Jesus is the Key to Restorative Justice - CCDA Dallas 2019

The Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) 2019 “Forward” Conference in Dallas was truly an amazing and mind-blowing learning experience for the Legacy crew! This was just what we needed to reconfirm we are on the right path with pursuing restorative social justice in our community of South-West Springfield. It was also the spark that reignited a passion to keep us moving forward despite the many setbacks and hardships we have faced as individuals and as a community as a whole over this past year.

CCDA emerged out of the context of American Evangelicalism, influenced by the Social Gospel movement, emphasizing that the church must do its part in responding to the macro-economic structures that drive social injustice, in order to heal and reform an unjust society (Eccleston & Perkins, 2018). Arrested and tortured in the 1960’s for organizing the poor community of color in Jackson, Michigan, Black Evangelical pastor John M. Perkins wrote his first best-selling book, Let Justice Roll Down in 1976. Wayne Gordon and John M. Perkins co-founded CCDA in 1989 out of concern with the state of declining urban neighborhoods in the wake of White flight and suburban mega churches, calling on Christians to radically reinvest in locations of poverty by moving to the inner city to disrupt the isolation. 

CCDA is based in Chicago, Illinois and is a national network of churches, organizations, and individuals that were originally formed around three key ideas, commonly referred to as The Three Rs: Relocation, Redistribution, and Reconciliation. Over time, the CCDA philosophy expanded to include five more core beliefs: Leadership Development, Listening to the Community, Church-Based, Holistic, and Empowerment. CCDA now has roughly 15,000 members and its primary focus is providing networking and training opportunities through national conferences, regional events, literature, and leadership cohorts (Eccleston & Perkins, 2018). 

One of the most important and best takeaways at the National Conference every year is the Go & See. This is an opportunity to go and visit an organization within the city that is embodying the core beliefs of CCDA and putting into action what American Evangelicalism is truly meant to be. Community development and religion go hand in hand, there is no denying that true restorative justice can happen without the help of Jesus. Jesus is the key to restorative justice. Jesus himself said “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone (Luke 11:42, NIV).” Believers and the church are the vehicles to community development and it is the church’s job to provide restorative justice to the community, not to neglect it. Religion is a meaningful component of community life according to multiple studies, and religious organizations play a major role in supplying social services and community development (Eccleston & Perkins, 2018).

“According to Eccleston & Perkins (2018), “The CCDA is an influential leader in the world of American Evangelical Christian development efforts and advocates for a unique approach to poverty alleviation grounded in proximity and relationships: CCDA encourages all of their practitioners to take residence in the neighborhoods they serve and to remain there for at least 15 years.” 

This is a key belief that we strongly believe in at Legacy. In order to serve the community that you are working with, you need to be living life with them, building long-lasting connections and relationships with them, and experiencing the same social injustices that they may be facing. A central theory in community development is social capital which focuses on the way in which bridging (relationships across differences) and bonding (relationships across similarities) connections among individuals and institutions provide stability and capacity for society (Eccleston & Perkins, 2018). Four concepts of social capital that are prominent in community psychology are neighboring (help and support from community members, informal assistance, and sharing of resources and information), sense of community (identity and belonging within a group), empowerment (individuals and groups gain greater control over their lives and environment, acquire values, resources, and basic rights, and achieve important life goals), and citizen participation (engagement with local community voluntary associations to collectively solve shared problems). 

Look forward to our next blog which will discuss our “Go & See” at “Cornerstone Baptist Church/Development Corporation” in South Dallas and learn how they have incorporated all of these key concepts into their community that was once labeled “The War Zone.”

Eccleston, S. M. P., & Perkins, D. D. (2018). The role of community psychology in Christian community development. Journal of Community Psychology, 47(2), 291–310. doi: 10.1002/jcop.22121

Blog by speaksinlove

A Failure to Respect and Observe Black History Month

There are many who would say in America that race relations are just fine, that African Americans are just too “sensitive.” They need to just “get over” the past. Slavery is over, let’s just move on.

February is a federally recognized, nationwide celebration that calls on all Americans to reflect on the significant roles that African Americans have played in shaping US history.  Carter G. Woodson is considered the Father of Black History Month for his study of African American history. He is given much of the credit for Black History Month by writing African Americans into history since history textbooks largely ignored America's black and brown people. Granted, not everyone supports Black History Month.

To add insult to injury, all over the nation this month there has been much disrespect and little celebration, as it has been overshadowed by dishonor.

Gucci released a blackface sweater in February. Burberry released a hoodie with a noose as an accessory. College students paraded around in blackface on their campuses.  Atlanta teachers thought it would be a bright idea to hold an assembly for their second graders' parents; where their children were in blackface masks,  reciting Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem, "We Wear The Mask" in “honor” of Black History Month. Apparently we need to have a conversation again about the toxicity around minstrelsy in America; whites dressing up, caricaturing African Americans, mimicking their dance, their language, their music as comic relief for their audiences. This use of these images to dehumanize and stereotype is not honoring. What the cuss, can we do better people!

