2
2018
J O U R N E Y
PLACES OF THE HEART About the artwork featured in this issue of Journey
Evangelist Leighton Ford has spent a lifetime traveling the earth. Now, he is sharing the journey in a book of his paintings, poems, and essays. Equal parts travelogue and memoir, Places of the Heart muses on the places around the world that have touched Leighton’s heart and soul. At age 87, he has come to appreciate what he calls “the geography of the heart.” “I hope the book helps people see the places of the heart in their own lives and sense the divine presence,” Leighton says. “And I hope it gives God pleasure that I am appreciating the world He created.” Leighton and his wife, Jean, have long been a part of Myers Park Presbyterian Church. Though many know him well, they are still surprised to learn that he is a painter and poet, having discovered both in his 60s. Painting, he says, helps him appreciate that God’s hand is in every landscape. With an evangelist’s heart, he believes people are longing for beauty in a world scarred by so much ugliness. Thus was born this 130page, coffee table-style hardback, rich with “visits” to the places that mean so much to him. You’ll find Leighton’s paintings throughout this issue of Journey, illustrating ways Myers Park Presbyterian Church approaches the future through cultivating community, crossing divides, and changing lives.
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DISCERNING THE WAY
In the early church, disciples referred to the Christian life as “the way.” Stories that take place “on the way” in the gospels often teach us about some aspect of the life of discipleship. Early Christians understood the life of faith as a journey. An essential aspect of any journey is discerning the way. Over the past year, our congregation has been engaged in a journey of discernment, listening for God’s call to us as a congregation. “Dream Day” last January kicked off this effort, with hundreds of leaders considering how the changing landscape of Christianity in the United States will impact our congregation and how we might respond to these changes. Averill Harkey capably led our Discernment Team in harvesting thousands of comments and ideas from Dream Day, finding common threads in them and grouping them together into three distinct themes: Cultivating Community, Crossing Divides, and Changing Lives. Once the Discernment Team had their three overarching strategies, they realized that this is what Jesus did throughout the gospels. First, he cultivated community by calling his disciples to follow him. Then, throughout the gospels he crosses divides of his day, reaching across divides related to religion, race, and other social divides. Of course, central to Jesus’ ministry was his capacity to change lives; healing the sick, casting out demons, feeding the hungry, giving sight to the blind. These are the things that happened with Jesus “on the way.” This issue of Journey is therefore quite appropriately named. Inside you will find stories of disciple’s journeys on the way through the life and ministry of Myers Park Presbyterian Church. On your way through this issue, you will be blessed by the artistry of our own Leighton Ford, whose beautiful watercolors adorn the pages. May the following stories be an inspiration for your journey on the way of Christian faith. God bless you on the journey!
Joe Clifford Pastor
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TABLE OF CONTENTS CULTIVATING COMMUNITY 8
CROSSING DIVIDES CONT. 18 CROSSING THE RAILROAD TRACKS
FINDING FOCUS Our high school Youth explore taking a mindful approach to the parables of Jesus and to one another.
11 FORMING FRIENDSHIP, FOSTERING COMMUNITY
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and MPPC create a cross-cultural Bible study that looks at the racial divide.
20 COMPASSION AND CARE Stephen Ministry is halping MPPC members find comfort in their faith in times of need.
The Men’s Fellowship Breakfast seeks to build faith and fellowship one man at a time.
12 PLAYING PICKLEBALL Pickleball builds character, and community... but with no gerkins.
13 COFFEE & COMMUNITY Dick Darlington shares why he chooses to serve people and not just a cause.
CHANGING LIVES 24 HOPE ALIVE! With a thriving partnership in Congo, MPPC hopes to cotinue working with our neighbors to turn the tide of the country.
26 A NEW PARTNERSHIP IN THE PEARL OF AFRICA Josh Richard shares the experiences of the Uganda Mission Team in this series of articles.
CROSSING DIVIDES 16 LEVERAGING LEMONADE Two Mission Kids put a twist on the summer lemonade stand.
17 COMING HOME
32 BUILDING COMMUNITY & HOPE Through Habitat for Humanity, the trasformative nature of homeownership begins after the family moves into a new home.
34 CONNECTING FAITH
With a host of new renovations, The Men’s Shelter is more equipped than ever to care for our homless neighbors in Charlotte.
Engagement is a important part of our work at MPPC, learn more on how to get involved with your church.
Comments, questions, and story submissions for future issues of Journey are most welcome. Contact Josh Richard, Communications Director, at jrichard@myersparkpres.org Winter Journey | 5
Discernment Team Stratetic Priority:
Cultivating Community
“Evening Sky from Sharon School�- Leighton Ford, watercolor
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you… I no longer call you servants, but I have called you friends. JOHN 15:12-17
Christ calls us into relationship with Him and with one another, calling us to be friends. Friendship is perhaps the greatest gift in our lives. Of friendship, C. S. Lewis writes, “It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” We believe Christ is calling us to nurture such friendships by cultivating community through welcome, engagement, deepening, and nurturing our relationships.
TAKING A MINDFUL APPROACH TO THE PARABLES OF JESUS AND TO ONE ANOTHER
Captain Joe Grier shuts off the engine and dozens of new noises emerge. The wind filling the sails of the boat. The water rushing past the hull. The activity of young people taking the slack out of a jib sheet or spotting boats that may cross our path. We’re sailing. The youth of Myers Park Presbyterian have been dispatched on sailing trips since 2003, and this has become something of a tradition. There’s a unique mix of purposes to this trip, and it’s changed over time with varying degrees of leisure, fellowship, and quiet contemplation of faith. This year, a new purpose emerged. “I think this trip was really about helping us escape from the unneeded stress that we feel in our everyday lives and to be present in the moment,” said Parker Hanley, a 10th grader. “Our days can be so jam-packed that we under-appreciate what God has to offer.” That’s why we’re here on the Chesapeake Bay, where the waters waver between salt and fresh. The sparkling lights of the cities become a faint orange glow on the horizon. A small group of young people sit on the deck of a sailboat meditating. Michelle Thomas-Bush, putting her sabbatical training in mindfulness to use, leads the group in a series of exercises designed to encourage our minds to STOP: Stop, Take notice, Observe, and Proceed.
