Empowering, not enabling!

We are trying to light a fire under some of the people in the community.. and it might just work. I've learned more and more that if we are going to make a difference, we need to be about the work of empowering NOT enabling. I don't want to march into the neighborhood and start trying to change things. I want to build relationship with people and then when they come into a relationship with the Lord, they will be the one's doing the changing.

So we're preaching a new sermon to the kids at Rock Island. In the past it has been, "get an education and work hard so that you can get out of this neighborhood." Now the message is, "work hard to lead a change in this neighborhood right now".

Our newest idea to accomplish empowerment is our neighborhood advisory board. We are inviting different leaders from the neighborhood, both young and old, black, white and mexican to form a neighborhood association that Paul will lead. Together they will meet on a regular basis to address needs in the neighborhood. Can you imagine what it is going to look like to have a 25 year old ex-felon, a 40 year old single mom of 6 that doesn't speak English and a 15 year old middle school drop out leading a community out of poverty and danger to a picture of stability and family values? Only partnered together with the Holy Spirit could anyone accomplish this.

This past Thursday night I sat outside on the grass in front of the mission talking with one of the teenagers. It was beautiful outside and there was a nice breeze. I felt so much peace being able to sit there outside and talk about God in the middle of the hood. It was getting pretty late though and had been dark for about an hour. As I talked more and more with the 14 year old girl, she was pretty jumpy and always looking around. We'll call her Sheila. Sheila is usually very skiddish, she has been in and out of DHS custody her whole life as her parents have been in and out of prison. She exhibits all the text books signs of a child with a past of abuse and neglect. But, she has such a sweet, sweet spirit. I could tell that Sheila did not feel safe outside in that neighborhood and so I began to tell her about a dream I had for a day when there would be no more gangs, prostitutes or violence on that corner. After I told her of the dream I asked her, "What will you do if this neighborhood is totally transformed like I dream?" and she said, "I'll lay in the grass on this corner every night". So we prayed together and I prayed that there will come a day when I'll drive by and see Sheila laying in that patch of grass... then I'll know we've done our job.