Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This past week Sarah and I have had the priviledge to spend a week at NYWC (National Youth Worker Convention). I have been attending NYWC for about ten years. It is always a rewarding and eye opening time. We get the opportunity to worship, reflect, recharge, enable and learn. This year was no exception. God certainly opened our eyes and hearts and stirred in us things that have been festering in our souls for quite some time. We certainly look forward to returning home and continuing our conversation and pursuing God's Will and direction for ministry that He sees fit in the Shreveport area. LET'S GET RADICAL!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Fall Fest at the White House

Fall Fest on 68th Street
October 29, 2008



Cedar Grove

Sarah and I have been immersed into Cedar Grove for the past several months. We have been helping with home work help at the White House on 68th street. We have also joined the Common Ground meetings on Thursday nights where we meet for a meal, join in the dreaming and discussion of mission in the area and study the bible together. With our busy schedule I was a litle nervouse about adding something else to our time. But the time that we have spent there loving on these children, rubbing shoulders with our fellow friends and loving this community have all been worth it. I am now struggling to see exactly what God wants to do there next.

For those of you that don't know much about Cedar Grove and that area, look at what I found on WIKIpedia site. "Cedar Grove (French: Bosquet de Cèdre) is a neighborhood within the confines of Shreveport, Louisiana. It is located to the south east of the downtown district. It is generally considered to be the area bordered by Hollywood Avenue on the North side to 85th Street on the South side; from Line Avenue in the East to Mansfield Road (US-171) on the West. It has a recent reputation as a dangerous, inner-city neighborhood, especially during the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, but since then the neighborhood has improved.
However, Cedar Grove has a much longer distinction as home to working class gin joints, brothels, and illegal gambling as far back as the 1930s."


Just to say the least, the neighborhood has been all but forgotton. Thousands of people that have been blessed so much drive around or over this neighborhood everyday. The White House on 68th street where we are currently running the homework help after school program and Wednesday eveing meals is only about five minutes from our church. Many of the kids we work with are the kids that no one else wants to work with or deal with. About every church or organization in the area have either closed their doors to these kids or just picked up and moved out.

I wonder what God has in stored for the future of Cedar Grove, 6th Street, the Whtie House and all the friends that we have made there. I know that God has great plans and He is certainly not finished with this neighborhood. He loves these people. He loves these children. And He has called us and a few other misfits to love these people!