Against All Odds...

Have you ever accomplished something that you knew wasn't accomplished because of your own strength? God often has challenges in store for us that we cannot overcome on our own. We only overcome them when we rely on Him to carry us through.
Many of the students that Urban Impact works with, on the North Side of Pittsburgh, have many challenges to overcome if they hope to graduate high school, go to college, have a respectable career, and support and provide for their family, etc. Here on the North Side, an average of 60% of 12th graders graduate high school. Only 20% of those graduates are proficient in Math and Reading. That means that around 40% of students that have actually graduated high school are not up to grade level in Math and Reading. Not only do they struggle academically but many have to care for younger siblings and help pay bills. Many males, especially, turn to making "fast money" by going to the streets and others try to make it work week to week for their families. They do not have the resources surrounding them to help them succeed in school and to get them graduated and onto something that helps better their future. They are up against all odds to "succeed". This is why Urban Impact started Options. The Options program gets youth into one of five options after graduating from high school - college, trade school, job, ministry, or military.
Over 90% of high school seniors that are involved in Urban Impact programs graduate high school. Urban Impact desires to see them succeed after graduation as well. So, we try to put them in one of the five options. The Options program, however, is largely underfunded. We are in need of funds and resources for tutors, books, programs, personnel, scholarships, etc. to help these students beat all odds.
God has provided a great opportunity to help raise funds for Options. Pastor Bruce Cote and his wife, Paula, from Sewickley, PA, have decided to help raise funds for this program by hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. This is a 2,181 mile hike. Only 10% of all hikers who start the 2,181 mile hike actually finish. Bruce and Paula are up against all odds to finish this hike. But through accomplishing this goal they are helping provide options for students who are against all odds. If you are interested in learning more about how you can support Bruce and Paula on their hike and the Options program check out brucetakesahike.com
Let's overcome all odds together!

You cannot fear that which you love...

I have been praying for three months about a specific street in my neighborhood that is very notorious. There are random shootings and pipe bombs that go off in the middle of the day. Lots of drugs and drug pushers. About half of the houses are boarded up. This is the type of street people tell others not to walk on let alone drive down. So, not only have I been praying for change to come to that street, but I have also been asking God how I can actively be a part of that change. Three months into praying for this street, God has given me no answer.
It didn't even occur to me until last Friday that I was still waiting for an answer. I was driving down the highway, on my way to Bible study and I heard Matthew Barnett on K-Love. Matthew Barnett is the co-founder of The Dream Center in LA. If you haven't heard about The Dream Center and the ministry they, you need to check them out (www.dreamcenter.org)! Barnett was doing an interview on K-Love and talking about some of the ministries that pour out of The Dream Center. He was sharing how one ministry began by a couple wanting to engage with certain blocks in a specific neighborhood. So, several couples each "adopted" two blocks within that neighborhood. They would serve those people in anyway they could: painting their house, cooking meals, re-roofing houses, etc. This allowed real relationships to form and then the couples could share their faith. Now, this ministry is serving hundreds of blocks and thousands of families. I really like the idea of this ministry. But Barnett sharing about this ministry wasn't what struck me.
What struck me was a statement Barnett made while sharing about first starting this ministry in LA. He stated how he would look up at the project housing and stare at Skid Row and be overcome with fear. He was scared to step into those places. One day as he was praying how to engage those places, God said to him, "Matt, you cannot fear that which you love."
...Until that moment, I was hoping God was going to bestow on me a grand idea on how to minister to the street in my neighborhood; a way that would be revolutionary (and maybe He will). Instead, He gave me a phrase. A phrase, however, that challenges my heart. If perfect love really casts out fear...then I must pray to have perfect love if I want any change of making a difference on this street.
Is there something or someone in your life that you fear? Is there something or someone that you are praying for to change? God's answer may not be to change whatever it is right away until you, yourself stop fearing and start loving. Because, you cannot fear that which you love.

So why Build, Stay, Eat?

It's kind of a weird name for this type of blog - Build, Stay, Eat sounds similar to those interior design blogs. Trust me,I am not creative enough to start one of those types of blogs. I was originally going to title the blog Jeremiah 29, but the name was already taken. Jeremiah 29 is where my blog title originates from. Here is what Jeremiah 29: 5-7 says, "Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare."
This is Jeremiah's letter from Jerusalem to everyone who had been exiled to Babylon. The Israelites were arguing over whether they should enter into the city, living as the Babylonians do, or stay outside of the city wall and never enter in, to show that they are God's chosen people. Jeremiah writes this letter to challenge them to do both! What an anstonishing thought! Who would have thought that a group of people can live in a sinful city and still live as God's chosen people?
Jeremiah's challenge struck me one day a couple months after my husband and I moved to the North Side of Pittsburgh. A lot of people didn't understand why we would move to a "bad" neighborhood in the inner-city. But, we knew we were called and this is where God wanted us to be. One day, my husband and I were talking about our neighborhood and the local schools. The conversation progressed to how we probably wouldn't want to stay in our neighborhood when we started having a family. (we aren't planning on having a baby anytime soon! Trust me!) After our conversation, I read Jeremiah 29. God's timing is always impeccable. Not only was it an affirmation for what we were doing but it was a challenge as to what we had planned for our future. The only way we are going to make a difference on North Side is if we commit to staying here for the long haul by building, staying, planting, eating, marrying, reproducing, working for peace and prosperity, and praying.
You may not have been called to the North Side of Pittsburgh or any part of the inner city for that matter but I guarantee God has called you somewhere. The question is: are you living among the people for God rather than standing on the outside or becoming worldly? And are you in it for the long haul so that God can change lives through you?

For a greater purpose...

So, I have attempted to blog before...it has been extremely unsuccessful. I have never been one for writing (or typing for that matter). I never kept a journal, never enjoyed writing papers, etc. so blogging is extremely unappealing. For several months, however, I have felt I should try blogging again. And for several months I have been avoiding it. But, alas, here I am at my laptop typing away. This time I am hoping my blogging experience is different and more meaningful. I am hoping its different because I am blogging for a different purpose. I am not blogging for myself but I am blogging so that the youth, family, and community of the North Side of Pittsburgh will maybe have at least one voice on the web speaking for and advocating on their behalf. This is much bigger than just my life - this is for the lives of thousands on the North Side.