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Over 300 kids sponsored for camp and year-round discipleship
Over 300 people attended a recent banquet event to benefit city kids in Durham. CEF sponsored the fund raiser to continue its campaign of sponsoring 1,000 city kids. The SCK fund raising will continue until the end of 2012 for year-round discipleship and attendance at sports camps for kids in 2013.
The featured speaker was Dr. John Perkins, who was honored for over 50 years of service in urban communities to children and families. Much of his legacy was shaped by serving with CEF in the 1950-60s. After a great meal, hearing about the work of CEF, and worship led by M.O.B.— Dr. Perkins passionately spoke to the diverse crowd about his love for CEF and kids.
John McCann, the banquet MC, said in his newspaper column, “Perkins essentially told us that the answer to what’s ailing this country won’t be figured out at the ballot box. Barack Obama can’t save us. Don’t look for Mitt Romney to do it, either. Jesus Christ is the solution… Perkins got introduced to Jesus Christ when his 3-year-old son was attending a Good News Club® in California. The club was for kids, but a white man named Mr. Leitch (CEF) wound up spending time with Perkins, who was 27.
Appreciate the dynamics here, because Perkins is a black man from Mississippi, where he’d seen his brother killed by a white sheriff’s deputy. But the Lord changed everything for Perkins. Jesus really paid it all.”
Much praise goes to the CEF Durham Committee who served as host of the successful banquet, which was one of six events where Dr. Perkins spoke.
During these events, Dr. Perkins captured the attention of 1,700 CEF supporters, city leaders, college and high school students with messages of hope, forgiveness, and community development. Each individual was challenged to serve in various sectors of our city. The events were held at churches, schools, and at popular downtown venues.
“Seven years ago, I attended a Child Evangelism Fellowship fund-raising banquet. At the banquet, God began a work in my life that led me, ultimately, to leading children to Him” says Lou Brogden. “I began a Good News Club at my school, and still lead that club today. Four students of the nine that I took to Camp Good News during three consecutive summers, prayed to receive Christ as Savior. God has led many to Himself and I give Him the glory.” Ms. Brogden is also today a CEF Board member, assists at other clubs, and serves in the CEF office.
Sometimes it starts at a banquet. For others, it’s a friend’s encouragement or a church’s decision to adopt a community. Nearly 300 others are volunteering with CEF, like Ms. Brogden, so that city kids benefit. Committed volunteers are always needed, so CEF is taking volunteer application now for those interested in helping as a mentor, homework helper, Bible teacher, coach or a financial contributor. Perhaps you might be interested in helping with the CEF month mailings like this newsletter, which was stuffed by ladies who volunteer on the last Wednesday of each month. Whichever way you volunteer, city kids and CEF will benefit. They are thankful for your support.
At the conclusion of a quick two-day visit to Jackson, Mississippi last month (November), I had the privilege to give special recognition to friends and mentors, Drs. John and Vera Mae Perkins, for over 50 years of service as Good News Club® teachers, teacher-trainers, and promoters of Child Evangelism Fellowship®. With her husband, Dr. John Perkins by her side, the two were honored for their long-time service and promotion of CEF and its mission to reach children for Christ. Mrs. Perkins is a graduate the CEF Children’s Ministries Institute as well as other family members. READ MORE
Vera Mae Perkins receives CEF honor for 50+ years of service to kids in California and Mississippi
Exchanging CEF literature: John Blake receives Perkins’ “Books of the Bible” visualized songs and the Perkins receive visuals of their life story published by CEF Press.
The 10 Challenge is embraced weekly at Liberty St. Apts. Durham
Teens from Liberty St. Apts with Lori Fisher and Amanda Hallsbrook, student volunteer-mentor, together at "Blacktop Games"
It’s common after weeks of serving together that fellow volunteers and mission team members would become friends. Shared experiences and challenges creates a unique bond between those who were there with a first-hand perspective. After five years of weekly outreach and discipleship at the Liberty St. Apts. in Durham many of the children do not know life without a Good News Club® (here called “Downtown Bible Club”) on Tuesday night. Many teens in this community have grown up in the club from childhood. There have also been many workers, teachers, and volunteers during these five short years. There has also been a church, First Baptist Durham, which adopted the community embracing the 10 Challenge from CEF Ministries. During this journey many acquaintances were made and stronger friendships established. It’s almost expected that this would happen between fellow workers.
