Assets Mapping – June 29th

Neighborhood Assets Mapping Meeting
Monday, June 29^{th
6:00pm-8:00pm}

The next meeting will include a chance to get to know and converse with people in the neighborhood.

We will have a guest speaker from 6:00pm – 6:30pm.  Afterward, we will go out and interview neighbors from 6:30pm – 7:30pm and then come back to Tab to discuss our conversations.  Questions for the conversations will be provided, and anyone who is interested in meeting our neighbors is welcome to join us.  For additional information feel free to contact Ann Reynolds at 923-5458 ext 130, or Nancy Russell at 475-0959.

The Source of Growth

When he came and spoke in Indianapolis a few months ago, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove mentioned that often we have a misleading idea of what it takes to create a healthy community.  Ministry is not a linear process of gradual improvements until someone “makes it.”  Working in disadvantage communities – and encouraging a health community – is not like repairing a broken machine, where replacing a cog or making small adjustments will make the engine run correctly.

In contrast to this image of a broken engine, Wilson-Hartgrove argued that creating a healthy community is more like gardening.  In a garden, there is always something to do – soil to prepare, weeds to pull, plants to water.  Without this dedication, a garden will never flourish.  However, even when a gardener puts her blood, sweat, and tears into a small plot of land, there is nothing she can do to force the plants to grow.  She can provide the conditions for growth – and encourage what is already growing to become even stronger – but she cannot make a seed sprout into a flourishing plant.  Gardening is relying on that mysterious power of growth to take place and grow.

This reality is the same in ministry.  There is always much to do – arrangements to be made, people to encourage, programs to build and sustain.  Many times growth is impossible without this work.  However, the real transformation of individuals and communities is out of our hands.  We can set the stage for growth, but we can’t make growth occur by ourselves.

Building a health community comes in stops and stars, breakthroughs and setbacks.  Sometimes people seem to be stagnating for years only to put everything together in a moment of clarity.  At other times those who have all the tools they need to move to a better place simply don’t recognize and use what God has provided them.

The Apostle Paul used this same image in a letter to the Corinthians.  The church’s growth was encouraged by the work of many church leaders, but their efforts alone weren’t enough.  Paul writes:

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

The same is true in ministry.  When a church commits to the work of ministry in its context, it aims to bring the Kingdom of God to that place.  This transformation is so dramatic that it can only be the work of God.  Therefore, the fundamental work of any ministry must be prayer.

“Praying for the kingdom means praying for restored identity and for restored vocation, knowing that at the most fundamental level these are things only God can do…Praying the kingdom means remembering that bringing the kingdom is God’s business…We must not assume the burden for something we cannot do.”

-Myers, Walking With the Poor

Indy Grace Place Dedication and Open House

Tab members, ministry partners, members of other churches, neighbors and friends met Sunday to celebrate Dan Gushee’s work through Indy Grace Place, a home that helps men leaving prison to transition into independent living.  Pastor John Gable reflected on the significance of the Prodigal Son – and the grace of the Father – new start when facing the challenges when leaving incarceration and then led the group in a prayer of dedication for the ministry, the home, and the transformation taking place within the home’s walls. 

The group shared a meal, toured the house, and heard stories about the home and its residence.

The house has gone through a remarkable change since Dan moved in eight years ago: the house has been redesigned and renovated through hard work by Dan and the men living in the house.  Just as the house has undergone a significant transformation, so have similar changes taken place in the lives of the men who come through Grace Place.

Its residents have – and continue to – work hard to get on their feet after leaving prison.  Most importantly, the stories of those of those who have successfully moved out of the house show God’s faithfulness and transformation in their lives.  God has used this house – and Dan’s efforts – 

to help encourage those leaving incarcerated life to make a successful transition from incarceration into productive and full lives in the community.

 

See more information on the ministry below.

Indy Grace Place

Indy Grace Place, Inc.

