It has been a while since I have written about this amazing and diverse community I live in called Noble County. Yes, I live in the ‘largest’ town in the county, Kendallville, which has a population of around 10,000 persons, and yes, I am concerned with the affairs of my congregation who live in and around Kendallville as well as Noble County. But I am also concerned about those who are a part of my community as well.
Pastor-preachers often say they have a ‘verse’ out of the Bible that shapes their work. That might seem strange to some but it really isn’t. I think that it is one of the ways that God directs us in our care and service to others in His name.
Early in my time here in Kendallville a verse, actually verses that became my ‘verse’ is Jeremiah 29:4-7:
The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, sends this message to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food you produce. Marry, and have children. Then find spouses for them, and have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of Babylon. Pray to the Lord for that city where you are held captive, for if Babylon has peace, so will you.” (NLT)
This passage, with the word to “work for the peace and prosperity” of Babylon, also says to me, “Bloom where I have planted you Jim.” And I have tried to do that these past nearly nine years.
Today, I attended a meeting with some other community leaders and servants and also a member of my community whose voice needs to be heard more and more in our community. It is part of the “peace and prosperity” work that I believe God has called me to do and I do think is a part of His Kingdom work in the church. (Not peace and prosperity in the way that some have interpreted it, however.)
It is about a new curriculum; a new process designed to help those in our community who have lost their job and all the resultant challenges to personal mental and emotional health as well as the impact on one’s relationships. It is called “Talk it Out.”
One of the presenters was a member of the community who shared her story of ‘talking it out’ and who is now reaching out to others to help them ‘Talk it Out.’ After she shared, I was struck with the thought that “here is someone who has found her voice.” And I realized that in “working for the peace and prosperity” of Noble County, we help others “find their voice” to serve and care as well.
The discussion guide is only 15 pages and is a five-week guide. I am going to re-purpose our Thursday night small group in another week and use this guide, with those members of my congregation who so desire it, to help them “find their voice.”
The guide should be available on-line at www.nec.org within the week as a pdf file and has already found its way to places like New Orleans and Washington, D.C.
NEWS FLASH!
I just received a tweet that that East Noble “Boomerang Backpack Program” will appear on NBC Nightly News’ “Making a Difference” segment tonight. This was featured in an article about our county that appeared last month in the Christian Science Monitor. Tune in!
Filed under: community development | Tagged: East Noble Boomerang Backpack, Kendallville Indiana, Noble County, Northeastern Center
