theCityShouldBeDifferent: Love Is Alive in Lake Charles: Good Friday at Sunlight Manor - When the Good News of Jesus intersects the bad news of culture failure

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Love Is Alive in Lake Charles: Good Friday at Sunlight Manor - When the Good News of Jesus intersects the bad news of culture failure

GOOD FRIDAY UPDATE: Today was GREAT! We are so proud of theChurchAtLakeCharles, with over 20 churches and business collaborating to host a day of joy for children, remembrance and compassion for the families who lost 3 sons last week, and a day of life-on engagement where caring adults spent time with young people. THANK YOU to those who contributed to the effort with your time and resources.

If you are interested in being a Mentor, or are looking for a Mentor, we will be posting some specific phone numbers of the 1st New Life Baptist Church's mentoring group shortly. Until then, you can call/text/email Paul Pettefer, 337-794-9891, paul@theCityChurch.us and we will get you connected to them.

Because #JesusIsAlive, then from #Goosport2Graywood #theCityShouldBeDifferent

Where tragedy and destruction had their moment, the people who follow Jesus want to have something beautiful rise up out of the ashes, like young men and boys developing mentoring relationships. So on Good Friday, March 29, 2013, at the site of the 3 murders just two days ago, a group of ministers and friends will be hosting #GoodFridayntheLC. Be there and begin your lifestyle of engagement.

The primary actionable goal at the end of this day is to connect boys and young men who come with Jesus-following mentors.

From Goosport to Graywood, theCityShouldBeDifferent

If you want in, just contact us, paul @ 794-9891, paul@thecitychurch.us

Why we should be doing this (recorded 2 days before the Sunlight Manor killings):

Flyer for Good Friday at Sunlight Manor (feel free to share!):

News and Images on the 3 killings:

The night of the 3 killings, March 20, 2013, Sunlight Manor

Suspect is arrested. How tragic for the victims, and for him.

The families all grieve. Such horrible loss. We pray for them.
And we take steps to bring God's love to the city.

The 3 photo's above are from KPLCTV.com

Stories from AmericanPress.com
http://www.americanpress.com/Three-dead-in-shooting-at-McMillian-Park
http://www.americanpress.com/Car-linked-to-fatal-shootings-found

Here are the stories from KPLCTV.com:
http://www.kplctv.com/story/21752781/shooting-investigation-possible-homicide
http://www.kplctv.com/story/21762266/residents-gather-at-mcmillan-park-to-grieve-encourage
http://www.kplctv.com/category/240197/new-video-landing-page?clipId=8680608&autostart=true
http://www.kplctv.com/story/21769483/authorities-release-details-in-arrest-of-triple-homicide-suspect
http://www.kplctv.com/story/21773194/lcp
http://www.kplctv.com/story/21760106/triple-homicide

No comments:

Post a Comment

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.