, orienting
and renewing. It is like remembering who we are – returning to our true home – so that we can once again move ahead more confidently in our lives. The absence of such a presence often leads to isolation, dis-orientation, confusion and despair. Like all of us, people experiencing homelessness need hospitable relationships in their lives. Hospitality is offered in many ways – sometimes by a simple gesture of acknowledgement, a warm smile, a cup of coffee, listening
patiently without interrupting, offering information, a word of encouragement, or simply by being present with the other person in silence. Hospitality requires time, patience and kindly persistence. It cannot be rushed. It sees the “bigger picture” rather than seeking the
“quick fix.” As trust within the relationship builds, a sense of companionship develops (see Rennebohm’s Relational Outreach and Engagement Model). Time is spent together on a more predictable basis. The homeless individual shares more and more of his or her story. Small
tasks are shared. Inquiries are made about other resources. In time, hospitality leads to increasing the “circle of care” to help the individual access needed resources and services. In this manner, medical, housing, financial, counseling and other treatment and social service
needs are met. Over time, as the individual progresses toward greater stability, the relationship moves into a phase of increasing mutuality. It is not just one-sided. Once a stranger, the individual has now become a neighbor and friend. We discover that our stories are interwoven and that we are bonded by our common humanity. In this mutuality, each person is recognized for the strengths and gifts that they bring to the relationship as well as to the larger community.
In the end, hospitality that is given becomes hospitality received.
- Ken Kraybill
Outreach and Assessment
This is a great short article for anyone who is interested in thinking about deeper issues to "Why are people Homeless?" and, "What can I do?"
Our Theory of Change believes that Homelessness will end once individuals take the time to know someone "through and through". This takes a lot of patience and time.
We must ask the Holy Spirit to give us the insight and compassion to listen and look inside of people.
I have extracted pieces of the original article for our use. Assessment is the process of gathering information from an indiviudal in a professional setting. I insist that these grand skills not be used just for professionals, but rather for all individuals who desire to be part of the solution of Homelessness. I have highlited key phrases.
Outreach and Assessment by Ken Kraybill
"Assessment is not unlike putting together a puzzle. It requires laying out the pieces, sorting and organizing them in general categories, and then forming a piece by piece. It takes time and concentrated effort. The assessment process is not to be confused with diagnosis in the narrow way the term is commonly used – as a shorthand description or label. The literal
meaning of diagnosis is “to know through and through.” Defined in this way, diagnosis and assessment do in fact become one and the same. To know someone “through and through” suggests taking the time to listen very carefully to that person’s story. Otherwise, assessment will be limited in its accuracy and usefulness. While it is relatively easy to assess the obvious – that someone is wearing inadequate clothing for the weather, or has skin wounds that need attention, or is intoxicated – it is more difficult to come to an understanding of what has brought them to this point in their lives or what hinders them from moving ahead. Is the individual unaware of help available? Has he or she given up on ever having a better life? Harboring guilt that is too great to even express? Been hurt emotionally once too many times to care anymore? Struggling with inner voices, real or imagined, which denigrate the individual over and over? Too angry to want anybody’s caring or help? These are the questions to which workers must seek answers. Such answers can be learned only through a relational approach
to assessment. Thorough assessment requires that we observe not only what is readily apparent, but also what is “hidden.” This means seeing with a “third eye” perspective. That is, listening for nuance, noting ambivalence, observing what’s missing, paying attention to your own reactions and intuition, and testing out ideas. The “hidden” is the part of the person’s story that is revealed as the bond of trust between worker and client grows stronger and stronger.
As outreach workers, we can miss a lot of critical knowledge if we avoid the “hidden” and jump to conclusions in assessment and offer help prematurely. For example, experienced outreach workers know that it can not be assumed that someone living on a river bank in a makeshift tent would rather stay in a mission or public shelter or want permanent housing for that matter. Or, that someone who is feeling ill wants to see a medical provider. Or, that a person who is
experiencing depression will be eager to be treated with medications. Frequently, the deeper psychological and emotional problems that individuals face keep them from resolving their homelessness-related problems of housing, income, and seeking health care and social service assistance. Acknowledging and attempting to address these deep-down issues cannot be ignored if we are to be successful in helping people move from the streets toward greater stability.
