I am continuing to share the stories and reflections of the young adults who live in our intentional Christian community program, Dwell. If you are interested in learning more about Dwell, please check out the information on our website.
Also, if you are interested in supporting our Dwell program financially, you can make a donation on our website. Please make sure to indicate that your donation is for the DOOR Atlanta/Dwell program when you donate.
In the last post we met Steve Andrews, one of our Capitol View house members. Steve and his wife Kari both live in our Dwell house. They are newlyweds who got married at the end of August and are living their first year of marriage in intentional Christian community. I asked Kari, who grew up in rural upstate New York, how her experience of rural poverty differs from the urban poverty that she is experiencing while in our Dwell program. Here are her reflections. ~ Jannan Thomas
“Poverty looks very different in rural areas versus urban areas. There are not trailers in the city. The racial diversity is very different. Poverty is more concentrated here. Being able to see trees and large amounts of green grass represents wealth in the city. In the country, there is green space all around, no matter your wealth. This lack of green space makes Capitol View’s local park, Perkerson Park, an oasis in the midst of the desert. Even going for a walk is different in my urban neighborhood. I worry I may get accosted by people here; at home I didn’t have those concerns. Another difference is the role of race in poverty. In upstate New York I don’t represent wealth because of the color of my skin, but here I do. Here, the color of my skin represents so much that I don’t even understand. I don’t understand the social scripts of my new neighborhood yet. I know that my presence at the GED tutoring program can make the participants uncomfortable. There are several people at GED that will never ask me for help. They seem to be afraid of me, but I don’t know why. It has been surprising to me to know that I represent something but I don’t know what it is.
I am also learning how hard it is to actually leave the streets. I want folks in the neighborhood to come to the GED tutoring program, be able to earn their GED and get out of the neighborhood. But I recognize there is an irony in that desire because I have decided to move into the neighborhood. But I think my desire is that they escape a place that has been a trap for them. The trap is not the neighborhood, but the trap is knowledge. For example, not knowing the proper clothes to wear for an interview or having no idea how important it is to get a high school education to do anything. Growing up in upstate New York, I knew there were other options such as culture, literature and history. But the students in the GED program don’t have any perspective on the variety in the world. They are not shown it. Their lack of education prevents them from experiencing the world in a way that is idealistic. Some of the students are so pushed down, that they don’t know anything but crime.
I recognize that my reflections draw broader strokes than are there really. I understand that it is complicated. But I am starting to understand that there is a system that oppresses people and I am starting to understand that that system limits some peoples understanding of their options. I think that the limiting of choices and models gives people less opportunity to be fully human. It is important to know what we are capable of, no matter our socio economic level.”
~Kari, Capitol View Dwell House community member
Friday
Our Dwell communities seek to welcome all folks, regardless of their income level, into our communities. If you would like to support our Dwell communities financially, you can donate by credit card on DOOR’s home page. Please make sure to indicate that you are supporting the Atlanta Dwell program.
Steve Andrews is a third year student at Columbia Theological Seminary. He is newly married to Kari Pellegrino (who you will meet in the next blog post). He and Kari attend Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church. Steve is one of the organizers of a GED tutoring program in the neighborhood. Steve will share about how his studies at Columbia Seminary intersect with life at the Capitol View Dwell house and what he has learned from being involved in the GED program. Steve talks a little bit about New Monasticism. Both of our Dwell houses follow the 12 Marks of New Monasticism.
“I am currently doing an independent study about the eschatological views of living in intentional Christian community and I am using the readings that the entire house is doing in that study. I am especially interested in the intersection of how the desert mothers and fathers viewed the desert and how the new monastics view the city. I’ve found that both the experience of living in the house and reading and discussing about new monasticism fit right into my work at the seminary. Most seniors live off campus, so it is not strange that I live in a different neighborhood. But it is important to me to live in a place where I thought that I could do some good. And living in the neighborhood of Capitol View gives me that opportunity. What I’ve learned about Christian faith at seminary tells me that Jesus is a challenging Messiah. Among the things that he challenges us to do is to live in closer community with other people, to conserve our resources, and to be in places where others don’t want to be. Living in the Capitol View house allows me to do all of those things.
