Bless Richmond 2013
Posted: Monday, November 25, 2013 Filed under: 2k12, 2k13 | Tags: bless richmond, FeedMore, prayer, Terence Talley Comments Off on Bless Richmond 2013Just a few shots from Sunday evening’s gathering Richmond’s 3rd Annual Bless Richmond gathering. What a blessed evening of over 1800 people from countless churches all worshiping the Lord and praying for Metro RVA. In addition, over 11 tons of food (and counting!!) were collected for Feedmore!
SAVE-THE-DATE 2014: Go ahead and put November 23, 2014 on your calendar! We will see you at the 4th Annual Bless Richmond!
Note: Terence Talley is a 17 year old photographer, senior at John Marshall High School and dear friend and neighbor. He does super work! Watch for more pictures coming from hime!
Bless Richmond 2013
Program Outline
Worship Team (photo cred: Terence Talley)
1865 people in attendance (photo cred: Terence Talley)
(photo cred: Terence Talley)
Pastor prays for Councilwoman Mosby from 9th District – (photo cred: Terence Talley)
Passing it on to the Next Generation (photo cred: Terence Talley)
It’s beginning to look…
Posted: Saturday, November 23, 2013 Filed under: 2k13 | Tags: Christmas, decorations, tree 2 Commentsa lot like Christmas. Even Bella is excited!! 🙂
Hallogivingmas
Posted: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 Filed under: 2k13 | Tags: Christmas decorations, Hallogivingmas, Halloween pumpkins, Thanksgiving 2 CommentsYes…we are THAT couple…THAT neighbor! I admit it. Yes, we have Christmas decorations up with our Halloween pumpkins and fall garden flag and mums before Thanksgiving. Pure craziness, I know. Totally unacceptable. Oh well. So, for the next week or 2, I’m calling it ‘Hallogivingmas’.
Hallogivingmas
I usually can’t stand to see Christmas decorations out before Halloween and Thanksgiving. But, this year…it’s what’s happening. If I don’t manage to get Christmas decorations up before Tuesday of next week, it’s just not gonna happen. Normally, I like to get decorations up the weekend after Thanksgiving. But, this year, it comes really late….and travel and other commitments will keep me too busy to get it done afterwards. So, I said… Why not??? Next, I start the inside. And Saturday, the neighborhood kids are helping me with the tree. Yay!
Anyone want our pumpkins to make something yummy? That’s not happening, either. I have one big one and 2 little ones.
SOOO Excited!
Posted: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 Filed under: 2k13 | Tags: Certificate of Achievement in Nonprofit Management, Nonprofit Learning Point 10 CommentsToday is a big, big day in the Williams household!
1 – I got a visit from the ladies at the Nonprofit Learning Point (NLP)! They personally delivered my Certificate of Achievement and balloons! NLP’s Certificate of Achievement in Nonprofit Management is achieved by completing over 120 hours of coursework through 12+ two-day classes and homework assignments. For more information on the Certificate of Achievement, check out their website>>> Nonprofit Learning Point!
Our neighborhood kids and friends have been so patient and encouraging of this commitment. And… LouDawg has been a HUGE supporter!
photo cred: neighborhood teen – Bishop Bryant
Even Everett came by for the festivities!
photo cred: neighborhood teen – Bishop Bryant
2 – This certification has been completed just in time! Louis and I (along with 3 other founding board members) have officially established our nonprofit ministry – Into the Neighborhood, Inc.! (Be sure to check us out online and on FB!) We are registered with the State Corporation Commission and received our letter today stating that we have completed all the necessary steps to be in compliance with the registration requirements under section 57-49 of the Virginia Solicitation of Contributions Law!
We are in the process of obtaining our 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. IRS Pub 557 indicates that the effective date of our exemption will be retroactive to our date of incorporation which is September 5, 2013.
All of this legal stuff basically means, we can officially solicit donations! More to come!
Louis and I are celebrating by heading over to Croaker’s Spot for dinner before going to praise God with friends at a Gungor concert!
Hallo-BOO-ween 2013
Posted: Thursday, October 31, 2013 Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: barton heights, community, halloween, missional, neighbors, RVA, Urban Life 4 CommentsOur annual front yard Halloween gathering! I think the pictures speak for themselves! We had a blast and had a record number of neighbors and friends – old and new, young and old – who came by! It got so busy we couldn’t keep up with picture-taking and candy-giving.
