Lots of thoughts running through my head today. They've piled up since last week and I just need to let them out.

Last November I was able to attend a conference held by Ian and Allison Campbell on integrated mission. It was absolutely incredible but really quite overwhelming at the same time. They talked about how the old method of people coming to church isn't working anymore and how the method should now be for people to leave the buildings and organizations and enter the neighborhood - as people. They talked about learning about a neighborhood's concerns and hopes - not their needs because people thrive on their needs and then maintain that mentality instead of working to make it better. The goal is to go into a neighborhood and affirm people. To see what they do well and let them know it - find out what their concerns are for the neighborhood, what their hopes are for the neighborhood and if they think there are any other people who feel the same way they do. It's an absolutely beautiful method of building community - going into people's homes and learning about them without an agenda, without pushing anything on them and then encouraging them to meet their own need. For example, you find out that they need a meal or their rent paid for the month. Well, in The Salvation Army we're quick to meet that need. We give them a food basket or cut a check that will pay for their rent and I'm not saying that that's bad in anyway but then when you hand it to them, you turn the question back to them and ask, "Now, how are you going to find a way to feed your family next week or pay next month's rent?" That doesn't automatically solve the problem but it's the beginning, isn't it? It's about stopping the perpetuation by inviting people into community and helping them overcome their needs by encouraging them to meet them on their own. I'm processing this all as I go.

So, that was November. It was all talk - planning, powerpoint, diagrams, circles, squares, big sheets of paper all over the wall. Last week they did a follow up session which was more hands on - putting it all into practice. While it all seemed pretty foreboding and a little bit too much to ask with just one visit, I absolutely loved it and thoroughly believe in this system now. It's a team-based system. We were out at the Training College (for those of you who read these that aren't Salvationists, that's where pastors for The Salvation Army get become pastors) and there is now a group of eight or nine missionaries living there and engaging in the community. Those of us who were just there to learn were teamed up with those living in the community to actually do this type of visitation. I went with D.J. and Teddy to Mr. Bill's house. Mr. Bill was quite interesting but he obviously loved the Lord and opened his home up to anyone. While we were there, about four or five people wandered in and out of his house. He feeds people on Saturdays. He told us his vision to help convicts who were into the drug business before they went to prison come out of prison and become leaders in the community by actually having dependable jobs with groups of men underneath them. He told us about how he came to the Lord. He told us about his hippie days (this man loved to talk). He told us about his concern for the children.

What I learned that day was that Mr. Bill was not the only one in that community who wanted to make a difference but at that time he was working alone to make that difference as were all of the other people who want to make a difference. When the entire group of people came back together, we all talked about our experience and there are plenty of men and women in that community doing feeding programs and who long to see their neighborhood return to the safe place it used to be. Now, the missionaries who live there can see the vision and can see the hope. They understand the concerns and they can help be a link. They can help foster community and relationships - just by visiting people in their homes and encouraging them. It was so easy.

One of the huge things I learned that day comes from an acronym Ian and Allison use for the teams they develop worldwide. They call them S.A.L.T teams. It stands for Support, Appreciate, Learn, Transfer. The thing that hit me so hard that day was the transferability of it all. I may not be an organization that needs to get out of the church but I do live in a neighborhood and know very little about my neighbors. The Acts 2 Christians were a community of believers. I can build community right where I live. I don't know if I need a team or not but just to hear my neighbors hopes would be nice.

Now all I need is courage.

Have a good day. I'll write more later about the rest of my weeks thoughts - this one kind of got away from me.

Joy