Hope Inner City

Once again, I want to publicize what God is doing and this time, it's in my own backyard.

A year and a half ago or so, I heard a man speak at the church we were attending about inner city ministry in Cincinnati, Ohio. When I was picking up information this past Sunday at our Missions Fair, I had no idea that one of the groups represented included Hope Inner City with whom Jade Kendall (the man I had previously heard speak) is affiliated.

I remember Jade sharing compelling stories about life and service to the inner city, but what I recall the best is when he said that he and his wife had intentionally chosen to not only serve in a poor inner city neighborhood...they were living and raising their children there as well. Jade's philosophy that you cannot begin to serve the poor until you enter into their lives, walking beside and living among them to build deep, lasting relationships is the prevailing concept behind most successful inner city ministries. Why?

I also remember Jade saying that people of the inner city feel that God has abandoned them because they are "just too bad"...that they are not worthy of redemption. Doesn't our media promote that too?

When you live among the poor and engage them socially, emotionally and spiritually...the myth that they have some how been abandoned is dispelled by the Light of God's Love.

The Kendalls and three other families are making a difference in Cincinnati, one life at a time. And you can participate in the work God is doing through them. Of course they take financial donations, but they also offer church partnerships, mission trip opportunities (full for Summer 2013), and internships that range from 10 weeks to three years. They also want to identify more part-time and full-time missionaries to join them in their work.

One of the best things I read on their website was a short blog entry by someone that had participated in a workshop about inner city ministry and took a tour of an impoverished neighborhood. Identifying that his fear of the residents was founded in the unknown was a huge step for him and a powerful lesson for all of us. We fear inner city ministry precisely because we do not know the people that live there.

I will keep repeating this...do your own research and if this is a place you feel the Holy Spirit leading you to give or to serve...don't question the feeling...or the wisdom...or even the practicality of it...just do it, and you will be blessed!