May 2010
As May ended we looked at our wall calendar and said “Wow, that was a busy month!” Some of the things we were involved in included a new effort called “C4″, a better way to enjoy the weather at MBK, and a different way for the kids at the R.O.C.K. to learn if it’s raining. Read more to get the details on these projects.
Explosive Improvements at C4
CrossRoads church establishes compassionate beachhead near Kate Ross public housing
The intersection of 12th and Ross has long been known for conflict. It has been the site of everything from protests, to drug traffic to violent crime.
But it is gaining a new and more hopeful reputation thanks to the efforts of CrossRoads Church. With very little money, (but a lot of prayer and hard work) the church was able to buy property at the intersection to transform it into something new.
Two residences stood on the site. One of them has been removed and the remaining building is being remodeled for a whole new purpose.
Volunteers from CrossRoads removed and replaced the exterior siding and had removed old fixtures and drywall. New wiring was being installed when we were called to lend a hand to the progress.
Working hand-in-hand with the people of CrossRoads, we at Mannaworks have added to the momentum of the work. We have installed new structural improvements and brought our skilled contractors to the site to complete the wiring, repair the plumbing, apply new insulation and drywall, and begin other finishing work.
When the project is completed the neighborhood will have a new place for CrossRoads and its allies to stage helpful events for the children and other residents of the Kate Ross neighborhood.
This will be a multi-week effort. Check back next month for the rest of the story.
MBK Awning Improvements
Enjoying the weather; inside and out
Sometimes you just have to go outside and enjoy the weather, and sometimes the weather is not very enjoyable. In both of these situations a well-made awning can make a lot of difference.
Clients at the My Brother’s Keeper homeless shelter can now enjoy those late evening moments outside thanks to the new awning that welder Jeremy Echols and Mannaworks installed in the backyard of the shelter.
What about those moments when you’d rather enjoy the weather inside? That has been improved as a result of removal of a sheet metal wall that was enclosing the heating/air conditioning compressor units. Jeremy built a wrought iron security fence and the units can now “breathe” better and that makes the weather inside of MBK a little bit better too.
R.O.C.K. Children’s Center gets a reliable roof:
Mannaworks saves local non-profit over $20,000!
Fixing the roof:
When it rained, it poured (inside) at the R.O.C.K.
This was another building with a leaking roof, but not anymore. The roof was pressure washed, and all holes patched. A scupper (where rainwater drains off of the side) was repaired and the roof looks like new.
Now when it rains the kids don’t care (except they can’t go outside and play). You’ll be reading more about this facility later when Mannaworks goes back to improve the attached play area.
Saving the money:
Leadership of the R.O.C.K. had been led to believe they needed to replace the roof with a new metal roof at a cost of $24,000. They were reluctantly prepared to pay that amount. Mannaworks was called for a second opinion. We investigated and were able to direct minor repairs costing only $1,200 which extended the expected life of the roof by 10 years. The savings on this project alone was over $20,000!
The Mind of Roy:
I was listening to a sermon last week and the pastor was talking about a woman who was asked to describe her God. The only thing she said was “My God don’t play.” What she said stayed with me. Our God doesn’t play. He is serious about this world and the people in it. He proved that by sending His Son to die on the cross for us. Imagine the pain and anguish He felt to do that! God is serious about the people in this world and He needs His people, the ones that profess Him as Savior, to be as serious as He is.
As Christians we sometimes live as if what Jesus said was “Seek first all these other things and the kingdom of God will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these other things will be given to you as well.” As Christians we need to be serious about seeking Him first and not letting the other things take priority in our lives.
Mannaworks is restoring a building for a pastor who is serious about the people in the projects. He’s so serious he bought a couple of houses directly across the street from them and right next door to a known crack house so his church could directly minister to that area. He is seeking the Kingdom first by loving and ministering to a pretty tough group of people.
He goes over there every week and walks through the projects ministering to and praying for the people who live there. He was even confronted by a couple of drug dealers who told him he needed to leave because he wasn’t good for their business. He just told them that he wasn’t going anywhere and that he was praying they would go away instead. Well, the minister is still there and the drug dealers are gone. His God don’t play. He is definitely serious about God and doing what the scriptures say to do.
As Christians we know we are supposed to love and fear God, read the Bible, pray and worship Him with our lives. But actually transitioning that from our head to our heart is the hard part. God never said following Him would be easy.
I believe God wants us to be uncomfortable because it is when we are uncomfortable that we call on Him and depend on Him the most. Maybe we are not all called into the projects but we are all called to live for Christ every day. God rescued us by sending His Son and now He expects us, the rescued, to become the rescuers to the world. We owe that to God.
Roy Karr
Mannaworks