Part 2
June 8, 2009
Last week I wrote about a startling conversation I had with children from the neighborhood regarding domestic violence. What broke my heart the most was knowing that the twisted perspective they have embraced from pop culture, peers, and family only makes them more vulnerable to enter into and remain in abusive relationships in the future. If God does not intervene, the enemy’s cycle will continue in all its futility.
As we think about how to address this reality, I thought I would share insights I received from two ministry veterans in this area as well as an update on what God is currently doing in our outreach ministry to the neighborhood.
First, the insights. In the last article I mentioned a city-sponsored event I attended for faith-based organizations, where we were blessed to hear from Noel Castellanos, CEO of the Christian Community Development Association. Afterwards I was able to speak with Noel about our desire to address the twisted perspective of men and violence that our neighborhood children have. Noel, who is Latino, took a deep breath and said that changing such perspectives is a matter of long-term, discipling relationships.
Not surprisingly, this is exactly what Kit Danley had told me a few hours earlier. Many of you know Kit, who has been working with children and families in low-income neighborhoods for more than 30 years. I’m sure she could talk about ministry strategies for a week straight, yet her simple, big-picture words were the same as Noel’s: long-term relationships. Both confessed that this is not easy, but it is the only way to see the gospel make lasting change.
What are we doing now toward this end? In answer to many prayers, God has assembled a group at Whitton who are ministering to adults each Tuesday night through English language learning. Typically more children than adults show up, so there is also a handful of Whitton folks who feed, play with, and teach the gospel to these children. I see these two groups as having ministry beachheads for the development of long-term, discipling relationships.
Regarding the adults, Tomas Barrera leads a Sunday evening time of worship in which the 4 to 8 adults who gather sing praises to God and hear from God’s word as Tomas teaches. I have the privilege of meeting regularly with Tomas, and am excited about the work God is doing in and through him. If we are to build long-term, discipling relationships with our Spanish-speaking neighbors, meetings like the one Tomas is leading will always be necessary.
Regarding the children, God has graciously brought 8-10 children who will show up to any event we have, even a graduation open-house! These children seem to feel more at home at Whitton than anywhere else, and we should be deeply thankful for that. A small handful of women are currently investing in these children through extra-curricular activities, whether trips to the museum or Peter Piper Pizza. In light of the tumultuous waters ahead for these pre-teens, such consistent investment is essential if they are to break the tragic cycles of their older siblings.
These ministry beachheads have been possible because of consistent outreach ministry from past years. I believe God wants to use these as segues into a new season of long-term, discipling relationships in our neighborhood. Pray for the gospel to penetrate the lives of these Spanish-speaking adults and their English-speaking children as we point them to Jesus. And pray for how God might call you to join in the work he is doing in our neighborhood.
Excited to see God’s work expanding,
Pastor Chris