Stories of Community Building
The stories of Saint Paul students and alums illustrate how new ideas and cooperation lead to productive community collaborations. Jeff Gannon, MDiv '88, is pastor of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, a church that he helped found in Wichita, KS. His story invites us to think about how Christians are called and invited to develop long-term relationships for building and empowering people for a faithful future.
Planeview is an often-forgotten community within Wichita inhabited by mostly very hard working, economically disadvantaged people. When looking at the stats of the town they found that 29% of the households exist on less than $15, 000 gross income a
year. Generally 2-6 families live in one small house and 51% of Planeview residents over theageof 25 have less than a high school education.
Chapel Hill UMC decided that they couldn't make real change on their own. The Planeview Transformation Coalition was formed as a collaboration of individuals, organizations, agencies, and the people of Planeview to encourage, and participate in efforts to eliminate poverty, improve living conditions and restore hope in the Planeview community. "The church made a 10 year commitment to this effort and is working with Brookside UMC, Partners for Wichita, the City of Wichita, the City of Planeview, and others to establish change," said Gannon.
Gannon's congregation is especially invested in the youth of the area. "I firmly believe that if you can get a child educated, you can break the cycle of poverty," said Pastor Gannon. There are approximately 1,000 students between the elementary and middle school. The area youth appreciate the consistency of school, especially the warm meals. Leaders heard that the food backpacks sent home on weekends with youth were not sustaining them. The solution: a 365 day a year food outlet called The Lord's Diner. Hot food is now served daily from 5:30-7:30.
The collaborative efforts of the laity of Chapel Hill and their coalition partners have allowed children who would never get to see a musical event attend concerts and other cultural activities that broaden their perspective.They recently combined these events with a sock drive. Each student left with up to 10 pairs of socks. Many students beamed as they received the gift. "I've never had socks!" said one child. She requested additional pairs as no one in her family had them. The coalition's collaboration with the Planeview Police allowed a young man and his single mother to get relocated from a dangerous situation. Both of their lives had been threatened if he did not enter into a gang. Receiving money for the down payment on an apartment in a safe location saved a young man from being sucked into the life of a gang.
"I believe that all of this is spiritual in nature," said Pastor Gannon. "Otherwise we wouldn't be doing it. If only you could see the lives that have changed. The people in Planeview are the people of God, not a 'project'. The work that we do is not to others, but done in community with each other."
Chapel Hill UMC has also partnered with local Lutherans and Episcopalians to create a
Hispanic congregation for Planeview's largest population.They found a Lutheran Hispanic pastor and invited him to begin his ministry in a small United Methodist Church to form an all new community called Partners Church.The collaborative partners pooled funds to start a free soccer league with uniforms and equipment for youth. The sport is extremely popular and over 100 youth showed up for the first meeting. It has become an entry point for youth at the newly formed church."It's been a terrific experience," said Gannon. "Even though Chapel Hill UMC takes the lead on some things, on other things we can take a 2nd or 3rd chair. The beauty of it is that the laity primarily have worked together to start this and the pastors have followed their lead. In terms of the people, pastors come and go, but the laity stay."
Jeff Gannon believes that the Saint Paul action/reflection or praxis model of formation has especially helped him when developing relationships in Planeview. "Saint Paul School of Theology did an excellent job of preparing me for parish ministry," said Pastor Gannon."In seminary we were thrust into diverse situations. We had to figure it out and learned to 'theologize' the situation. We were taught that as pastors we needed to have a newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other. We need to integrate those in a non-elitist way. Apart from that I wouldn't be able to be doing what I'm doing," Jeff explained. "Collaborations within the community as a whole are the way of the future."
___________________________________________________________________
With your help...Raising up Visionary Leaders
Saint Paul educates leaders for local communities and the world. Saint Paul School of Theology is now a seminary without debt! The good news is your gift will go directly to supporting our students' formation and education. As we approach the year end please prayerfully consider making a tax deductible gift in one of the following ways: 1. Make an annual, quarterly, or monthly tax deductible gift. www.spst.edu/giving
2. Remember Saint Paul in your will or estate plan. The gift costs you nothing during your
lifetime.
3. Give a gift of appreciated stock or securities. It may be more beneficial than giving cash.
www.spst.edu/giving
4. Fund a Saint Paul Fellow. Follow up with David Sisney to learn more: david.sisney@spst.edu
or 913.253.5080.
Stay in touch! Please visit us on our mobile-friendly website at www.spst.edu.
Thank you!
4370 W. 109th Street, Suite 300
Overland Park, Kansas 66211 United States
913-253-5000
www.spst.edu
STAY CONNECTED:
4370 W. 109th Street, Suite 300
STAY CONNECTED:
4370 W. 109th Street, Suite 300
Overland Park, Kansas 66211 United States
---------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment