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!

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!

Common Ground Ministry

Missions Home and South

The Crew that went south last weekend to use some chainsaws!

You thought that getting dirty for a weekend and working hard would not be fun. But tell that to the bunch of youth and adults who went into Baton Rouge last weekend to clear trees and debir from elderly people's homes. They worked hard. Actully harder than the chainsaws! They burned a few up and dulled all ten chains. There is so much more work to be done in southern Louisiana and Texas. May we not forget about them. Also those who are still rebuilding after Katrina. We have been doing releif work for the past three years are still not finished with that.

THE WHITE HOUSE

For the past few weeks a few of us have been getting together to do homework help at a home in Cedar Grove. Here is a picture of Nikkita. She is in the second grade. I have been working with her on her math and vocabulary. You wouldn't believe how much of impact that this is having on these kids as well as those who go to help. We started up this fall when school started with a hand full of them. This past Tuesday we must of had 15+ as well as 5 youth who came to help. What would happen if just a few more people would dream and give to those who have been forgotten? How would it change the lives of those children, their families and ours? Well we really don't know what will happen. But it sure is good to be involved in that change!

Worm working on homework!

Auggi helps Winikka with homework.

Nikkita poses if front of me after working on the white board on our math.

Hurricane Gustav

Hurricane Gustav...

We certainly have been living in Hurricane recovery mode here at Grace. We spent much of last week supporting two local shelters here in Shreveport. Thanks to everyone who volunteered in time, resouces and gifts of supplies. We were certainly able to accomplish much more as a collective group than as individuals. Also Sarah, Pastor Rob and I were able to travel to Baton Rouge and further south on Friday and Saturday. We set off on a video shoot to collect stories and asses the damage caused to our friends in the south. The destruction is much worse than what is being reported on the news. We witnessed the destruction and devestation from the wind of the storm. Many trees, power poles, roofs and complete homes were destroyd from the wind. There were spots of flooding. But the most distrubing aspects was the destruction of the poorer neighborhoods and the lack of communication of help to these people. However we did find communities and familes that were coping with their needs and situation. This storm was not going to ruin or take their hope. They were cleaning up and coming together to help each other in this time of need. We will certainly be sending groups into these areas for recovery, clean-up and rebuilding. Grace will be sending teams throught the UMCOR office which is working directly with the UMC Disaster Office. Due to the weather this weekend they have suspensed any teams in coming in this weekend. We are gearing up to go the following weekend. If you are interested please call the church office 318-865-2070 and talk with Sarah or Sione. (I will be upadating soon with pictures from our trip.)

Zacchaeus and the Sycamore Tree

Luke 19:1-10

VBS story – we think it is just for kids, this great picture of God’s love and salvation. Remember the little cute song, “Zacchaes was a wee little man, A wee little man he was He. He started to climb a sycamore tree…AND STOPPED!”

Can you imagine if He didn’t climb the tree? Or if there was no tree?

Where I grew up, my parent’s back yard there is an old school playground with all the cool playground equipment, the old swings and huge slides and dangerous tee-ter-totters. But the place that my brothers and I would want to play as children was the big oak tree in the middle of the play yard. We wanted to climb that and explore its branches. To get a better view/perspective than ourselves.

Zacchaeus was looking for Jesus, He was searching for a savior.

Too often we as ministry leaders, try to build the church as if we are Jesus. If we build it, do it, or say it they will get it. But we are not the savior.

Possibly it is easier to be a tree than the savior.

Imagine if we are like that sycamore tree, able to lift people up to see Jesus. To let them see God for whom He really is. To step out of the way and let Christ do the redeeming. What a difference our ministries might have. What a difference our church might make in our community.

Jesus didn’t stumble by that Sycamore tree. It is as if it had a divine appointment. When Jesus had arrived at that point He invited Zacchaeus to come down. Not in a tone as if he was in trouble get out of that tree. But as an invitation to join in something greater than the entire world. He offered Zacchaeus peace, community and love in a way that he had never seen before. Salvation and forgiveness came to the home of Zacchaeus.

If we determine success by our numbers, how many pats on the back we get, or the seldom lost being saved. Or that retreat or event was great or wonderful food at the luncheon. Well then salvation will most likely not come to the homes in which we serve. Maybe we just need to be more like that tree. To hear people say, “I see him, and He sees me.” What a great thing that would be.

Invisible Children

This Sunday

January 27, 2008

6-7:30 p.m.

Erin Moreno

w/ Invisible Children

Will be sharing along with youth worship band.

University UMC at Safe Harbor

Lake Charles, LA

I encourage everyone that can to attend this Sunday evening a great opportunity right here in our community. The youth of University United Methodist is hosting an evening with one of their very own Erin Moreno. She is serving with a great orgnization called Invisible Children. They work with reaching to kids of Uganda who have been at war for the past 30 years! Come and hear what God is doing in the country of Uganda and around the world. Also be led in worship by a local youth band. There will be a pizza party from 5:30-6:00 p.m With the actuall program coming after that. I will be attending at 6 p.m. with any youth from FUMC that would like to attend with me.

If you have questions or need more information you can contact Mik Brignac 337-477-2003 or mikeB@universitymethodist.com

Hope to see you all there!