Overview
Is God powerful enough to prevent kids from joining gangs? Does the Word of God still have answers for today’s problems? What if the Church at Durham took seriously its responsibility for taking the Gospel to the least of these…? What if for 10 years a collaboration of churches and ministries comprehensively served the 10 most physically and spiritually under-resourced communities in Durham? These are the communities where crime and evil have dominated life for way too long; where kids are not expected to succeed.
Durham needs those who will enter into the pain and suffering of its people… those whom have a vision and passion for serving its city with ten key expressions of the kingdom of God – thus a city blessed by putting God first in every major aspect of life.
-John Blake
A divided world needs people with vision, spiritual maturity and daily skills integral to reconciliation. The church needs fresh resources – a mix of biblical vision, skills in social and historical analysis, and practical gifts of spirituality and social leadership – in order to pursue reconciliation in real places, from congregations to communities.
-Chris Rice
Connect your mission to under-resourced communities to impact:
1) Government 2) Education 3) Church 4) Marketplace 5) Community
Engage all five paradigms for sustainable spiritual transformation:
1) Disciple nations, 2) the marketplace is redeemed and needs to be reclaimed, 3) labor is worship and every believer is a minister, 4) take the Kingdom of God into the kingdom of darkness, 5) elimination of systemic poverty
Incorporate these biblical expressions of kingdom building inside the community:
• Go to the people
• Pray with and for the people
• Bless the people
• Fellowship/relate by eating together
• Listen to the people when visiting
• Proclaim the Gospel with Words and actions
• Identify assets of the people
• Meet real needs that empower people
• Develop and disciple indigenous leaders
• Enrich and be enriched by the people
Vision for a city of hope in Durham
What if the Church at Durham took seriously its responsibility for taking the Gospel to city kids and youth? What if for 10 years a collaboration of churches and ministries comprehensively served the 10 most physically and spiritually needy (under served or under resourced) communities of Durham?
Biblical basis for appropriate actions:
-Isaiah 58 guides us to worship God appropriately…become what God intended
-Micah 6 warns us to live for God appropriately… to act with justice, to love mercy, to live humbly
-Matthew 11:20-24 causes us to evaluate our motives and intents…
-Luke 10 outlines our ministry plan…
Values that guide this movement:
City Kids
Vulnerability-taking risks
Discipleship
Empowerment
Reconciliation
Prayer
Participating Churches and Ministry Organizations
ABCD (Communities First Association)
Duke Divinity and Reconciliation Dept
Kings Park International Church
St. Johns Missionary Baptist Church
Edgemont
Edgemont
Demographics
Population:
15k (total area) 2000+ children and youth (4-14 yrs. old) 87% non-white
Liberty Street Apartments :: 360
Housing:
4277 households (avg. size household 2.15) 93% of occupied housing is rental or vacant Public housing units and single family rentals
Liberty Street Apartments :: 52 units
Economics:
53% below poverty level Unemployment is 40% higher than national average
Education:
40% have not earned a high school diploma No central community school, students attend various public, charter, and private schools High crime, limited shopping resources
Connect, Pray, Serve
Good News Club® – facilitated by Child Evangelism Fellowship Durham Tuesdays 7:00 PM Prayer – general community-wide and specific for residential needs organized through CEF, First Baptist Church and Transformation NC (Durham) Jobs for Life – facilitated by First Baptist Church Durham Tuesdays and Saturdays for 8 weeks
Albright/Holloway St
Albright/Holloway St
Demographics
Population:
16,230 (total area) 2800+ children and youth (4-14 yrs. old) African-American and Hispanic are majority populations
Housing:
5326 households (avg. size household 3.0) 19% single family occupied by owners and 64% rentals Public housing sites: Hoover Rd. Apts. (54 units)
Economics:
Unemployment is more than 100% higher than national average
Education:
41% have not earned a high school diploma One community-based public school, students also attend various charter and private schools
Religious:
Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church is in the immediate area
Marketplace:
High crime and fair shopping resources
Connect, Pray, Serve
No current sustainable programs through the BlessDurham Urban Network
Cornwallis Rd/S Roxboro
Cornwallis Rd/S Roxboro
Demographics
Population:
8,630 (total area)
1,250 children and youth (4-14 yrs. old)
Cornwallis Rd. Apartments :: 850
Housing:
3514 households (avg. size household 2.38)
53% single family occupied by owners and 36% rentals and public housing
Cornwallis Rd. Apartments :: 220 units
Economics:
52% below poverty level
Unemployment is 50% higher than national average
Education:
14.5% have not earned a high school diploma
More than one community-based public school, students also attend various charter and private schools; crime is an issue (no stats); and limited shopping resources
Religious:
Bell-Yeager Church, Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, White Rock Missionary Baptist Church, and Mt. Zion Christian Churches are in the area
Marketplace:
High crime, limited shopping resources
Connect, Pray, Serve
Youth Life Foundation , CEF Durham , Kings Park International Church and other churches are actively involved in tutoring, mentoring, Good News Club® , and teen discipleship and use the community-based Youth Life Center for all programs. Active participation in MLK day service.