My work with the GED program is interesting. There are three of us who are the main organizers of the GED program. One young white Presbyterian male and two middle-aged black women. One of the organizers has a seminary education and one with no seminary training and who is an apostle. We have different experiences that we bring to the conversation. Working with these two women has taught me not to make any pre-judgements about what type of packages people come in. I didn’t see myself working with a charismatic pastor; I didn’t see that we would have a common cause. But we have a really great relationship. Working with the GED program has allowed me to see the things I have learned put into action. In a place like Capitol View things can seem kind of hopeless. But there is all kinds of hope peeping their heads out. In GED class, community happens, relationships are built, Kingdom of God stuff is happening. For awhile I have been interested in intentional Christian community and different and more prophetic ways of being a Christian in the world. I have tried to put those values into action before and haven’t been able to. To be in the Capitol View Dwell house and to be involved in this neighborhood is an opportunity to have the rubber meet the road and see what happens in all of its glory and non glory. I have always seen myself as someone who in ministry would be working outside of the normal places…going to places where other people aren’t going and doing things other people aren’t doing. My experience in Capitol View is confirming that call.”
Steve Andrews is a third year student at Columbia Theological Seminary. He is newly married to Kari Pellegrino (who you will meet in the next blog post). He and Kari attend Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church. Steve is one of the organizers of a GED tutoring program in the neighborhood. Steve will share about how his studies at Columbia Seminary intersect with life at the Capitol View Dwell house and what he has learned from being involved in the GED program. Steve talks a little bit about New Monasticism. Both of our Dwell houses follow the 12 Marks of New Monasticism.
“I am currently doing an independent study about the eschatological views of living in intentional Christian community and I am using the readings that the entire house is doing in that study. I am especially interested in the intersection of how the desert mothers and fathers viewed the desert and how the new monastics view the city. I’ve found that both the experience of living in the house and reading and discussing about new monasticism fit right into my work at the seminary. Most seniors live off campus, so it is not strange that I live in a different neighborhood. But it is important to me to live in a place where I thought that I could do some good. And living in the neighborhood of Capitol View gives me that opportunity. What I’ve learned about Christian faith at seminary tells me that Jesus is a challenging Messiah. Among the things that he challenges us to do is to live in closer community with other people, to conserve our resources, and to be in places where others don’t want to be. Living in the Capitol View house allows me to do all of those things.
My work with the GED program is interesting. There are three of us who are the main organizers of the GED program. One young white Presbyterian male and two middle-aged black women. One of the organizers has a seminary education and one with no seminary training and who is an apostle. We have different experiences that we bring to the conversation. Working with these two women has taught me not to make any pre-judgements about what type of packages people come in. I didn’t see myself working with a charismatic pastor; I didn’t see that we would have a common cause. But we have a really great relationship. Working with the GED program has allowed me to see the things I have learned put into action. In a place like Capitol View things can seem kind of hopeless. But there is all kinds of hope peeping their heads out. In GED class, community happens, relationships are built, Kingdom of God stuff is happening. For awhile I have been interested in intentional Christian community and different and more prophetic ways of being a Christian in the world. I have tried to put those values into action before and haven’t been able to. To be in the Capitol View Dwell house and to be involved in this neighborhood is an opportunity to have the rubber meet the road and see what happens in all of its glory and non glory. I have always seen myself as someone who in ministry would be working outside of the normal places…going to places where other people aren’t going and doing things other people aren’t doing. My experience in Capitol View is confirming that call.”
Saturday
I am continuing my blog series on the folks in our Dwell program. To learn more about our Dwell program or to apply to be one of our residents, please visit our website (www.doornetwork.org/atlanta).
