Pictures from Share the Joy

Homeless Enjoy Art-n-the-Park 2008

Saturday, April 26, was a beautiful day. In fact, it was a perfect day to hook up with people and make new friends on E. Lancaster. Sallye and I left early, picked up one of my Mullendore buddies, Corey, and headed out for Art-n-the-Park.

We arrived in time to help get things ready. Corey jumped right in with the guys inflating the bounce houses. Christians from several churches were setting up grills, generators, a stage for the day's musical performances, a t-shirt stand, and various art stations.

Did I mention our special guests? They started lining up early and included the homeless, both those on the streets and in the shelters, as well as, folks from the projects. Eventually, over 500 people showed up. A kingdom party broke out!

Hungry people got fed. Lonely people made friends. People who had experienced so much of the world's ugliness made beautiful art. There were grafitti artists, face painters, and sidewalk chalk decoraters. People used brushes, watercolors, and paints to express their creativity.

Others made music. Songs they had written. Songs they had heard. Songs from rap to country and just about anything in between.

Music filled the air. People gathered in small groups to listen. Some got up and danced. Kids laughed as they jumped in bounce houses.

Art-n-the Park reminded all of us that something better does exist. And everyone's welcome to be a part.

The park we used is called "Unity Park." It's a good name for it. Because on Saturday, people came together. Differences didn't matter. Not age or color or physical appearances or disabilities. The down-and-outs showed up, along with the well-to-do. Strangers huddled together in prayer, united by something beautiful.

You see, on E. Lancaster, of all places, we caught a glimpse of the kingdom of God.

Clinic Progress Continues

Carpet's down and new outside paint going on.

Love Tarrant

What would happen we went out to show people how much God loves them? What if we adopted a school that was economically depressed and loved the families in it in tangible ways? Or what if we took on a section of Tarrant that had great need and just tried to advance education, culture, and justice there? Some of us are asking these questions and beginning to attempt some responses.

Love Tarrant Responses


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Tutoring At-Risk Students

Help kids with homework, read with them, share stories, play games, and have one-on-one conversations with children that could change their lives.





Menders

Make essential improvements to the houses of people who do not have the skills, health, or resources for this. Teams rotate and go out once every couple of months.





Inner City Connections

Go with others to feed the homeless, help them get I.D. documents, and mentor inner city kids.











Samaritan House

Join a group which goes regularly to help out at a housing facility for those who are HIV+.












Feed the Hungry

Volunteer time at a local food bank to inspect, sort, stock, and box food for families needing food.











To go with us click here. [Link to Sign up Form]

Teens Share the Joy

We just passed a marker event in the life of every student. It's called Spring Break, which usually means sleeping in late, hanging out with friends, kicking back, and majoring in all the fun stuff that's been put on hold.

I don't know about the sleeping in and the kicking back stuff, but I do know that 120 RHCC teens, plus adult sponsors and staff, got creative. During their break, they gave the Mullendore Elementary campus a much-needed makeover and curb appeal.

To pull it off, they collected money in Bible class and used it, along with hard work, to "Share the Joy" with the Mullendore community.

Parents, teachers, students, and the school staff like their new look. Our Lord created beauty; our teens used Spring Break to bring it to a campus.

Rusty Peterman,
Neighborhood Connections Minister

Art in the Park

Pictre Update 2-16-08