In Our Neighborhood: Everyone Has a Voice

It’s not every day that someone offers you money, especially when you didn’t ask for it.

July 12^th was that day for me.

By that time, I had been praying through the streets of my neighborhood, praying boldly that God’s Kingdom would come and God’s will would be done, for about three months.

I sat at my favorite Northeast coffee shop, Maeve’s, on a hot morning and talked with a leader in my St. Anthony East Neighborhood Association. My room mates and I have done what we can to connect with this neighborhood organization. So Sean and I had gotten to be friends over the last couple years and that morning he came with a proposition.

“We want to throw a party for all of our neighborhood. We need some people to head it up.” Sean said.

Now I am always up for a party, but when he began to explain the purpose, I saw Sean’s heart for the Kingdom of God as if it was pouring out onto the table between us.

Sean had used his leadership to encourage the neighborhood association that a party should be thrown for our whole neighborhood in a very specific part of St. Anthony East: The section zoned for low-income housing.

Three blocks from my house, on the corner of Central and Spring there is a low income high rise that houses 300 people, Clare Housing (a home for individuals with HIV/AIDS), Habitat for Humanity town homes and a Teamsters village for low income seniors.

All this on one city block.

Sean’s idea was to get the people out for a dinner in their honor. And while they are there, give them an opportunity to fill out a neighborhood survey that will determine important decisions and how funds are allocated in our neighborhood.

“We hardly ever get the surveys back from the residents of this area, and the result is that their voice isn’t heard.” As Sean spoke those last few words, they rang in my ears and these words swelled up in my heart:

 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. For the rights of all who are destitute. Proverbs 31:8

As Sean finished explaining, it didn’t take much for me to be on board.

“We can plan this party! I’m not sure what it will take, but we will make it happen, and make it great! So, do we have a budget for this event?” I asked.

“Yeah, we have about $2000. Do you think that will be enough?”

“Um… YES.”

And in just a few weeks:

We brought door hanger fliers to every single resident on that block and every other block of our neighborhood.

Over thirty people from Mill City Church and Mercy Vineyard Church were ready for action to love these neighbors in the name of Jesus.

The party was a huge success and almost every item of food was consumed. Multiple neighbors told us that it was the only meal they had that day, and some that whole weekend.

Hundreds of neighbors filled out a neighborhood survey: Their, often silenced, voices were heard.

The neighborhood association members were in shock and there was joy coming from each person who volunteered to help run the event.

“That’s quite the posse you have there,” one man said.

“Yep! And it’s not even half of them!” I responded as he laughed. But it’s true!

I pray I get to explain to the association soon, that what they witnessed was an overflow of love from a God who first loved us. That it was kindness poured from hearts of gratitude for all that Jesus has done for us.

I was so full of joy as I stood at the edge of the party and snapped a pic of my friend, Steph, telling stories and laughing with a group of girls eating cotton candy and snacks.

The Kingdom of God came to St. Anthony East that day. Jesus moved into the neighborhood once again.

You see, when Jesus is King, the hungry are fed, there is joy instead of sorrow, and everyone is celebrated.

 And in the Kingdom of God: everyone has a voice.