the welfare of my community

BY CHAQUANA TOWNSEND

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Jeremiah 29:7

I am completely convinced that God deeply transforms and rocks the lives of His people as they seek the prosperity and good of the neighborhood, city, or country to which He has called them. As many of you already know, God’s chosen people, Israel, were called into exile for 70 years in Babylon. The Jews were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar II. God used Babylon as His method of pronouncing judgment on the nation of Israel for their rebellion and idolatry. God gave His people clear instructions: He wanted them to engage and become a part of Babylonian culture. Why? Because as the city of Babylon prospered so would they.

Why does this passage resonate with me as I live and work in Washington Park?

One thing is evident here at Common Ground Montgomery: God’s hand is on this ministry. As a staff person at CGM and a resident of Washington Park, there is NOT a day that goes by that I am not aware of my deep need for Jesus and His overwhelming love for me. Not only that, He is transforming the way I speak to others, the way I look at His creation, and completely opening my eyes to how amazing He truly is. As children and parents decide to faithfully pursue Jesus, I am pushed and encouraged to faithfully pursue Jesus. As young girls share their desire to honor God with their body, I am encouraged to continue to walk in purity. As they prosper, so does my heart, soul, and mind. The more I think less about myself and more about the welfare of the parents and children in this community, the more I see the work of God in their lives. Washington Park is a community where God is doing a miraculous work, and my life is being utterly rocked by that! This community is saving me from pursuing worldly passions because I see the deadly affects of sin every single day. As one of our sweet girls put it, “God is good because He lives in my hood." 

another phone call home

BY CORNELIUS "CJ" JACKSON

During the course of a week, I make a lot of phone calls home to parents. Unfortunately, the majority of those calls are for disciplinary reasons.  

“Ms. So-and-So, your son was fighting today.” 

“Ms. So-and-So, your daughter was disrespectful to her teacher.”

However, I recently made a phone call that was quite different. In fact, it made my day and I believe it warmed the heart of a mother towards her child. Let me explain.

For weeks, I seemed to be calling a particular mother about her daughter’s behavior. She was being - how should I say it - “a handful”!  No written warning, verbal chastening, or suspension could curtail her obstinacy. However, a tough conversation took place where mom and I instructed the little lady on all of the ways that good behavior could behoove her in the future and ultimately, bring glory to God. And it was as if a switch flipped! The young girl returned to the program with a new and better attitude. Her behavior was much improved—so much so that she began to work with her teacher as one of the leaders in her class! I was so proud. And I made a decision to do something—something familiar, but different!

“I was going to call her mom!”

A jubilant, proud parent received my news with smiles and laughter that was palpable! She admitted that she initially thought that her daughter was in trouble when she saw “Common Ground Montgomery” on her caller ID.

You see, I (like countless others) am quick to point out and report bad news. But this was a time to celebrate and communicate good news. Though she knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that I would call home if she was being unruly, the young lady could not believe that I had called her mom … for being good!!!

A mother and daughter were encouraged!    

I was encouraged!  

1 Thessalonians 5:11  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up!

investing for "real" returns

BY BRYAN KELLY

This morning I read the account of the widow who gave all she had ("gave out of her poverty") and I was lovingly convicted by Holy Spirit that I simply have not really lived that way in a while. Honestly, most sacrificial giving I have done with money, time, vehicles, my attention, or my stuff, has been from what I have left over after my own needs, desires, personal goals, offering at church, and other comforts and luxuries have been addressed; I give from excess.

I have been reminded recently of people in my neighborhood who have given from a true place of need. A real dilemma is presented: "If I give this, how will I eat? How will I pay a bill that is due soon? How will I feed and clothe my children?" There is no known avenue for replenishment of the resource they are contemplating giving. Frankly, that's not my experience. I can leave this community any time I choose. I can change my circumstances if I want to; many of my neighbors can't.

Yet, I "caught" some of them recently giving in the exact way, from the exact place, that the poor widow did in Jesus' presence.

I heard testimony of some of our high school kids on a mission trip to Ferguson, Missouri, choosing to give to help a homeless man.

I watched a mom with eight children (she is now facing eviction from her apartment by the way) choose to give a substantial amount of money to help a single mom find temporary housing to come off the streets.

