Paul’s inner-city adventures

I am officially the AfterSchoolProgram Director for Camp Victory.  Exciting, intimidation, and starting next Wednesday.
In other news, the staff house is in no way home-worthy.  The walls are stripped to the bricks and braces.  In the meantime, we are staying wherever we can.  Lawrence, our intern from Kenya, and I are staying in the home of some wonderfully nice board members.  In a week, we move to a house used by Haven Methodist, the site of Camp Promise, Dan’s old camp.  It will be tough living conditions, but it’s in the city (a rougher area, though), and will only be our home for a few weeks (hypothetically).
Training all this week.  Lots of information.  I’m ready to start.

And the blood title—just a phrase around here, Victory’s color is green.

Great question: allow me to enlighten you.  During our Senior year at Campbell University, Daniel Case and I had a random conversation that led to the decision to do some form of ministry together.  By Novemeber, it was focused on the inner-city; by December, inner-city youth.  Our vision, (which we believe God stuck in our heads, by the simple fact that it is all coming together.) was originally to open a youth center inner-city Richmond, VA.  It would be a safe place for the youth of the area to relax, study, talk, play, etc.  “The Corporate”, as it would be called, once established, would then expand to offer tutoring, counseling, and so forth.  We became compiling a contact list, and got in touch with some individuals involved with a new outreach center in northern Richmond.  They seemed excited to help, but weren’t sure what they could do at the time.  Just as well, because Dan and I realized we had very little experience.  Our remedy: UrbanPromise.  We both served for two months in Wilmington, DE with this wonderful innercity ministry as assitant directors.  It was an incredible experience, during which we learned an incredible amount concerning the innercity, it’s people, ourselves, the ministry, and God.  It was hard work, but entirely fulfilling.  It was so impacting, and so close to our own vision for ministry, that I decided to stay for another year, which brings me to this blog, which has been started just before the next phase of my innercity adventure.
My hope: God will change me, will mold me, will prepare me for the future that is quickly approaching.  God willing, we will talk to many contacts, develop a firm plan, and begin work in Richmond next fall.  That is my plan, and I now look foward to discovering God’s.

This was one of those online fads that I had vowed to never join.  However, here I am.  Yet, I feel justified, for I get to again use my newest favorite phrase-of-justification, “It’s for ministry purposes.”  This blog (oh, I have a blog…) will not be a dwelling place for random diatribes on my feelings and my favorite colors.  No, I will not step into that realm of blogdom.  This will serve as information-age approach to letting friends and family know what is happening with me in the city.  I will add stories, pictures, and my monthly “support letter”.  In this way, I can reach more people without having to bother with stamps or e-mails.

So there it is.  Welcome to my blog.  I hope you enjoy reading about God’s work in the city, because it is happening.  It is happening in a big way.

 

~Paul