THESE ARE STORIES OF THE IMPACT WE CAN HAVE AS THE BODY OF CHRIST AS WE WORK TOGETHER IN HIM. WE RECORD THEM HERE TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO GET ENGAGED IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR COMMUNITY
(NOTE: THESE ARE ONLY A SAMPLING OF INDIVIDUALS AND CONGREGATIONS WORKING TOGETHER. AND THEY ARE PRESENTED HERE IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, WITH THE MOST RECENT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST)
_______________________________________________________________________
The Christian Community Development Association is a national group that promotes community transformation in God's love by promoting relocation, redistribution, and reconciliation. Locally, a group has been coming together to advance these principles and engage more people in the process. A wide diversity of folks is involved.
_______________________________________________________________________
Churches and schools. It seems like such a likely pairing. But over the years, such partnerships have been few and far between. But that seems to be changing...
- Rockford Sharefest is about to launch it's third summer of service, this time rehabing West Middle School and Cherry Valley Elementary School. A wide body of volunteers- individuals, businesses, churches, groups- come together to make a huge difference
- Rockford Partners for Excellence is an outgrowth of a training on non-violent responce to community need, done in November of 2009. The group is brand new, working on vision and mission. For now the focus is to help the West Middle School community in any way that community needs help. The group is mostly made up of a wide diversity of Christian folks, seeking to live out the call to love and serve. We envision helping at West as long as needed, and serving in other places as well down the road, using the lessons learned in the training.
- Alignment Rockford is a broad based coalition of community partners of all sorts, seeking to offer help to the entire Rockford School District. Churches, pastors, and ministries have been asked and are preparing to be part of that serving team.
_______________________________________________________________________
One response to the divisiveness of the Mark Barmore shooting was the Concert for Peace and Unity that the Rockford Ministers Fellowship held in October, hosted by Heartland Community Church. It was a wonderful evening, made more so by the cooperation evident in the event. While the Ministers fellowship could have pulled it off alone, or Heartland could have offered it on their own, the very fact that they chose to cooperated on the event made it so much more powerful and synergystic. It was a clear picture of what happens when the Body of Christ works together for the common good! An awesome, wonderful evening...
_______________________________________________________________________
In the aftermath of the Barmore case, numerous marches, rallies, and meetings have ensued. While it is too soon to say what lasting impact these will have, it has been heartening to see the wide spread concern and interest as demonstrated by the pastors and ministers attending and participating. In particular, a gathering for clergy and ministers at 1st Presbyterian Church saw well over 100 clergy gather to hear and interact with Rev. Jesse Jackson. It was the largest and most diverse gathering of clergy in my 26 years in Rockford. Sad that it takes a tragedy, but good that we are getting together.
_______________________________________________________________________
The summer found countless opportunities for church cooperation: Sharefest, Habitat for Humanity, the Paintathon, Tools for Schools, and others. It's not that such cooperation doesn't happen the rest of the year, it's just more prevelant and obvious. We applaud all efforts made to work together, bringing honor to Christ.
_______________________________________________________________________
The main floor of the Coronado was nearly full as people from a wide variety of church traditions gathered on May 7 to pray together on the National Day of Prayer. The worship band alone (awesome!) was made up of people from 6 or 7 congregations!
_______________________________________________________________________
Several pastors from different traditions met recently for a day of prayer together at Day Spring Farms in Capron, IL. I was able to share lunch and vision with them, the same vision basically for their community that we have for ours- and much of it dependent on the trust and friendship that comes as we pray and work together.
________________________________________________________________________
A new crew of Christian leaders is pulling together Concerts of Prayer, three times a year in the Rockford area. The beautiful thing is the diversity and the friendship and the common ground.
________________________________________________________________________
Churches in the Rockford area are being challenged to give a day of service to their immediate neighborhoods in conjunction with the efforts of Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful spring clean-up, April 25.
_______________________________________________________________________
Churches in Boone County are partnering up with ministries and agencies in Boone and Winnebago to address the growing need of the homeless.
_______________________________________________________________________
Christian leaders from a wide spectrum of churches are meeting to discuss how the church can and should respond to the growing economic downturn
_______________________________________________________________________
Four downtown Rockford churches have united to form a community development organization for their common neighborhood!
_______________________________________________________________________
Tools for Schools is again gathering schools supplies for children that can't afford them. The effort is underway, and is facilitated by Love INC, Life Center, and numerous local congregations
_______________________________________________________________________
Nelson School Project is an effort of three churches and several other community partners to rehab John Nelson School in time for the 100th anniversary celebration of this school this fall. (Update- 4-1-09: a local Foundation is still working with Nelson to replace old carpeting)
_______________________________________________________________________
Freedom Schools established a Rockford presence last summer (2008) under the leadership of several local congregations, working together.
_______________________________________________________________________
Sharefest was bigger than ever last summer (2008), with Heartland Community Church again taking the lead. and several other churches and community partners joining in. Thousands of volunteers gave time an effort to three public schools
______________________________________________________________________
After "hibernating" for some time, there is movement to revive the local youth ministry network, and not a moment too soon! New youth ministers with a heart for networking are emerging! This is much needed!
______________________________________________________________________
A group of churches in Boone County have organized the "Community Missions Team" It is an attempt to bring together individuals and resources from different congregations in Boone County, to address the ministry and social needs of the community. We will do what we can to assist.
_______________________________________________________________________
"The Clergy Leaders Forum" is the name selected for the gathering of those that head up the four local clergy fellowships / associations (see story below). At a recent meeting of the group, the question was raised as to how the combined clergy of our area could lend support / aid / encouragement to civic leaders and to civic problems. Leaders are being contacted. People of faith need to follow God, and take the lead in transforming our communities.
______________________________________________________________________
A small but determined army of volunteers tackled the mess left from the second "hundred-year-flood" in under a year. It was/is a heartbreaking mess. The good news was seeing people working together. In one basement, the five people working represented male/female, black/white, younger/older, and five congregations- Christ United Methodist, House of Refuge, First Evangelical Free, Forest City Fellowship, and Caledonia Congregational.
top