September 3, 2001
Summer has come and gone! As we reflect on it, we are so thankful to see how God continues to guide us each step of the way! One year ago this month we set out on a journey of faith, believing that God was calling us to the heart of the city of San Francisco. Today we celebrate a dream that God has made reality.
God has affirmed our ministry by moving mountains and by providing in miraculous ways! The first mountain was funding. Many well-intentioned people had told us that we should plan on a year, if not two for raising support. We believed otherwise. While we continue to raise support for the long haul, God has provided for each and every one of our needs. Many of you have made a significant contribution towards the start of our ministry in less than six months! We are so thankful for the churches and individuals who have sacrificed each month to support us in this endeavor. Another mountain was housing. We were told that cost for decent housing was over $2500 a month, and worse yet that the waiting lists were huge. Kellie believed God to be greater. She prayed for not only a 2/1, but also for extra space for an office, and for gatherings and company. God provided! Then we encountered another mountain. We discovered that owning a gathering space in this city would cost well over a million dollars. We prayed that God would provide a long term meeting space, and He did! And more than just a meeting space, God provided a friend and a ministry partner in our pastor friend Eduard Paulino. Ed Paulino pastors a church just three blocks from our home and has offered the use of his building. We not only plan to use it, but also to partner in ministry together.
Thank you for believing with us! Thank you for praying with us! Thank you for giving with us! We could not be here apart from the people of God who faithfully live according to God’s heart and His mission. We are also thankful for our brothers and sisters here in the city that have so graciously loved us, included us, and cared for us. Their advice as we arrived spared us much pain and frustration both then and now.
We continue to cultivate relationships in our neighborhood. What a unique place to live. The scenery is breathtaking! All around, in every direction, there are thousands and thousands of homes built on the surrounding hills and mountains - great sites to see like 3COM Park, the Bay, Oakland, and the financial district. As we walk the streets, we find that our people are as diverse as our view. As Kellie and I step out of our front door, we wave to Peggy and her dog Beethoven. Peggy is from Hawaii. Just a few streets away we see Marco outside of his coffee shop. He is from Morocco. Kellie stops to greet an Asian woman named Joanna, who is head of the volunteers at the Bernal Neighborhood Center. Outside of the Moonlight Café, a Jordanian woman named Suzie greets and hugs Kayla and Chase. And down at the mission I see Nelson, a man from Peru who works at my favorite Peruvian Restaurant.
We have learned to love and celebrate the diversity of our city, realizing that the gospel knows no language. Once as we prayer walked the neighborhood, we grew burdened by a particular coffee shop near our home that we had frequented when we first moved here. We believe that it is in places like coffee shops that we can meet a large number of the people living in our community. But we were not well accepted there, nor was the ownership very friendly. A couple of months later a gay/lesbian flag went up over the building. We realized then that a statement was being made in our neighborhood. And so we prayed. We prayed that God would grant us favor in that place, even if it meant a change in ownership.
In mid July, I was walking the street with my father. I told him the story of the coffee shop and we stopped in for some coffee. I was overwhelmed! The ownership had changed and the coffee shop was buzzing. As we walked through the shop we discovered toys and a beautiful refurbished patio and garden! Not only had God answered our prayer, but He also granted us favor. Kellie and I have connected with Marco, one of the owners. In a recent conversation with him, I shared that I was a pastor and that we hope to plant a church. His response was “This is a great place to meet people. Use my back room for meetings whenever you want!” WOW!
Little by little, cultivated relationships grow. We believe that some of the people God is putting in our path will walk in the way of Jesus. Kellie continues to work with the Bernal Neighborhood Center. What an amazing opportunity. Every other Thursday she helps bag food for over 150 elderly in our neighborhood. Throughout the week she makes special trips for those who are shut in and in need. Kellie’s sweet spirit and love for Jesus has already touched the people of the Center. We believe that we will have many more opportunities to be salt and light in that place.
Another open door has come by way of Kayla. As with any move, we have prayerfully considered how and where to educate Kayla. We also believe that our family life is our greatest witness to the way of Jesus. Because she is shy of her 5th birthday, we have the option of putting her into 5K or to hold her back for a year. Schooling in San Francisco is very competitive. Schools are either very strong or very weak, creating a high demand for the stronger schools. Because of our transition and the competitive spirit here in the city, we chose to wait out on 5K. About a week later, we received a call from a co-op pre-school called Glen Ridge. What makes the school so unique is that the parents run it! Set in the midst of the city, it is a hidden jewel with its above ground creek - and even a cannon. Please pray for us as we have just been invited into this new pocket of people - almost 60 families! Praise the Lord. If you are interested in learning more about this type of schooling, check out their site at http://www.glenridgecoop.org/.
We continue to work with REimagine and to serve at the Page Street Center. As I mentioned before in our praises, our family has begun serving with Pastor Eduard Paulino who is in the process of planting a Spanish congregation, while shepherding an existing English-speaking group. Our Faith Community experiments this summer were a success. We partnered with our friends the Zanders, Lantows, and Scandrette’s. We discovered unique environments and dynamics with the Faith Communities. Kellie and I hope to start a Thursday night gathering later this month. We continue to pray for opportunities for evangelism. In our six months here we have seen a few people come to Christ, but by far there is a major chasm between those walking in the way of Jesus and those not. We are praying for a moving of God and a fresh harvest amongst us. Until then, we continue to cultivate, believing that the spiritual hunger of this city will come face to face with the way, truth and life of Jesus.
Soccer season has started. I will assist with coaching for one more season. Sarah Matthews, a friend from our previous ministry will be joining us for a couple of months. God has opened a door for her to come and help us with this season of cultivation. Please pray for her as she will be looking for a job in the neighborhood. Pray that God would open a unique door.
We miss each of you and also pray for you and your ministry weekly. As always you can email us at Heartoficity@aol.com. Our prayer is that together, in our own territories, we would see God’s hand at work and His Kingdom expanded.
Blessings to you,
posted by Ken McCord @ 4:44 PM
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