Dishonoring Black History Month and failure to observe it, is another racist assault on the African American people.  Organizations and individuals need to just do better!  A little cultural awareness and intercultural training would go a long way towards bringing to light biases and help people to work with and connect cross-culturally.

Langston Hughes said it well...

Let America Be America Again
“O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath—
America will be!”

How do we get there:

February 1st marks the beginning of Black History Month!
Black History Month is American history!  This month can be celebrated in many ways.  Celebrating this month is an opportunity to reflect on our past.  As we look back, we can acknowledge and lament over the tragedy of slavery, lynching, abuse, and rape of black people, etc.  In doing so, we are reminded of what people are capable of, so we don’t repeat the atrocities of the past.


Black History Month helps us to examine where we are as a country. It allows us to look at the most challenging issues facing African Americans now as a result of centuries of slavery, systemic oppression, and neglect.   Facing history allows us to find ways to build racial equity in our broken systems.

Black History Month gives us an opportunity to acknowledge and recognize the often ignored  accomplishments and contributions of African Americans.  Through celebrating Black History Month, we can give credit to those who did not receive honor when they were living.

This celebration gives those who are not black an opportunity to personally embrace cultural awareness and inclusion of other ethnic groups as a lifestyle, acknowledging that black and brown lives do matter and are worth getting to know.

As this month of celebration closes out and we look to the future, if you are interested in finding meaningful ways to observe Black History Month, here are some suggestions found in the link below.

Here are 3 methods each with a list of ways to celebrate.

Celebrate-Black-History-Month?

• Method 1 Learning about Black Art and Culture
• Method 2 Going to Black History Month Events
• Method 3 Engaging with Black History and Heritage

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Blog by ahhisvirtue 

Moving from Enmity to Friendship Among Believers

October 22, 2018
ahhisvirtue


At Legacy unity is a big deal! 

As a parachurch organization we are focused on a movement to promote unity among believers through connections. We believe The Church is the vehicle that God uses to accomplish His will in the earth. We know that there are many issues that threaten the unity of the body or Christ by means of denominational conflict, racial segregation, and plain old spiritual abuse. Legacy promotes health and unity by creating pathways for the church to love God and Her neighbor through reconciliation. 

God....reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
-2 Corinthians 5:18

What is reconciliation?

Reconciliation- Greek word Katallasso

"to change from enmity to friendship, to reconcile." With regard to the relationship between God and man, the use of this and connected words shows that primarily "reconciliation" is what God accomplishes, exercising His grace towards sinful man on the ground of the death of Christ in propitiatory sacrifice under the judgment due to sin....By reason of this men in their sinful condition and alienation from God are invited to be "reconciled" to Him; that is to say, to change their attitude, and accept the provision God had made, whereby their sins can be remitted and they themselves be justified in His sight in Christ. -Vines Expository Dictionary 

I don't have copy right to this image these are community murals and mosaics, serving as voices for those who wish to be heard in Chicago. 

How can we model reconciliation in a divided society?

"Just as Christians fight against lust, pride, greed, and other sins, so also we must intentionally fight against racism and fight for racial reconciliation. To clarify, my proposal is not a spiritualized version of Affirmative Action. Instead, I am proposing a gospel-centered, God-centered, Christ-exalting, and Spirit-filled fight for racial reconciliation that is motivated by love and service to one another in Christ. By God’s grace, may he allow Christians and gospel-centered Christian churches from the confederate south to the remotest tribe in Africa to believe, love, live, preach, and pursue gospel-centered racial reconciliation in both church and society. " _Jarvis J. Williams, PhD

At Legacy, we come along side local churches offering specialized services and training. These services promotes opportunity for healing the divides caused by sin and our society. We address reconciliation issues head on through through awareness, education, and doing good works. 

Legacy is a hub for connection and trains churches to, "live the Dream."  Legacy intends to motivate, challenge, and give creative, out of the box ideas to promote reconciliation and unity.  

"Reconciliation is a politically correct concept, but moving beyond concept to reality requires paying a high price. Churches that have successfully implemented a multiethnic vision have labored under difficult circumstances to pay a price to buy the dream, a dream that has not always been good or popular." -The Dream is Alive 

A couple ways we build bridges are: encouraging local churches to work together to care for the community in which they are positioned. This is a great opportunity to lay denominational differences aside and collaborate with other local churches and organizations. 

Lastly, we equip the church to engage their communities in safe and healthy ways through trainings and workshops such as: community development, cross -cultural and racial reconciliation, etc. Trainings like these help local churches and individual believers understand their community and  find the best way to connect with the people in their sphere of influence.  As a result the church will be equipped to serve people with a lasting impact, share the gospel as ministers of reconciliation, and disciple in mutual beneficial relationships. In addition, Legacy creates connection points for individual relationships to begin and grow. 

Our current focus in promoting unity in the body of Christ by loving our neighbor: We need people who will be agents of change and pay the price for gospel centered racial reconciliation!

