Social Class

Man Sort Nothing!

If the world would have choice

And the choice extended to us in just o’mercy

How would you rather it treated you

On the scales of justice or the whims of mercy

The time has come for us to show some radical love in our neighborhoods. There needs to be a call to action for us Christians to get out and start serving God's people. Dr. J. Howard Olds, former senior pastor of Brentwood United Methodist Church in Brentwood, TN, delivered an amazing sermon to kick us out of our seats and into the streets!

Learn how you can serve the city with CSM!

I cried this week.  For the first time since my hosting experience commenced, I unabashedly let water collect in my eyes as my voice cracked awkwardly, then as I tried to speak through the tears I just let go and cried.  This happened during our Final Challenge, a beautiful Friday night of reflection, discussion, and praise for each other’s gifts.  I did not cry out of desperation or sorrow, but out of overwhelming joy and pleasure in seeing the spiritual growth and love that transpired over the week.  I cried because I am finally getting it:  there is no joy greater than the delight in the Lord, and to

Hurricane Ike swept through Houston this past weekend, leaving a path of destruction and hope from an all-powerful, all-knowing God.
CSM has three full-time staffers in Houston, many partner ministry sites, and countless individuals we love very much. Greg Pennington (CSM Vice President) weathered the storm with his family and is now living at his church and helping to reach the surrounding community as it wakes up in shock at the damage. Here's a quick update from him:

People generally divide Chicago  into three sides: the north, south, and west sides. CSM Chicago  used to have north side and south side prayer tours that we would take our groups on the first night they arrive in the city.  Our prayer tours are driving tours where we share about the issues and struggles of inner-city life, leading groups in praying over the city. Things have changed so much on the north side, that we are no  longer doing our north side prayer tour. So this spring we created a west side prayer tour.

It seems like just yesterday I arrived in Toronto as a bright-eyed, innocent North Carolinian ready to serve the inner-city as a CSM city host. Time is flying by, and now I have less than a month before I get back on that jet plane to fly home. I've only hosted four groups so far with CSM Toronto, but I've learned more about God and the way God moves within me and within those around me than I have in the past 4 years of university. This summer is quickly becoming much more than I expected it to be. Sure, I'm meeting some amazing people from various places and churches who come to serve God's people here in the heart of Toronto.

This is a good article on the identity of South LA.  Because of the lack of identity a the community of "South LA" being such a big area, it is hard for this area to get resources.  I think that we have experienced this as well being down here.  Many ministries and organizations in South LA have a harder time accepting volunteers because help is so scarce in this area.  We're praying for more resources in this area as well.

-Jon Vales, CSM Los Angeles Associate City Director

I spent this past weekend as a homeless person living on the streets of downtown Toronto. The experience was part of my training with CSM, and the five interns partnered with the summer interns and workers from Evergreen Ministries, which is part of the larger Yonge Street Mission. Evergreen does this experience annually and encourage all of their staff to participate - this summer was CSM's first go-around.