What a great evening for chillin’ on the front porch with the ones you love! I wouldn’t trade this night for anything.
A Night Unlike Most Other Nights
Posted: Monday, October 28, 2013 Filed under: 2k13 | Tags: crime, missional living, Northside, RVA, shooting, Urban Life 14 CommentsRevised 10.29.2013 11:57pm – Read here for an update on our prayer gathering and more >>> New. Every. Morning.
Revised 10.29.2013 2pm – At 6pm tonight, we will be meeting in our front yard for prayer for our community and our city. Feel free to come! 2101 Barton Ave, RVA 23222
Tonight was a night NOT like most. Our neighborhood has been riddled with different problems and challenges over the 8+ years I have lived here (and, of course, before as well). But, the last few years, I have been so pleased with how calm things have been. How our community has been strengthened. Tonight, however…that has all been challenged when someone was shot in front of our home at 8:30 in the evening. A bullet came in the front of the house, between the 2 windows above the couch – traveled through the living room and the dining room and into the back wall of the house. All this as Louis and I sat in our customary chairs watching TV in the living room. Meaning, the bullet went just a few feet in front of my eyes….1/2 way between me and the TV.
I am mad. I am angry. I am hurt (not physically of course). Yet, I am also grateful to God for his protection. I am thankful for the neighbors, friends and family who have checked in on us, have hugged us, called us, texted, FB’d, etc. It’s a real encouragement.
I am asking that you pray for me….especially for peace. It is not unusual at all for us to have folks enjoying an awesome night of good food and fellowship at our dining room table at 8:30 at night. It’s not unusual for us to have neighborhood kids and teens sitting on our couch or at our table doing homework, writing essays, watching the World Series, snacking on popcorn or chocolate chip cookies, etc. Our house is a house of peace…which I now feel has been violated.
This, of course, brought back memories from nearly 6 years ago when someone else was shot outside our home on the side street on Louis’s and my 4th date. The gunshot victim lived after being shot 9 times. Praise God! Tonight, yellow police tape hung around our house for the 2nd time.
I am asking that you pray for my community and others like it. As neighbors called and stopped by, everyone had a story about how bullets had at sometime entered their home by forces beyond their control. Pray for healing in our community.
I am asking that you pray for tonight’s victim and his family. Pray for the medical staff at MCV who is treating him. I understand that he was shot once, and it wasn’t fatal.
I am asking that you pray for the shooter. That God will ‘arrest’ him/her even before the police do. That the shooter will ‘surrender’ his/her life to Jesus and find what he/she is looking for. That the shooter will turn himself in and seek the help he/she needs.
I am asking that you pray for the police and detectives, as they tirelessly work to solve these senseless crimes.
I am asking that you pray for our ministry and our friends. I know that these things often scare people away. We have youth and adults who join us in our ministry on a regular basis. Pray that this does not deter folks from wanting to love our community with us.
I am asking that you pray that God will work in and through us to bring glory to His name. May Jesus’ name be known through us during this time. That we won’t miss opportunities to minister to our neighbors. That this won’t be a distraction from our calling.
I am grateful to God for so much this evening. To name a few…
- All of us are fine. God’s angel armies are camped around us and our home. I still praise God, regardless!
- Terence was on restriction…although I really want some of his chocolate chip cookies!!! 🙂
- Marques left just moments before the shoot occurred.
- Shooting wasn’t fatal.
- So many neighbors who came to love, support and hug.
- So many friends who are praying, loving and supporting us via email, phone calls, texts, etc.
- Quick and thorough response of our City’s finest.
And, now, I will answer the question that many of you are probably wondering. The same question we were asked last time a bullet came in the house.
“So…are you packing up your boxes yet?”
And our answer remains the same.
“No. Until God releases us to go or sends us some place else, we will stay.” May God be glorified through this and through us.