But what was unexpected, yet so natural and biblical, most of the children, teens, and families have developed real friendships within this outreach team. The team of college students, young professionals, and ministers feel the same way. Friendships and trusting relationships have been forged at the margins of our city. How did this happen? The Gospel… of course. It’s been shared and received. Discipleship… yes, weekly Bible teaching, devotionals, and activities are conducted, but the team has consistently engaged the entire community, which has made the biggest holistic difference.
Through a working relationship with the Durham Housing Authority and team members attending the Liberty St. Apts. resident council’s monthly meetings, many extra activities, camps, field trips, and resources have been provided for the community. The defining attributes of this developing friendship are not the programs, extra curricular activities, or even the resources provided, like painting lines on the community blacktop so that kids had a game surface they could enjoy and take pride in, but it has been the personal experiences and relationship shared which have enriched the team’s lives and the community.
Adopt-your-street prayer initiative block by block across Durham
After a wonderful week (May 3-5, 2011) of celebrating great things, which are happening in Durham, as well as several major city-wide events for connection, prayer, and serving the city… What should we do now? Could it be… Pray?
"If My people... and would pray..."
Jeremiah 29:8 answers this way: “…seek the peace and prosperity of the city…” I cannot think of any better way to express this than to simply say, Connect – Pray – Serve our city. Imagine with me… every home, every street, every community, every workplace, every school, every business, and every government building adopted in prayer. How could something this comprehensive happen? Well, simply… People like you praying. The Church at Durham is being asked to meet this challenge by accepting a call to action and join a prayer initiative, simply called — PrayDurham!
First Objective: Spiritual air supremacy
This effort in prayer will not be bound by geography, age, race, gender, or church denominations. It will see every street (6,000) in Durham prayed for daily. A few other cities in the USA and around the world have launched the same type prayer covering as PrayDurham street-by-street. Spiritual air supremacy is being established by ordinary people doing extraordinary things through the power of God. God has many ordinary people in Durham who can do extraordinary things for the Kingdom of God, especially through prayer.
Call to Action: Adopt your street in prayer
Make a one year commitment to pray daily for a street or block of a street in Durham. This could be the street where you live, work, or care about and are personally engaged. In addition, you are asked to prayer walk the adopted street at least once a month applying principles of prayer evangelism: Bless, Fellowship, Minister, and Proclaim found in Luke 10. Basically, talk to God about your neighbors before talking to your neighbors about God.
God has many people in our city, Durham, and it will take many to adopt every street in prayer. PrayDurham will certainly Bless Durham if the Church at Durham collaborates for this cause.
Be an ambassador for the kingdom of God! Move into action and pray! Adopt one or more streets in prayer for Durham. Bless others in Durham as you register your adopted street at PrayDurham.
HEADLINE for January 17, 2011
This year’s Martin Luther King Day of Service was very successful. 35 staff, volunteers, and residents worked together for the sake of others in the Cornwallis Rd Apt community of Durham, NC. CEF ministers there each week with Christina Rice and the Youth Life Foundation staff. The diverse gathering on Jan. 17th tackled several projects at the Youth Life Center based upon Dr. King’s question: “What are you doing for others?” Residents, like Jamar (below), were side-by-side working with teens from Kings Park International Church, students from NCCU, UNC, UVA, parents from the community, CEF staff and board members.
Jamar (lft) and John (rht) standing with many of the 35 volunteers after supper at the Youth Life Center
After successfully completing four of the five projects, the adults and children enjoyed a meal catered by Boston Market, then had a quiz game about Dr. Martin Luther King. Though muddy, cold, and tired, all felt good about the 3 hours together helping others and honoring the life of Dr. King. Aiden, who attended with his father, Stephen Ehmann (both seen in separate pictures below) said, “It was hard work but it was worth it to help other people.” I think Aiden really got it.