In Health Care for the Homeless programs some outreach workers are generalists while others have specialized training in medicine, mental health, addictions or in working with specific populations of homeless people. Therefore, the emphasis or targeting of assessment activities will vary from provider to provider. However, it remains the responsibility of all providers involved in outreach to strive to know individuals “through and through” so as to be accurate
in assessment and effective with our interventions."
Our Theory of Change believes that Homelessness will end once individuals take the time to know someone "through and through". This takes a lot of patience and time.
We must ask the Holy Spirit to give us the insight and compassion to listen and look inside of people.
I have extracted pieces of the original article for our use. Assessment is the process of gathering information from an indiviudal in a professional setting. I insist that these grand skills not be used just for professionals, but rather for all individuals who desire to be part of the solution of Homelessness. I have highlited key phrases.
Outreach and Assessment by Ken Kraybill
"Assessment is not unlike putting together a puzzle. It requires laying out the pieces, sorting and organizing them in general categories, and then forming a piece by piece. It takes time and concentrated effort. The assessment process is not to be confused with diagnosis in the narrow way the term is commonly used – as a shorthand description or label. The literal
meaning of diagnosis is “to know through and through.” Defined in this way, diagnosis and assessment do in fact become one and the same. To know someone “through and through” suggests taking the time to listen very carefully to that person’s story. Otherwise, assessment will be limited in its accuracy and usefulness. While it is relatively easy to assess the obvious – that someone is wearing inadequate clothing for the weather, or has skin wounds that need attention, or is intoxicated – it is more difficult to come to an understanding of what has brought them to this point in their lives or what hinders them from moving ahead. Is the individual unaware of help available? Has he or she given up on ever having a better life? Harboring guilt that is too great to even express? Been hurt emotionally once too many times to care anymore? Struggling with inner voices, real or imagined, which denigrate the individual over and over? Too angry to want anybody’s caring or help? These are the questions to which workers must seek answers. Such answers can be learned only through a relational approach
to assessment. Thorough assessment requires that we observe not only what is readily apparent, but also what is “hidden.” This means seeing with a “third eye” perspective. That is, listening for nuance, noting ambivalence, observing what’s missing, paying attention to your own reactions and intuition, and testing out ideas. The “hidden” is the part of the person’s story that is revealed as the bond of trust between worker and client grows stronger and stronger.
As outreach workers, we can miss a lot of critical knowledge if we avoid the “hidden” and jump to conclusions in assessment and offer help prematurely. For example, experienced outreach workers know that it can not be assumed that someone living on a river bank in a makeshift tent would rather stay in a mission or public shelter or want permanent housing for that matter. Or, that someone who is feeling ill wants to see a medical provider. Or, that a person who is
experiencing depression will be eager to be treated with medications. Frequently, the deeper psychological and emotional problems that individuals face keep them from resolving their homelessness-related problems of housing, income, and seeking health care and social service assistance. Acknowledging and attempting to address these deep-down issues cannot be ignored if we are to be successful in helping people move from the streets toward greater stability.
In Health Care for the Homeless programs some outreach workers are generalists while others have specialized training in medicine, mental health, addictions or in working with specific populations of homeless people. Therefore, the emphasis or targeting of assessment activities will vary from provider to provider. However, it remains the responsibility of all providers involved in outreach to strive to know individuals “through and through” so as to be accurate
in assessment and effective with our interventions."
Friday, April 06, 2007
Released
The events of this story and timing are true and perfectly wrapped inside of God's hand. Sometimes it's like maybe the activities of our life are clinched in God's hand and then sometimes he opens the fist and blows and out comes this perfect story that he's been dying to reveal to us.
