Finding Community-2022 PCN Summer Newsletter

Alleviating poverty through Christ-centered community, educational, and vocational resources.

Greetings to all in the Project Connect Nashville family,

Since joining the team in May, I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet many of you. I come to PCN from the corporate world in Nashville but have always been aware of and appreciative of all that this community does and stands for. Over nearly a decade, your support of Project Connect Nashville has created a dynamic and unique ministry that meets individuals where they are, with compassion and support, in a Christ-centered community.

You have been and continue to be the hands and feet of Christ alongside the staff that God has sent to serve throughout our organizational history. Your love, care, and support have created an environment for God’s will to be fulfilled by His children doing His work.

It has been nearly a year since our founders stepped into a new ministry calling, and we will forever be grateful to them for the foundation they established for PCN. Especially now, as Nashville continues to experience rapid growth, the struggle to find affordable housing and to meet the rising cost of gas and essential goods has only accentuated the difficulties that our program participants face. With your support, we stand ready to continue walking with them as they navigate their way out of poverty, through healing and restoration, and towards hope and stability.

In my first few months, I have seen this ministry work for its participants. Students pour their hearts into the classes, making the commitment to realize change in their lives and making choices that not only help them grow today, but also lay a strong foundation for them going forward, putting them on the path for success. I've marveled at the volunteers investing their time, efforts, and heart into the programs as allies, facilitators, and in every way, fueling the engine that drives Project Connect.  It is truly inspirational to watch God at work through His people.

As we head into the rest of 2022, there are a few exciting things we’d love for you to know about:

• We are adding to our team! If you or someone you know has a heart for Christ-centered poverty alleviation keep watching our website for details about the career opportunities that are and will be posted as we grow.

• We hope to announce a new church partner site in the North Nashville community before the end of the year. We ask for your prayers as we determine how to best connect and partner with existing ministries in this neighborhood.

• The inaugural class of volunteers has just completed a pilot training course for our new Connector Program. You can read more about this opportunity on page 6!

And, one more time, let me thank you personally for your continued support of this ministry. You are critical to all that is being achieved. Please continue to give, serve, and pray. All are essential to our success.

Stuart Spears Executive Director Project Connect Nashville

JeffFinding Restorative Community

After 10 years of incarceration, a successful transition back into society is a road with many hurdles, and the negative voices (especially your own) can be loud and disabling. That is why Jeff searched for a healthy and supportive community upon his release. He knew how critical it would be for a successful future and he found it at PCN.

Remembering his first night of classes 2 years ago at our Woodbine site, Jeff said “I felt an overwhelming sense of community. I vividly recall sitting with others over dinner who were going through stuff or had been through a trial of some sort.”

That welcome feeling has only grown, finding that volunteers, other clients, and staff accepted Jeff wherever he was through the ups and downs of life. One particularly meaningful moment was when volunteer facilitator, Dustin Denning, showed up at Jeff’s front door with soup and a care package after learning he had Covid. Dustin’s commitment to caring for Jeff through weekly check-ins helped him get to the place where he truly felt, “I’m not alone in this life and I’m loved and accepted.”

Jeff has discovered that the hope found in community is life changing.  His advice to others who are struggling is to “Pay attention to the people God puts in your life, they are there for a reason.”

“It took numerous failed attempts, but through trials, I was able to invent a new set of lenses to view my life,” he adds. “In moments of despair, remember to hold on to your faith and lean on the community of support you have built, then pick yourself up slowly, wipe off your glasses and see that you are free.”

Volunteer Facilitator Dustin

Two years ago, Dustin Denning and his family started serving at PCN after returning to their home church, The Church at Woodbine, from the mission field in South Africa. The testimonies they heard about PCN upon their return were encouraging. They were proud that their church had partnered with an organization like PCN and were excited to be involved with a non-profit that not only proclaimed the Gospel, but also partnered with the local church.

“PCN is wonderfully unique,” Dustin said. “Their program is extremely relevant and impactful for their clients.” In our two years of programming, each client has an opportunity to learn life skills, to be equipped with tools, and to become a part of a healthy community, all of which are designed to support them on their journey to find more hope and stability.