Aiden, Delrontay, and other kids organized and shelved books in the YLC library with the help of two local school teachers.
Stephen Ehmann helping a neighborhood child with their supper after removing old AC units, landscaping, and clean up at the Youth Life Center.
CEF encourages others to take part in next year’s MLK Day of Service. For the best results, interested groups should begin planning now. This is a wonderful way to engage and support our communities where city kids live. CEF is more than happy to partner with you. MLKDay.gov offers guidance and good ideas as you think forward to 2012.
UNC students serve in Durham before spring semester begins
A group of UNC students sacrificed their last few days of winter break to develop a heart for the city of Durham and serve with CEF in under resourced communities. RUF campus ministries, led by Daniel Mason, gave of their time, energy, and heart for 15 hours each day the week of Jan. 4-7. The group experienced a bus tour of Durham, tutored at the Youth Life Center, and helped kids at the Liberty St. Apts complete a photography project they began last March.
UNC student assisting child writing a caption for the photos he will submit to the kid's club project.
The students were usually divided into three teams, which participated in prayer walks, Good News Club flier distribution, and began service projects to be completed during the MLK Day of Service Jan. 17th. The 15 Tarheel students were able to meet, listen, and Q/A with community, business, and ministry leaders at Joe’s Diner in Old East Durham. The next day they meet leaders from World Relief, DurhamCares, Carpe Diem, and BlessDurham. After a full day and Good News Club® on Friday, the group reflected over their experiences with CEF staff at the Tobacco Road Cafe’.
This and other current information can be obtained at http://gospeltokids.org web site of the CEF Durham Area chapter.
Having fun touring 10 under resourced communities in Durham with UNC boot camp students via CEF.
A call for unselfish collaboration within the regional Church
This 4-part article has the essence of the following statements:
The citizens of our city like others have nurtured division and isolation, which resemble the words of the late Sen. Bobby Kennedy, “…men with whom we share a city, but not a community. Men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in a common effort…”
Yet, I will state, recently I’ve seen ordinary people doing extraordinary things empowered by Almighty God… reconciliation and biblical transformation is happening when ordinary people (called the Church or Body) work together in collaboration with each other and God.
There is lament, a plea, and hope for contemporary renewal — radical, but authentic faith within the Church as I state in part 3 and 4:
I see emerging a generation and community who thrives on social relationships and longs for authentic experiences with God… What if, as Jesus prayed, we ministered together as a unified Church — poor with affluent, mega with storefront, older believers with younger… ?
These are the ordinary people doing extraordinary things who are also saying, Enough is enough! Stop the bleeding. “Stop dividing the Body… severing its limbs and discarding some of its body parts…”
Final edition: Part 4 with entire article for your convenience
Don’t you hate it when a good working relationship with someone falls apart? It seemed so right and possessed so much potential. There were extraordinary moments of success. You may have experienced an extremely difficult time when you supported each other. There was a unique bond. However, life’s circumstances or a mindset change divided you and destroyed what could have been.
Part 1 – A Current Reflection
Now at 56, I’m often reminded of significant relationships that were cut short. I also think of current friendships that have enormous potential for doing great things together. I ask myself, How did I fail in the past? What could I have done differently? How can I foster sustainable relationships today? I believe these are some of the same questions the Church should be asking itself today on its mission.
Some of the answers or at least a few thoughts to get the discussion started can be found in the words of a current friend, Chris Rice, “A divided world needs people with vision, spiritual maturity and daily skills integral to reconciliation. The church needs fresh resources – a mix of biblical vision, skills in social and historical analysis, and practical gifts of spirituality and social leadership – in order to pursue reconciliation in real places, from congregations to communities.”
People and reconciliation are key words in Chris Rice’s statement. But no person, organization, or church congregation is equipped to supply the needed resources described. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things empowered by Almighty God. Thus, reconciliation and biblical transformation happens when ordinary people work together in collaboration with each other and God. Even if our friends say it in different ways, the essence of these words is what everyone wants to see happen in our city… people working together to solve our mutual problems.
