Thursday, October 31, 2019

Leaving a Legacy

Interested in making a difference or change in the lives of people in your city...Milwaukee...or any city or town in the country?

 

 

What is Neighborhood Transformation?

Neighborhood Transformation is a strategy that helps churches minister in a wholistic manner to people in urban poor neighborhoods. It empowers people to take responsibility for their own lives. It helps neighbors to help their neighbors and moves them from welfare and relief to empowerment. It focuses on assets found in the neighborhood, which fosters local ownership instead of being based on problems that they expect outsiders to fix for them. 

  

But another option is to start right now...right where you are...and you don't have to wait for your church to get on board...you can start alone and or with a friend!

 

You may already be heavily involved in your own ministry and may not be able to take on a new ministry...but remember that Neighborhood Transformation is a template of hundreds of elements that a person does dependent on what they are already doing in a neighborhood.

 

 Check out the links below to see what small elements you can add to your current ministry...and then see how combining God's word and His example of showing love to all people...and then helping them engage in this ministry can lead to the extension of God's Kingdom!  Talk about multiplication!

 

Search the list below and pick out your top 3 most fun activities you and another person can do together!  


 

100 Ways you can start to use to get to know your neighbors!

 

And if you would like to get to know alot of new neighbors...here is another fun easy activity you and a friend or partner can do!

 

9 Easy Questions you can ask your neighbor to start the process! 

 

Collaborative for Neighborhood Transformation helps people in the neighborhood transform their lives and communities from the inside out, resulting in:


  • People knowing, loving, caring and serving their neighbors
  • People taking responsibility and working to change their reality
  • A reduction in disease, crime, drug abuse, and alcohol addiction
  • People knowing Christ with healthy, growing churches
  • Improved employment and living conditions    
  • Hope, health, and enthusiasm toward neighborhood life 
  •  

 Isn't this exciting!

 

Let's begin the journey!

  

It all starts with developing relationships!

 

Short blog about how you can get started!

 

Neighborhood Transformation-Milwaukee

 

  First Neighborhood Transformation Event was in Milwaukee in 2011 

 

 

Programs for poverty alleviation are good...but "without heart change, money, healthcare, housing, and education do not meet our world's deepest needs." "Apart from Christ, we might simply introduce the problems of prosperity while we solve the problems of poverty. -  Peter Greer

 

 "The church should be the most creative entity in the world."

 

  By "Church" I mean the people of God, not the physical building or institution.

 

  You as an individual can use your creativity to bring glory and honor to the   LORD! 

  What a journey!

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Saturday, October 26, 2019

Spiritual Gifts:Tests and Assessments: How important are they?

At our local Saturday morning "Men's Group", we had a short teaching on Ephesians 4:1-16, and "spiritual gifts"

Our small table Discussion Questions:

 
1. How should we live in the light of our Calling?
2. What spiritual gift do you have to build up the church?
3. Why is unity Important?

 

It was interesting listening to answers to Question #2 that it was apparent that there were different "gifts" that men had that were not among the common "gifts" listed in various scripture passages. Some were "Strengths" that could be common to all people...believers and non believers. 

 

We use our "Strengths" every day!  In our families, careers, jobs, business's.

Strengthsfinder.2.0 Assessment gives one a good 16 page pdf printout showing how you can use and develope  your strengths and use them every day!

One of my prior posts explains this more fully.

 

 

Also that none of the men at my table had ever taken a "Spiritual Gift Assessment" and that there was such an "Assessment"

 

  

I had taken several such assessments years ago...and was asked to bring some resources next week. 

 

 

After doing alittle research...I decided to make this blog post with some resources.

 

 

Be wary of tests and assessments: Best to be wary of Spiritual Gift Tests & Assessments

 

 Different "Assessments" and "Tests" have different "gifts".

 

 

Alot has to do with our understanding of scripture and the denomination we come from. 

 

A good list and definition of "Spiritual Gifts"

 

A fairly good Assessment 

  

Why is this all important?

 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  1st Peter 4:7-11

 

 You might also check out these verses in various Biblical translations~

 

 

Check out 1st. Corinthians 12.

 

Going from ME to WE.

 

One body.  So whatever our "gifts" are...we are part of the body. Each  part of the body is important and needed. So we should be in a local body of Christ, where we are encouraged to serve...whatever our gifts and strengths are.

Bottom line: We are given "gifts" to serve.


Any "Assessment" one takes, requires a fairly good amount of time...but it is worth it!  Helps us find our place in ministry. 

 

The difference between natural talents or strengths and Spiritual Gifts


Hope this is of help. 

Blessings

Richard

 

 


Sunday, October 6, 2019

Opportunity to receive free boxes of meals for inner city outreach.




If your organization would like to receive some boxes for outreach...please contact Richard Dassow via Linkedin and or Twitter.

 

We are excited to welcome you and your fellowship, school or food pantry to join us in our mission to change the math on childhood hunger in Milwaukee on October 12th.  Below you will find our event information, registration url, facebook links and a few other tidbits!

What is Generosity Feeds?  

Generosity Feeds is a national non-profit working to end child hunger in every county in America. We do this by uniting local businesses, civic groups, and community members for large scale meal creation events. In 2 hours or less, volunteers will create a minimum of 10,000 Rice and Bean Meals. These meals are then distributed by local school backpack programs or food pantries to children who need it most. Generosity Feeds began in 2011. Since beginning over 3 million meals have been created in 28 states.

Generosity Feeds Milwaukee Event Information: 

Date: October 12th, 2019 
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm 

- Registration opens at 9:30am 

Volunteer opportunities available for event set up: October 11th 6:00pm 

Location: 
Nicolet High School Cafeteria 
6701 N Jean Nicolet Road
Glendale, WI 53217

What: Join us in creating 12,000 nutritious and delicious meal pouches to be distributed through local organizations and schools to children and families in the greatest need in our community.  

Who can participate?  
This is a family event!  All ages and abilities are welcome to attend.  

Registration: FREE 


O

Distribution: 
Each Box of meal pouches is 12x12x8 
Each box weighs approximately 8lbs
Each box contains 25 pouches of meals
Each pouch contains 2 child sized meals
Each pouch is 4oz

If your organization would like to receive some boxes for outreach...please contact Richard Dassow via Linkedin and or Twitter.

 


 


For more information or to explore hosting an event please go to generosityfeeds.org