Community Development

Subway Tokens and Other “Random” Acts

Center for Student Missions — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:29:15 -0500

Today was a great day in Toronto. The weather was beautiful, my CSM team was amazing yet again, and I got to experience several different aspects of urban ministry that touched my heart.

NYC's Coalition Against Hunger

Center for Student Missions — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:42:50 -0500

The New York City Coalition Against Hunger "represents New York City's over 1,200 soup kitchens and food pantries and the 1.3 million low income New Yorkers who are forced to use them. The Coalition works to meet the immediate food needs of low-income New Yorkers and enact innovative solutions to help them move "beyond the soup kitchen" to self-sufficiency."

NYC's Coalition Against Hunger keeps up an awesome blog - check it out! You'll find articles relevant to meeting the needs of New Yorkers who face hunger and ways you can help partner.

Keep on Servin'...

Center for Student Missions — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:48:20 -0500

One of our students, Cori, was so moved by her experience in Chicago that she decided that she wanted to do a VBS for kids in the poorer section of our town. So in less than three weeks, she organized everything, from lining up Bible story teachers and volunteers, to developing a schedule, to getting small groups to commit to provide food, to shopping for all the supplies, to getting her friends to do everything (games, crafts, etc.). She had anywhere from 12-20 kids attend each of the four days. I couldn’t be more proud of her!
-Mike Fitzpatrick
La Croix UMC

Chicago - A Whole New Side

Center for Student Missions — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:28:52 -0500

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.

Toronto Update

Center for Student Missions — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:41:12 -0500

From the moment these 34 individuals stepped outside their vehicles with hearts and bags full, they had no idea what this week would hold.
The first group to arrive was from Michigan, who had already come last year! As their 34 legs stepped out of the vans, you could see the twinkle in their eyes as they braced themselves for "another" week here in Toronto. They were so remarkably impacted by the people they served, the stories they heard, and the things they saw, so much that they took this programming back home to serve those in their own communities.

Sept. 26-28: Prayer and Fasting for Victims of Sexual Trafficking

Center for Student Missions — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:25:10 -0500

The Salvation Army and the Initiative Against Sexual Trafficking have partnered to invite believers worldwide to join in prayer and fasting for victims of sexual trafficking. The event will be held the weekend of September 26-28 and invites churches, para-church organizations and individuals to participate. Past participants have joined from have had participants from Macedonia, Venezuela, India, the Philippines, the United States, Canada, Mexico, the U.K., and Germany. Please visit their website to learn more.

You can also...

Serving the Good King

Center for Student Missions — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:18:22 -0500

I recently pulled my copy of CS Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe off the shelf and read back over some of my favorite passages. There's one conversation in particular that I'm continually drawn back to:

"Is-is he a man?" asked Lucy.

"Aslan a man!" said Mr Beaver sternly. "Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don't you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion - the Lion, the great Lion."

DC Reflection: Some Great Kids

Center for Student Missions — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:25:53 -0500

I got to spend the past week with some great kids from Crosspointe Church in Washington D.C. working with the Center for Student Missions organization. Our high school kids took a short term mission trip to our nation’s capital to serve the poor and homeless for a week.
The majority of these kids had never served in this manner before and it was, to say the least, an eye opening experience for them. I would even say that it removed them from their comfort zone of Apex and Cary.

Homelessness in Houston

Center for Student Missions — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:01:06 -0500

Homelessness declining in Houston? An emphasis on long-term assistance is the new trend around the city. Check out a recent article from the Houston Chronicle...

New book aims at keeping kids out of gangs

Center for Student Missions — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:40:45 -0500

Ralph Burgess is the author of a book series for young readers aimed to keep them out of gangs. "Cool Calvin's No Bandanas for Me: Staying Gang Free" is the second of this growing series that Burgess hopes to use as a tool to show students the reality of gang life. Police departments and schools across the nation are having to deal with younger and younger kids searching for acceptance and finding it in the false sense of security gangs offer. Check out a recent article about Burgess' new book...