Part 2 – A Past Reality
Unfortunately, history of the Church and our society reveals a different story. Sen. Bobby Kennedy eloquently stated this reality about people, relationships, and violence in America during a 1968 speech only a few weeks before his assassination:
“…We learn at the last to look at our brothers as alien. Alien men with whom we share a city, but not a community. Men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in a common effort. We learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force. Our lives on this planet are too short, the work to be done too great… to let this spirit flourish any longer in this land of ours…”
I agree with Kennedy and others who lament over the relational abandonment of our society. Bluntly, it means divided, separate, or indifferent we will fall, but the Gospel gives hope that together we can stand. What would it look like… what blessing awaits the Church if it were to live together in unity (Psalm 133) and functions as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:16)?
As another friend and author, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, recently quoted a 9th century Benedictine monk, “We must always be on the lookout for Christ’s twofold coming, the one when he comes day after day to stir our consciences, and the other when we shall have to give an account of everything we have done. He comes to us now in order that his future coming may find us prepared.” Will the Church, which includes every Christian and every congregation, heed these reminders and follow the countless examples of what it means to live and minister in a divided world? Yes, we must remember the reality of our past if we’re to progress going forward. Where do I see this happening?
I see emerging a generation and community who thrives on social relationships and longs for authentic experiences with God. This is an expanding population of radical and revolutionary Christians willing to live and minister in this simple way — as Jesus taught and modeled. A correction has begun in their hearts and a plea for action is upon many of their lips. Will this restoration impact the Church? Will their cry be heard in our city?
Part 3 – A Future Restoration
Therefore, It’s because of this reality and our history that I’ve asked the Church a series of questions over the past two years: What if the Church at Durham took seriously its responsibility for taking the Gospel to city kids and their families? What if for 10 years a collaboration of churches and ministries comprehensively served the most physically and spiritually needy or under-resourced communities in Durham?
And by the way, these are the communities with no voice − where crime and evil have dominated life for way too long − where kids are not expected to succeed and adults are viewed with little value in solving its own problems.
What if peculiar doctrines of Scripture and Christian service in the community no long brought name-recognition or spiritual arrogance? What if the Church set aside its differences and used its diverse strengths for compassionate and intelligent ministry to our city? What if, as Jesus prayed, we ministered together as a unified Church — poor with affluent, mega with storefront, older believers with younger, etc? These questions scream out for answers from each person as well as from the congregations that make up the regional Church at Durham.
Part 4 – A Lament, Plea, and Hope
Durham needs those willing to enter the pain and suffering of its people… those with a vision, which has been turned into a passion of service unto the Lord. These are the ordinary people doing extraordinary things who are also saying, Enough is enough! Stop the bleeding. Chris Heuertz stated in a 2010 sermon while in Durham, “Stop dividing the Body… severing its limbs and discarding some of its body parts as if they were insignificant or unimportant.”
A Lament for the Church
Oh Lord the bleeding has gone on for way too long.
I repent of my disobedience and contributing to the
lack of unity within the Body. Forgive me oh God!
Your arm is not short nor weak to fulfill Your prayer
that we will be one as You and Your Father are One.
Oh Lord, so many do not believe in You because they
see the Church divided and separated from humanity.
Oh Lord, cleanse us of this great sin. Bring us together.
Create in us a pure heart and unify our actions oh Lord that we may join You in the work we are called to do. Bring glory to Yourself as we glorify You in our unified expressions of the Gospel: justice, mercy, and humility.
A Plea for Action
Lamentation, restlessness, and a plea for action from the Church typically expresses radical Christians. We have an authentic faith, but need a developing community to facilitate authentic or biblical expressions of the Gospel. In possessing the greatest truth, we must show the greatest love, the heart of Christ, to accurately express the Gospel in words and deeds. This is the greatest proof, which the Church and our city needs. The proof that God really did …so love the world… that God’s plans are …not to harm you, but plans to give you hope and a future. Our city will clearly understand this when it sees the Church believing, loving, and working together collaboratively with Christ-centered unity as it engages the culture of our city. This is the proof Durham needs to welcome Christ as God of our city.
