Simple pleasures, that’s what I was reminded of as we had our first church and community BBQ here at Stonecreek last Saturday. The day was amazing, more than I think I had hoped for when I had envisioned the day. The church was ready for whatever God brought that day. I was so blessed by them. We didn’t know if we’d have 5 neighbors or 50 and they were set for either. As we got ready I could see a couple neighbors circling the area to see if they recognized any faces. As one of the church volunteers pointed out it’s intimidating to walk into a group you don’t know. As the first brave neighbor came over others soon followed. I got to sit down and chat with so many people I’ve seen but haven’t really been able to connect with much. It was so much fun to be able to look around and see neighbors eating with people from the church. One of the best things was to look over at a craft table the church had set up and see members from the church and neighbors sitting next to one another making bracelets. Heaven. There is so much here. One of the neighbors had a list of ideas she’d like to see here in the complex. So simple, sitting, eating, listening, together

All summer a small group of us have been holding a kids ministry on Saturdays at Barberry. For an hour before it starts we jog up and down the apartment steps letting the residence know what we're doing. This is the kid round up time. We then set up a few things on the grassy area by the mail boxes; a card table, bubbles, coloring books, beach balls, etc. We also have a huge parachute which has become the icon of the kids ministry. Everyone loves the parachute and begs to open it.

The most loved game is called shark. The kids taught me this. We all sit down in a circle with our legs under the parachute and shake it as hard as we can. Under the parachute several kids, "sharks," crawl around looking for legs to pull under. This is one of my favorite aspects of being a leader. You're the one they always attack. You never stay dry in any water fight and you definitely never wonder if a shark will take you under. I feel some little hands grab my ankles and I yell for the life guards. They love this. I love this.

After we exhaust them in play we sit down on a blanket or on top the parachute.

Last week was a really exciting time for the Apartment Complex Initiative.  The ministry was the cover story of the Oregonian.  In a well written article the journalist chronicled the ways in which Christ followers are living out their faith by moving in and coming alongside apartment dwellers. Also, the role of the local churches in serving those residents and "adopting" the complex.

More importantly, last week was exciting because it was the first community event at Stone Creek Apartments, the second ACI location.  This is significant because it shows that more people and churches are catching the vision and running with it.  It is also significant in the outreach journey of the complex itself.

The event caught me completely off guard and in the end I felt so excited and energized by the volutneers, the ideas, and the response of the residents....

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.