theCityShouldBeDifferent: #theCityShouldBeDifferent (serving this weekend at Elem School; Cemetery Cleanup; Non-Profit Fundraiser)

Friday, October 26, 2012

#theCityShouldBeDifferent (serving this weekend at Elem School; Cemetery Cleanup; Non-Profit Fundraiser)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28th - We will gather at Paul's House (call/text 794-9891 for easy directions) to Celebrate and Evaluate the 3 service initiatives we did this week, encourage each other, and to keep learning and stretching for what's next! #theCityShouldBeDifferent

Yes, the world is full of catchy motto's They can sometimes be very helpful in moving us toward something meaningful. Or they can be a words-only cliche, that never pays off on the promise the motto brings.

I like words and communication, so I toy with phrases and ways to communicate. It seems I can't go through a day without finding a metaphors to try to explain life, reveal the Gospel and it's implications for all of life.

#theCityShouldBeDifferent is a call to life bigger, to lean into the power that comes from God for the transformation of the place we live. It's a mandate for the people who follow Jesus in this city, and the churches in this city to be for the peace and prosperity of our place. To serve without strings, not hiding the truth that we wish everyone knew and followed Jesus, but to serving the city, the least because we know and follow Jesus - we will love others no matter what.

Much more to say...much more to live.

the city should be different

ACTION UPDATES:

TONIGHT we serve by helping put on the "Dance with Our Father" daddy-daughter dance at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Lake Charles. Call Paul, 794-9891, for info or to help.

TOMORROW we serve helping cleanup a neglected cemetery. Call Paul to come help.

AND we will be volunteering at Wheels of Hope to benefit the St. Nicholas Center for Children. Go and ride tomorrow! http://www.stnickcenter.org/

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theCityShouldBeDifferent

Since #JesusIsAlive, then from #Goosport2Graywood #theCityShouldBeDifferent

theCityShouldBeDifferent.com

a move to Unite theChurchatLakeCharles.us

and Transform the city

through Building Capacity for Engagement

So That John 17:20-23 can happen here, now.

OK, that sounds good, but what does that mean? So here is an Example: We have this enormous industrial expansion headed to SWLA, bringing 25,000+ new construction jobs. There are lots of, say, young men in our area who are not meaningfully participating in the workforce, but who could certainly fulfill the unskilled helper jobs that will be a small portion of this large construction workforce needed. What they need to be ready for these jobs is some hope. We, church, are charter members in the hope trade. So, via relational engagement, we let the young men borrow some hope from us, inspiring some to begin working on improving their character and soft skills, getting ready for this meaningful work opportunity.

There are a bunch of kickers in this real-life scenario.

1.) The industrial construction helpers can make $15 an hour, and typically have lots of overtime. This scenario really stomps on the gas pedal in this way: a new entrant into the workforce in this situation can save enough to buy a reliable car in 1-2 months! That is hope building; dignity establishing!

2.) If we are going to see a thousand young men (that's my vision) pass through this opportunity, we will need a whole-bunch of support systems, meaning mentors, encouragers, soft-skills instructors, rides to work and more.

3.) When we engage with our real-life neighbors, in real-life serving, everyone's character, everyone's faith in Jesus gets a real shot at growing! It's what you call, Discipleship.

4.) When a young man gets a job that can pay $40k a year, they have real options! They can get more education and training. They can inspire those around them to follow them. They can be inspired by those who invested in their life for free and set them up for this situation, and they can help the next group of young men who aren't working get on board.

5.) When people from all corners of the city who are a part of the Jesus story get engaged together on a real-life mission worth doing, one that doesn't benefit any of the men or their churches directly, but the benefits are so powerful and real, then we get to build trust, relationships and capacity and see that Jesus unites and trumps race or class. We get new respect for each other and our capacity to do go and be real brothers is greater than we could have foreseen

...

Are you getting a little glimpse at the picture?

The people who follow Jesus are carrier's of the Hope of the World. We, in the Lake Charles area, have a beautiful opportunity to engage with our community, building relationships and helping lots of people see who Jesus is more clearly.

There is lots more to say, so stay tuned and, if you are intrigued, lean your voice into the mix. Contact Paul Pettefer at 337-794-9891, paul@employmentisbetter.com, @paulpettefer, or stop by the InterGalactic Offices of theCityShouldBeDifferent.com located inside Laundry World, 2712 Lake St, Lake Charles.