I watched families in our housing program come forward and give "all they had" towards an emergency loan fund to begin to proactively look after our community, when most all had just testified that they were really struggling financially themselves.

I watch people give time and time again from a place that I haven't lived out of in a long time. That kind of giving directly connects us with our Father. It requires deep trust and intimacy with Him, and puts all of us in position to see His glory.

I really want to experience Jesus this way again. I am excited about His invitation to me inwardly and in His revealed scriptures to be rich toward mercy and invest in things that will not fail to bring "real" returns.

serving with cgm affects me, too

BY LESLIE COWELL

Five years ago, I heard about a ministry called Common Ground Montgomery.

I was sitting in a Sunday school class at my church discussing mission work in the inner city, specifically about moving into neighborhoods to serve alongside the existing community. A guy next to me raised his hand and said, “You know there is a ministry doing this kind of work in Montgomery.”  I immediately went home, found the website, and emailed CGM founder Bryan Kelly. We made plans to meet, and my life has never been the same. 

One of the biggest ways that CGM has impacted me is that it has made me more relational, and this change in me has been on my mind the past few days. Relational is a scary word for me. I’m a very focused and driven person. I don’t have time to chat; there’s work to be done!

...I’d always been this way.

In the past, I filled my schedule with stuff to do, and stopping to spend time with people - well that just wasn’t on my radar at all. I'm a very private person and, perhaps, guarded by distance in that privacy. One does not show weakness, or talk about how messed up you are, or speak about when you are mad or upset; people might think less of you. You smile and go on as if everything is fine. That was me.

Looking back, now five years down the road, I think about how I’ve changed. My involvement at CGM is the reason. The Lord is working there. He is present and He is moving. He used CGM to mold me in a way that I never expected. He used the staff at CGM and the families we work with to take the old, private, never-sharing version of me and change me.

Now I yearn for relationship. I want to get to know people, share with them, and listen to them. I want to hug people (which for me is a big deal, because I’m not the hugging type!). I want to learn from others. I want to hear stories from other people. 

Relationship means: "the relation binding participants, a kinship.” This binding is the Lord. I may not look exactly like our neighbors in the Washington Park community where CGM serves, we may not have all the same life experiences, we may not always think or do things exactly the same way, but y’all, we are all messed up the same through and through. We all have weakness. We all get mad and upset. And it’s in this binding, in this kinship, that the Lord thrives in. He develops and molds us more in His image by relationship. This is what it’s all about.

Isn’t it amazing what God uses to mold us?

For me, my CGM journey, and a journey into relating with and loving people more, started with one small comment in a Sunday school class.     

meet mr. ben!

BY AVA CONLEY

It’s that time again! Can I just say I LOVE our volunteers! The Lord has brought so many different kinds of people to Common Ground Montgomery from different backgrounds who truly impact our students in so many different ways. It has really been a blessing to me to see God’s kingdom on earth in the way the volunteers love our kids. We are so lucky to have the greatest volunteers in the world! I would love to take the moment to highlight another one of the fabulous people that the Lord has brought to us! 

I wanted to take a moment and have Mr. Ben answer a few questions about his experiences at CGM.

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Q: How long have you been volunteering with CGM?                                       

I've been volunteering for about a year.

Q: Why do you love coming to CGM?  

I love coming here because the kiddos are awesome and the programs are well organized.

Q: What is your favorite area to volunteer in?

Currently my favorite area is teaching.

Q: Who is your favorite staff person?                                                                        

My two favorite staffers are B.K. and Ava!

Q: How has volunteering at CGM impacted you?                                          

I’m more grounded and connected to the Lord’s work.

Q: What is one of the most impactful moments / conversations / interactions you’ve had while volunteering?                                                    

One of the kids in our class thanked me for being there and not losing my cool when they got crazy.

Q: Describe a funny story or interaction you’ve had with one of the kids.                             

A question in one of our studies was, "What would you do if you found out that you just inherited $1 million?'. One of the boys immediately jumped up and said, "$50’s and pizza night for all y’all!!!"

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Thank you for all you do Mr. Ben! I know I can speak for all the staff and kids at CGM- We love you!

If you would like more information about becoming a volunteer, please contact Ava Conley using the CONTACT form.