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We practice mindful meditation, mindful breathing, and mindful eating. We’re encouraged to live in each moment as it is experienced, focusing our minds on the present instead of the future-focus or past-dwelling that’s so easy to do. Mindfulness helps us savor each moment as a gift from God, and with each breath recognize God in the ordinary moments of our days. “The daily meditation allowed me to unload at the end of the day. No matter what happened, I always had the meditation to look forward to,” says Chris Gantt, an 11th grader. “Everyday life can be challenging and have unknown ups and downs. Meditation allows us to escape, relax, and debrief.” Sailing is a mindful practice in itself. It’s a delicate dance with the wind that requires a focused presence of mind about your immediate surroundings. If you’re at the helm, you have a visceral connection to the water, the wind, and the boat. There’s a more profound knowledge than knowing the relationship of the sails, sheets, and halyards. Our captains (Dan Wohlbruck and Joe Grier) guided many of us through the practice of sailing with patience and care. “I loved sailing!” said Parker. “It was so cool to able to see our route and help navigate towards where we were anchoring that night.”
toured the Naval Academy at Annapolis. We napped. We tried to find parables in the ice cream shops that dot the Maryland coastline. Before the trip, the youth set their own parameters for the use of their phones while on the water. Take the photo, then put your phone down. Don’t get on your phone in a group setting. Turn off your notifications. Be accountable to each other for your phone usage. Each of us was confronted with how our use of technology has changed how we relate to people and to the world around us in both positive and negative ways. Recognizing how we re-engage the world when we return from this sailing retreat is essential. We’re returning more relaxed, but we’re also returning as more mindful beings in a world full of distraction and competition. Hopefully, we can center ourselves around our relationship with Jesus and strive to be present with people we meet along our journey. “This trip was the first time I ever truly felt at peace,” says Parker, “By being mindful and practicing meditation, your racing mind gets a chance to slow down and focus on what’s really important. That’s something I think everyone deserves.”
The evening Bible studies led by Nick and Joseph, the Youth Interns, looked at the various parables found throughout the Bible. What they are, how they’re meant to be uncomfortable, even challenging, and, how they can reveal something about how we live our lives. We parsed the language, found ourselves in the stories, and tried to interpret these parables from a different perspective. We learned both the parables of Jesus and opened our eyes to see parables in the stories all around us. That’s not to say we had two boats full of sage, low-energy youth. We also savored moments of dance, of laughter, of back-flips and novelty floaties. We explored the creeks and coves of the Smithsonian Ecological Research Center and Winter Journey | 9
Pastor Tom Are and Joe Clifford
“We don’t need to wait for friendship to ‘just happen.’ Like so many things in our lives, the practice of friendship is a spiritual discipline”. - Pastor Tom Are
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FORMING FRIENDSHIP, FOSTERING COMMUNITY MEN’S FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST
In an effort to provide more fellowship and faith building opportunities for men at MPPC, the Men’s Fellowship Breakfast has become a highly anticipated event
There is something to be said about early morning meetings: one feels strangely refreshed and energetic by the end of them. Maybe it is because there is an opportunity to truly focus and take notice of what and who is around you before all the stress of the day sets in. Walking into Oxford Hall at 7 a.m. on the day of the Men’s Fellowship Breakfast, one can feel the dynamic shift in energy from the quiet stillness outside in the parking lot. Hearty laughter, bright smiles and firm handshakes from men both young and old await you when walking into the room, and an overwhelming sense of warmth and welcome. But what makes the Men’s Fellowship Breakfast so popular with the men of MPPC? If you ask Johnny Belk, the chief orchestrator behind the event, it is the sense of community and fellowship that draws people in. As a member of the Congregational Care Council, Johnny noticed there was a lack of programming and meaningful ways for men in the church to engage with one another. “From my own experience at Myers Park, I realized how hard it is to connect to others if they are worshiping at different times and/or choose a different type of service,” Johnny says. At their first meeting the council shared the different initiatives they would focus on throughout the year which all primarily involved women. Johnny inquired about initiatives to engage men in the congregation and found the options to be slim. “How do we better connect men in a faith format that will be attractive to them and cause them to want to come back?” Tapping into his prior experiences for a way to engage men with fellowship, Johnny combined food and fellowship to create the Men’s Fellowship Breakfast. The theme of this year’s breakfast addressed the importance of friendship among men with a message delivered by Pastor Tom Are, Senior Pastor of Village Church in Prairie Village, Kansas. As a good friend of Joe Clifford, Tom had many stories to share and he used those experiences to illustrate why we need to build relationships with others. The most obvious reason for developing friendships is to erase the feelings of loneliness and isolation. One interesting point Tom made was how our use of social media and heavy reliance on technology contributes to our isolation as a society. Despite how connected we may feel when using these outlets, studies have shown that we feel more alone than ever because we are lacking that real-world interaction. “Our Lord called us to this when the new commandment was given at the Lord’s Supper: ‘A new commandment I give you, that you love one another,’” says Joe. “It’s such a simple call, but in the day to day demands of life, it is a profound challenge.” Tom’s solution to this? Make a list of all of the people that are important in your life. Keep the list in your wallet and periodically check it, making sure to make time for those people weekly, monthly, or however often you need. This is just one of the simple ways we can practice mindfulness in our lives. It’s clear that this gathering of men is so essential to the life of this church, and meetings like this strengthen our faith and encourage a sense of community. “Tom’s message was profound in both its simplicity and its challenge: we are created for friendship,” says Joe. Like anything worthwhile, it doesn’t just happen overnight; we won’t solve the issue of a broken society and isolation in one day, but it’s a great place to start. “Perhaps the most significant aspect of these gatherings is that they are sowing seeds for something that may take much longer to germinate,” Joe adds. “But the harvest of men’s fellowship that could come of this work today will be a tremendous blessing to our congregation’s tomorrows.” “We don’t need to wait for friendship to ‘just happen.’ Like so many things in our lives, the practice of friendship is a spiritual discipline” says Tom. “The genius of the Men’s Breakfast is that it combines a great breakfast, with a little bit of inspiration and then provides men with an opportunity to talk about something that matters. We all need to practice this kind of conversation.”
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PLAYING P I C K L E B A L L No gerkins, but a whole lot of community
Pickleball? When one hears the name, many things come to mind, mainly “what is it?” and “will there be pickles involved?”. While there are no delicious tangy cucumbers served, what one will find is a community of disciples engaging in friendly competition and exercise every week. Pickleball incorporates elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton with a court about 1/3 the size of a traditional tennis court. Currently, there are 45 different venues where pickleball is played with over 700 active players in the Greater Charlotte Area. The appeal of pickleball is evident here at MPPC. Within its first year, the game has already gained a strong following among members with a weekly class held every Monday from 1:30-3:30 p.m. This is led by pickleball enthusiasts Dick and Desire’ Osman. “We are both golfers and about five years ago Desire’ was lamenting to a friend that her game was in the tank,” Dick says. “We heard about pickleball and found that it was being offered at The Nano Center in Matthews. We went there, played one time, and were hooked!” Since then, they have worked as ambassadors with the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) teaching clinics all over Charlotte. Carol Barry is an MPPC member and part of the team who helped advocate for bringing the game here. Both the Osmans and Carol came to the sport because they were looking for a new challenge that would also give them a sense of community. “I became interested in pickleball about a year ago, following a knee replacement,” Carol says. She needed a new activity that would keep her active during her recovery. “I was never a very good tennis player, but I was pretty good at table tennis. Then, voila, pickleball!” One of the main draws to the game is the chance to socialize with other players during play. “In pickleball, the players are in close proximity, most of the time no more than 15’ apart. As a result, there is a lot of interaction,” Dick says. A typical game lasts about 20-25 minutes, and there is an opportunity for a lot of mixing of partners, as opposed to tennis where one would play for a couple of hours with only 1-3 other people. “Further, the shared experience of any sport is a good platform for building community, and that is especially true of pickleball,” he says.
