So I've really been struggling with something. Since about October of 2006 we have been searching for an apartment complex to purchase in order to expand our capacity and to have place to build a sense of community among the single mother families we work with. In December of '07 a good friend of mine made us aware of the building in the center of the map below.
The address is 2510 E. 5th Ave and it is located in the historic Parkridge Community right outside of downtown. The neighborhood has a tremendous association with a lot of renewed interest in the community. The property is just what we have been looking for. It is 8 units for $119,000 with around another $300,000 to rehab. It's history is rich and was originally used as rental property for women who's husbands had died in the war during the '40s. It is 5 feet from 5th Avenue Baptist Church which has a 3 star state recognized childcare rate for 60 kids. This would be a huge asset for our family's. Also the same friend who told us about the property is putting an offer in on the house right beside it and a friend of their's just purchased the house right across the street. So you may be asking, "What's the problem?"
Well, although Parkridge is on the upswing, the southeastern corner of the neighborhood (where this building is located) is way behind. It has the most criminal activity including drugs and prostitution. Also this district has the worst schools in the whole county.
So here's my issue. Even though I could make the decision for my family to live their can I really make that decision for the single mother families we work with? When we say God is restoring all things we really believe that. He is restoring us, the families we work with, our schools, our communities, our world, everything. So we know he is at work in that community and we would love to join him there, BUT how is it ok for us to expect the families of The Restoration House to be working toward their own restoration in that environment? Is this an opportunity to be incarnational or is this when you say this is for someone else at another time? I'm not scared but I want to do what's best for our families on their journey of restoration. What would you do???
4 comments:
i think if you have doubts, you should keep looking and in Gods time, he will provide something.
Well, the things is it's not really doubt. I am asking God if this this the time to risk (which I think God often asks us to do) or is this the time to protect (which I think he asks us to do but far less often). Does that make sense?
really tough question, man. i don't know. my gut thought is that you're sort of trying to help families move out of that environment ... but maybe that's not true, i'm not sure, and i can't pretend to know your heart for this ministry. keep struggling!
In my opinion, I think helping would be providing a way out of that type of stuff. It is a great location and you would reach out to the community. My guess is there are a lot of people in that community that need TRH. But, could you hold an AA meeting in a bar? Maybe you can, but i see a lot of positives to being very remote from that stuff.
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