Circles On A Map
Circles On A Map
I don’t know if you know this, but you just bought a house on the worst street in the St. Anthony East Neighborhood.
A neighbor from a few blocks over let me know at a neighborhood association meeting a couple years ago.
I suppose any normal person would feel offended by this type of comment. But by the time I was listening to this less than tactful man, my response was “Oh yes, I know.”
Four years ago, my friend Jana moved into my neighborhood. We didn’t know each other at the time, but we would become friends and Jana and her family would become an important part of Mill City Church. (Jana is running a half-marathon for anti-trafficking, check it out)
Jana was a part of the neighborhood association where Adams Street, and it’s issues, were a frequent topic of conversation. Jana knew that more trees or a wider boulevard, though nice ideas, would not decrease the crime on my block or the trash or the amount of police and emergency vehicles that seemed to always be needed. So she began to pray.
Years before I was here in St. Anthony East, Jana was praying that God’s Kingdom would come to Adams street, just like I have been praying over the last few months.
In 2009, I spoke to my good friend and realtor, Brad, and told him I was interested in buying a house. I was hoping it could be a house where I could live in intentional community and would provide a space for the growth and change that happens when you commit to live along side one another.
Then… I got out a map.
I had been around Northeast long enough to know the different neighborhoods and what they were like. I prayed about it for a while and I knew that God was calling me to relocate to a part of Northeast that was diverse. And I mean that in every sense of the word. I deeply believe that God can change us when we do life along side those who are different than us, believing that we are all made in the image of God.
So I surrendered many thoughts I had about where I’d like to live and why, and made three circles on the map. I told Brad that I only wanted to look at houses inside the circles which were the most diverse areas of Northeast.
Seven house viewings later, I bought my house on Adams Street.
It affectionately became known as The Parsonage because it housed Pastor Steph and many pastors-in-training.
By the time my not-so-emotionally-intelligent neighbor was letting me know the woes of Adams Street, I had experienced many of them first hand. But what he didn’t understand, was that all that came with Adams Street was an answer to prayer. Actually, an answer to two prayers.
First, my friend Jana’s prayers for the Kingdom to come. Since she prayed that prayer, over 25 people have moved onto this street with the desire to love their community in the name of Jesus. This was not planned, they just happened to all move in! We have been following God’s lead as to how to love Adams Street.
Secondly, my “circle prayers” that I prayed and also put on a map that I gave to my realtor. Prayers that resulted in my being right where I am supposed to be. When God led me to live in diversity, I prayed that he would lead me to it… and he did!
On Adams Street there are:
– multiple people with disabilities living with their families or in two group homes.
– European American, Eastern European, Latino, Asian and African American families.
– Young college students, people in their late 80s who are the second or third generation to live in their same home, and everything in between.
– People who have housing assistance to be able to afford their homes and successful engineers and lawyers.
– People who are single, married, married with kids and homosexual couples.
– I am aware of those who are Christians, Buddhists, Atheists and Jews.
– And I won’t forget that in addition to houses, there is also a Danish Laundromat and a very tasty Vietnamese restaurant.
And then… to add to the diversity, there is a house with a female pastor and five wonderful women and a dog with a deep desire and hope to love like Jesus.
Turns out, our God was just getting started.
To be continued…
Circles On A Map
I don’t know if you know this, but you just bought a house on the worst street in the St. Anthony East Neighborhood.
A neighbor from a few blocks over let me know at a neighborhood association meeting a couple years ago.
I suppose any normal person would feel offended by this type of comment. But by the time I was listening to this less than tactful man, my response was “Oh yes, I know.”
Four years ago, my friend Jana moved into my neighborhood. We didn’t know each other at the time, but we would become friends and Jana and her family would become an important part of Mill City Church. (Jana is running a half-marathon for anti-trafficking, check it out)
Jana was a part of the neighborhood association where Adams Street, and it’s issues, were a frequent topic of conversation. Jana knew that more trees or a wider boulevard, though nice ideas, would not decrease the crime on my block or the trash or the amount of police and emergency vehicles that seemed to always be needed. So she began to pray.
Years before I was here in St. Anthony East, Jana was praying that God’s Kingdom would come to Adams street, just like I have been praying over the last few months.
In 2009, I spoke to my good friend and realtor, Brad, and told him I was interested in buying a house. I was hoping it could be a house where I could live in intentional community and would provide a space for the growth and change that happens when you commit to live along side one another.
Then… I got out a map.
I had been around Northeast long enough to know the different neighborhoods and what they were like. I prayed about it for a while and I knew that God was calling me to relocate to a part of Northeast that was diverse. And I mean that in every sense of the word. I deeply believe that God can change us when we do life along side those who are different than us, believing that we are all made in the image of God.
So I surrendered many thoughts I had about where I’d like to live and why, and made three circles on the map. I told Brad that I only wanted to look at houses inside the circles which were the most diverse areas of Northeast.
Seven house viewings later, I bought my house on Adams Street.
It affectionately became known as The Parsonage because it housed Pastor Steph and many pastors-in-training.
By the time my not-so-emotionally-intelligent neighbor was letting me know the woes of Adams Street, I had experienced many of them first hand. But what he didn’t understand, was that all that came with Adams Street was an answer to prayer. Actually, an answer to two prayers.
First, my friend Jana’s prayers for the Kingdom to come. Since she prayed that prayer, over 25 people have moved onto this street with the desire to love their community in the name of Jesus. This was not planned, they just happened to all move in! We have been following God’s lead as to how to love Adams Street.
Secondly, my “circle prayers” that I prayed and also put on a map that I gave to my realtor. Prayers that resulted in my being right where I am supposed to be. When God led me to live in diversity, I prayed that he would lead me to it… and he did!
On Adams Street there are:
– multiple people with disabilities living with their families or in two group homes. – European American, Eastern European, Latino, Asian and African American families. – Young college students, people in their late 80s who are the second or third generation to live in their same home, and everything in between. – People who have housing assistance to be able to afford their homes and successful engineers and lawyers. – People who are single, married, married with kids and homosexual couples. – I am aware of those who are Christians, Buddhists, Atheists and Jews. – And I won’t forget that in addition to houses, there is also a Danish Laundromat and a very tasty Vietnamese restaurant.And then… to add to the diversity, there is a house with a female pastor and five wonderful women and a dog with a deep desire and hope to love like Jesus.
Turns out, our God was just getting started.
To be continued…
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