For all the latest news regarding Common Ground Montgomery in Montgomery, Alabama.
Our March 2016 Newsletter is out! If you didn't get a copy in your email address, you can view or download a PDF version below!
Included in this newsletter is look at some significant numbers regarding the work of CGM in Washington Park.
I do not profess to be a master chef. In fact, I have little cooking experience to brag about. (Well, I can whip up a mouthwatering pot of cheese grits.) Nevertheless, even with my subpar culinary skills, I can more often than not detect the lack of certain ingredients in a dish—particularly those additives that I have become accustomed to appreciating in that meal.
In the same way, some of my "babies" in the After School Program at CGM have recently been making me aware of some missing elements in what I have been dishing out to them.
A little over a week ago, one of my eight-year-old students asked me why she never saw me at her school. Then later that week, a group of young boys questioned my perpetual absence during their lunch periods in the school cafeteria. And just yesterday, two ten-year-old girls were earnestly committed to practicing a dance routine when I walked by. As I passed them, one called out, “Pastor, are you gonna come to our performance when we do our dance routine?”
I slowed my pace, but I kept with my purposeful stride that suggested that I was busy and in route to something important.
I wasn’t!
I didn’t want to make an impromptu promise. But I felt their eyes affixed on the back of my frame—cajoling me like a super magnet to turn and face them; to answer them.
“Pastor!” the other girl cried out.
I turned and quickly replied, “Let me know the day and time, and I will see!”
In that moment, the requests, invitations, and inquiries of the past couple of weeks began to register. You see, one of our staff members who used to diligently go into the schools and frequent our students’ extracurricular performances resigned from CGM to return to graduate school. In the weeks since she’s been gone, our babies’ palates have been sensitized.
They were used to a personal presence - an encouragement - a familiar ingredient that they presently sense is lacking. And I now know that if I relegate my responsibilities to my CGM babies to mere on-campus labors, then they will complain as if their pancakes are devoid of syrup; that their macaroni has no cheese; that their cake is missing the icing.
I have taste-tested my dish and I believe I can do better.
Pray that my scheduling can accommodate a lunch visit, a spur-of-the-moment classroom stopover, or an evening performance. And even consider getting involved — by becoming a volunteer!
Who knows, you might prove to be that missing ingredient for some of our CGM students.
We would love to invite you to our first ever volunteer interest meeting luncheon at Common Ground Montgomery!
Who: YOU, your co-workers, your kids, your friends
What: Our goal in this meeting is to introduce you to Common Ground Montgomery. We would love to tell you our story, why we do what we do, give you a tour of our facility, feed you FREE food and tell you about the ways that you can get involved. This event requires zero commitment.
When: Thursday, February 11th, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm.
Where: Common Ground Montgomery, 1516 Mobile Road, Montgomery, AL 36108
Why: We call our volunteers at CGM the backbone of our ministry - and when we say that, we really mean it. We are all about relationships and really believe that God moves in incredible ways through relationships. Our kids need relationships to see the Lord and we believe that you do, too. I truly believe that God uses our volunteers in incredible ways to impact our ministry and I also believe that God has something very special in store for them here as well.
If you work full time, bring a coworker along or if you are a stay at home mom, please feel free to bring your children along with you. This will be a very informative time, but also very informal. We plan to have these meetings approximately once a month or so, so if you can’t make this one, stay posted for the dates of our next event.
I am super excited about this luncheon and I hope that you would consider attending!
It takes a lot of people to make organizations like Common Ground Montgomery and House to House work, and it takes a lot of volunteers to help make a difference with the work that CGM and H2H is a part of in the Washington Park neighborhood. Thanks to all the volunteers, official and unofficial, that help us do the work that we do.
Our volunteer coordinator, along with H2H's volunteer coordinator, recently sat down and hashed out the remaining dates open for groups that want to come down to volunteer. So if you're interested in volunteering, let us know!
cgm.life/volunteer
"You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:26)
If anything sums up my December every single year, it has to be this verse. For the past three years that I have been at CGM - working as a fundraiser - I sweat the entire last month from the 1st to the 31st, all day, every day. This month is one of the most important determinants of how our fundraising year will end. It undoubtedly affects how 2016 will look – how many children we will be able to serve, the number of teachers we can hire, the types of programs we will be able to offer.
There is a lot weighing on what comes in during December, not only for the month, but the year in its entirety. It is stressful to say the least.
This is when I begin to doubt and worry. In the midst of all this, I pray and petition on behalf of the children, families and co-workers that I love. “Dear Lord, please see my heart and my efforts and use this year and the coming year to work in the neighborhood. Please see fit to bless us with the proper finances to enter 2016 so that we may love others well for yet another year.” I plead, wrestle, and bargain. “If you just get us through this year, I promise I will work harder in 2016 and give you all I have.”
I prayed for a very specific amount during the month of December. It was a lofty goal and one that has never been raised in the final 31 days of prior years. But I was hopeful in November. The last week of December rolled around and I watched the deposits daily, checked online donations and went in to the office to review what had come in. And we were nowhere even close to the goal I had originally established. This when I felt like I was watching the giant storm on the horizon, knowing that it would pummel my boat all while Jesus sleeps. Everything would be flipped upside down.
Thankfully I have a calm and understanding boss that is always there to listen to my concerns. I would talk to Bryan and throughout all of this he remained extremely positive and affirmed my fundraising efforts of the past 12 months. I, however, was still anxious and not looking forward to reporting our final numbers.
And then the winds calmed.
And the Lord showed me that the fear was in vain. He showed me that my faith was little. He showed me that He was in control. He is for Common Ground Montgomery and the Washington Park neighborhood and wants to see disciples made, trauma healed, people loved well, and families restored.
I boast on His behalf, and His behalf alone, when I say that we met our December goal. I sit here today humbled by God’s provision and your generosity. Like the disciples, I find myself asking over and over again what sort of man is this? The kind of man that handles all of the storms of life and tells them to be calm. The sort of man that is constantly reminding us of His love for us.
So these are not simply donations that I am entering into the database but gifts that are helping to grow the kingdom, investments in to people's lives. These donations are constant reminders of his provision and your submission to his calling. Thank you to each and every one of you that listened to His voice prompting you to donate. It is because of you that the kingdom grows daily.
Common Ground Montgomery is a youth development ministry out of Montgomery, Alabama. Our main focus is our camp and retreat location, Onawa. We also have a Pre-K, and satellite programs in Florence (Common Ground Shoals) and Troy (Common Ground Troy).
#cgmlife #onawa #camponawa
“CGM is great!!! I love you guys. I appreciate everything you all do for me and my child. I love the fact that I have help with her from my community.”
“Common Ground is a wonderful place. I feel that my child can become herself.”
