 The Christian Community Empowerment Center began three years ago as a ministry opportunity to focus more on developing the skills and capacities of poor people rather than simply helping the poor live better lives. It was during a national training session for urban leaders in 2007 that the collective, proverbial light bulb came on regarding a different perspective in loving our neighbor. Indeed, Star of Hope had succeeded in making change. But our challenge was in the form of a question: Had that change been sustained? As a ministry, we had more than good intentions, we had a plan; a good plan that worked. We also had the evidence of remedied situations and restored people in the city as we partnered with the local church. But we quickly realized that we fell short. Why? We had worked hard, very hard. In fact, we did whatever was needed to be done among all parties, as an intermediary; involved as bridge builders. And it wasn’t enough.
Lesson Learned: Improving peoples’ lives is a part of the kingdom plan and not the kingdom.
Developing the Empowerment Center has been challenging and slow. We have experienced setbacks in developing curriculum, in securing kingdom-minded instructors and in maintaining students. What distinguishes our training center is that at its core is empowerment. Its concept, design, curriculum and outcomes were developed by our students, the same people who will live out the impact of the program, success or failure. They have complete ownership of the Center, using that ownership to guide the ministry in identifying the classes to be offered, days/ times, teaching methods, and support services.
Lesson #2: People know what they need even if they are unable to secure it or do not know how to obtain it.
Empowerment for Star of Hope Ministries is an act of compassion for the poor - whether they are people who have been disenfranchised because of their own actions or by the actions of others. As Christians, we see ourselves as stewards of God’s economy and believe the greatest resources are those created in His image. To empower someone you must become reconciled to them. If your testimony is to be powerful and effective, your relationship has to be authentic and eternal.
Lesson Re-learned: Reconciliation is more than meeting a need. It is giving a voice equal to your own.
The Empowerment Center isn’t just an on-ramp to change for the poor; it is the ramp. The issue of empowering someone isn’t just about education and access. It’s a commitment of a lifetime as a member of the Body of Christ. It includes being the vision, the hope, for people who have given up or who have never had an equal voice and standing in the gap for them; being vulnerable.
Lesson Realized: Students eager to change conditions realize that change has to occur within them.
As a collaborative of inner-city churches, we had not realized that our efforts had become disproportionately focused in making peoples’ lives better, and together with the community, we began to restructure. Since that time we have held six classes and trained 52 students. Slow by the standards of the world, but I believe God is glorified.
This is my annual appeal for your support of the Christian Community Empowerment Center. We desire to empower each person in need being discipled by a partner church with training, but we are in great financial need and are unable to offer classes sufficient to the requests; even with receiving students’ registration fees. We need people to volunteer in the center as teachers, prayer partners, and tutors. Would you pray for God to reveal to you how you can help?
Thank you! More Lessons to come…
|