3624 Guilford Ave
Indianapolis, Indiana 46205
Phone: (317) 925-4850

Mission: To provide a nurturing, encouraging, biblically based environment for men emerging from prison and quip them for independent living.

Purpose:  To provide a transitional residence accompanied with mentoring and accountability for men who need assistance in establishing patterns of living that will glorify God and enable them to be self-supporting.  Targeted time of residence is six months.

What we offer:

1. A comfortable small-group home environment in a quiet urban neighborhood where men learn to transition back into society.  Men will either have a private room or share a room with one other.  From this setting the resident is able to have an address, a message phone, and a place to call home.  There are three bus lines within two blocks of the home.
2. Goal setting assistance.  Each week’s activities are assessed in light of the stated goals for each resident.  The resident is expected to create realistic goals and modify them as needed throughout his stay.
3. Social services are provided through a combination of partnerships and in-house services.  These include counseling, addictions treatment programs, resume preparation, job search assistance, etc.

 

How Can I Help?

Here is a list of some items that a useful to the house:

• Paper products: plates, napkins, towels, TP
• Cleaning supplies: glass cleaner, room deodorizers, floor cleaner, disinfectant, bathroom cleaners, mops, all purpose cleaners, etc.
• Bed items: pillows, sheet sets (twin size), mattress covers, blankets
• Any food donations (food is currently supplied by the house members, almost exclusively, which is sometimes a strain.)
• Lap-top computer for business use and presentations
• Sponsorship for unemployed resident(s) unable to pay weekly rent ($60 / week)
• Financial gifts of any size for ongoing operational expenses
• Set of four kitchen chairs
• Flat-screen TV (42”)

 

Care to volunteer your time or talents?  Here are some suggestions:

• Become a friend to a resident: take them to dinner or a game, or just talk.
• Become a mentor.  There are programs that offer formal training if you want to get involved at that level.
• Develop a program that uses your special gifts or training.  Some suggestions: A budgeting training class; Organize an addictions group; Lead a bible study.  Be imaginative, and let the Spirit lead!

Email: dan@indygraceplace.org
Web site: www.IndyGracePlace.org
Transition housing for ex-prisoners

Next Assets Mapping Meeting

Monday evening’s Assets Mapping meeting was a great start – almost 20 people shared, and has already begun the process of finding out what strengths & assets are already at work here in the community.

There is still the chance to get involved – the next meeting for Tab’s Assets Mapping process will take place on June 15th at Tab!

TAB Assets Mapping Meeting

Monday, June 15

7:00pm

Tabernacle Presbyterian Church

Contact Ann Reynolds or Nancy Russell for details.

Painting for the Mid-North Food Pantry

The Mid – North Food Pantry recently moved to a new location, and it could use your help painting and preparing to paint its new digs!

Volunteer Opportunity  — Mid-North Food Pantry

Painting and painting preparation

Monday – Friday;  June 8 – 12  9am to 12pm;  1pm to 5pm

3333 North Meridian

You can simply show up and participate!

INRC’s Front Porch Fridays

Remember a time when people met on their neighbor’s front porch?

Relationships were built, resources were shared and results were obtained for the community [and this could be a great resource for the Asset Mapping process!]

INRC is bringing back this old time tradition this summer.  Come share your neighborhood news, events, and stories over a tall glass of lemonade or ice cold sweet sun tea with neighbors from across the city.   The atmosphere will be just right for conversation over a game of checkers, horseshoes, or cards with some old pals or new friends.  Bring your lawn chairs and come join us as we meet our neighbors one Friday each month this summer:

June 5th, July 10th, and August 7th

from 11:30-1:00pm

at INRC

1802 N. Illinois St.

Our June get together featured conversations on the first chapter of the book, The Careless Society: Community and Its Counterfeits by John McKnight.

Podcast and hard copy of the chapter will be available on the INRC website at www.inrc.org next week, for more information or to RSVP call 920-0330 or namccormick@inrc.org.