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This sense of camaraderie is especially appealing to the senior community whom the game is geared towards here at MPPC. “We tend to help each other to succeed. We cheer one another on when someone executes a successful serve or even simply hits the ball,” adds Carol. “It’s not about winning; it’s about having fun and making new friends.” In the end, Carol and Dick agree that pickleball is all about having fun through good exercise, friendly competition, and a great group of people. “As a part of our outreach ministry, I hope, more people are drawn to MPPC,” Carol says. “I hope people will feel good about themselves, make new friends, be motivated to keep moving. Life is too short to sit and watch the world go by”.
COFFEE
&
COMMUNITY
WITH DICK DARLINGTON
Kara Miller, Communications Coordinator for MPPC, sat down with Dick Darlington to talk about the importance of serving people and not just a cause
On October 16, Dick Darlington was presented with a Legacy Award from the Charlotte Presbytery, recognizing volunteer efforts from members over the age of 70. “I remember coming home and [my wife] Beverly said, ‘I just got a text from Michelle Thomas-Bush wanting to know how old you are.’” It’s hard to believe he’s over 70. Dick seems to be doing everything. Dick has served many, many organizations over the years, and I wanted to capture his thoughts on cultivating community through volunteer work. Over lunch and between cups of coffee, Dick Darlington and I chatted about a few topics, from relationship building, to bizarre neighbors, to Halloween plans. Here’s what I learned from him during our time together. COMMUNITY IS BUILT OVER TIME. Coming from a generation with a sometimes “slacktivist” mentality, when Dick said he’d served with the Urban Ministry Center for 21 years, I found myself thinking, “but, how?” I did some quick math and forgave myself for not being fully committed to a charity by age five, but the rest of the numbers he listed – a class mentor for three years, coordinating Room in the Inn for seven years, a Stephen Minister for four years, just to name a few – still felt staggering. For most people I know, their volunteer focuses change with the tide. How, then, do you stay committed to causes for an extended period of time? Better yet, how do you start to feel like you’re a part of those communities? As we talked, I listened for an answer to this question. The more we discussed, the more a pattern emerged: instead of focusing about the organizations as a whole, or even the causes the organizations addressed, Dick talked about the people. COMMUNITY IS MADE UP OF INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIPS. Each time I asked, “What about this group?” Dick responded, “Well, let me tell you a story about so-and-so.” As a class mentor, he recounted a time he had a meaningful interaction with a middle school youth in Philadelphia. When I asked about Room in the Inn, he talked about his monthly lunches
with Dale Mullennix, the Executive Director at Urban Ministry Center. Even in his most recent volunteer ventures at the Men’s Shelter, he credited a friend of his who was new to the church for his involvement. Without explicitly saying so, Dick repeatedly underscored the importance of nurturing relationships with individuals over time. Story after story, you could see how incredibly invested he is in each person he mentioned, remembering certain moments, certain details. That’s one of the qualities that make him so deserving of a Legacy Award. COMMUNITY HELPS EVERYONE FIND PERSPECTIVE. “You can’t see the woods for the trees–isn’t that the saying? Sometimes it just takes a change in perspective. Sometimes it takes listening and trying to see things in a different light,” Dick explained. Stephen Ministry is a one-on-one lay caring ministry and, unsurprisingly, Dick Darlington is involved. These lay ministers are equipped to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. A Stephen Minister doesn’t say, here’s the path: walk down this one; a Stephen Minister walks alongside you as you find your own path. “Stephen Ministry is really just taking a walk or,” he nods at me, “having a lunch.” When it came to the Legacy Award, Dick didn’t have much to say. He actually spoke most at length about how there were so many other deserving people in the congregation. He did, however, send me a follow up email the next day:
Subject: Today’s Connect Body: “Today at lunch we started out talking about relationships & then I come home to read Connect & find this from Millie: - God created human beings to live in relationships and those relationships have a profound impact on the way we live. I think this says it all.” I think he’s right.
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Discernment Team Stratetic Priority:
Crossing Divides
“Wrangler’s Leighton Ford, watercolor Winter JourneyDream”| 14
For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. EPHESIANS 2:14
In his ministry, Jesus was constantly crossing divides, from eating with tax collectors and sinners to his conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well to inviting himself to dinner at Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector’s home. We seek to follow Christ, and he often leads us to places we could not go on our own. He leads us to these places in order to accomplish his God-given mission: to reconcile the world to God and us to one another. We believe Christ is calling us to cross the divisions of our world that too often separate us, theologically, politically, socio-economically, racially, and nationally.
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LEVERAGING LEMONADE Two Mission Kids put a new twist on the summer lemonade stand
Opening up your very own lemonade stand is almost a rite of passage. You get to plan, prepare, and execute your first business venture, usually all within a few hours. You set up a table, practice being polite, and take responsibility for the money box. It’s fun, but for Kate Seaman and Lila Highsmith, it’s much more than that. Kate and Lila have a more altruistic purpose, and it’s right on their sign: “All the money is donated to homeless shelters in Charlotte!!!! Help Today!” The week before, both had attended the “Hometown Heroes” Vacation Bible School program at Myers Park Pres. All week, they focused on some of the heroes of the Bible and learned about some of our heroic church partners, including Charlotte Family Housing, the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte, The Learning Collaborative, and our own global outreach teams.
see people who were tired, hungry, and hot on the streets. I want to keep helping as many people as I can.” So, on a particularly hot Tuesday morning in June, Kate and Lila decided it was again time to help out by selling lemonade on the sidewalk in front of Lila’s house and using the money to create blessing bags (with toiletries, a granola bar, socks, and a prayer tucked inside) to give out when they meet people experiencing homelessness. “There is so much need in Charlotte. Everyone deserves a good life with shelter, food, and water. It’s important for those of us fortunate enough to have those things to remember to help others that are not as fortunate. We shouldn’t take what we have for granted” said Lila.