This was just the start of our conversation, there is plenty more that needs to be said about unity in the body and more specifically among racial reconciliation among Christians. It would be nice to hear from pastors who believe unity is a big deal as well! What are the challenges you face in going after unity and growing a multi-cultural or multi-ethnic church?

If you enjoyed this post, I’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Facebook. Thank you!

You also might like these articles:
The Front Porch-The Need for Gospel-Centered Racial Reconciliation
PURGING RACISM FROM CHRISTIANITY pdf
https://thefrontporch.org/2014/01/the-actual-accomplishment-of-racial-reconciliation/

Don't forget to like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/legacycdspfld/

Blog by ahhisvirtue 

Intro To Hunting : 4 week crash course

Prayer Tent Outreach

Today, we are launching our prayer tent outreach!!! Please be in prayer for our neighborhood and individuals who stop by in need of prayer. Our prayer is to allow God to use us to dispense hope in our community and that people would encounter the love of our Lord Jesus.


http://www.fcsministries.org/blog/2017/4/4/7-prayers-for-our-neighborhood

Following Him

After leaving everything and following Him (Jesus!), we sought to follow him as he loved on the city of Springfield and our under-served Neighborhood. We followed him in building trust and igniting hope. We followed him in pursuing unity through racial reconciliation/healing.

We aimed to do what Jesus was doing by reconciling ourselves with our forgotten and often overlooked neighbors. Along the journey, we partnered with Joy Fagan who is the founder of Sifi Ministries and Safe Harbor House to pursue similar dreams that we all carried in our hearts for our dear community.

We dreamed of how God wanted to use us where he placed us, in a community that is rich with history and beauty and also broken and divided. We dreamed of growing in relationship with our neighbors, turning 'us" and "them" into "we" as we build real relationships. We dreamed of affirming the dignity of the people in our community as they were made in the image of our Creator. We followed him into loving them and into right relationship with Himself as their true selves, families, and community. We dreamed that this right relationship would not just be spiritual, but emotional, physical, economic, and social. We considered what it would be like to restore the age-old foundations, repairing the ruins of injustice left to spread through our city. We dreamed of restoring the streets to do justice in which all could dwell. As in the words of the Prophet Jeremiah," we work and pray for the well- being of our city (or neighborhood)," believing that if the entire community does well and prospers, then His Light will rise in darkness.

As we continue to dream, we pray, and we work, doing justice in our city as Isaiah 58 shouts out for us to do. May a beloved community emerge and a Legacy left that glorifies Christ as we march on following Him. - "you are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read" John MacArthur

~Ashley

A New Day- Our First Public Meeting

On February 28th, 2016, Legacy Servant Leadership Team met with over forty community members to ask what the needs were of those that we live and work among and how we could help. We shared our unique pasts and experiences that had led us to this point and a vision for empowering all people of southwest Springfield through the story of Jesus Christ and the relationship aspect of His love for all.

We recognized the generational cycles of poverty, the drug abuse that plagues our streets, and the reality that our neighbors, loved ones, and friends may feel voiceless and invisible in the daily struggle to exist.  Hoping to lay the ground work for many community meetings to come, after a short time of sharing the servant-leadership team's own vision of how we could be part of the solution rather than adding to the problems, we asked those in attendance to talk about their concerns and suggestions. To love well always requires sacrifice, but we believe strongly that God has plans to prosper a nation and OUR community.  (Jeremiah 29)

Below are the handouts we distributed:
_________________________________________________________________________________
"I Have a Dream"- Legacy Community Development

Why Legacy?
* A vision for breaking generational cycles
          Generational sins/cycles, lies believed, life hurts, oppression
*A life well lived invests in a better life for those who come behind us- "May those who come behind us find us faithful"
*A commitment to multi-generational living

Why Community Development?
*At its best, the community, "Family", lives life together. Much has happened to divide and isolate us. We need to identify these barriers/ obstacles and be a family again- personally responsible for our individual lives and deeply committed to each other.
*Breathing hope and life into a community will not happen accidently.
   Development requires us to be intentional and put some "skin in the game."

Key areas of focus:

1) Connection and Collaboration
      Create pathways to current services
     Create pathways to connect w/ each other & build relationships

2) Education and Activities
     Create ownership opportunities via education
     Create opportunities for our community to be active together
     (playgrounds, social gatherings, etc.)

3) Church Life- Gathering Place
     Prayer & Praise, Truth and Love/Grace/ Mercy

None of us can do this alone!

_________________________________________________________________________________
The second handout asked for feedback on five significant components. Including optional areas to share what resources and abilities each one brought to the table and contact information if those individuals wanted to be contacted on the progress and potential utilization of their abilities/resources.

1) What services do you think the people of southwest Springfield need (Financial, Food banks, clothing, recovery meetings, jobs, literacy, tutoring)? List as many as you can!

2) What are the barriers or obstacles that are hindering southwest Springfield?

3) What are some activities or spaces that we can develop that would help us get to know each other and build stronger relationships and a more caring community?

4) What informal classes/ educational opportunities do we need to provide/ take advantage of?

5) Do you think our community will "Give Church a Chance"? Why or why not?