Put Paul back in the city
As most of you know, I spent over two years working with the inner-city ministry UrbanPromise Wilmington (www.urbanpromise.org). It was an incredible period of growth and transformation, and while there I found confirmation that God created me to live my life for the youth in inner-city neighborhoods.
Upon leaving, I began working at a group home in Richmond. I have been interacting for six months with about 8 teenage guys from all different settings, gaining experience in dealing with a range of issues. The unexpected result is that I have a desire to work with teenagers; crazy, as I’ve always worked with kids. It seems to me that teenagers are the first to be written off; “It’s too late once they go into middle school.” For this reason, many will focus on children. Don’t get me wrong, it is highly important to reach out to the children, and you do have more of an opportunity to help them see their potential the younger you start. But I DO NOT agree with the sentiment that it’s too late for teenagers. I’ve seen too many teenage-transformations to accept that.
As much as this job is equipping me, I have been overwhelmed at times with a feeling of dissatisfaction; the inner-city is calling me back, ministry is calling me back. I desire so much to return to the work I love; living in the communities, working with youth in the ministry context… “living ministry”, not just “doing ministry.”
The problem is, I am officially an adult, and need a salary. Bills, expenses, and so forth require that I have some form of income, and, in my searching, I have not found a paying position in this department. Further, I am buying a home in a low-income area of Church Hill; I am highly excited about returning to this setting (I love the community aspect, and that I can sit on my porch and talk with my neighbors), but it will take money.
So what am I getting at? A possibility has opened up with a ministry in the northside of Richmond to work with youth, and help develop that aspect of the ministry. Unfortunately, the funding does not yet exist for it to be a full-time position, though there is a possibility for a part-time salary. What the founder has suggested is that I pray about raising support. I had done so while at UrbanPromise, but now the stakes are higher; if I get lazy, I might miss a mortgage payment. So basically, the ministry would provide some income, and the rest would come from monthly donations.
Above all, I ask for your prayers. I desire so much to be back into a role that brought me joy for over two years, and to be there by the fall. But raising support is intimidating, and “risky”. Yet God is never intimidated, and He has access to unlimited funding; I have no doubt that he could provide. I have a pastor friend who lives entirely off support, and it is enough to own a home and support his wife and teenage daughter. Pray for guidance, patience, faith, and wisdom.
However, if you feel that perhaps being a monthly supporter is something you’d be interested in, pray about that too, and talk to me. It seems that ministry is so dependent on others who fill this role, but isn’t that how it should be? In that way, we’re all connected in the ministry; and for those that aren’t called to work in the inner-city context, it’s your way to help make a huge impact. Monthly support could look like any amount; after all, if enough people committed to $5 a month, I’d be set. I’ve never felt comfortable asking for money, but this possible course has come up too many times over the last 8 months for me to ignore it any longer. So pray about it, and know that it won’t just be money to me, but it will be your way of helping me do what I know I am called to do, and what I love to do.
Upon leaving, I began working at a group home in Richmond. I have been interacting for six months with about 8 teenage guys from all different settings, gaining experience in dealing with a range of issues. The unexpected result is that I have a desire to work with teenagers; crazy, as I’ve always worked with kids. It seems to me that teenagers are the first to be written off; “It’s too late once they go into middle school.” For this reason, many will focus on children. Don’t get me wrong, it is highly important to reach out to the children, and you do have more of an opportunity to help them see their potential the younger you start. But I DO NOT agree with the sentiment that it’s too late for teenagers. I’ve seen too many teenage-transformations to accept that.
As much as this job is equipping me, I have been overwhelmed at times with a feeling of dissatisfaction; the inner-city is calling me back, ministry is calling me back. I desire so much to return to the work I love; living in the communities, working with youth in the ministry context… “living ministry”, not just “doing ministry.”
The problem is, I am officially an adult, and need a salary. Bills, expenses, and so forth require that I have some form of income, and, in my searching, I have not found a paying position in this department. Further, I am buying a home in a low-income area of Church Hill; I am highly excited about returning to this setting (I love the community aspect, and that I can sit on my porch and talk with my neighbors), but it will take money.
So what am I getting at? A possibility has opened up with a ministry in the northside of Richmond to work with youth, and help develop that aspect of the ministry. Unfortunately, the funding does not yet exist for it to be a full-time position, though there is a possibility for a part-time salary. What the founder has suggested is that I pray about raising support. I had done so while at UrbanPromise, but now the stakes are higher; if I get lazy, I might miss a mortgage payment. So basically, the ministry would provide some income, and the rest would come from monthly donations.
Above all, I ask for your prayers. I desire so much to be back into a role that brought me joy for over two years, and to be there by the fall. But raising support is intimidating, and “risky”. Yet God is never intimidated, and He has access to unlimited funding; I have no doubt that he could provide. I have a pastor friend who lives entirely off support, and it is enough to own a home and support his wife and teenage daughter. Pray for guidance, patience, faith, and wisdom.
However, if you feel that perhaps being a monthly supporter is something you’d be interested in, pray about that too, and talk to me. It seems that ministry is so dependent on others who fill this role, but isn’t that how it should be? In that way, we’re all connected in the ministry; and for those that aren’t called to work in the inner-city context, it’s your way to help make a huge impact. Monthly support could look like any amount; after all, if enough people committed to $5 a month, I’d be set. I’ve never felt comfortable asking for money, but this possible course has come up too many times over the last 8 months for me to ignore it any longer. So pray about it, and know that it won’t just be money to me, but it will be your way of helping me do what I know I am called to do, and what I love to do.
This note is long enough. Pray. Pass it on. Ask me questions.
I will update as things develop.
Posted by in 18:15:14