The fourth and fifth graders are “Mission Kids,” meaning they have a particular emphasis on service and support of our shared community. Capstone outing of the week? An urban walk around Charlotte with a facilitator from CROSS missions. “It felt really eye-opening for me to see how many people were homeless in Charlotte,” says Kate. “When we were on the Urban Walk we saw two children with their dad who appeared to be living on the streets. They were very hot and tired. We gave them a bottle of water and a blessing bag, but I wanted to do more.” “I learned that I should always be thankful for all the basic things like cold water, fresh fruits and vegetables, and shelter, says Lila. “It made us sad to
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Lila Highsmith and Kate Seaman Friends, entrepreneurs, and Mission Kids
A PLACE TO CALL HOME With a new facility, The Men’s Shelter will continue to care for the homeless community of Charlotte for years to come
During these chilly winter months, most of us can’t wait to get out of the elements and into the warmth and comfort of our homes. However, for those experiencing homelessness in our city, it is not as simple. That is where the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte steps in to care for our neighbors. Their mission: to provide safe emergency shelter while working to end homelessness for each man. During the winter of 1980-1981, members of the city’s faith community learned of the passing of three homeless men who had no escape from the harsh weather. In response, the Emergency Winter Shelter was created to provide a place of refuge and led the shelter for its first years. The Men’s Shelter of Charlotte was born in 2009 from the merger of the Emergency Winter Shelter and the Uptown Men’s Shelter. George Carroll first became involved with The Men’s Shelter four years ago after hearing a presentation in his Sunday School class in which they were looking for volunteers to work in the computer room. “I attended the initial training at the Housing and Employment Resource Center (HERC) for MPPC and began to volunteer weekly.” George now serves as the Ministry Team Leader for MPPC serving in many community roles at The Men’s Shelter, including coordinating the team of disciples whom serve dinner the second Wednesday of every month at the Statesville Road campus. The brunt of his work, however, is done at the HERC, helping clients prepare a resume or cover letter, assisting in finding employment or conducting a housing search. Each day offers a new opportunity to help a client become one step closer to overcoming homelessness. “This is the purpose of it all, and it can be very gratifying, yet humbling,” adds George. Other disciples like Marsha Stiegel share George’s passion for serving in this ministry. “I think of God as being with those on the margins. By going to the margins and being in kinship with our guests, we cannot help but be transformed,” she says. “In this way, The Men’s Shelter of Charlotte offers both a meaningful place to engage in service and to invest in Kingdom work.” Earlier this year, The Men’s Shelter completed a much needed $5.3 million renovation of their central facility on North Tryon Street with contributions from MPPC and a number of community partners. “The four-and-a-half-month renovation transformed a building in severe disrepair that quite frankly, did not offer much hope, into an uplifting environment that inspires and embodies the inherent dignity we have for every guest in our care,” says Ann Marie Elmayan, Volunteer Engagement Manager for The Men’s Shelter.
“The renovation of our North Tryon Street Shelter allowed our campus to finally reflect our mission and values as an organization,” she adds. During the renovation, the Tryon St. campus kitchen was out of service, meaning the entire Charlotte community was asked to come together and provide lunch and dinner for 200 men every day for four months. Throughout the summer, groups of MPPC disciples, including George Carroll’s 2nd Wednesday dinner team, the MPPC youth, Outreach Council, and Vacation Bible School, assembled bagged lunches or prepared food and delivered it to the shelter for dinner. The MPPC Shelter Casserole team had an unusual challenge. Traditionally, they make casseroles and food for The Men’s Shelter for the first Sunday dinner of every month. The food is refrigerated and then heated up and served by members of Seigle Avenue Presbyterian (now called The Avenue). However, with no kitchen and no ovens to warm casseroles, the Shelter Casseroles team decided to change their menu and prepare or purchase food that could be served warm right away. Over 70 disciples of the Shelter Casserole Ministry helped to provide food and extra funds during the renovation. In doing so, they helped our ministry partner still meet the need of providing warm meals to men, while the shelter kitchen was being transformed. “The renovated shelter is now a bright, welcoming facility that I feel radiates a sense of stability and dignity and encourages hope and opportunity,” says Marsha. “I see the pride in the facility that the clients have since the renovation. The leadership has put in place the tools necessary to ‘move men home,’” adds George. George and Marsha believe in The Men’s Shelter mission of serving alongside others rather than serving to them. “Being involved at The Men’s Shelter bolsters my faith, keeps me grounded, and enriches my life,” Marsha says. “With each interaction, I am reminded that we all are God’s children with many of the same struggles and needs.” With the help of dedicated disciples and community support, it is clear The Men’s Shelter will continue to uplift and care for the homeless community in Charlotte as long as there is wok to be done. For more information, contact Ministry Team Leader George Carroll at gcarr9165@yahoo.com or visit www.mensshelterofcharlotte.org
George holding the Renovation Hero award which was presented to MPPC by Ann Marie
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HELD IN THE
GRACE OF CHRIST Antioch Missionary Baptist and MPPC create a cross-cultural Bible study that looks at the racial divide
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Pay attention to your discomfort. Learn and change and love each other. We are always held in the grace of Christ. These words of invitation from the former Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) co-moderators challenged every congregation, every member, to engage a topic so broad and so tricky that we often steer well clear of it: racial reconciliation. The Reverends Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston knew their initiative asking Presbyterians all over the country to read Waking Up White in 2017 was a big ask. At the time, Jan said, “I don’t think the church is talking about it – except in a distant way. I would love for our denomination to be so comfortable talking about race that we can be honest with each other, we can learn from each other, we can get to know each other better.” Denise says the hesitance of white Presbyterians to talk about race is frustrating to people in the black church, “race is very much a part of our consciousness.” The Adult Faith Formation Council at Myers Park Presbyterian Church heard that call and held a series of small group gatherings, asking folks to read Waking up White by Debby Irving and participating in a frank and open discussion about the racial bias, white privilege, and systemic racism that pervades our community. “We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about who we want to be, how we interact with our neighbors, and how we interact with each other,” says Jim Shaffner, “This church wanted to talk about racial justice and reconciliation.” Following that book study, Fay Grasty, Mary Lou Lindsey and Jim realized that events and gatherings around racial justice were happening all over the city, and they started looking for places to engage. Senior Pastor Joe Clifford recommended that they consider a new effort by the American Bible Society to create Bible study groups, called “Loving the neighbor who doesn’t look like you.” Joe believed MPPC members could join in a group with our partner church, Antioch Missionary Baptist in Grier Heights. That group now
has 15 members from the two churches who have been meeting since late summer.” The Bible, Jim says, is the perfect starting place. “We’ve got something in common to build from. We were raised in segregated circumstances, but we’ve got the Bible in common. We’ve got our Christian faith in common. We can all go to that.” “I call it ‘crossing the railroad tracks,’” says Vernie White, a member of Antioch Baptist and retired educator, “We are really beginning to understand each other because we are getting to know each other. We’re building relationships.” Antioch, like MPPC, has been talking about race relations for a number of years, and Vernie has been participating in the the CrossRoads Book Study Fellowship, a multiracial group, since its inception. Both Vernie and Jim agree that discussions like this can be awkward and difficult. “The more comfortable we became with each other, the more willing we were to share,” says Vernie, “Now, with the group we have, all of us are being more honest and committed to learning about each other.” “We start every meeting with a meal, which is important,” says Jim, “People get to know each other and get more comfortable sharing. The defenses fall away as you get to know somebody better.” The format emphasizes that the commitment is to the Bible and to each other, not to isolation, and encourages participants to take the risks necessary to share truth and to receive it. It isn’t just Antioch Baptist and MPPC. In total, there are 24 area churches participating in the Bible study. They’re people who are dedicated to the process. Dedicated to listening and sharing and being vulnerable. “This is the easiest thing I’ve ever recruited for,” says Jim, “Everyone said ‘I want to do that!’” “I think between Myers Park and Antioch, we will continue working toward better racial relationships,” says Vernie. “You don’t have to do this yourself,” Jim says,”Look for what other churches are doing and join in. This is all God’s church. It’s one church. We should be working with each other.”
