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Central CC of Fresno
“To prayerfully represent the Kingdom of God in the Central Unified School District through evangelism, cross-cultural and holistic ministry.”
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| Title: | July 11, 2010 | ||
| Reference: | Call to Fast | ||
| Notes: | “Call to Fast” July 11, 2010
Introduction: The word “overcoming” has been used for centuries in regard to the Christ centered church as it has persevered through all the terrible trials and persecutions which have taken place throughout the world. The primary means by which the followers of Christ “overcame” was through praying and fasting through the ordeals which they knew (but probably didn’t understand) was under the LORD’s control. Praying and fasting cannot be separated from each other. Fasting is a vital component of our faith and it is a discipline that must be implemented in order to overcome the evil forces controlled by Satan. Please consider setting aside two, five hours periods to not eat anything. And during the whole week pray through the following Scriptures. There are four objectives that seem to belong in this call to fast and prayer: 1. Breaking of spiritual strongholds stifling ministry on the west side of Highway 99. 2. Boldness in living out and verbalizing faith among those who attend these churches. 3. Building up these church’s numerically through this new boldness. 4. Becoming unified in our praise for God’s work among His people.
A. The Mandate to Fast a. Judges 20:26; 1Kings 21:27; Ezra 8:21; Jonah 3:5 b. Matthew 6:16 c. Joel 1:14 B. Primary Reason to Fast – Being with God. a. Matthew 4:1-11 b. Matthew 6:16-18 c. Matthew 6:25-34 Isaiah 12:1-6 … "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. … Each of us has been in a place where we know God was “angry with me.” Yet, just as Isaiah wrote, His anger turned away as we turned to Him and He gave us comfort. Despite our shortcomings and outright disobedience he has chosen to work through us to bring people to Himself. Out of our salvation He will draw others to that same salvation. We can continually give thanks and praise to an All Powerful God who works through imperfection to show the Perfect Christ to the portions of the world in which He has place us. “Sing” to God praises for our salvation and the Greatness of the Holy One.
Isaiah 53:1-12 1 …4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 … For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
It is good to remind ourselves that “doing” spiritual acts are not “spiritual” at all if we think we can manipulate God to our bidding. Praying, fasting, good works, reading and truly knowing His Word, are vital to our ever growing faith and relationship with our Creator. Yet, we are in grave danger if we think we can use them like a magic wand or that we inadvertently turn our Almighty God into our own person “genie” who should be granting us three wishes. If we, His people, the people of HCCD/CCC, will seek Him out with sincerity to His cause then we will become the “Repairers of Highway City” and the “Restorers of the Central Unified School District.” We must guard against “going our own way” and “not doing as you please” or “speaking idle words.” Prayerfully guard the intent of your prayer, fasting and reading of Scripture. Seek to be aligned solely to God’s desire for us to be humble before Him and humble in the victories He will deliver through His work through us.
This is an incredibly provocative (or provoking) Scripture. A people who are being disciplined by being enslaved and taken away from their homeland are told to seek the prosperity of the people enslaving them! They were told to expand their ministry (family), build loving relationships (marriage), and make homes out of their new dwellings (build houses, plant gardens). More profound though is the command (not a suggestion) to seek the peace (shalom-wholeness) AND prosperity of the city in which they would be exiled. Highway City and Central Unified need us to seek their prosperity. We are told to pray for their prosperity in this Scripture. Consequently, as we pray for the prosperity of our community, even those who may be “against” us, HCCD/CCC will prosper also. Pray for the prosperity of Highway City and the Central Unified School District. Pray for test scores, funding, jobs, well-planned development, and graduation rates to rise in the area. Pray to the LORD for it.