( I think there should be a Nooma video for what I just wrote)
I was on the freeway with my friend Jason, driving to his mom's house. The air in my Volkswagen van was thick with the joy of a weekend pass. I had met Jason a year and a half prior to these events. Members of our Homeless Task Force would take our campstoves under the freeway to talk and listen to what the homelessness experience was like.
Over time, Jason grew fond of our human/spiritual experience and entered rehab. He soon joined the ranks of the old timer recovery guys by living with his story of recovery on his cuff and joining our Street Outreach to the Homeless.
Personal Journal Entry...March 2, 2007
"Jason got a purple heart for saving a guys life"
As we drove I got a call from a random number on my phone. I felt compelled to answer. Raul, from a local liquor said, "a guy named Eric is out front and wanted me to call you. he said he was ready!"
I shared the news with Jason. The air of joy in my van increased dramatically. Eric was Jason's street buddy. We knew the long lost friend was coming home.
On the scene.......lot's happend but i only have one picture...
...Eric was pretty loaded and suicidal. Eyes full of mustard and ketchup, he rolled around on the grass with a freshly twisted ankle. The rock bottom was pretty evident. At one key moment, he rolled onto his side and slowly onto a knee where he pointed at Jason and said, "I want what you got."
God just released a year and a half full of events from his hand into the air for composure.
Jason took over and talked to Eric about his story of recovery. He related to him and gave him vision for the future. First person experience couldn't have been timed any better for this occasion. Eric listened and acted. We took him to a 10 day detox. Volunteers from the Homeless Task Force wrote letters, called and visited him.
He's doing his rehab. I hope he get's a weekend pass soon because I know now what that means.
( I think there should be a Nooma video for what I just wrote)
I was on the freeway with my friend Jason, driving to his mom's house. The air in my Volkswagen van was thick with the joy of a weekend pass. I had met Jason a year and a half prior to these events. Members of our Homeless Task Force would take our campstoves under the freeway to talk and listen to what the homelessness experience was like.
Over time, Jason grew fond of our human/spiritual experience and entered rehab. He soon joined the ranks of the old timer recovery guys by living with his story of recovery on his cuff and joining our Street Outreach to the Homeless.
Personal Journal Entry...March 2, 2007
"Jason got a purple heart for saving a guys life"
As we drove I got a call from a random number on my phone. I felt compelled to answer. Raul, from a local liquor said, "a guy named Eric is out front and wanted me to call you. he said he was ready!"
I shared the news with Jason. The air of joy in my van increased dramatically. Eric was Jason's street buddy. We knew the long lost friend was coming home.
On the scene.......lot's happend but i only have one picture...
...Eric was pretty loaded and suicidal. Eyes full of mustard and ketchup, he rolled around on the grass with a freshly twisted ankle. The rock bottom was pretty evident. At one key moment, he rolled onto his side and slowly onto a knee where he pointed at Jason and said, "I want what you got."
God just released a year and a half full of events from his hand into the air for composure.
Jason took over and talked to Eric about his story of recovery. He related to him and gave him vision for the future. First person experience couldn't have been timed any better for this occasion. Eric listened and acted. We took him to a 10 day detox. Volunteers from the Homeless Task Force wrote letters, called and visited him.
He's doing his rehab. I hope he get's a weekend pass soon because I know now what that means.
Photography Class Fieldtrip to Library
Here are some pictures from the photography classes fieldtrip to the library yesterday. The library set up photography books for us in the meeting room and we looked through to get some ideas for pictures. Everyone picked out a favorite picture in the book and explained why they liked it.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Successful First Class!