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COMPASSION
& CARE
STEPHEN MINISTRY AT MYERS PARK
Elaine Walters shares the importance of Stephen Ministry and its importance to the life of MPPC
Most people are perplexed by Stephen Ministry and have little idea of what a Stephen Minister is or does in our church. I have been a Stephen Minister for five years. Along with all of MPPC’s 15 active Stephen Ministers, I went through 50+ hours of Stephen Ministries training. In addition, Karen Ferebee and I attended Stephen Ministry Leadership Training this summer for another 60 hours of training for leadership and ministry to those in need. Stephen Ministry is one of those programs that flies under the radar but emerges when someone needs it most: during and after a time of stress, crisis or upheaval in one’s life. Think of it as a bridge from one side to the other; the foundation you are standing on is wobbling and scary but across the bridge the foundation is steady and sure. The Stephen Ministry program connects care givers with care receivers for personal, one-on-one care and support. The ministry is a beautiful representation of God’s call to us to care for one another and to bridge the emotional divides that can erupt when we are in crisis. The bridge between a Stephen Minister and the care receiver is a firm testament of God’s love for us. We don’t have to face loneliness, hopelessness, worries or fears alone. These and more are the conditions and situations that Stephen Ministers are trained to handle confidentially with compassion, holy listening, and acceptance. “Stephen Ministers provide the care, God provides the cure.” Because Stephen Ministry is confidential, and person-to-person, you may not hear much about it. I’m convinced that it is one of the most authentic glimpses into the grace of Jesus Christ that we can experience. Two people sitting together, one listening attentively to the other, with the heart of Christ. It is powerful. To help explain the process, here is a fictional story of a person reaching out for a Stephen Minister… Susan is having such a difficult time lately with her three children, they are all in different schools due to their age differences, and each one seems to have their own unique problems. Susan writes a weekly blog for Moms and often feels like such a failure as she gives advice she doesn’t heed herself. Often she reaches out to her best friends for advice and suggestions but
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they are so busy too. Plus, they rarely get through a conversation without someone’s cell ringing, interrupting the flow and mood. It’s frustrating and not helpful leaving Susan at times angry and overwhelmed. Susan decides to try the ministry program that she’s heard about at church. She calls Deborah Conner, MPPC’s Associate Minister for Congregational Care. Deborah refers Susan to the Stephen Ministry Leader who will ask Susan a few questions in order to connect her to a Stephen Minister who will be a good fit. The Stephen Minister calls Susan, they talk briefly deciding to meet at a coffee shop in two days. Susan’s Stephen Minister explains that ideally, they will meet for an hour each week and will continue until Susan feels comfortable and confident. Susan begins talking, becoming more relieved and calm as she shares her concerns. She notices that her care giver is attentive, focusing only on her. After they part, Susan realizes that the Stephen Minister has not made suggestions or given advice. She just listened and asked some questions that helped bring clarity to Susan. She feels comforted and valued. As Susan and her Stephen Minister meet over the next several months, Susan is becoming more resilient and able to make tough decisions with confidence. She knows that God is clearly working in not only her life but her children’s lives and she can put her trust and hope in Him. The Stephen Ministers are available to you. We pray that you won’t need us. The reality though, is that we all go through times that are difficult, stressful, chaotic, or just busy. We need someone to talk with, to share with, to confide in; someone who will gently take our hands. The Stephen Ministers of Myers Park Presbyterian Church are compassionate and dedicated caregivers ready to offer support through the various challenges of life.
The Stephen Ministry team at Myers Park Presbyterian Church
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Discernment Team Stratetic Priority:
Changing Lives
“Reflections Freedom Park”- Leighton Ford, watercolor Winter Journey |at22
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17
Jesus changes lives. He changed the lives of his first apostles. He changed the lives of those he healed. In relationship with him, our lives are changed. In Christ, God began the transformation of this world into the beloved community that is God’s kingdom. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are invited to join God’s transforming power of changing lives. We believe Christ is calling us to this transformative work of changing lives; ours, our neighbors, and those in our community and the world.
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HOPE ALIVE!
CONGO PARTNERSHIP
With a thriving partnership in Congo, MPPC hopes to continue working with our neighbors to turn the tide of the country
Why Congo? In addition to our global partnerships in Hungary, Uganda, Cuba, and El Salvador, one may ask why Myers Park Presbyterian is in partnership in Congo as well. After decades of civil war and political turmoil, the country has been left with a volatile and violent status quo making it one of the deadliest countries to live in. All of this comes on the heels of a recent Ebola outbreak and heated political election season. Put simply: the need in Congo is exceedingly great. Despite all of this strife, the Congolese people are bruised, but not broken, and they also have the greatest force for change on their side: hope. For 68 years, MPPC disciples have joined with brothers and sisters in Congo to provide support for that hope. Since sending our first mission team to the region in 1950, MPPC has remained active in establishing educational institutions, economic infrastructure, and accessible health care to the Congolese people. The Congolese people have endured centuries of oppression by foreign powers and government regimes that continue to drain the country and people of resources. Between 1998 and 2003, Congo was at the center of what has become known as “Africa’s World War,” a five-year conflict that claimed around six million lives. “One of the consequences of that prolonged strife is that an entire generation of children did not attend school,” says Joe Clifford, “7.3 million Congolese children, one third of the school-age population, have no education.” Consequently, Congo also suffers the highest proportion of undernourished people in the world at roughly 70% of the population. The aftermath of this conflict can still be seen today in the corruption of the government and the extreme poverty of the nation. Due to the current political crisis, MPPC disciples have not been able to travel to Congo in some years, but look forward to returning. Despite these obstacles, this congregation’s relationship with the people of Congo that started so long ago continues to flourish. To date, MPPC has been involved in the establishment of six successful schools mostly in the Tshikaji area. In addition to the girls’ school built in Kananga in 2015, MPCC has taken steps to construct another girls’ school in Mbuji-Mayi. The new building, which broke ground Winter Journey | 24
this November, is modeled after the Dipa Dia Nzambi school which is self-sustaining and has been highly successful in providing Christian-based education for young women that surpasses the public education currently available. The new girls’ school will serve both primary and secondary school students and provide the same high-quality learning environment. Additionally, our partners at the Presbyterian University of Congo (UPRECO) are engaged in a project of their own. Rev. Dr. Simon Kabue Mbala, the current Rector of UPRECO, visited MPPC in October to talk about the future of this partnership. UPRECO has continued to be a successful university offering many initiatives and programs, including seminary and law
Inside a classroom at the Dipa Dia Nzambi school, a model for effective education for girls in the Congo.