Carriage House/N. Durham
Carriage House/N. Durham
Demographics
Population:
5,000 (total area)
550+ children and youth (4-14 yrs. old)
Housing:
Carriage House Apts. is within mid-class neighborhoods and schools of north Durham
All units are occupied by single family renters
Economics/Education: no stats
Religious:
Other churches are in the area, only Christian Assembly Church has made an impact on the
community while partnering with CEF Durham
Marketplace:
Shopping resources available and close
Connect, Pray, Serve
No current sustainable programs through the BlessDurham Urban Network, but had a seven year history of tutoring, mentoring, discipleship with Christian Assembly Church and CEF Durham. (NEEDS TO BE REACTIVATED) Contact BlessDurham if interested in serving.
Hardee St/Wellons Village
Hardee St/Wellons Village
Demographics
Population:
8,745 (total area)
1,423 children and youth (4-14 yrs. old)
African-American and Hispanic are majority populations
Housing:
3029 households (avg. size household 2.88)
53% of occupied housing is rental and 36% is owner-occupied
Corporate-owned apartment housing units and single family homes
Economics:
53% below poverty level
Unemployment is 45% higher than national average
Education:
34% have not earned a high school diploma
No central community school, students attend various public, charter, and private schools
Religious:
Lion of Judah and First Zion Baptist Church are in the immediate area
Marketplace:
Shopping resources available and close
Connect, Pray, Serve
Good News Club® – in the Oakley Square Apts laundry room; the Naples Terrace Community room, but currently inactive (7/20/2010)
McDougal Terrace
McDougald Terrace
Demographics
Population:
13,468 in total area around housing complex (1360 in housing complex)
2400+ children and youth (4-14 yrs. old)
Housing:
Households (avg. size household 2.6)
100% of occupied housing is rental or vacant
360 Public housing multiple family units (200+ kids)
Economics:
Unemployment is 100% higher than national average
Education:
31% have not earned a high school diploma
Close to a community-based elementary school, other students attend various public, charter, and
private schools
Religious:
One church (inactive is in the community) is in the center of the area; church buses, outreach ministries (Bull City Outreach & Frontlinez ) and CEF Durham have held summer and periodic events in this community
Marketplace:
High crime, limited shopping resources
Connect, Pray, Serve
No current programs, but a collaborative team of residents and the BlessDurham Urban Network will be launching a sustainable outreach on MLK day, January 16, 2012. Bull City Outreach conducts periodic block parties.
