God has done some wonderful things through Wonder City in the indigent community of West Memphis. However, Wonder City is in need of the following things in order for the church and the ministry to grow and be effective in the years to come. One is additional staffing and the other is a larger space to worship and conduct ministry.
Urban ministry is too demanding for one person to effectively minister alone. Every week I have to make decisions about what tasks will not get done or what visits will not be made. Sometimes these are easy decisions and sometimes they are difficult ones. Everyone who is in ministry knows that there is a certain amount of administration and tasks that need to get done. Unfortunately, ministry is not just being with and ministering to people. Bible classes and sermons are just one example of tasks that must be done weekly that take time away from being with people. There are also budgets, planning, organizing volunteers, and many other things that require time and attention. At the same time, ministry is about people. Urban ministry especially is about being with the people. One person can’t make sure adults are discipled, teens are taught and youth activities planned, families are ministered to, crisis are addressed (in urban ministry there is a crisis every week—real or perceived), sick are visited and evangelism takes place. More people are needed to make sure these needs are met.
The other area that needs to be addressed for Wonder City to grow is our worship facility. Our current facility is no longer adequate for the task of ministry. First, being in a storefront is a hindrance. Many in the African-American community do not view storefront churches as “real” churches. Despite all the good that Wonder City has done for the community, there are many who still do not see Wonder City as a real church because of our location in a storefront. Also, our location itself between a fish market and laundry mat is a hindrance. Imagine the smells that we receive in our space between those two businesses. However, the biggest factor is that we have simply outgrown the space. We need more space to adequately minister to individuals and the community. We have rearranged the walls inside our storefront space to add classroom space, but more is needed. We would like to offer our community a clothes closet, but there is no space. We would like to expand our after-school program—again lack of space. (Side note, we are not currently offering an after-school program due to a lack of staffing.) We would like to make Wonder City a safe place for teens to hang out after school off the streets playing games and listening to holy hip-hop, but we don’t have the space (or the staffing).
However, God is faithful and he has provided Wonder City with the opportunity to purchase the current facility of the First Church of the Nazarene. They have a 10,000 plus square foot church building with plenty of room to address all of our space needs. Two weeks ago (Sunday, November 19th), I presented the elders of our supporting church (Missouri Street Church of Christ) with a proposal to purchase the First Church of the Nazarene. They are actively discussing the
purchase of the building as a group and with those involved with Wonder City. I will also be meeting with the elders in the coming weeks to discuss it with them and answer any questions they may have. I am hopeful and prayerful that the elders will approve this request and that Wonder City will be in a new home in the spring. Please be praying for this process and the decision that is to be made. Should you wish to donate to our building fund, checks can be mailed to
Wonder City Ministry Building Fund
c/o Missouri Street Church of Christ
1600 N Missouri St
West Memphis, AR 72301
Also, pray that God will be as faithful and provide additional staffing in the near future as well.
Urban ministry is too demanding for one person to effectively minister alone. Every week I have to make decisions about what tasks will not get done or what visits will not be made. Sometimes these are easy decisions and sometimes they are difficult ones. Everyone who is in ministry knows that there is a certain amount of administration and tasks that need to get done. Unfortunately, ministry is not just being with and ministering to people. Bible classes and sermons are just one example of tasks that must be done weekly that take time away from being with people. There are also budgets, planning, organizing volunteers, and many other things that require time and attention. At the same time, ministry is about people. Urban ministry especially is about being with the people. One person can’t make sure adults are discipled, teens are taught and youth activities planned, families are ministered to, crisis are addressed (in urban ministry there is a crisis every week—real or perceived), sick are visited and evangelism takes place. More people are needed to make sure these needs are met.
The other area that needs to be addressed for Wonder City to grow is our worship facility. Our current facility is no longer adequate for the task of ministry. First, being in a storefront is a hindrance. Many in the African-American community do not view storefront churches as “real” churches. Despite all the good that Wonder City has done for the community, there are many who still do not see Wonder City as a real church because of our location in a storefront. Also, our location itself between a fish market and laundry mat is a hindrance. Imagine the smells that we receive in our space between those two businesses. However, the biggest factor is that we have simply outgrown the space. We need more space to adequately minister to individuals and the community. We have rearranged the walls inside our storefront space to add classroom space, but more is needed. We would like to offer our community a clothes closet, but there is no space. We would like to expand our after-school program—again lack of space. (Side note, we are not currently offering an after-school program due to a lack of staffing.) We would like to make Wonder City a safe place for teens to hang out after school off the streets playing games and listening to holy hip-hop, but we don’t have the space (or the staffing).
However, God is faithful and he has provided Wonder City with the opportunity to purchase the current facility of the First Church of the Nazarene. They have a 10,000 plus square foot church building with plenty of room to address all of our space needs. Two weeks ago (Sunday, November 19th), I presented the elders of our supporting church (Missouri Street Church of Christ) with a proposal to purchase the First Church of the Nazarene. They are actively discussing the
purchase of the building as a group and with those involved with Wonder City. I will also be meeting with the elders in the coming weeks to discuss it with them and answer any questions they may have. I am hopeful and prayerful that the elders will approve this request and that Wonder City will be in a new home in the spring. Please be praying for this process and the decision that is to be made. Should you wish to donate to our building fund, checks can be mailed toWonder City Ministry Building Fund
c/o Missouri Street Church of Christ
1600 N Missouri St
West Memphis, AR 72301
Also, pray that God will be as faithful and provide additional staffing in the near future as well.
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2 comments:
Good to hear an update. You should blog more often. We will continue to be praying for your work and hopefully see you next week at Grandma and Grandpa's. Love ya!
Hey, How are you? I miss you and Amy both so much. It sounds like you have alot on your plate...But I know with pray everything will turn out the way it should when it should. On Gods time. Just remember that God loves you and so do I. Hang in there!
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