Construction begins on the foundation of a new girls’ school in Mbuji-Mayi.
programs, to help students advance in their education. One issue that UPRECO faces is ensuring the safety of its students. Traveling the great distance from home to school on foot is extremely dangerous for the women that attend the school due to the threat of violence, rape, and harassment from men. Additionally, the sheer distance many students travel to the campus leaves them exhausted when they get to class. These women continue to make the treacherous journey every day faithfully to pursue their The UPRECO campus education. Why would these women continue to risk their lives to learn and build up a country that has continuously failed them? It’s because they love their country, and their people and want to improve the quality of life for everyone, despite the failings of their government. These women are mothers, daughters, sisters and caregivers, all fighting for a better tomorrow for future generations. In response to this crisis, MPPC has committed to partner with UPRECO to help build a new dormitory on the UPRECO campus which will satisfy the need to provide safe housing at the school for nearly thirty women. With a diminished threat of violence, these women can focus on their education and learn in safety. As a congregation, we have been entrusted with extraordinary resources. God calls us to use our gifts faithfully to enact sustainable change in the world. Through a focus on women’s empowerment through education, MPPC and the Congolese Presbyterian Church will support the creation of future leaders in the church, community, and ultimately the nation. While the financial support of MPPC is helping expand God’s Kingdom in Congo, what Rev. Kabue and our partners ask is that we continue to pray for Congo. Our partners in the Congo ask that we pray for the children, the government, and for a new president that will work for the people and change the country. Let us continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Congo and live out God’s love in this place. Follow along with construction updates on these two exciting projects by reading our Congo blog in 2019. Interested in joining the Congo team? Contact Congo Ministry Team Leader Millie Cox at milliedcox@gmail.com
Members of the Congo Team (l to r) Tom & Millie Cox, Anne Wright, Fay Grasty, and Courtney Pender
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A NEW PARTNERSHIP IN THE PEARL OF AFRICA In August, seven members of the global outreach team journeyed to Bududa, Uganda, to build on a new partnership with the Bududa Learning Center. These are their experiences from the trip as told by Josh Richard.
DAY 1: MALEMBE (HELLO!) FROM BUDUDA It takes two days, three flights, and eight hours on a bus to get to the Bududa Learning Center. From the moment you touch down, you’re awash in a cultural shift that’s so broad and pervasive that it’s hard to pin down exactly what’s different when difference seems to be everywhere. We’re in the first few years of a new partnership with the Bududa Learning Center, which is a school dedicated to educating and equipping children and young adults in one of the most disadvantaged parts of the world. It’s really a bit of a hike to get here, with intermittent naps and breakfast-when-we-should-be-havingdinner taking the place of our normal routines and
the Outreach department for double and triplechecking flights, visas, and packing lists; forging and sustaining this partnership; and equipping the seven of us to get outside ourselves and our routines and to be open to the change and challenge of serving with our partners at the Bududa Learning Center in Bududa, Uganda.
BLC is at work through The Bududa Vocational Center. Our three primary programs: partners in Bududa, Uganda. Children of Bududa, a child and youth sponsorship program for Bududans who have lost one or both parents; Bududa Vocational School, which equips students with an accredited secondary education as well as skills in a variety of vocations, including woodworking, tailoring, and IT; and a women’s cooperative, which empowers women in the community with entrepreneurship skills and microfinance loans. This is a new partnership for a congregation committed to upholding outreach as a ministry priority. Myers Park Presbyterian Church has a 70-year history of partnerships and mission in Africa, sustained through decades of faithful disciples feeling God’s tug to forge relationships with severely disadvantaged people half a world away.
regular schedules. I hesitate to complain about our journey because it turns out that everything went just fine. Big ups to
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For now, we’re as settled as one can be on the first full day in Africa. Our personal effects are unpacked in simple bedrooms and the suitcases full of requested
supplies have a temporary home in an office at BLC. The journey of these supplies is just a tiny bit incredible since everything we brought came from somewhere and someone else. There are sheets and towels that were collected by church members and craft supplies assembled by our 4th and 5th grade Mission Kids during Vacation Bible School. There’s even a bag full of cleats donated by a group of soccer parents in Raleigh who saw a Facebook post from a friend of a friend and responded overwhelmingly. There are seven of us here, but we represent all of you at one of the most important times in a partnership: the beginning. We’re here to cultivate a relationship and find ways to let it thrive. We’re here to build trust, break bread, and laugh with our partners. We’re here to stretch ourselves and to imagine God’s world in a whole new light. You brought us to this place, and we brought you along with us. Uganda team member Matt Efird and BLC IT instructor Isaac
Bududan sits so casually behind the driver, you think they might unfurl a newspaper or enjoy a cup of tea. They make it look easy. I’m confident I made it look hard, what with my clinging to the seat and stealing a peak around the driver every so often. Despite the underlying terror, it was incredibly fun, especially the bit where we flew past the rest of the group that had begun walking to the Bududa Learning Center.
Boda Boda drivers and their trusty bikes
I’d left early with Karen, one of our hosts and a representative of BLC, to meet Jennifer a little way up the mountain. Jennifer was one of the first graduates of the BLC Vocational Program in primary education and had gone on to start a primary school of her own. She, along with her husband Wilfred, began the school in 2009 with ten students. Their current enrollment figure? 458.
DAY 3: HEY, BODA BODA! I rode a Boda Boda this morning, which was both terrifying and thrilling. Driving through Kampala, we saw these motorcycle taxis threading in and around traffic with their fares clinging to the back. They’d dart around larger vehicles and take to the sidewalks when it was too congested. In Bududa, roads are a bit less trafficked by vehicles, which only allows the Bodas to go faster. Your typical
Uganda is an astonishingly young county. Almost half the population is 18 years old or younger, and 20% are four years old or younger. This population explosion is in part driven by the cultural tradition of having large families, which, over time, lead to an exponential growth distribution. There seem to be schools everywhere. Government schools, private schools, boarding schools, and preschools are around every bend, and our group
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of folks often hear the students yelling “Muzungu muzungu! How are you!?” on our walks to and from the Bududa Learning Center. Many graduates of the primary education program at BLC go on to teach at or start their own schools. Jennifer herself has hired two other graduates from the program. That’s what makes the vocational education aspect of BLC so important: Beyond the regular educational curriculum, it equips students with trade skills and entrepreneurship classes to serve them, and their community, well beyond their time at BLC. Oumo, a student we talked to, is in both the masonry class and the Autocad class. Currently, they’re building masonry structures from pre-drawn blueprints, but what gets Oumo excited is the day he designs something in Autocad and constructs it with his masonry skills.