Morreene Rd/Duke West
Morreene Rd/Duke West
Demographics
Population:
11,000 (total area) live in this area of multiple apartment complexes
Concentration of university students live in area
750+ children and youth (4-14 yrs. old) = 7% of population
African-American and Hispanic are majority populations
Housing:
92% of occupied housing is rental or vacant
Public housing sites: Damar Court (108 units), Morreene Rd Apts (224 units)
Economics:
Unemployment is 40% higher than national average
Majority of employed are slightly above the poverty line
Education:
20% have not earned a high school diploma
No community-based elementary school in the area, other students attend various public, charter, and private schools
Religious:
No churches in the immediate area; church buses, outreach ministries (Frontlinez ) and CEF Durham (Good News Club at Chapel Towers – Sat. 11 AM) and have held summer and periodic events in this community
Marketplace:
Adequate shopping resources, some crime, multi-leveled incomes and racial diversity as renters
Connect, Pray, Serve
No current sustainable programs through the BlessDurham Urban Network.
Morehead/Chapel Hill St
Morehead/Chapel Hill St
Demographics
Population:
10,443 (total area around housing complex)
1,400 (10%) children and youth (4-14 yrs. old)
Housing:
4277 households (avg. household size 2.15)
64% of occupied housing is rental and 24% owner occupied
Economics:
Unemployment is 40% higher than national average
Average income is slightly above the poverty line
Education:
20% have not earned a high school diploma
Close to a community-based elementary and middle schools
Religious:
Traditional churches: Catholic, Missionary Baptist, local Baptist churches
Marketplace:
Some crime, adequate shopping resources
Connect, Pray, Serve
No current sustainable programs through the BlessDurham Urban Network.
Oxford Manor/Braggtown
Oxford Manor/Braggtown
Demographics
Population:
6,908 (total area around housing complex)
Oxford Manor Apartments ::
Carver Pond ::
1,240 (18.5%) children and youth (4-14 yrs. old)
Housing:
2534 households (avg. household size 2.64)
53% of occupied housing is rental and 38% owner occupied
Oxford Manor Apartments ::
Carver Pond ::
Economics:
Unemployment is 30% higher than national average
Education:
29% have not earned a high school diploma
No community-based elementary and middle schools in area
Religious:
Traditional Missionary Baptist and Southern Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches
Marketplace:
High crime, limited shopping
Connect, Pray, Serve
Good News Club® – facilitated by Child Evangelism Fellowship Durham and the Summit Church meets on Saturdays 1:00 PM on the Oxford Manor Apts playground; other feeding ministries (Bull City Outreach & Frontlinez ) periodically serve this community. Good News Club® and after-school program conducted at Carver Pond Apartments on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30pm-5pm. Durham YMCA provides academic and fitness resources for the after school programs in Oxford Manor and Carver Pond Apartments.
Rochelle Area
Rochelle Area
Demographics
Population:
6,468 (total area around housing complex)
1,100 (17%) children and youth (4-14 yrs. old)
Hispanic is majority population
Housing:
2151 households (avg. household size 3.00)
37% of occupied housing is rental and 58% owner occupied
Rochelle Manor and 2-3 other apartment complexes is a public housing complexes in area
Economics:
Unemployment is 40% higher than national average
Education:
22% have not earned a high school diploma
No community-based elementary, but Neal Middle Schools is in the area
Religious:
Traditional Missionary Baptist, Southern Baptist, Independent Baptist and many other churches are in the area
Marketplace:
Some crime, adequate shopping
Connect, Pray, Serve
Walltown
Walltown
Demographics
Population:
14,349 (total area)
1,148 (8%) children and youth (4-14 yrs. old)
African-American and Hispanic are majority populations
Housing:
5771 households (avg. household size 2.11)
59% of occupied housing is rental and 32% owner occupied
Economics:
32% live below the poverty line
Education:
17% have not earned a high school diploma
No community-based elementary or middle schools, but charter and private schools are in the area
Religious:
Traditional Missionary Baptist (Key churches: St. Johns Baptist and St. James Baptist), Presbyterian, and Southern Baptist churches are in the area
Marketplace:
Some crime, adequate shopping
Connect, Pray, Serve
Collaboration in ministry facilitated by the BlessDurham Urban Network is beginning via Urban Hope which has a sustainable discipleship ministry to community teens, Reality Ministries located in the general area, provides an after school program for teens, and sports camps/clinic have been held in the Walltown Park by CEF Durham
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