Peace and Justice in a harsh neighborhood
On June 9th we had a familiar bunch from Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri come to our aid at Detroit Hope. Twenty-Six Senior high came prepared, and not so prepared for an experience of their lifetimes. Their youth leader Dee Jones from Lamoni Heartland mission center was one of the youth leaders that raised me up through youth programs at Guthrie, Spec, IYF and other youth activities. Every year she would venture out taking youth to places all over the continental United States, and Canada in the name of mission and work camp, and she graced us with their last trip before her retirement. What a humbling, honoring gesture. Detroit Hope would not know what it was about to experience.
The first day, they traveled 12 hours. On a bus, crammed in there, 26 youth and 8 staff. They rested on Thursday, and we explained what they would face in the neighborhood, and some of our ministry history. Then we led them down to the church, and they worked all afternoon and evening. I had a list of Work projects to do, and in that first day, they accomplished like seventy to eighty percent of them.
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we left for Toronto, myself and all of these amazing people from out west. We went up and met J.W. Windland and he led these youth on a religious experience through his research and connections to 4 temples and holy places and talked to us about the respectful way to attend, and how to respond, and how to understand their beliefs more wholistically. It really brings about a peace and a mutual respect in the hearts of those who attended. Going to a Seek Temple, a Hindu Temple, a Buddhist Temple and a Islamic Mosque center for prayer.
When we got back, we made it for Sunday service, and the youth were so excited to attend and help that they worked between when we arrived and when we had church to prepare a barbeque and also be active in our service that night.
I must remark now about the work that they did from Monday through Wednesday Night. However I think a list would be more appropriate:
· They Cleaned the Windows
· Re-Planted our garden
· Weeded the Sidewalks
· Painted the Foyer
· Painted the Bathroom
· Took down a rotting shelf in the kitchen
· Planned and Carried out a Vacation Bible School
· Cleaned and straightened the Shed
· Moved Sports Equipment from the office to the shed.
· Cleaned the Food Pantry
· Cleaned the Clothing Closet
· Organized the Worship Center Shelves
· Cleaned the Boiler Room
· Organized and fixed up Classrooms for Usable Space
· Cleaned the bathrooms
· Painted the Basketball Goal Lines
· Painted a Mural about Joy, Hope, Love, and Peace.
· Painted inspirational sayings on the basketball lane.
· Removed tons of trash
· Deep Cleaned the stairs and hallways.
· Cleaned all windows,
· Transformed the Office into a Nursery / Cry Room.
· Trimmed bushes, cut down trees and overgrowth on the lawn
· Organized the craft closet
· Organized and cleaned the kitchen
· Had the idea to create a bike wrack for youth that come to church.
· Made it their Disciples Generous Response Moment Wednesday night and brought in $402.66 dollars.
Now those last two may sound like simple things, but just think about it. They did all this ministry, all these projects, and brought us all this peace, but then when a little girl from our congregation was crying. They heard her cries, caught her tears, and are making a difference for the future by caring so much and buying a locking bike wrack so no child needs to come to church fearful that they will miss their bike when they come out of the building after worshiping with us. They were creating a little bit of Zion here in our neighborhood. They had become invested in us in one week and had several testimonies of their experiences that I hope to get on our website soon at; http://www.detroithopecofchrist.org very soon. They brought us peace, and faught injustice with peaceful action. Yo Buddy for our Mission Trip group from Lamoni Heartland Missioncenter and Prairie Bluffs Mission center. Thank you to them, and thank you to you for supporting us as we stand to our feet as a congregation.