The carpentry class at the Bududa Vocational Academy
We got to get our hands a bit dirty today by helping to paint the interior of the new boy’s dormitory, which has been completed with significant funding from Myers Park Pres. It’s big enough to accommodate 60 boys, although there are about 20 currently living there. One would think that the school leadership would be happy waiting until the population surge in primary education moves into secondary education to fill the boarding opportunities, but they’re not making any assumptions and have set forth a strategic planning process to imagine how the Bududa Learning Center will be able to meet the needs of the community both now and into the future. One of the beautiful things about this partnership is the open exchange of ideas.
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Robert, the Chief Operating Officer of BLC, gave us a draft of the strategic plan and invited the Myers Park Presbyterian community into the process. Fully realizing we lack a significant cultural understanding and are relatively new partners, this is extraordinarily generous. Robert, and indeed everyone we’ve met, have been quick to tell us about their school, their lives, and their dreams for the future of our partnership together. I honestly have no ideas for BLC, other than to get out of their way and let them do their thing, but I’ve got loads of ideas about how to address community and consumerism issues in my own life. I’ve heard “Welcome, we’re so glad you’ve made this journey to be here” so many times and in so many contexts, that it might be getting through. The people at the Bududa Learning Center do want us here. The financial support is fine, but the kinship, laughter, and shared goals for the future are the real reason we’re here.
The area around Bududa, Uganda. Communities have sprung up along rivers, encircling a steep hill and forming “The Bududa Loop.”
DAY 5: EXPLORING THE BUDUDA LOOP
a rock star, doing so much work for the hundred or so children and families supported by the program. The MPPC Uganda team supports a family, and many members of Myers Park Pres participate as well. For the family that the Uganda team supports, it has a significant, immediate impact. Their primary water source was about three miles away, but now they have a cistern to collect rainwater for drinking, cooking, and washing. Tuition for the child is covered, so an education can be prioritized. Many recipients of this support choose to attend Bududa Vocational Academy (a sister program of BLC), so it can create an ecosystem of community advancement.
The porch of the guest house is a pretty fantastic place. It’s a little ways up a hill, overlooking the main loop road in the valley (we’ve been calling it the ‘Bududa Loop’) and you can soak in all the sights and sounds: people talking to each other along the road, goats making whatever noise that is, and distant Ugandan pop music. It’s a great spot to enjoy some morning coffee, check out some birds, or, as is the case this afternoon, enjoy a (what passes for cold) beer. It was our last day with the Bududa Learning Center, and it was a full one. We worked with Martha and Grace, who head up the Children of Bududa program which supports children in the community who have lost one or both parents. “Support” encompasses a lot of things: Counseling services, direct housing needs, educational scholarships, and supplemental nutrition for the families. This program matches funds from individuals and families to the young people identified by Children of Bududa. We tagged along with Martha on some home visits, riding Boda-Bodas up mountainsides and hiking the rest of the way, to the small homes of families supported by the program. There’s no reliable way to ask these families when is a good time to come by and whether or not it’s alright to bring seven muzungus along, but we were welcomed into every home we visited with smiles and handshakes. Seeing these homes was difficult, there’s no way around that. These are severely disadvantaged people in a severely disadvantaged place, but they’d bring chairs out for us to sit in or usher us inside to introduce their children. Martha catches up with the family and translates our interactions. She’s the primary social worker for Children of Bududa and knows an incredible amount about each child and family. She’s
Uganda global team leader Kathleen Hinrichs and the family the team supports through the Children of Bududa program
We returned and took part in a ceremony to officially open the new boy’s dormitory (or hostel, as they refer to it). Myers Park Pres joined a number of other partners to fund this project. During their trip in February, the team ‘helped’ break ground. It was completed and occupied by May. Lots of folks stood up and thanked us for the role we played in this project. We danced, sang, and introduced the idea of taking group photos making funny faces. We presented a lovely painting by Jennie Dugan (our wonderful CROSS Assistant Director) to hang in the new building. The whole afternoon was a beautiful way to say goodbye and to pass along assurance that a group from the church would be back as soon as we were able. We cannot be the NGO or an aid organization that blows through and tries to fix a specific issue. We’re called to more than that. We’re called to talk and learn and laugh and know each other on a level that recognizes vulnerability and growth opportunities on both sides. We can change and be changed. We can’t pass it up. We can’t stop yearning for it.
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DAY 7: WE LOVE YOU, TOO “We love you, too. Come back soon.” That parting phrase from Robert, the COO of the Bududa Learning Center, slipped past me at first. He’d caught a ride with us to Mbale, so when he hopped out I stuck my arm out the window and said: “We love you, Robert!” His reply, accompanied by a smile and the Bududa Handshake (ask one of us to show you) didn’t seem like much at the time, but it demonstrates the surprising depth of our time in Bududa. There have been just three MPPC trips to Bududa, Uganda. The first was an exploratory trip, meant to feel out possibilities for shared objectives. The second was this past February, and we’re on the latest. In all, it’s about 21 months elapsed and 14 days together.
Generally speaking, this place is difficult. It’s difficult to get to, it’s difficult to live in, and honestly, it’s difficult to be people accustomed to western comforts spending time there. But we’re there, with people we don’t know all that well, saying we love each other and figuring out how to lead better lives together. One of the things I struggle with is that inevitably, my interest will move elsewhere. I’ll be back in our world, one that’s painfully agreeable, where the stresses and worries aren’t about collecting potable water or having enough money for my child to receive primary education. Bududa will still be there, and the Bududa Learning Center will continue doing the work of orphan support, vocational training, and equipping women with the tools for business success. That’s why there are partnerships, I suppose. Most of us can’t and shouldn’t be constantly present, however helpful we may think we’re being. I think we’re leaving something good behind, and selfishly, I think we’re taking something good with us. Honestly, we’re all a little punchy. Currently, we’re flying over coastal Iran, watching oil burn-off create strangely beautiful, orange-lit clouds of smoke. We’re
Kathleen and Rachel catch a ride with Saul, a favorite Boda driver
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20 hours into making our way home, and it’s only the start of our second flight. We’re ready to be back. Ready to see kids and pets and sleep in our own beds. I don’t think I’m going out on much of a limb to say we’re changed people, too. We can’t not be. It’s easy to slip into a sort of “mission work selfrighteousness,” but it’s helpful to remember that this is bigger than any one member of a particular global outreach team. Our partners and Myers Park Pres will continue, despite what we do or where we go. Zooming out even more, the holy blend of cross-cultural ministry, personal connections, and mutual encouragement continues through countless and varied pairings of religious communities and non-profits around the world.