For those who are curious…and want to see pictures….see below! Wonder what our insurance agent will say when we call tomorrow…
entry from the outside
up close entry from inside house
from the living room
the exit in the dining room beside the chalkboard
Trick-or-Treat 2013
Posted: Monday, October 21, 2013 Filed under: 2k13 | Tags: community, halloween, neighbors, RVA, SBH, trick or treat Comments Off on Trick-or-Treat 2013
Just Say ‘YES’
Posted: Sunday, October 20, 2013 Filed under: 2k13 | Tags: bike repair, community, fishes and loaves, Southern Barton Heights 4 CommentsHow much margin do you leave in your life for God-size surprises and blessings? Sometimes we find ourselves running so fast from one thing to another, or planning just how things are going to go that we leave little to no room for God’s unexpected treats and encounters. Last night, I was tempted to let that happen. Again. I am soooo grateful that I didn’t try to orchestrate it too much.
After several days of scheduling, we were finally getting together with a couple who were married just 2 months ago. Mentally, I had it all planned out. They were bringing dinner with them, so it was going to be a super night of NOT cooking, a simple night of just throwing dishes in the dishwasher and a quiet dinner and sweet fellowship including catching and listening to the update on the adjustments of married life, the honeymoon, and life in general.
Change #1 and #2 – Our housemate was home, because his intended was traveling this weekend; and then another friend showed up moments before our friends were scheduled to be here. Immediately I started to think… how’s this going to work? Should we invite them to join us? They…and Louis….were enjoying the football game when the newlyweds walked in. Of course, the groom joined right into the game and the bride and I found ourselves on the front porch while dinner (their incredible enchiladas!) cooked in the oven.
Change #3 – David and 3 other neighborhood kids happened by and asked if we had an air pump for their bike tires. I was so enjoying our quiet time on the porch and was so torn. I was tempted to lie or make up some excuse, but was quickly convicted and confirmed that we did have one. We found ourselves in the front yard attempting to help these kids work on their bikes. Funny thing is…we didn’t do a thing but push the button on the air compressor while they did the dirty work.
Change #4 – The guys willingly left the TV game and came out to take a look at the bikes, to no avail. We need new chains, a new tire and a seat. We need a bike repair clinic if anyone is willing!!! When things were wrapping up, the bride asked the kids if they had eaten dinner yet, to which they answered no. Again, I found myself tempted to make them a sandwich and send them on their way, when I remembered we didn’t have any bread in the house and again I was convicted, and said… “come on in!”
Change #5 – Terence had been over earlier in the day and came back to finish what he had started making in the kitchen. Our quiet, intimate dinner for 4 turned into a dinner for 6, and then dinner for 10 and ended with a loud dinner for 11. For those who have eaten at our table, you understand how how table is really meant to be full…and overflowing.
I love how God works and arranges everything. We had more than enough enchiladas to go around. I threw together another salad to go with one the newlyweds brought. Plenty of brownies to be devoured by all. Just like other nights similar to this one, it was like the fishes and the loaves. Voila! Miracle in the making. No one went hungry. Today…as I reflect on the beauty of last night. At any point, I could have said no, but I started thinking about everything I would have missed if I had. To name a few…
- a night full of laughter and silliness,
- 3 new young friends,
- a full table and a full heart,
- the chance to see God multiply the food before our eyes…again,
- the joy of connecting my friends together (for those of you who really know me…you know how much I love to connect people!),
- an opportunity to talk to the kids about CHAT and East End Fellowship, since 2 of the kids live in Church Hill and
- selfishly, a chance to plug all the wonderful reasons the newlyweds should move into SBH. 🙂
So, here’s a question for you…
When was the last time you slowed down and allowed your plans to be changed and were incredibly blessed in the process?
Enjoy more pictures…
Lovestruck
Posted: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 Filed under: 2k13 | Tags: cornel west, John 20, love your neighbor, lovestruck, Luke 4, mass incarceration, Matthew 27, michelle alexander, new jim crow Comments Off on Lovestruck
Earlier today I posted this to Facebook…”A little light reading while Louis sleeps and recovers in the hospital! Been wanting to read this for a while, but after hearing Michelle Alexander speak at CCDA – it became a must-read!”
And, I dove right in to The New Jim Crow, but didn’t make it passed the forward where Cornel West writes…
‘Martin Luther King, Jr called for us to be lovestruck with each other, not colorblind….lovestruck is to care, to have deep compassion, and to be concerned for each and every individual, including the poor and vulnerable.’
Matthew 22:37-4037 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Luke 4:16-2116 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
John 20:21-2221 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
What does it really look like to be lovestruck with others???
What does it mean ‘to care, to have deep compassion, and to be concerned for each and every individual, including the poor and vulnerable’?
What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself?
Miss Marti's House 