Dustin has been an ally, has served food and been a class facilitator. He says, "New Hope Trauma Healing is my favorite class to lead. It’s amazing to see God’s word speak directly to people’s trauma. It’s a powerful moment when people can conceptualize their trauma through the lens of scripture. In New Hope, we establish a healthy environment to walk with each other on a trauma healing journey. It’s also encouraging to hear how clients are sharing the Bible stories to others throughout the week!”

He believes that getting to know a small group of people where everyone is experiencing discipleship and growing in relationship with each other and with God is what makes PCN’s community successful. After class, a shared meal and worship together allows Kingdom-building relationships to grow stronger. And Dustin says, “This is where I have observed the most fruit! Sharing the Gospel and discipleship only thrives through relationship.”

“A consistent thing I hear from PCN clients is how they consider PCN their church family. My family has certainly been blessed to be a part of this church family! God is working through PCN, and we look forward to seeing God continue to change lives through this wonderful organization! “

Fundraiser Dinner Update

On May 12, Project Connect Nashville's 7th Annual Fundraiser Dinner was held at Brentwood Baptist Church and raised $140,000!

While fundraising is an important part of the annual dinner, this year's theme, A New Season of Hope, highlighted the most critical part of PCN—the people.  A panel discussion with Darby White, Debi Thompson, and Jamie Arthur gave the audience a taste of the impact that PCN has had on the lives of both clients and volunteers.  Singer/songwriter

Community Cookouts

Andy Gullahorn used songs and stories to celebrate the importance of relationships, including encouraging lyrics about finding the cracks (the hurt) in people and filling them with love.  Be looking for an upcoming announcement about a fall fundraiser event!

We also said goodbye to our Interim Executive Director Zach Bevill and welcomed Stuart Spears as our new Executive Director. We cannot possibly say enough about how grateful we are for the way Zach carried PCN through this leadership transition and we were happy to see him spend his summer resting and enjoying time with his sweet family. We wish him all of the best as he begins a new position as Siloam Health's Communications Director!

On July 14th, the PCN community came together to cookout (and -in) at our 2 sites. We enjoyed teaming up with The Church at Woodbine and celebrating community while meeting lots of new faces from their Day Camp VBS program!

We also ate and played games inside the building in Madison after cooking outside. No one was complaining about the air-conditioning while they played giant Jenga and cornhole!

Join us on October 6th for our Fall Fest cookouts!

There will be leaf piles full of fun opportunities for groups to get involved. The more the merrier! Ask Hannah@ProjectConnectNashville.org how your church group can Get Connected and begin growing relationships within the PCN community!

What does the PCN community mean to you?

“Being at PCN makes me more aware of where I’m headed in life. The classes I’ve taken at PCN help me keep a perspective on how to stay on the right road. As a US Navy Veteran, I’ve lived all over the country and having a stable job and experiencing the PCN community has been a blessing.”

—Steven, Class Member

“PCN is like “Cheers” – everybody knows your name! They let you be as you are and grow. You can meet God here and learn to let Him work in your life. It’s also a good place to vent frustration. My PCN friends don’t judge, and they help me gain a new perspective.”

—Trisha, Class Member

“PCN becomes a community because we’re all different, but we all have things in common too. You can really be yourself here.”

—Autumn, Class Member

“PCN is such a welcoming place! As a new volunteer, I’m excited to see what’s happening here and glad to be part of it.”

—Terry, Volunteer

“Coupled with our church location and the "people groups” around us, we are constantly in relationship with people who are precious in Jesus’s sight, but in deep need for real, lasting, professional help that PCN offers and gives.  At the same time, The Church at Woodbine is a place where we truly embrace people of every social walk of life.  We are a safe place and a welcoming place for PCN clients.  In fact, we are jealous for PCN clients and welcome them with open arms.  We have seen many come to faith in Jesus, grow in their faith, get baptized and now serve at WB.”

—Doug, Pastor

“When we gather at PCN to share meals and stories, to pray and learn together, we become part of each other's stories.  Together, we struggle through trials and celebrate victories, and see God working in our lives.  That's when we discover that we are all part of God's story and this binds us together as community.”

—Barb, Board Member & Volunteer

"A place to belong, make friends, and enjoy fellowship!"

