Intentional Community Engagement
“In a real sense all life is interrelated.
All [of us] are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality,
tied in a single garment of destiny.
Whatever affects one directly, affects all directly.
I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be,
and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be…
This is the interrelated structure of reality.”[1]
We have seen this concept vividly demonstrated recently as the two newest recipients of the Lane Alderman scholarship were introduced to the congregation two weeks ago. More than simply a financial gift to further their educational opportunities, these young people have been encouraged and influenced for years through the work of our own Neighborhood Action Ministry (NAM). There are dozens more just like them who need our ongoing help and support.
We are working diligently to be more intentional about providing opportunities for our RPC community to interact with people served by NAM within our local area. We have seen a significant increase in involvement of our NAM young people participating in summer ryeX youth ministry events. We recently held a community cook-out at a local park for NAM families and several members of RPC took advantage of the opportunity to establish stronger connections with these families.
These events and others like them help strengthen our integration with the wider community and break down barriers between various groups in our area. As Covid restrictions ease, there are increasing opportunities for each of us to make a positive impact in the lives of those we are serving. We will be hosting Family Promise again in August, beginning a back to school “Supply Drive” with the Children’s Development Academy, and hoping to restart afterschool activities such as Chess Club in the residential areas served by NAM. Each of these is a chance for us to help others become “all that they ought to be” as they help us understand all “that we ought to be.”
Please reach out to Donna Brodsky (donna@roswellpres.org), Clara Herrera (clara@roswellpres.org) or myself (dan@roswellpres.org) if you would like to contribute in some way to transforming the life of people served by NAM.
[1] King, Martin Luther Jr., I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World. Edited by James Washington, Harper Collins, 1992.
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Dan Kreiss, RPC’s new Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach, brings with him a heart for service and a diverse array of experiences in the mission field. Be sure to subscribe to the Mission Outreach Blog to read and follow along as he documents his personal journey and shares his vision for RPC’s mission outreach commitment. Along with providing meaningful resources, this blog will help jumpstart the important conversations our church community must be having about missional living.
Dan Kreiss
Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss is the Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach at RPC. Dan is particularly passionate about encouraging the church to reflect the diversity found in its surrounding community in regard to age, gender, ethnicity, education and economic status.