Community-based kingdom building and collaborative ministry were clear in the New Testament where 39 of 40 explicit powers of the Holy Spirit were displayed in local communities. All but 2-3 miracles of Christ were done in the community marketplace where people lived… not in worship gatherings or meetings. The proof of God through the Church is expressed in communities.
This proof is diminished if the Church is divided and segregated into non-collaborative congregations. However, the Church is strongest and biblical when it collaboratively builds Christian community within local communities of our city. There are several local initiatives gaining traction which show the greatest proof in Durham.
A Present Hope
When times are tough and a biblical response is needed, the Bible says, “…but the people who do know their God shall be strong, and do great exploits.” Daniel 11:32 Hope is present in Durham. God’s people are initiating and sustaining many Gospel-centered efforts. Here are some examples of the most collaborative initiatives building Christian community and hope in our city.
Pray for Durham is an initiative to have every street prayed over everyday by hundreds of concerned Christians for spiritual air supremacy over the city. Durham Ministers in Prayer and Transformation Durham are meeting weekly and focus their prayer on Durham and not personal needs. CEF, Reality Ministries, Urban Hope, and the Youth Life Foundation are working with children and youth in schools and neighborhoods daily. Bull City Outreach ministers to the homeless and hungry; Frontlinez Ministries holds monthly block parties; and JusticeMatters, a Christian non-profit, provides pro-bono legal services to those living within the same communities where the above ministries serve.
In addition, ABCD is an emerging group of intermediary Christian community developers, which empowers community assets while providing a supportive learning environment, resources, and tools to those who transform communities. The last two examples of hope are using a web-based approach to uniquely connect the regional Church and the city to each other and opportunities to serve its fellow-man. DurhamCares is helping our city love its neighbors and engage in serving each other, building relationships across cultural boundaries, and transforming our community through committed involvement. Bless Durham exists to be a communication hub for the Body of Christ and bless Durham through the strategic coordination of efforts and relationships within our community.
Many of these church, marketplace, and non-profit ministers are part of an urban network, which meets regularly to seek diverse ways of collaboration in ministry and share its resources for the development of Christian communities in Durham over the next 10 years. The Church working together will stand… develop many initiatives like these, and do even greater exploits.
Morning started early with sounds of many birds unfamiliar to my ears, but the familiar words from Jer.29:11-14 ministered to me as I look forward to what God has planned for today at Transform Our World in Hawaii.
Pumping up basketballs at "National Night Out 2010"
On June 23, 2010 I instantly understood that every second is in the hands of the Lord… and not mine. I collapsed that Wednesday morning with no strength on my right side; and after four days in the hospital I was told, “You had a stroke.” The doctors also agreed that I would fully recover. MRA imagining revealed that I now have three distinct marks on the left side of my brain ― finger print like spots of light. Weird… I thought, perhaps this is a mark or reminder to me of God’s goodness, healing, and grace. Anyway, things dramatically changed for me and those close to work in Durham through Child Evangelism Fellowship.
This all happened just a few days before the start of our 3rd annual urban boot camp, Breakout! 2010. With this unexpected turn of events, staff and interns really stepped up and handled every detail. Sean Blake led the best urban training that we have ever had. Dr. David Johnson taught additional classes and supervised students. Josh McDowell and Alathea were a blessing to us through their music and leading worship. Matthew Hodges handled all the logistics at First Baptist Church Durham. And to make this story even sweeter, the students had fantastic attitudes and willing to serve wherever in the city they were assigned.
Breakout! 2010 Students before 7 AM Saturday morning worship on last day of boot camp
As for me, doctors say that I am extremely healthy, yet I still notice moments of fatigue a few times each week. My wife, Carolyn, has taken over my diet and we continue to work daily on our fitness together.
Thank you so much to those who offered thoughtful expressions of love and generosity: caring and praying for my recovery. To the rest of you, now you know why there’s been no post here since May 2010. I will fully return to work and ministry after the summer. And I so look forward to it.
John Blake shares his "Heart for City Kids" 