—Hannah, Staff Member

CONNECTION MANAGEMENT

The long-term relationship aspect of our ministry.

In our mission, we aim to connect people with community, educational, and vocational resources.

So instead of viewing those we serve as “cases,” we look at these relationships as opportunities to build and facilitate connections that lead toward the individual’s own sense of flourishing.

COACHING

In these relationships, we aim to position ourselves as partners with others through active listening and powerful questions. Believing that the individual is the expert in their life, we engage in thought-provoking and creative processes that inspire.

ACCOUNTABILITY

As the individuals we serve decide on goals for themselves and determine appropriate next steps, it is imperative that we serve as a reliable accountability partner. This means reminding them of their vision, following up on their progress, and when needed, challenging them.

RESOURCES

A primary component to fulfilling our mission is pointing the individuals to available resources that can help or assist in meeting their expressed needs. This can be in a variety of areas –housing, education, employment, financial, healthcare, transportation, or community. Some resources we can provide directly as an organization, and many are available throughout the Nashville community.

ADVOCACY

Sometimes the individuals we serve are in difficult and vulnerable situations where their voices are not heard, or they may be misrepresented. So, there are times when we advocate on their behalf in order for them to have opportunities that, unfortunately, are not as accessible otherwise.

CELEBRATION

Whether it is personal growth, challenges overcome, or accomplishments made, it is important that we celebrate those moments together! These victories are moments to celebrate God’s faithfulness to them and their commitment to becoming who God created them to be.

While transitioning out of a halfway house, Cassandra graduated Work Life at PCN in 2016 after being invited to take part in classes by Casundra Porter (who is now our Outreach & Intake Coordinator and had recently graduated from PCN’s first Work Life class.) After graduating, Cassandra went on to take Faith & Finances and a few other classes that we were offering at the time and began a career in addiction treatment and advocacy.

Cassandra has celebrated many successes since then —promotions, repaired relationships, her own place, and a new car, but her journey wasn’t all easy. She said, “PCN has always been there through rough times.”

In 2020, she came back to PCN and took a few more classes at our Woodbine location and says, “It brought me back to recognizing that God has a part in my life.”

Now, as an Outreach & Alumni Coordinator at Mending Hearts, Cassandra is able to refer any of her clients that are open to Christ-centered programming to PCN and shares her testimony when asked about it!

Where Are They Now? Program

Over the past year, we have been in the process of developing a program for volunteers to become involved and contribute to our Connection Management efforts, allowing PCN programming to alleviate poverty in more lives across the Nashville area. Our pilot group recently completed their training, and we are in the process of using their feedback to help us make some finishing touches as we prepare to train our next cohort of Connectors this fall. If you are ready to take on a committed volunteer role and connect with program participants on a deeper level, we want to hear from you! Find the details, requirements, and application on our website. ProjectConnectNashville.org

Thank you to contributing photographers Kate Seaver, Brittany Vernon, and Jessica McIntosh.

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Fernando Munoz

A lot has changed at PCN since I volunteered in its very first class back in 2013! As a volunteer and then as a board member, I have been blessed to watch PCN grow from an informal ministry to a small nonprofit into the robust ministry it is today. We couldn’t have imagined back then all of the ways that God would use PCN to serve people in poverty. There have been good times, fun times, and hard times, but what has stayed consistent since the beginning has been PCN’s unwavering commitment to its mission: to alleviate poverty by demonstrating the love of Christ through the healing of broken relationships. The goal we are all working towards as volun teers, donors, staff, and board members hasn’t changed.

Looking forward, we will be facing challenges together. But since the beginning of PCN, God has sustained us through situations that seemed impossible at the time. He has shown His power by granting us time and again everything we have needed to continue the mission. God is at work at PCN.

I am as confident as ever that PCN has the leadership and vision it needs to continue to fulfill its mission. But PCN’s work is the work of all of us. To meet the growing needs of Nashville’s residents, we need your continued support and engagement—as volunteers, church partners, and donors—so we can keep demonstrating the love of Christ for many years to come.

SHARE THE HOPE, GIVE TODAY!

Open to read stories of clients flourishing and giving back to the community!

A Note from PCN Board Member and Longtime Volunteer,