Last night was our first photography class for the kids in the Eucalyptus & Cornuta neighborhoods. It was great! We have a good bunch of kids in this class. On Thursday we are going to the library to look at photography books and maybe take some pictures on the way. If you'd like to help us out on a Monday or Thursday night, please call Chrissy @ 562.266.7938 or email her at christinap@kingdomcauses.org.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Unexpected
I just had a cool encounter in my front yard. It confirms that I should spend more time there instead of in my cubicle. Very convenient! Anyway, today I sat outside during the time when parents and kids are walking back from school to promote the photography class that's going to start in 2 weeks. A kid that I usually see on Wednesday nights when I'm riding the Blue Bus walked up to where I was sitting. I gave him a flyer and expected that to be the end of the conversation since he was with his friends and usually is "too cool" when they're around. To my surprise he asked if we could pray. The friend with him said that he didn't want to pray because he would get in trouble with his parents. (I guess they barely allow him to go on Wednesday night to Bethel's Kick It.) When I asked him what was going on he told me that he almost got in a fight a few minutes earlier and didn't want to get in another. He didn't offer any other details, but immediately bowed is head and put his hands together. So we prayed a short prayer in my front yard while some other kids walked by. It was a reminder that God is always at work in people... even pre-teen boys that act like they don't care about a thing. Good lesson.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Update of Photography Class
Good news! We received over $1000 from Caring Connections to put towards the cameras for our photography class. We also received word from Snapfish that they will cover the cost of printing up to 540 pictures.
We are still looking for volunteers that can hang out with the kids on a Monday or Thursday afternoon in April. Please call Chrissy @ 562.804.2189 if you are interested.
We are still looking for volunteers that can hang out with the kids on a Monday or Thursday afternoon in April. Please call Chrissy @ 562.804.2189 if you are interested.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Life Transformation
Jason Fanning talks with Eric Copeland of Kingdom Causes
Jason Fanning came off the streets of Bellflower in August 2006 and just celebrated his six month graduation from Bell Shelter. He spoke with his friend Eric about the process of recovery over the last six months.
What have you learned in the last six months?
People need to be aware of resources.
When I was on the street I was after what I could get. It was always gimme gimme gimme. Gimme Gimme Gimme has no future. But there was a point where I wanted to change. There is a difference between wanting help and just gimme gimme gimme. The help is people teaching you to help yourself.
What has it been like to interact with church people?
When I was on the streets and they would come week after week to where I stayed. I thought “these people are crazy”. I thought, “My life is done. Trashed.” They were persistent and made me understand that God is there and God is real. It’s like they would say that they are His workers.
When I was finally ready to help myself, it was good that I had someone to call. Without it [interaction with Christians] I would be a wreck. Because when I get stressed, I call them and they help me see that it is going to work out and be alright. It helps me see that the dope man doesn’t have to be the next stop.
The healing process is about being reconciled to God, yourself and to others, how does that relate to your last six months at Bell Shelter and your new relationships?
WOW, like with my mom. I think for a while my mom was really freaked by how I turned out. I went wild. It broke my mom’s heart. I, for the first time want to make her proud. We had this talk the other night. We talked for hours and we took terns. We listed to each other. No one interrupted. She told me stuff about our childhood that I never knew. She said how she had all these expectations of like it being all happy and then us kids went all wild. I really see that maybe I abandoned my mom and, now, I see how we are both survivors of some real heavy hard times.
What have you learned from your discipleship partner (Ryan VerWys)?
Ryan helped me understand that things that happen really are like things that happen in the bible. I will tell him something that happened and he will show me how something like that happened in the Bible. I certainly never have thought of things like that.
Remember we talked about the miracle question: If God did a miracle in your life what would it be? Now that it is playing itself out, what does it look like?
Well, one day having a family. I mean. Getting up, locking the front door and going to work.
But at the same time I get scared that I will snap if someone yells at me. The first thing out of my mouth used to be you know. Bleepity Bleep. Consequences meant nothing. Now, when I get angry I take a twenty minute break and work it out. I just look at one piece at a time. I think about what is important. One day at a time. One foot in front of the other and then my friends help me see that it is going to work. I mean I just got back from court and I probably would have just said forget it all. But now I can see it all still working out.
