Timing is everything. I know this. I know God has a plan. He always comes thru. It
seldom looks like I think it’s going to but He usually lets me in on the plan eventually,
even if it’s after the fact. It’s just when you’re in the midst of it, when you decide to take
this blind leap of faith, it can be easy to forget; especially when you feel like you’re the
only one on the ride.

I have had the great privilege to experience that “click” a few times in my life; that
amazing feeling when you can just tell you’ve stepped into what God has been putting
into place. As I met with a church deacon about a week ago I was fortunate enough
to feel that coming together. As we shared our hearts for ministry in the community I
could see how God had been lining up the pieces for months to get both their church and
Stonecreek ready for this moment. I don’t mind saying it was a huge relief. I knew it
would come eventually but had no idea if it was going to be two weeks, two months, or
two years down the road. I am very thankful it’s not the latter.

We have our first church/community event coming up at the end of August. We still
don’t know exactly what it will look like but I do feel comforted in knowing that we are
in His plan together. That’s partnership.

In early May as I began to mentally compose the summer kids ministry God gave me a picture for the summer. It was the scene in which Jesus took a midnight stroll across a lake. As the apostles where in the boat fighting the waves "Jesus was about to pass by" but their fear of him stopped Jesus. Jesus turned and looked at them. It startles me, scares me, awes me, settles my anxious heart to see him there, standing in the wind and waves....looking at me.
Rockwood is full, bursting, ripe, white for the harvest. In January of this year God asked me to face my fears. So I began the street ministry. Now I fall all over myself in love with these people. Last week while I stood on the corner with one of my favorite ladies she pointed out a group of guys walking past and related the story of the man they beat up the night before. At the same time a stream of sirens blared past on their way to the store behind us. Another robbing, another beating, another proof of brokenness.
God gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have ever lasting life. Christ died for them. So we live, and walk, and breath, and love our neighbors.
The first time I met Elena she said, "There's something special about Rockwood." I agree. That's why we're all here. His blood pumps through these streets.

My favorite class I had ever taken as I went through public school and finished with a mix of community college and bible college was a philosophy or religions class at the community college. It provided a couple of my favorites together: unbelievers and open discussions on theology and philosophy. At then end of the course I found myself sitting across a very astute new age agnostic over drinks. His family was heavily religious of some Christian flavor, and his father was a pastor. He rejected his upbringing and put me in corner with this question: "Have you ever seen the waiting lines for the uninsured trying to get on state health insurance?" "How could a whole cross section of the US be so opposed to helping people with such basic needs as health care?" Sadly, I did not really have anything to say to him.

5 years later I live with a group of believers reaching out to the poor through the apartment complex initiative. Compassion connect also puts on free health care clinics to serve some of the most broken. If the question ever comes again I am ready to boast about: Milan, Jennifer, David & Elena, Josh, Tyrone...

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."

-1 peter 2:12

-Dan Johnson

It’s amazing what a little sunshine can bring. Before I moved into the complex I had
heard a couple people mention that my new home sometimes felt like a hotel more than a
place people lived. I didn’t really think much about it until I moved in and realized how
easy it is to never see your neighbors. Just something about the layout I can’t quite put
my finger on. The buildings are spaced around a large courtyard so it’s really easy to
never see someone from another building and there isn’t any extra space in the walkway
in front of the doors which leads most people to keep them closed as passer-byes can feel
like they are in your living room. Until there is sun…

I came home on Sunday evening to a group of ladies sitting on the lawn in front of the
steps…just hanging out. A couple of them were ladies I recognized from Bingo. “The
breeze is lovely down here; feel free to grab a chair.” Come to find out when it’s hot
outside, its worse in the upstairs units. Around the complex I could see little groups of
people from the upstairs units hanging out in front of their doors, on the stairs, and my
little group on the lawn. I’m gonna like summer….now if I could just remember when
the pool opens.

This week Dan Johnson is sharing his unique perspective as a member of the ministry team here at Barberry Village while also being the father of a young family:

"I grew up in the suburbs and became accustomed to an isolated life with almost no contact with my neighbors growing up. I am now married and have a 2 year old son, and a newborn baby girl. We live in a poor part of town with crime rates that make most people from the suburbs a bit uncomfortable. For God so loved the world that he sent his only son... to a world that rejected him......

This week Kurt, a fellow laborer in the Kingdom, shared some reflections on how he had been impacted through involvement at Barberry Village. He helps lead a small group at Clear Creek Community Church, which is one of the handful of churches in the area that has been seeking to embrace our apartment complex with loving arms.

I'll let him tell you the rest:

"I have had the privilege of serving along side the team at Barberry Village for a couple of years now and the impact to my soul has been huge. Until just a couple of years ago, when I first heard of the "mission to the village", I had never given much thought to the community beyond the Compassion Rockwood event held annually at PLS and that was just one day a year. The only thoughts if any that would come to my mind, was “it’s not my backyard” or “this” is a rough community. I would continue to drive through the area, sometimes daily, without much thought about the individual lives that reside there. My world was 4 miles away in a “different” community.

There’s a lot to be said about history.  I don’t really have a full sense of what the history of Bingo and StoneCreek is but after walking into the Rec Room last weekend I know it runs deep.  The management here periodically hosts community events. I’d heard about these epic Bingo nights but just had no idea what to expect.  Walking into that room I saw community.  It was mixed bag with lots of different personalities, but a community with stories and a long history.  It was awesome.  I got the biggest kick out of listening to them rib one another about cheating (one couple cleaned up….did I mention there were prizes?) and cheering one another on when somebody new one.  It was great.  I can’t wait ‘til the next one

* This is part of the initial phases of ACI at Stone Creek Apartments.  Jennifer Nash has moved in and is learning about the community.  What is going on there in the way of healthy community development?  Who is involved?  Who is left out?  Who are the key trusted neighbors?

Each ACI site is unique and it takes time to build trust, listen, and become a resident. There is no rush because even listening can plant a seed that Christ is the King of compassion, being present can allow the Spirit to work through a smile, a laugh, or even silence.  It is an open heart and a willingness to be used that opens the door to God's love being expressed....not a solid game plan.