Katie Jenkins came to be a part of the Capitol View Dwell program through the Presbyterian Church (USA) Young Adult Volunteer program. She just graduated from University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TX. Folks who come into our Dwell program through the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Program are placed in a ministry to work for 35 hours a week. Katie’s placement is with Central Outreach and Advocacy Center (www.centraloutreachandadvocacy.org)
She works as a case manager for guests who come to the center who are homeless or are working but still need assistance. If you’d like to apply to be a Young Adult Volunteer with the Presbyterian Church, check out their website. (www.pcusa.org/yav). Here are some of Katie’s reflections on her ministry placement and how it intersects with life at the Capitol View Dwell House.
“Being placed at Central Outreach and Advocacy Center has really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I wasn’t nervous about starting the job, but I also didn’t have a lot of confidence that I could handle the weight of people’s stories. As I’ve been at my placement the past two and a half months, I’ve realized that I can handle the weight of people’s stories. I only have to be open to hearing their stories. I may not be able to change their situation in an hour, but it is important to open myself to listening, even if it is hard. I’ve also realized through my work with the guests at the center that there is a fine line between by situation and theirs. I could easily find myself on the other side of being able to pay my bills. Getting out of my comfort zone at my ministry placement also helps motivate me to get out of my comfort zone in my neighborhood. If I wasn’t used to getting out of my comfort zone every day, I might be tempted to stay in my comfort zone at home and not take the opportunities to hear the stories of my neighbors as well.”
Katie Jenkins came to be a part of the Capitol View Dwell program through the Presbyterian Church (USA) Young Adult Volunteer program. She just graduated from University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TX. Folks who come into our Dwell program through the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Program are placed in a ministry to work for 35 hours a week. Katie’s placement is with Central Outreach and Advocacy Center (www.centraloutreachandadvocacy.org)
She works as a case manager for guests who come to the center who are homeless or are working but still need assistance. If you’d like to apply to be a Young Adult Volunteer with the Presbyterian Church, check out their website. (www.pcusa.org/yav). Here are some of Katie’s reflections on her ministry placement and how it intersects with life at the Capitol View Dwell House.“Being placed at Central Outreach and Advocacy Center has really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I wasn’t nervous about starting the job, but I also didn’t have a lot of confidence that I could handle the weight of people’s stories. As I’ve been at my placement the past two and a half months, I’ve realized that I can handle the weight of people’s stories. I only have to be open to hearing their stories. I may not be able to change their situation in an hour, but it is important to open myself to listening, even if it is hard. I’ve also realized through my work with the guests at the center that there is a fine line between by situation and theirs. I could easily find myself on the other side of being able to pay my bills. Getting out of my comfort zone at my ministry placement also helps motivate me to get out of my comfort zone in my neighborhood. If I wasn’t used to getting out of my comfort zone every day, I might be tempted to stay in my comfort zone at home and not take the opportunities to hear the stories of my neighbors as well.”
Wednesday
Introductions of Atlanta Dwellers
Over the next couple of weeks I’d like to take some time to introduce you to the folks who are participating in our year long program, Dwell. Our Dwell program seeds intentional Christian communities where young adults can put their faith into practice by living together, serving the neighborhood in which they live and creating a routine of spiritual disciplines. The majority of our Dwellers are local folks who are either working or are in school and are creating the space in their lives for exploring their faith, developing deep relationships and being a neighbor as described in the Bible.
Alison is the newest member of the Capitol View Dwell house. She moved to Atlanta after serving for a year in the Hollywood Dwell YAV program. She is getting a Master’s degree in Public Health from Georgia State University. Here are some of her reflections on her studies, intentional Christian community, living in the neighborhood of Capitol View and going to church at Emmaus House.
“Living in the Capitol View Community helps me have a higher awareness of others needs and perspectives. Specifically, living in a place where you see environmental and economic injustice helps me to make the health disparity issues I am studying more real. I understand what I am reading in my textbooks about health. I’ve found my church home at Emmaus House which is an Episcopal church and ministry in the Peoplestown neighborhood. I go to a Sunday school class where I am the only white person and the other students in the class have empowered me to talk about race issues. I have hopped on the bus in front of the Dwell house and been the only white person on the bus and felt surprisingly nervous about it. But I have a church community that is supportive as I explore these race issues. But what is also interesting is that these same people that are helping me understand these racial issues, have moved out of Peoplestown. They live in places like Decatur and still come back to go to church. It is really interesting to have conversations with them about my neighborhood. They don’t understand why I would choose to live in a neighborhood such as Capitol View. Success for them would be to get out of a neighborhood like Capitol View. But my hope is that the people in my neighborhood would have better opportunities but still be able to live in the neighborhood. That there might be another option for success than flight.”