Do you want to say anything else?
I am grateful. I am a recovering alcoholic. This time it was all easy and I just know that it isn’t me. Its faith. One day at a time.
Jason Fanning came off the streets of Bellflower in August 2006 and just celebrated his six month graduation from Bell Shelter. He spoke with his friend Eric about the process of recovery over the last six months.
What have you learned in the last six months?
People need to be aware of resources.
When I was on the street I was after what I could get. It was always gimme gimme gimme. Gimme Gimme Gimme has no future. But there was a point where I wanted to change. There is a difference between wanting help and just gimme gimme gimme. The help is people teaching you to help yourself.
What has it been like to interact with church people?
When I was on the streets and they would come week after week to where I stayed. I thought “these people are crazy”. I thought, “My life is done. Trashed.” They were persistent and made me understand that God is there and God is real. It’s like they would say that they are His workers.
When I was finally ready to help myself, it was good that I had someone to call. Without it [interaction with Christians] I would be a wreck. Because when I get stressed, I call them and they help me see that it is going to work out and be alright. It helps me see that the dope man doesn’t have to be the next stop.
The healing process is about being reconciled to God, yourself and to others, how does that relate to your last six months at Bell Shelter and your new relationships?
WOW, like with my mom. I think for a while my mom was really freaked by how I turned out. I went wild. It broke my mom’s heart. I, for the first time want to make her proud. We had this talk the other night. We talked for hours and we took terns. We listed to each other. No one interrupted. She told me stuff about our childhood that I never knew. She said how she had all these expectations of like it being all happy and then us kids went all wild. I really see that maybe I abandoned my mom and, now, I see how we are both survivors of some real heavy hard times.
What have you learned from your discipleship partner (Ryan VerWys)?
Ryan helped me understand that things that happen really are like things that happen in the bible. I will tell him something that happened and he will show me how something like that happened in the Bible. I certainly never have thought of things like that.
Remember we talked about the miracle question: If God did a miracle in your life what would it be? Now that it is playing itself out, what does it look like?
Well, one day having a family. I mean. Getting up, locking the front door and going to work.
But at the same time I get scared that I will snap if someone yells at me. The first thing out of my mouth used to be you know. Bleepity Bleep. Consequences meant nothing. Now, when I get angry I take a twenty minute break and work it out. I just look at one piece at a time. I think about what is important. One day at a time. One foot in front of the other and then my friends help me see that it is going to work. I mean I just got back from court and I probably would have just said forget it all. But now I can see it all still working out.
Do you want to say anything else?
I am grateful. I am a recovering alcoholic. This time it was all easy and I just know that it isn’t me. Its faith. One day at a time.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Churches are part of Denvers 10-year plan to end homelessness
A couple quotes...
Hickenlooper (Denver Mayor) told the crowd that he wants area churches to play a major role in the city's 10-year program to end homelessness. Already 122 congregations have signed on, each pledging to raise $1,200 to help pay first month's rent and deposit on an apartment and establishing a "mentor team" of two to six people who agree to work with the family or senior to help them leave homelessness behind.
'Denver's Road Home' showing progress
In the past year, Denver's 10-year plan to end homelessness, known as "Denver's Road Home," has met several benchmarks:
423 new units of housing
701 homeless people placed in jobs
156 families receiving assistance for eviction
122 congregations sponsoring homeless families
677 homeless people receiving treatment for substance abuse or mental illness
Meters to support homeless, not habits
The city of Denver plans to install recycled parking meters near the 16th Street Mall next month in an effort to allow passers-by to donate spare change to support programs for the homeless, rather than just give it directly to panhandlers who sometimes use it to support habits. While city officials haven't decided how to decorate those meters, the Rocky asked readers to send us ideas about what they would do.
