Hey, y'all. This is Christy and Erin, coming at you from the Whittier neighborhood. This year we'll be living together in South Minneapolis through the Urban Neighbors program.
Urban Neighbors is a part of Urban Homeworks. It's a one-year commitment to live our lives in the city. Many aspects of our life are like they'd be if we weren't Urban Neighbors — Christy's still working, Erin's in school — but our home base is now the urban neighborhood at 26th and Blaisdell in Minneapolis. This is incarnational ministry. We are intentionally living in this neighborhood because we love this community. We're here, hoping that God can speak in a new way to us and to our larger community. We're not here to "fix" anything, but to love on our neighbors, to challenge and support one another as we live together, and to learn how to be better
servants.
Now that you know the basics about why we're doing what we're doing, let us introduce ourselves. A couple of interesting facts about us are that we both grew up in rural Iowa and we both love to cook and bake.
I (Christy) work as Licensed Social Worker in Dakota County. I moved up to Minnesota in February 2010 and started attending The Table shortly after. A variety of activities keep me busy throughout the week. From being part of a Table small group to spending Wednesday nights with a group of incredible HSM freshman girls I'm always on-the-go. This is my second year in the Whittier neighborhood and I'm looking forward to staying in contact with my old neighbors through coffee dates and baking up a storm for the new ones!
I (Erin) starting attending The Table a year ago, when I moved up to Minnesota to intern with the CPC Mission Department. I'm a hodgepodge of cultures and passions, being a farmkid who's lived in Iowa, the Philippines, Miami, and now Minnesota. I just started attending Bethel Seminary in September and so far am loving being a student again. Recently, I was certified as a Holy Yoga instructor, and I just started a new class next door at Calvary Baptist Church. Since moving to Whittier two weeks ago, I've realized that I cannot deny I love living in the city. I'm excited to see what this year will bring.
Now, you may be wondering how you can be a part of this awesome experience. Well, let us tell you!
- Check out our vlog below to hear how God's using and challenging us through the Urban Neighbors program.
- Pray for us - our prayer requests are posted below.*
- Come to Erin's Holy Yoga class in Whittier - 6:30PM on Mondays at Calvary Baptist Church (26th and Blaisdell, Minneapolis).
- Volunteer through Urban Homeworks, Calvary, or any of the other fantastic local ministries around here.
- Support our Urban Neighbor programming costs or a ministry stipend. Just write a check to The Table and include "Urban Neighbors" in the memo. Thank you!
*Prayer Requests: We need prayer that we are able to prioritize and discern how we can best use our time and energy — work school, roommates, community.
UPDATE FROM ERIN MARTH - FEBRUARY 8
In my yoga class, I am constantly saying that yoga is a practice just like faith is a practice. We’re working toward something, but wherever you’re at is okay as we’re in the process of training ourselves and moving forward.
I’ve said this over and over, but it's actively true in other areas of my life. My neighbors — and my roommates — are continually reminding me that I have, in fact, not arrived at a perfect place of peace and understanding. Luckily, there’s also some grace afforded on my part.
Over time, I have gotten to know some really amazing people in Whittier. After spending time and energy and life with them, I’ve begun to hear what’s going on in their lives. One neighbor is having a challenging time with her niece. Another neighbor is a veteran with PTSD and insomnia. Last night after our Calvary yoga class, we stood around and talked about some of the people we love who need God’s protection and strength right now.
I get a little impatient sometimes that I don’t have the answers, or that I’m just now getting to know certain people, or that some cross-cultural miscommunication recently led to friction with a neighbor. So it’s helpful to remind myself that the beauty of life isn’t in getting from “Point A” to “Point B” and getting everything right the first go-around. But in stumbling and failing and learning and being present, I can find joy in this beautiful journey that God is leading me on.
SEE BREAKDOWN PROGRAMMING COSTS HERE.
With the $190, the UN program equips Erin and Christy to better love their neighbors through: monthly meeting speakers who help them understand issues like generational poverty and race; individual and house support to live better together; volunteering/community connections; and other events/activities that support them as they seek to live out their faith in Jesus in the Whittier neighborhood. Helping to support a monthly ministry account of $50 will equip Christy and Erin with the additional financial resources to come alongside their neighbors as they develop those relationships. Situations where these resources could be helpful include: school supplies for neighborhood kids, baking supplies for after school snacks, and other opportunities as they arise.
WATCH A VIDEO ON THE URBAN HOMEWORKS' MISSION HERE.
VLOG #5 - November 14
VLOG #4 - October 5
VLOG #3 - October 3
VLOG #2 - September 16
VLOG #1 - August 24
