common ground montgomery news and updates

until you step back

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BY JUSTIN HAMPTON

In the type of work that we do at Common Ground Montgomery, we can often get caught up in the belief that the fruit of our efforts won't be seen, or even felt, for generations. The idea that we shouldn’t expect to see the fruits of righteousness in the children we serve can be a perpetuated thought that is given its legs in an attempt to insulate ourselves from disappointment.

We work long hours.

We tearfully pray for the life and destiny-threatening obstacles our kids face.

We watch as all too often they make poor choices and apparently disregard all the advice and so-called wisdom that we offer.

That is what we see in the moment. That is what we see when we correct a kid. That can be the daily unrewarding experience if we let it be. That is urban ministry --- until you step back; until you see the larger landscape of what God is doing here. 

Over the years we have developed ministries out of necessity. As children got older new programs had to be created that would not only create a safe place for them to be, but to inspire and introduce these aging students to change their lives and attitudes. At each phase the obstacles they face change just as their environments change.

Elementary students grow from being corrected in their respect for authority, to having to be educated about physical changes they experience and relational advances from the opposite sex. And as the program evolves for them it can appear as if the student enrolled is the same stubborn kid, destined to be like so many of their peers and on the road to continuing the cycles of poverty and pain that characterize their community --- until you step back.

Addressing new issues met with the same resistance as old ones can be frustrating until you realize that you aren’t addressing old issues because you really don’t need to anymore. The things you used to stress with this same kid don’t need to be stressed anymore because they are more mature, they have grown, they have learned. It sounds simple, but over the course of the last four or five years I’ve had the privilege to watch an amazing phenomenon: maturity.

Its growth is slow and its fruit is only seen by the most keen eye in the short term, but it is here. We now have high school youth in our urban entrepreneur program that were once 5th graders getting homework help and being told to respect their elders and given hugs for having achievement stickers on their school papers. These same students are now considering their post high school options; and good options, too. Some are preparing for college, others for joining the military, but all for a productive life, and most with the Lord leading it.

Our high school kids are what we have been looking for. They are what we have been praying for. They are the change we long to see as they continue to grow and produce two-parent families that honor the Lord, that care about their neighbors and communities, that know their worth, and see that they will not only change this neighborhood, but change the world.

Although it gets tough we have been watching the Lord bring the increase. As we plant and water he makes it grow, and the pace of growth can be painfully slow --- until you step back.

if we just believe

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BY CHAQUANA TOWNSEND

While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live. And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. (Matthew 9:18-25)

As I read this passage of scripture two things are strikingly evident and refreshing in my mind: God can do the impossible if only we believe. The woman and man in this passage had two things in common: trust and belief in the only true God that can do what man says is impossible! They knew Jesus could heal the sick and raise the dead because he had done it many times before! Healing of any kind wasn't too hard for God since they deeply believed and trusted in his mighty power!

Their faith blew me away because more times than I can count, I doubt the power of Jesus to save and open blinded eyes. I pray for something and then doubt that God will come through. My faith has been so weak in the past, and I want to see more of his power at work in my life, and in the lives of others. I want to witness miracles, and tell others about the God who performed those miracles. As I read the Gospels, one thing sticks out: God does indeed answer prayer when we have the faith to believe. He does hear our cries, our petitions, or requests, and he has not forgotten us. Does God answer every request we have? No, absolutely not! However, there are prayers that God will answer because of our faith in Him.

I am trusting God to raise up many of the children we work with to be warriors for Jesus. I am trusting God to break generational patterns and curses in their lives and many others. I am trusting God to use our parents and children in such a way that people bow down and worship the one true King! He is already doing some of the very things I am asking Him to do, and I will keep trusting Him until he says otherwise. I pray that God will continue to increase the faith of his children.

Nothing, absolutely nothing is too hard for our God! Will you believe with me?

cacf awards cgm $50,000 grant

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MONTGOMERY—On Wednesday, Sept. 3, Common Ground Montgomery (CGM) was presented a $50,000 check from the Central Alabama Community Foundation (CACF) at their campus in the Greater Washington Park neighborhood (1516 Mobile Road in Montgomery). This CACF “Curbing the Violence” Focus Grant supports the program’s effort to help reduce violence in the area by identifying the root causes and tackling risk factors such truancy, lack of a high school completion, and positive role models for at-risk youth.

CACF’s distribution committee chose CGM as a recipient for their already successful mentoring work. The funding will allow CGM to hire a Mentor Coordinator for their Mentor Program. The coordinator will recruit mentors, provide intensive training, track the overall well-being (educational and behavioral) of the matched youth, and evaluate the success of the program. This funding will also support the marketing efforts needed to recruit mentors.

Pike Road resident Jeff Welch sums up his experience with the Mentor Program: “My wife and I made  the decision to become a mentor a few years ago with hopes of walking with and supporting a young  man through the challenges of his neighborhood and the lack of a father figure in his home. We had no idea what to expect but decided that we would fully share our home, our family and our faith with him by including him in all of our family activities such as sporting events, church, vacations, holiday meals, etc. He is now like a son to my wife and I and a big brother to our children. We feel so blessed to include him as part of our family.”

In addition to supporting the mentoring program, this grant money will also support CGM’s After School Program with support from other community partners and grants. CGM will construct new  classrooms on their campus in order to serve more youth in the neighborhood.

“By expanding our program, we are not only promoting academic success and providing a safe haven of love and grace, but we are also developing meaningful relationships with the children and parents in the neighborhood,” said Bryan Kelly, CGM Founder and Executive Director.

Kiwanis Club of Montgomery has also awarded CGM a grant of $25,000 for the expansion of classrooms. Plans are to build 4-6 new classrooms, finish out a “theater” space, and help supply some of the technology and furniture for the classrooms. House to House at Washington Park and Hands on River Region will recruit volunteer labor to save on costs of construction and other vendors will donate air-conditioning, flooring, sheetrock, paint, and electrical supplies and labor.

Finally, a portion of the $50,000 will support CGM’s Middle and High School initiative to train 
students for after-school and summer training opportunities, offset travel, and program expenses.

“The CACF grant allows us to implement and deepen a strategy that will help change the trajectory of the lives of at-risk youth in our community. We can now provide the leadership to recruit, train, and nurture long-term mentors for kids in our community and help build the classroom and learning space that we will use to develop the kids in our after school program. We will further provide a daily safe-haven for kids to come off the streets and be invested in, but also the relationships necessary to drastically change the odds for good for many urban kids.” - Bryan Kelly, CGM Founder and Executive Director

 

fall semester is underway

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We are into our second week of the new Fall Semester. So here are a few pictures from the past few days!