Check out the rest of the story: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5348146,00.html
Hickenlooper (Denver Mayor) told the crowd that he wants area churches to play a major role in the city's 10-year program to end homelessness. Already 122 congregations have signed on, each pledging to raise $1,200 to help pay first month's rent and deposit on an apartment and establishing a "mentor team" of two to six people who agree to work with the family or senior to help them leave homelessness behind.
'Denver's Road Home' showing progress
In the past year, Denver's 10-year plan to end homelessness, known as "Denver's Road Home," has met several benchmarks:
423 new units of housing
701 homeless people placed in jobs
156 families receiving assistance for eviction
122 congregations sponsoring homeless families
677 homeless people receiving treatment for substance abuse or mental illness
Meters to support homeless, not habits
The city of Denver plans to install recycled parking meters near the 16th Street Mall next month in an effort to allow passers-by to donate spare change to support programs for the homeless, rather than just give it directly to panhandlers who sometimes use it to support habits. While city officials haven't decided how to decorate those meters, the Rocky asked readers to send us ideas about what they would do.
Check out the rest of the story: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5348146,00.html
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Photography Class
After working with the neighbors and doing some research on the gaps of services offered for our neighborhood, we've decided to start a photography class for kids. The neighbors explained that there's a lack of opportunity for their kids to express themselves in the arts. Classes are offered around here, but the cost is too high for most families and the locations are not within walking distance. A group of us started discussing different ideas after our neighbor prayer time of Friday mornings. We thought about music classes, painting, dance, and so on. In the end, we decided that a photography class would be a good starting point. Our goal is to start the six-week trial class in April. We're offering the class to 15 fourth, fifth and sixth graders in our neighborhood. We've already made connections with the owner of Phillight Studio (the new photo studio on Bellflower that is awesome) who has offered to teach a class and bring the kids in to use the studio for free. If you are interested in volunteering or teaching a class, please contact Chrissy at (562) 266-7938. We've proposed a funding partnership with a local non-profit and we're asking for businesses to donate new digital cameras and supplies. Pray that both proposals come through.
Our desire is to expand the photography class in the future to different age groups, and eventually offer some other art classes. In the meantime we're going ahead with plans for this class and listening to the neighbors for other great ideas.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Daffodils
I kill plants. I love them and appreciate their beauty, but I just can't keep them alive. Perhaps it's because I'm a procrastinator and not a very disciplined waterer. When I moved into my house a few months ago I had grandiose plans for the two dirt patches with dying rose bushes in the front yard. I even went so far as to google the types of plants that do well in Bellflower climate.It's been four months now, and I've only watered the patches 4 or 5 times (2 of those during the last week). Last week, I noticed some green-onion-like sprouts popping up. I thought it might just be a weed, but I continued to water them. To my surprise, a bright yellow daffodil bloomed over the sunny weekend. I'm so proud!
I feel like it was my hard work that made it happen, but really, all I did was water it twice. Someone that lived there before me must have planted the bulbs. They were the ones that invested their time and money.
What a spiritual lesson!!
Monday, February 19, 2007
Prayer for Bellflower 2007
During the upcoming Lent season, some of the churches in Bellflower are utilizing a prayer guide that leads people in prayer for different people, groups and concerns in our city. We are also encouraging Christians to pray together by promoting the various prayer meetings that are going on throughout the city so that there might be some good "cross-pollenization", Christians visiting other churches to pray with them. Check out the link below to see the latest list of prayer meetings so that you might join one!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
The perfect outreach night
We do outreach to un-sheltered people on the streets every Tuesday night at 4:30. I expect 5 people consistently coming each week. Someone donated soup, so we had enough for two cars to go out and feed 15 people. My expectations were exceeded. Fifteen people showed up representing 6 churches. Numbers are not that important but I've behind the numbers is another key. Fifteen people from one church doing mission is cool but fifteen people from 6 churches is grand. The potential of resources is much greater.
We talk about success before we go and hand out food and meet people. For the new individuals, success is overcoming some fear by going out with someone who has experience with the subject matter (addiction), and the geography (encampments). Just working through the unknown and exchanging some introductions with someone is success. These are building blocks of relationships.