There is only one way to accomplish the work God assigns to us. It must be accomplished “in Him.” We must stay connected to God. We must continue to seek Him to be in charge of all areas of our lives. As this takes place it is vitally important that His people (the people of HCCD/CCC) “love each other as I (Jesus) have loved you.” This is what keeps us strengthened, motivated, and encouraged to continue difficult work when obstacles in this world come across our paths. We can expect opposition. But in our love for each other, our desire to “abide” in Christ, the Counselor will guide us in the right direction. Pray for the individual churches to truly “love each other” seeking to abide in Christ. Likewise, seek this for yourself.
The work of HCCD/CCC, and certainly the vision that has been unfolded for us, is daunting. Yet, we do not have “a spirit of timidity” we have a “spirit of power.” What is to be accomplished through God, will not be under our own power, but through His power working through us. Suffering for His cause is difficult to grasp, but we find Paul grateful for the opportunity to suffer and isn’t ashamed in any way in regard to the message and life of Christ. We are told to guard this great treasure, “the good deposit,” that has been entrusted to us. Pray that HCCD/CCC would guard carefully the message and life of Christ in not only motivating us in the work we have been called to accomplish, but that we would not hesitate to declare this message when the opportunities avail themselves. Often, as we go about the work assigned to us by God, frustration, resentment, impatience, anger, and bitterness can take hold. This is why loving each other and seeking to remain in Christ is important. Yet, God has also been gracious enough to give us a picture of what will be someday. We are accomplishing matters that have eternal benefits. Our efforts to serve people in the name of Christ will help others to live the rest of their lives for Christ. Ultimately, the salvation people receive provides the opportunity to live for all eternity in a recreated Earth and Heaven. In the mean time, eternity exists even in the very moment you are reading this. We were “saved” to be with God TODAY. Relish this and pray you can be the vessel which helps provide the path for others to receive this same incredible gift. Pray that through your service to God, and others, many more people will experience “eternity” today. For some people you are the one person God has chosen to reach them through. It’s pressure, but it is also a great privilege. Pray that the ministries of HCCD/CCC will be used by God to extend His Kingdom in ways in which we can’t comprehend.
I prayerfully have submitted this to you as a means to have CCC members on the “same page” as we pray about the work, the ministry; God has created for us to participate in and through Him. It is no accident that 4710 N. Polk Ave. was chosen by God for this work. He has Providentially granted us this place to serve and this people to live among. We are called to glorify God here, and to pray and actively work for the prosperity of Highway City and the Central Unified School District. I have a great anticipation within me to what God will achieve through us as we join together in this CALL TO FAST. I look forward to hearing about each of your experiences. God bless each of you as we journey together in God’s work. Your Servant in Christ, Jeff.
Highway City Community Development Brief
Contents: 1. History of Highway City Community Development (HCCD) 2. Vision/Mission of HCCD 3. Relationship with Central Community Church (CCC) 4. Memorandum of Understanding between HCCD & CCC History of HCCD In 1983 the Highway City Thrift Store was started up with the intention of providing low price items to the community of Highway City. The store was an outreach ministry of Northwest Church and they maintained control over all aspects of the ministry. This is the same year that this unincorporated areas was incorporated into the city of Fresno. The store operated from a house which was converted into a small retail store of approximately 800 sq. ft. and the double garage was used to teach Bible studies and run a makeshift AWANA and youth ministry. Constant flooding in the winter and the growing base of donations and desire to expand the ministry of the store brought about the decision to move the store to its current location at 5472 W. Shaw Ave. As of the writing of this document it has been at that location for 19 years. A food pantry was also added to the ministry. The north section of the building was used for storage and offered little access for product to be purchased. The front portion of the store almost doubled the previous amount of floor space. Northwest Church bore the burden of underwriting the constant monthly deficit of the operations. In January of 1995 a new store manager was hired in order to implement a strategic plan for the use of the facility and the general operating of the Thrift Store. The plan was provided by a group of students from the Business School at Fresno State. The manager was able to implement some of the plan but met some resistance from different groups. The manager was able to increase