Alison is the newest member of the Capitol View Dwell house. She moved to Atlanta after serving for a year in the Hollywood Dwell YAV program. She is getting a Master’s degree in Public Health from Georgia State University. Here are some of her reflections on her studies, intentional Christian community, living in the neighborhood of Capitol View and going to church at Emmaus House.
“Living in the Capitol View Community helps me have a higher awareness of others needs and perspectives. Specifically, living in a place where you see environmental and economic injustice helps me to make the health disparity issues I am studying more real. I understand what I am reading in my textbooks about health. I’ve found my church home at Emmaus House which is an Episcopal church and ministry in the Peoplestown neighborhood. I go to a Sunday school class where I am the only white person and the other students in the class have empowered me to talk about race issues. I have hopped on the bus in front of the Dwell house and been the only white person on the bus and felt surprisingly nervous about it. But I have a church community that is supportive as I explore these race issues. But what is also interesting is that these same people that are helping me understand these racial issues, have moved out of Peoplestown. They live in places like Decatur and still come back to go to church. It is really interesting to have conversations with them about my neighborhood. They don’t understand why I would choose to live in a neighborhood such as Capitol View. Success for them would be to get out of a neighborhood like Capitol View. But my hope is that the people in my neighborhood would have better opportunities but still be able to live in the neighborhood. That there might be another option for success than flight.”
Tuesday
Spirit of the Purple House
Last night, the Purple House in Grant Park embraced its six residents as they came together for community night. As we do each Monday, we shared discussion about this week’s “Rhythm of the Year” topic. The subjects gain depth and take on new forms as we hear each other’s perspectives and interpretations of the readings. I look forward to discussion time because each week we grow closer as housemates and discover a richness in the texts that would be impossible to uncover as a sole reader.
During check-in time, tears and hugs poured out, as they often do. We offered up our concerns and joys, there against the teal living room walls. I could almost hear the eves sigh in sympathy last night. This house has a spirit. What all must this home have seen and witnessed over its last twenty-some years as a Mennonite Hospitality House and now a Dwell House? It has sheltered refugees, Mennonite Voluntary Service participants, Young Adult Volunteers, and even the founders of DOOR. In the lives of how many people has the Purple House been the set for even a brief scene?
Last week, I ran into a woman who lived here nearly a decade ago as a housemate for a newly paroled convict (“transitional housing” in action!). And recently, Tommy met someone who had volunteered here and painted Alan’s bedroom. My 9 year-old cousin even recognized the soul of this place when she visited for the first time yesterday: “This house is way cooler than I ever thought it could be!” she confided. Come see for yourself.
Thursday
Praying for the Math Lights to Come On
Two of the Dwellers in the Capitol View house have dived into community ministry. Steve Andrews and Kari Pellegrino (newlyweds as of August 2009) have started volunteering at the neighborhood GED program, a joint project of Covenant Ministries and Capitol View United Methodist Church. Steve saw a sign in front of Covenant Ministries this summer that they were looking for volunteers for their clothing bank. He got talking with the Minister and the Apostle about their desire to start a GED program. Steve had the knowledge and skills to organize the GED program and Covenant Ministries and Capitol View United Methodist Church had the ability to provide the space and resources. God had brought them together and the GED program kicked off on August 17th. Most of the folks who come to the program are local neighbors and some are also from the congregations of Covenant Ministries and Capitol View United Methodist Church. Kari shared that being involved in the GED program has created a big leveling field. Even when one is the teacher and one is the student, they both are struggling through fractions together. One day Kari and one of her students were working through a lot of math word problems. These word problems were hard for both of them, but they kept struggling through them. After successfully solving several, the woman who Kari was working with looked at the next problem and said “I’m not afraid of you”. This reminded Kari that this program is not just about skills, but also about empowerment. Something like completing math problems can become a way to increase self confidence and feel empowered not just in math skills but in other parts of life as well.
