The last post was about this huge undertaking that I'm grappling with in South Bend. I touched on some of the challenges I faced jumping into this and my friend, Rev. Steve in CO, emailed to ask how I dealt with these. I had actually meant to write about this in the first blog, but was too tired Friday night to write more.
The first thing I did was to go to the Chamber of Commerce and get a map. The next thing I did was to get some business cards made. With map in hand, I set about getting to know the area around the two churches who were supporting the ministry. I prayed as a I rode in a hap-hazard fashion through the area; I tried to allow God to guide me in my travels. If I felt moved I stopped and talked to people about the neighborhood and so on. Sometimes we pray and sometimes we don't, but they all know I'm a pastor and that's a possibility.
I am looking for partners in this ministry and so I turned to the internet to research churches, social service providers and neighborhood associations in the area. I developed a small list from this study and set about visiting those organizations. There are not too many in the area targeted, which is an indication of need. The people I did talk to emphasized the need to better define the area I wanted to serve, as well as creating more tangible goals. The idea of being minister to a neighborhood simply did not make sense to most people and it made even less sense when I told them that I was praying for discernment and that they were part of the process.
Part of my research involved visiting the denomination's web site. The PC(USA) is not well equipped to deal with community ministry, despite our spoken support of emergent communities. If one's goal is to plant or develop a new church, the PC(USA) has a wealth of resources, but that is not my overt goal. The denomination did recommend a book by David Bos and I was anxious to read that as his wife was my adviser in seminary.
I went to Better World Books (awesome place) and got the Bos book along with several books on community ministry. I apologize to Johanna, but the book by David Bos just did not meet my needs. What I did find was a tremendous book by Carl Dudley. Basic Steps is an awesome primer for the community minister. The volume outlines steps to take and offers some direction on how to evaluate information about the community. I was reassured as I read this to find that my ideas were all right on target with the process recommended by Dudley. I was also interested to read his small section on the hidden people in the community as well as the intangible rewards and obstacles. While I had thought about those items that can't be quantified, Dudley made sure that I didn't forget those elements.
Along with all the research I continue to go through the neighborhood and talk to people. I pray as I go and stop and chat with most people. Through the process of conversation I have begun to limit the area in which I hope to do ministry. It has also occurred to me that I am able to begin several small to medium initiatives rather than focusing on one big programmatic thing. I have also looked at the area and decided that there are three adjoining neighborhoods in which I plan on ministering. The composition, needs and resources available in those areas are all different so there is a need for different ministry.
I found that in chatting with people I am directed to others in the community or other resources. These "secondary" contacts have proven to be the most helpful. These contacts are people who are active in the community and have a good idea of what needs to be done as well as how it might be accomplished. What I keep finding out is that I need to know more. It seems like every conversation sheds light on another facet of an issue in the community.
I am ready to begin planning some action, so I am now getting ready to deal with the supporting churches. I don't know how they will react to my requests to use their facilities and what hoops I will have to go through to make these things happen. I also know I have access to some funds, but I don't know how that process is going to work, either.
Please follow this blog as together we can explore this incredible community ministry.
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