Wayne Presbyterian Church: Community Organizing ke "Make God's Way Known"

Wayne Presbyterian Church: Community Organizing ke Way Known" "Make God;

Wayne Presbyterian Church (WPC) diketahui untuk penampilan bersejarahnya di koridor Jalur Utama bergengsi pinggiran kota barat Philadelphia. Gereja juga sudah menjadi dikenali untuk tekanannya di holistis kementerian -- "Our jauh Tuhan membuat jauh diketahui di atas earth," sebagai Associate Pastor for Mission Carol Clarke menaruh itu.

Memimpin oleh Dr John Galloway, gereja mengambil bagian di tingkat nada luas dan inovatif proyek misi, termasuk mengadakan keluarga-keluarga tunawisma di atas milik gereja lewat Interfaith Hospitality Network, merenovasi rumah keluarga-keluarga yang berpenghasilan rendah, inisiatif pekerjaan mengurus lingkungan, dan distribusi makanan. Banyak WPC 's outreach berubah bentuk menjadi kemitraan dengan gereja perkotaan dan non-keuntungan. Bahaya di di pinggiran kota/kerjasama perkotaan adalah bahwa mitra yang lebih kaya dengan mudah bisa menjadi rendah diri toward atau menggunakan tenaga di balik mitra perkotaan. Lewat kementerian memanggil CityLights, memimpin oleh Carey Davis, WPC sudah menerima dengan serius asas pelayanan dengan dan tak begitu kepada himpunan.

Carey's passion for linking city and suburbs reflects her own experience of "second conversion." "My first conversion," Carey explains, "was to Jesus Christ, when I gave him my life as a 12-year-old. My 'second conversion' came in college, when I realized that following Christ must include caring about the things that were of utmost importance to him, particularly the needs of the poor and oppressed."

At a public housing community in Southwest Philadelphia, Carey helped provide a summer day camp for kids through EAPE, a ministry founded by Tony Campolo. That summer, she recalls being "confronted with children of exceptional beauty and strength who faced a grim future because of their circumstances. Realizing that the location of one's home and the color of one's skin could have a dramatic impact on people's life chances was overwhelming." Carey committed herself to remedying the injustices facing city kids.

Ten years later, she found herself back in Southwest Philadelphia, encouraging WPC to be a part of a movement that would empower neighborhood residents toward wholeness in the name of Jesus Christ. CityLights bridges racial, economic and geographic boundaries to connect the skills and experiences of people from both communities to improve the quality of life for Southwest city residents, and to encourage all toward deeper discipleship.

In the church's annual report, Carey writes about the process of vision discernment for CityLights:

Vision. In his book Power Surge, Michael Chapter Foss describes the importance of having the work of the church led by its vision. He defines the term this way: "Vision is a clear picture of the desired present and the preferred future.. .the end toward which mission drives.. .based on an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances." A year ago a special task force wrestled with scripture to put on paper a vision statement and strategic plan for CityLights for the next three years. Our vision reads as follows:

Jesus Christ calls Wayne Presbyterian Church and CityLights to engage our community and our Philadelphia neighbors in Kingdom work.

Our statement makes clear a few things: our reliance on God to initiate and to empower us; our purpose is to join our urban partners in fulfilling God's greater vision of wholeness for all his people, in Southwest Philadelphia, in Wayne and beyond; and further, the fulfillment of that vision often has as much to do with the relationships nurtured with our partners as with the tangible project outcomes.

As we mark the 10th year of collaborative ministry in Southwest Philadelphia, it is a joy to report that God's kingdom work is indeed being done, both in what has been accomplished in "the neighborhood" and in the transformational moments of our deepening relationships.

CityLights promotes this vision of wholeness not by providing direct services, but by coming alongside existing ministries and helping to organize Southwest Philadelphia residents, churches, schools, service agencies, and other community leaders to work toward common goals. A community Leadership Team plans monthly network meetings for support, resource sharing, and joint action. The CityLights network has successfully advocated for positive changes in the community, such as blocking a trash facility from relocating into the neighborhood and promoting new small business opportunities. CityLights also builds relationships by connecting WPC members with volunteer opportunities in the Southwest community.

One of City Light's goals is to "equip WPC Team leaders to demonstrate and articulate a holistic (i.e. 'word and deed') approach to outreach." Carey notes, "Our urban partners taught us to be more faithful in verbally sharing God's love with others, primarily through their example." CityLights volunteers are presented with a prayer card as a reminder that "our service is an outgrowth and expression of our Christian faith."

Carol Clarke notes, "We are using what we have learned from CityLights and other areas of ministry to forge new partnerships and move into other geographic areas as well. CityLights itself is evolving; the next decade may look different in some ways, but it will always be at the heart of our mission outreach." She summarizes the driving force behind CityLights and all WPC's ministries: "God is on a mission in this world -- and invites us to participate! What a privilege it is to be part of God's work."