Kari says that she has never prayed so much as she has while working in this program. She prays for the students and for the “light to come on” as they learn math skills. This faith community has become part of her faith community. The folks in the program celebrated her and Steve’s marriage and have supported them as newlyweds. Kari has never been more grateful for the skills someone taught her while she was growing up. For example, the skill of reading a paragraph and understanding what it says. She doesn’t remember learning these things, but now recognizes in a new way what a gift her education has been and the important role that teachers and parents have played in her education. It has been a real joy for Kari and Steve to see the progress their students are making and to see how both they and the student are changed through the process.
Still Glowing from our Fall Event....
It's time to look ahead. This Saturday the local DOOR Atlanta board of directors will convene our annual board retreat. We pray that God will guide our discussion and decisions as we seek to honor God in all that we do. Whether it's a service learning weekend on homelessness or our intentional Christian communities living a call in our neighborhoods, may God guide each step as we learn more about each other, cast the vision for the future and obediently move ahead in faith!
Sunday
Atlanta Celebration of all that God has Done!
What a night! Thank you to the many that came out tonight to our celebration 44doors.org! As promised we gathered to celebrate God's faithfulness. It was a delightful evening of food, new friends, and FUN! We are excited for the new connections made and the old commitments reaffirmed.
Tomorrow we look forward to our joint worship service as we gather with our partnering churches in praise and worship. We hope to see you there!
Didn't make it tonight and can't attend tomorrow? NO worries! Becoming a part of God's work here in Atlanta, email City Jannan Thomas at jannan@doornetwork.org
Tomorrow we look forward to our joint worship service as we gather with our partnering churches in praise and worship. We hope to see you there!
Didn't make it tonight and can't attend tomorrow? NO worries! Becoming a part of God's work here in Atlanta, email City Jannan Thomas at jannan@doornetwork.org
Wednesday
Summer Reflections
As I have been reflecting on the summer, we have much to be grateful for. A great staff, groups that had positive experiences, surviving the summer without a cook, finishing the Dwell house renovations, etc. But one group that came this summer still lingers in my mind. They had a really difficult time all week and I (and the staff) have reflected over and over about how we might have made their week better. But even now, four weeks later, they are still on my mind. But all of this thought over the group made me realize this week a new insight into the trio of parables about the lost sheep, lost coin, and the lost son (or prodigal son). This group who struggled so much to see the Face of God in Atlanta is such a small thing compared to The Kingdom of God. But I would rejoice if we were able to hear about how a seed had been sown by their time here in Atlanta, probably more so than groups that seemed to “get it” while they were here. And I can only imagine how much more rejoicing God does when we repent and join (or re-join) the Christian community. And for that small insight, I am grateful, even if I never know the rest of the story with this group.
Thursday
Dwell Open House Wed July 15
This week we had a Open House for folks interested in our Dwell houses. Dwell is our year long intentional community. Here in Atlanta we have 2 houses in which intentional Christian communities form. It was great to meet applicants and to watch as future house mates meet and get to know one another. The Dwell year begins at the end of August. We are still in the acceptance/ placement process with a few candidates. Please pray for each team as they prepare to live and serve this year together.
Reflection times aren't always easy to lead
We get the chance each week to watch and learn as group's reflect upon their experiences in the city. Often those reflections can get "uncomfortable." We've been working together with our summer staff with case studies and our own reflection to think through those times that can stump a leader. The first instinct is often to move on really quickly from anything that is “uncomfortable”. But as we talk through those times we're learning to have the tools to respond. It is good to become much more comfortable with the “uncomfortable.”
One of the great things about a mission trip experience is the stretching and learning that can happen when we're out of our comfort. Even for youth directors, adult chaperones or staff leading discussions.
One of the great things about a mission trip experience is the stretching and learning that can happen when we're out of our comfort. Even for youth directors, adult chaperones or staff leading discussions.
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