I was asked to write a post about this weekend’s CARE Festival so below are some of my thoughts. I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories from this weekend as well, so please share yours below.
My first thought is that I am so proud and grateful to be a part of the seven:ten community, as well as the larger community of East Valley Bible and Pan de Vida. It was incredible to see all of you participate in the preparation leading up to the event, flex as the day went on, and serve the people of the 85204 area in a tremendous way. The feedback I received from those outside our ministry as well as what I personally saw in all of you blew me away. The Lord is moving us in a significant way and was evident to me that He is growing our hearts for the people around us. I hope you rejoice with me in what you see Him doing in and through us.
My second thought has to do with something that Tyler says- 
that as we seek remedies to social and spirtiual issues we will encounter tension. We encounter tension because there are a million motives and circumstances colliding through imperfect people. This weekend was one example of the tension we are caught in as we aim to seek the “peace of our city” yet those we aim to serve live amongst the fear and complexity of the immigration issue. So despite the political tension we experienced, I am confident that God began to accomplish this goal through and progress was made towards a more peaceful, healthy 85204.
My final thought is that the investment you made was most fully evident in the hearts of the people you served. There were many tangible fruits of your investment however, which include:
-kids being able to play with police officers free of intimidation
-mothers (under unthinkable financial pressure) being able to enjoy a free lunch and music as their kids were cared for
-others that were able to connect with CARE and resources that will provide them with valuable support
I pray you were encouraged by Saturday and are emboldened for more investments in our community like this. Thank you for all you did to make it come together.
~Danielle
(More photos coming soon)
1 response so far ↓
Mike // April 8, 2008 at 4:16 am |
Although I was up in God’s pines this weekend, I came home to a reality that God is it work in our midst. Danielle, I loved hearing your thoughts and perceptions of the beginning of the beginning…He is not through…
It is amazing to me that God uses us at all. And yet He seems to glory in it and give us great joy in it too. In our obedient never-perfect steps, He fills in all the spaces…and leaves us wanting more of Him and His kingdom.
There is a lot amiss in our community. It is nice to see His people acting like…His people!