BUDUDA LEARNING CENTER PROGRAM PRIMER
Hopefully, they’re just as human and just as real as this partnership has proven to be. CHILDREN OF BUDUDA
“Whatever tenuous gossamer threads connected us before this trip, they are now knitted together into strong bonds that will support and carry us throughout this trip and beyond. We are richer for these connections, and this is just our small but mighty MPPC team in Uganda. Imagine what we could do as a church if we were all connected like that? Imagine what we could do as a world.” Kathleen Price Uganda Team Member
The Children of Bududa program provides counseling services, direct housing needs, educational scholarships, and supplemental nutrition for children who have lost one or both parents. Myers Park Presbyterian, as well as many families within it, support a number of families almost half a world away. BUDUDA VOCATIONAL ACADEMY Bududa Vocational Academy provides a regular secondary education as well as skills training in carpentry, masonry, primary education, IT, hairdressing, or tailoring. BVA equips students to participate in the job market or start their own business. BVA also offers girls and boys hostel accommodations, which reduces travel time for students and prioritizes educational pursuits.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?
WOMEN’S MICROFINANCE COOPERATIVE
The Uganda global outreach team invites you to participate in our partnership through travel opportunities, advocacy, and education. Contact the team leaders:
The Women’s Microfinance Cooperative empowers women in the community with entrepreneurship skills and microfinance loans, enabling fuller participation in the local economy.
Kathleen Hinrichs kmhinrichs@me.com
Matt Efird mefird@rbh.com
MORE @ MYERSPARKPRES.ORG/UGANDA
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BUILDING COMMUNITY HOPE
&
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
The transformative nature of homeownership begins after the family moves into a new home
Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build a home, strengthen community ties and encourage sustainability and self-sufficiency for its clients. However, what happens when the walls have been raised, the paint dries, and the home is complete? The transformative nature of homeownership begins after the family moves into a new house, and as clients of Habitat Charlotte, Abdelhadi Byar and his wife Lalla have experienced this firsthand. Fifteen years ago, Abdelhadi left from his native Morocco and headed for New York City in hopes of better opportunities for his family. He had to make the tough decision to leave Lalla and their young daughter behind with dreams of being able to bring them stateside soon after. After his time in New York, Abdelhadi lived in Alabama before making his way to North Carolina, finally settling in Charlotte. Seven years ago, Lalla and their oldest daughter were finally able to join him. Now, with the addition of two more daughters and their new home in Grier Heights, Abdelhadi and Lalla couldn’t be happier. Owning a home wasn’t something Abdelhadi thought would be a reality for him; it wasn’t something he ever wanted to do at all. The process of homeownership can be strenuous for first time owners, and navigating loans, interest rates, and taxes can be frustrating. These factors coupled with an aversion to incur personal debt in the Muslim faith made Abdelhadi skeptical about homeownership. It wasn’t until talking with a close friend who recently built his home through Habitat that Abdelhadi learned about the partnership housing program. “He convinced me that I should apply, and I did. We’ve been in our home for two years now,” he says. However, Abdelhadi’s concerns about the ability to own a home in Charlotte are not unique. Affordable housing is a significant economic problem in the city of Charlotte. As the population of the city increases and new expensive housing is built, rents are steadily climbing. Many people like the Byars struggle to afford their rent, let alone a mortgage, even when working a full-time job. That is why Myers Park Presbyterian is dedicated to supporting the creation of more opportunities for affordable housing in Grier Heights.
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For over 30 years, MPPC disciples have faithfully served alongside Habitat Charlotte to build homes and hope in Grier Heights and other communities throughout the city. Through their model of partnership housing, future Habitat homeowners work alongside community volunteers to build an affordable home. The homeowners are given a fixed rate mortgage based on their income and required to dedicate 300 hours of sweat equity either working on the build site or in the Habitat ReStore. Abdelhadi and Lalla were invested every step of the way when going through the application process and building their home. They both attended more than 40 hours of homeownership classes, and Abdelhadi Abdelhadi and Lalla Byar was at the job site every chance he got during the build. “We never missed a day of building, and my wife worked in the ReStore.” Abdelhadi and Lalla are happy and settled in their new home in Grier Heights and their life in Charlotte. Abdelhadi currently works as a Halal butcher, while Lalla is busy studying nursing at CPCC and taking care of their family. Their daughters have also adjusted well, and their oldest is a freshman at Myers Park High School. “We love the sense of community and the Habitat staff. They never mistreated us, or discriminated against us; they welcomed us and treated us kindly,” Abdelhadi adds. That same loving environment can be found on his street in Grier Heights. Abdelhadi and Lalla are neighbors with three other families whom they knew before working with Habitat. “That was one of the reasons we picked the lot we built on because we had friends that already lived there,” says Abdelhadi. However, he isn’t keeping his experience to himself; he’s sharing it with everyone he can. “I’ve told all my friends about Habitat and tell them to apply for a house,” he says. Through Abdelhadi’s experience, he has been able to help others realize this dream of homeownership. Since building his home he’s had six friends apply, several of whom now have their own homes. The families spend time and play together, and the girls especially like to have sleepovers with their friends from the neighborhood. Abdelhadi and his family love their home and are grateful for the support of Habitat Charlotte and MPPC in helping them realize their dreams. If you are interested in being a part of future Habitat builds, contact Ministry Team Leader Stewart Cowden at stewcowden@ gmail.com.
Lalla Byar (front, center left) and disciples from MPPC pose outside of her nearly completed home
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ENGAGE
CONNECTING FAITH
Rev. Deborah Conner invites us all to connect with our faith family
Everyone wants to belong – to be part of a group in order to have connections with other people. There are all kinds of belonging. We belong to families, clubs, various organizations, and even churches. Human beings flock together around beliefs and projects. Together we support individuals and communities hoping to connect people. In recent years, the church community, which was once the most important group that followers of Jesus belonged to, has seen a decline. Many Christian churches no longer have such a thing as membership. There are many reasons for this – ease of access, a low threshold of expectation, and changing demographics. People still group together but in a different way. In our church, we invite people to become members and make a commitment to the work and ministry of Jesus Christ in the world. We encourage them to engage with a community of believers working to spread Christ’s kingdom in the world. When we choose to engage with one another together in the body of Christ, we formalize a relationship and the desire to belong with others who are seeking to share Christ’s love, forgiveness, acceptance, and justice. That doesn’t mean we are more committed to God’s mission, but something happens when we publically confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior promising to seek the fellowship of the faith community wherever we may go. Promises are important. They imply a specific commitment to a cause and other people. At MPPC, it is how we foster belonging. All of us are connected through the power of the Holy Spirit who will transform, inspire and guide us through our collective ministry. We are seeking to follow in the footsteps of all believers of all time who have followed the way of Christ. The encouragement and care we offer reminds us that we belong to each other and God. If you have been inspired by the words in this issue and are looking for ways to engage with the community at MPPC, we are ready to help you find your place of belonging. Contact Betsy Gantt, Membership Engagement Coordinator, at 704.376.3695 x261 or bgantt@myersparkpres.org for more information.
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