So Many Things…
Wow there has been so many things that have happened over the last couple of weeks that it is hard to believe… some good things, great things, tragic things, horrific/awful things…
We had a young man that is the boyfriend of a young lady that attends Renovation and is the father of of their two young kids who got in an argument with a guy over the paying back of $10… the boyfriend told the dude he did not have it so the guy pulls a gun out on him and starts firing shots… the boyfriend runs away and while trying to get away calls his younger brother to come get him… the younger brother (25 yrs old) walks out of the apt to go help his brother… walks around the corner… the gunman thinks it’s the brother he’s been shooting at – walks up behind him… shoots and kills him on the spot. Of course the older brother is absolutely distraught over it all…
We have had a steady stream of folks who first visited us during SummerJam but have now come to hang out with us on Sunday morning. Very Cool!
We are realizing that if we are going to be able to have as much impact in the lives of the people that live in our community that we will have to create ENVIRONMENTS and EXPERIENCES that will allow that to happen beyond what we have on Sunday mornings.
We have observed that now when we open the doors up… kids come! Which is great… we do not want to shut the door on kids who want to come and hangout with us no matter the reason and there are many… food, fun, safety, love, encouragement… so we are really working hard to think through what we do… can’t do it all but know we can do some things to help, bless, equip, empower, the folks who call NW Buffalo home and very specific the West Hertel area.
So we are strategizing about what Wednesday night could look like if we concentrated our efforts into one night … as best we can right now… to reach as many men , women, boys and girls with the FULL redeeming power of the Gospel… parenting help, educational help, spiritual formation, social connectivity in a positive environment… for all seasons of life. Pretty big stuff but very exciting to create with a blank canvas to paint on all that we can do (in steps) to bless this community.
The Basement renovations are steadily progressing… trying to have this space renovated within the next two weeks so that our Renovation Students can have a place they can call home to come and hang and experience all that their heavenly Father desire for them… right now. We still need some volunteers time and sweat… need some additional funds to help make into a place that will be special… appreciate several who have given toward this project!
It was so cool to have my dad speak at Renovation this past week! What a great message and one that I needed to hear. I told the 11.00 crew after he spoke that I was thankful for the incredible heritage and gift that I have because of the strong character and integrity that my dad has provided for me and my two other brothers… and that what I wished that every young man and women would have that but I realize most don’t. But I also said that that reality can change! That men you can and must break the generation chain of being a cultural man verses a godly man. I am going to really focus my attention this year in helping and equipping men to be all that God has designed us to be.
I will share more about that in the days to come.
I have a lot in my heart and head that I will share over the next few weeks… the main reason I blog is to journal this journey that God has me but for now I gotta go to a meeting!
