As I’ve mentioned, I’m going to be working with the youth at DaySpring Church (among other things, soon to be announced!). I really want to see the church impact the neighborhood that it’s in.
Apparently the neighborhood is in the middle of one of the highest violent crime areas of Greensboro. Murders, rapes, and assaults are all quite high. Lots of gang activity. That’s probably why I got such funny looks when I took a walk around the block last weekend!
The neighborhood is probably 40% own, 50% rent, 10% vacant; and very racially and ethnically diverse. We’ve seen African-Americans (and some Africans), Asians, Hispanics, and a few white folks. Ninety percent of the kids at the school up the street are on free/reduced lunch; the social worker told Pastor Phil that there are some families with literally nothing.
So – we want to do outreach and have a positive impact on the community. We want to get kids out of gangs, increase the standard of living, decrease crime, and most of all get people saved and on fire for the Lord.
I need ideas and resources, especially on working with kids in or coming out of gangs and on intentionally building a multicultural, multiethnic church. Anyone got any?
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Get them baptized in the Holy Ghost. Kids in gangs are looking for power over their circumstance. Midnight basketball and other programs do not do that. The Holy Ghost does.
Have a look at the thoughts of the new monastics for ideas on engaging with community. Example here
http://www.thesimpleway.org/index.html
If your seriously talking multi cultural and multi ethinic think about making room for other ways of expressing God and listen a lot.
interesting site…more missional than emergent – nice!
Approach them one-on-one, and not like you’re recruiting for something. Ask them what they think about stuff. Listen to their answers. If you disagree, disagree respectfully and gently.
If you’re going to assume, assume up. This girl, say, builds fantastic machines in her room and wants to be a physicist, and that one is going to be prime minister, and that boy is going to cure cancer someday. The old woman is a retired professor, and her friend is a renowned storyteller.
When you’ve been around for awhile, ask the kids for help with something. It’s very empowering, to be asked for help. If you find out someone has a particular talent for something, ask them for help with THAT.