the monthly sales of the store. Yet, Northwest Church was still underwriting the cost of the monthly operations. In June of 1995 a number of circumstances unfolded which brought an individual out to become the overseer of the Highway City outreach. His general responsibility was to “make the store profitable” and renew the church type of ministry of this outreach. The store manager and the overseer went over the plan from Fresno State and also developed a theologically based ministry. The store and the components which would be added were based on a holistic theology and a theology of place. The church ministries also took on this new theological focus. The theological emphasis brought about a change in the philosophy of ministry. The first 12+ years of the work in Highway City was charitably based. Food and other items were given away and the pricing of the store was on the same level as local retail establishments. Starting in July of 1995, the store and church ministry instituted a “dignity-based” ministry philosophy. People would be given the opportunity to earn the items they perceived they needed. People would be allowed to work for food, appliances, furniture, and clothing. This opportunity to work was extended to people who needed to satisfy community service requirements due to non-violent crime. Additionally, over the subsequent years, partnerships with various organizations with a desire to help rehabilitate people were developed. In the summer of 1995 there were only two full-time employees, the store manager and the overseer. There was an additional part-time cashier brought in on Saturdays. The store had been open only five days a week and the hours of operation were low. The store began to be opened six days a week and from 9am-4pm. In addition, a full-time assistant manager was hired as well as four part-time employees. This would insure better quality control and consistency in receiving donations, pricing and selling those donations, and provided needed time off for the store manager. In August of 1995 the store generated its first month of lower expenses than income. It has been completely self-sufficient since that month. Over the next few years a couple of articles in The Fresno Bee and features on local news stations expanded the donation base. In the first 12-14 years over 90% of donations came from Northwest Church. Now over 60% of donations come from all over Fresno and Clovis and also Madera, Kerman & Selma. This has been enabled by purchasing a truck and running the truck three days a week. This provided another part-time employment opportunity. The increase in sales allowed the store to hire additional part-time help and also institute a six month job training program which can run two people a year at this time. Vision/Mission of HCCD In 1997 a 501 (c) 3 was formed and called Highway City Community Development. While the store was the sole component of the initial start-up the vision and mission were greatly expanded. The vision of HCCD was, and still is, “To transform Highway City and the Central Unified School District into healthy communities of hope through holistic ministry.” To this end the monies generated by any component of HCCD and donations received will be used solely for the Highway City community specifically, and the Central Unified School District in general. The holistic theological base is foundational to the mission statement of HCCD. HCCD’s mission is stated as “Our purpose is to work in Highway City and its surrounding communities to stimulate economic development and enlist indigenous leadership to improve the economic, physical and spiritual infrastructures, thereby bringing hope and stabilization to families in the community.” Directed by this statement the work of HCCD has expanded from the store’s work into two afterschool programs located in the Sierra Mobile Home Park and The Stone Pine Apartments. The Sierra Mobile Home Park after school program is conducted in a mobile home which was purchased by HCCD. In August of 2010, the Urban Leadership Training Center (The Hub) will also become active. The vision and mission are also pointing HCCD toward developing the Highway City Learning Center (HCLC) as a means to truly be a community benefit organization and fulfill the vision and mission of HCCD. HCLC will include a preschool/daycare facility, community center, and library. The property on which HCLC will be developed was donated by CCC. Relationship with Central Community Church The relationship between HCCD and CCC has been intimate and continues to be very closely intertwined. As such, their visions and missions are not just complementary, but tied together through holistic theology and the theology of place. When HCCD was first formed, and out of deference and honor to Northwest Church’s faithful investment into the community of Highway City, people from that church were the majority of the initial board. The initial oversight was for the store. The motivation to separating the store from Northwest Church was to address liability exposure’s due to the expanded work coming through the store and to established the above stated vision and mission. The overseer of the Thrift Store and the Highway