The further we go the different success looks. One lady has been doing outreach for 4 weeks now. Let's just say that she spends 10 minutes talking to 3 people in one night. In one month, she has talked to 3 people for 40 minutes. As the relationship grows, her level of success changes. We haven't talked specifically with her but the goal would be to have her begin to "triage" a relationship - When a person goes into the Emergency room, there is a triage specialist who directs them to an area based on their specific needs.
Our Theory of Change in regards to doing Outreach with un-sheltered people is that relationships with healthy people who can inspire someone and give them hope is the beginning of recovery. When we triage our relationships with people we begin to individualize relationships that we are in and focus on specific needs. 3 relationships for this woman could be overwhelming so if she would triage then she would begin spending 30 minutes talking to one person 4 times a month. She might then break off from our Outreach and meet that individual at a coffee shop once a week to talk. She might begin setting some goals with this person and pretty soon this person sees that the only way to achieve their goals is through some recovery. They'll meet once a week while the person is in recovery and pray for each other and then when that person gets out of recovery, they go to church together and are in the same small group that meets once a week for 1 hour. The time commitment isn't really that great, the consistency and accountability is great and is the key!
We talk about success before we go and hand out food and meet people. For the new individuals, success is overcoming some fear by going out with someone who has experience with the subject matter (addiction), and the geography (encampments). Just working through the unknown and exchanging some introductions with someone is success. These are building blocks of relationships.
The further we go the different success looks. One lady has been doing outreach for 4 weeks now. Let's just say that she spends 10 minutes talking to 3 people in one night. In one month, she has talked to 3 people for 40 minutes. As the relationship grows, her level of success changes. We haven't talked specifically with her but the goal would be to have her begin to "triage" a relationship - When a person goes into the Emergency room, there is a triage specialist who directs them to an area based on their specific needs.
Our Theory of Change in regards to doing Outreach with un-sheltered people is that relationships with healthy people who can inspire someone and give them hope is the beginning of recovery. When we triage our relationships with people we begin to individualize relationships that we are in and focus on specific needs. 3 relationships for this woman could be overwhelming so if she would triage then she would begin spending 30 minutes talking to one person 4 times a month. She might then break off from our Outreach and meet that individual at a coffee shop once a week to talk. She might begin setting some goals with this person and pretty soon this person sees that the only way to achieve their goals is through some recovery. They'll meet once a week while the person is in recovery and pray for each other and then when that person gets out of recovery, they go to church together and are in the same small group that meets once a week for 1 hour. The time commitment isn't really that great, the consistency and accountability is great and is the key!
Friday, February 09, 2007
Impressed.
God is good. Today is one of those days when I'm just impressed with Him. I should be impressed everyday, but I get distracted. How sad is that? He is such a good God and I still get distracted. Sometimes I forget that He's at work ALL THE TIME and it doesn't revolve around what I do. In all honesty, I have the tendency to try and make things happen in my own strength... and it doesn't work out so well. This morning we had an awesome Eucalyptus Task Force meeting. Everyone had some good words to share. It was great to sit back and see how God's casting His vision within the people and it's something that we can't take credit for. His sovereignty has been a theme for me this week. Even last weekend at the Summit, we recognized that God had put the same thing on so many different peoples' hearts. He's doing something great in Bellflower. It's being confirmed every time we meet together. This morning at our weekly neighborhood prayer, I noticed the same thing. The hopes and dreams that God has placed on several of our hearts for the Eucalyptus neighborhood, he has also placed on the hearts of people that we are just getting to know. He has his people scattered, yet strategically placed, in the various neighborhoods of Bellflower. And he's connecting us one by one. I can't even comprehend how many miracles happen everyday in our community without us knowing. We only see a little bit... and even that brings joy to my heart. I can't wait to see or hear about what He's doing next week. God is good.
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