King Park
Martin Hunt
King Park Text
King Park Text
Community First! The King Park Gathering
A relational ministry with the Neighbors living in the area around King Park
WHPC’s missions Mission statement
•
Our
three pillars of mission are education, dignity, and discipleship, which are
aimed at partnering with others to promote the flourishing of all people within
God's larger story.
https://www.whpc.org/service-opportunities
• This internal WHPC ministry is primarily supporting the dignity pillar, we do some discipleship and are discipled as well
When do we Enter into the world of others – that might not “offer” us anything in return?
• Luke 14:12-14
12 He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers and sisters or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
We can provide food, housing, clothing
• James 2:15-17 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
• Matthew 14:14-21 14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.”
How to
provide dignity and respect?
Share (not only serve) a meal with others
• Acts 2:42
• They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And the Beatitudes in Matthew 5
When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Where is King Park
You can see King Park depicted in this arial view of Community First Village.
And you can see the completed renovation of the space.
Why is it named King Park?
• Drew King – MLF Building and Grounds
•
Suggested
to Alan Graham to not build three
micro homes and instead create a park
We decided that we wanted to connect with the Neighbors that live in the area around King Park.
• Do any of you have back yard barbeques?
• In my neighborhood we have a Cul-de-Sac gathering
• Food, good conversation, games
• Getting to know and catch up with the lives of your neighbors
• Mutual care and knowing
WHPC started hosting once a month gatherings in late ‘21
• Simple model
• Team of volunteers – “pot luck”
• A Theme with decorations and games / activities
• Meal
• We don’t just serve, we eat with the neighbors and engage in life conversation
• Learn names, call neighbors by name, remember names for next visit
• Games and activities
• ~2 hrs, come and go, many stay the whole time
Open to all
• Online signup for the year
• https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084AA8A723A2FD0-community1#/
• Intergenerational
• Great way to invite someone in your circle to join in with a WHPC ministry
• Partnered with Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church in late ’22
• Approx 40 volunteers total in ’23, typ. 8-10 per gathering
• Average ~40 neighbors per gathering
We are first and foremost sharing the love of Christ with our brothers and sisters
• We appreciate WHPC’s commitment to mission both in volunteers and funding
• The benefits are mutual
• Increased my (and I hope others) capacity and willingness to engage in the life of God’s children who have been on a different path in their lives