City outreach ministry was a member of this original board. He also sensed the need to officially plant a church. CCC was officially recognized as an autonomous church by the Northern California Baptist Conference (now Converge PacWest) in April of 1996. The funding of the ministries of CCC was primarily from the monies generated by the Thrift Store and a much smaller portion from the offerings of the small congregation being developed. The overseer, and now church planter, raised his support separate from HCCD. CCC was officially planted in March of 1997. HCCD continued to fund the AWANA program which was located out of the Highway City Center run by Parks and Recreation. It also funded the youth programs and helped underwrite some of the rental cost of CCC using Central High East campus for its Sunday services. This funding stream continued (10% of gross sales) until the provision of obtaining the current site of CCC (4710 N. Polk). The current site was purchased in June 2001. In 1991 Northwest Church had purchased a piece of property (2.86) with a vision to plant a church at some point. CCC fulfilled that vision but the property was too small. Yet, it was only one plot over from the 4710 N. Polk Ave address. Northwest Church not only contributed $350,000 toward the purchase of CCC’s current site it also “quick deeded” the other property to CCC. With CCC having its own site, and with HCCD having a desire to be more ecumenical in its board membership, membership of the board of HCCD was expanded and included individuals from other churches. Central Community Church was also given a “controlling” presence on the board. This replaced the previous controlling presence of Northwest Church. This ecumenical development necessitated that CCC would no longer receive funding from HCCD. Instead, the funding from the Thrift Store would begin to help build the infrastructure of HCCD. In 2004 HCCD established a paid executive and the vision for HCLC beginning to develop. The need to have land ownership to receive grants and apply for loans (if needed) mandated ownership and not leasing the smaller piece of property owned by CCC. In 2006, the Deacon’s Board of CCC quick deeded the property to HCCD with one significant provision. HCCD could not sell the stated property for any reason without consent of the CCC Deacons’ Board, nor could the property be used for any other reason than the HCLC. Any other intended use would need to be approved by the CCC board. Both CCC and HCCD have strong desires for developing ministry which is accomplished through partnerships and collaboration. Both these organizations set the example. For this reason the two after-school programs are accomplished through this philosophy. Care Fresno helps provide training, curriculum and Americorp workers and is granted permission to use the Stone Pine (SP) and Sierra Mobile Home Park (SMP) sites in their pursuit of donations and grants. HCCD purchased the mobile home used for the SMP site and obtained the grant for the computer lab housed there. Both after school programs are under the HCCD ministry umbrella. CCC is allowed to use the mobile home for its own ministry which includes movie nights provided by a CCC community group and its summer enrichment program. In agreement with Care Fresno, HCCD can also use the two sites for grant opportunities. Part of CCC’s tithing budget is allocated toward supporting HCCD. This is done, in part, out of appreciation for the significant financial support of CCC ministries in the past and also in belief that HCCD and CCC are working together in common mission. Additionally, two pastors at CCC had their ministry descriptions changed. A financial crisis brought about innovation. As the national, state, and city financial crisis grew the CCC finances became an issue to be mitigated by the end of 2008. In January of 2009, facing a possibly significant pay cut, or worse, lay-off, CCC partnered with Care Fresno to help the pastors become Americorp workers and then to start up the two after school sites. HCCD provided the mobile home and accepted the liability exposure for the work being accomplished. After 8 months both pastors were brought back on the payroll of CCC. As agreed upon by the Deacon Board when the plan was put in place, the ministry descriptions for the two positions would not change. HCCD continues to supply the funding for the operations of the after-school programs as well as the space fee, utilities, and phone line for the computer lab. Care Fresno also provides funding and in-kind donations as they are received. CCC continues to staff the programs with volunteers and the leadership through the two pastors. This History of the HCCD/CCC relationship and the guided prayer and fasting found in this document are the reason for the four stated objectives of this week’s fasting and praying. 1. Breaking of spiritual strongholds stifling ministry on the west side of Highway 99. 2. Boldness in living out and verbalizing faith among those who attend these churches. 3. Building up these church’s numerically through this new boldness. 4. Becoming unified in our praise for God’s work among His people. | ||
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