A light house of sorts.

One of the things we’ve always struggled with as a community house is succinctly explaining who we are and what it is we’re trying to do. There are so many aspects to what we do, so many facets of living in a Christian community in the midst of a low-income neighborhood. There are programs we’re involved in, there’s the communal life of the house, there are our values, our beliefs, our passions. How do we sum that all up? A few days ago, Andra & I were asked to come and share what we do with a church group. We sat and talked and planned together and came up with something, and then stood up and gave our little talk.
At the end of it, someone said “So….what exactly is your mission?”
“hmmm.” I thought, “guess we weren’t as clear as I’d hoped.”

That’s when a good friend jumped in and said it for us. Our house is a light house. It is a house people know as a good place. A safe place. A place where, if they really need the help, they can come and they know we will do everything we can to offer it, no strings attached. It’s a household attempting to operate as much like Christ’s body as we possibly can. All that crazy stuff we do – like sharing money & cars, like living where we do, like trying not to let jobs dominate our lives, like making neighbors and kids a priority, - we do it so we CAN live and give that way.

And when I think back on the last couple of years, I can think of example after example where it worked. Where someone needed us, and we were able to be there.

Like Adam, who used to live with us. One night he left without a word taking a computer, i-pod, and some other electronics with him. We were frustrated, and later learned he ended up in jail. But then he sent us a letter and Andra corresponded faithfully with him. Now he’s out, and recently he rang the doorbell at 4 in the morning, knowing that we would do what we could to help him.

Like James and Wes, whose mom worked 12 hour shifts and was the sole care-taker of them. When they moved out of the neighborhood, but still attended school here, she had to drop them off at 6am so they could get to school, and she could get to work. She’d drop them off, and they would come to our house. They knew we would let them in, fix them some breakfast and make sure they got off to school on time. They knew our house was a safe place.

Like the 10 kids who live in two households across the street. They come over every day asking if they can just play with our dog in the back yard. They know we have sidewalk chalk, and bats and balls. They know one of us is likely to make sure they have some ice cold water or Kool-aid, and maybe come and do some sidewalk art on the patio with them.

All these little things add up to something big. A light house. A safe place.. In the middle of a dark place, there is light. In the middle of pain, there is hope. In the middle of anger, there is love. In the middle of evil, there is good. That’s what it’s all about.

Thank you for your prayers, for your donations, for your encouragement, and for your love. We couldn’t do it without you.

Love,
Katie (Mike, Andra, & Leah)

Donations can be made at www.fcsministries.org