April Kennedy Abundant Community, Building for Hope, Worship & Fellowship

B4H Prayer Reflection: Affordable Housing

During Advent, we are learning to see more clearly the needs of our community that are rising to the surface through our Building for Hope process. This week, we’re turning our attention to affordable housing—the growing pressure our neighbors face in finding a place they can truly afford.

Last Sunday we named how this challenge shows up all around us: families facing eviction, parents choosing between rent and groceries, neighbors unable to find housing within their budget, households spending more than half their income just to keep a roof overhead, people living one unexpected bill away from losing stability, and, at its most extreme, neighbors experiencing homelessness.

We acknowledged that the crisis is larger than any one solution, and yet God invites us to begin by seeing, listening, and responding with compassion.

As you move through the week, we invite you to pause and reflect:

  • Name where you’ve seen the lack of affordable housing create hardship—now or in the past. Who comes to mind? What story rises up for you?
  • What do you find yourself longing for God to do?

May these reflections shape our prayers and our readiness to take the next faithful step together.

Prayer: God of shelter and shalom, give us eyes to see, courage to listen, and hearts willing to respond.—Amen

April Kennedy Community Ministry, Testimonies

Glimpses of the Kingdom: How God Provided on Our Busiest Day

Saturday marked the busiest day of community ministry this year, with over 140 families coming through our doors. It was amazing! We had been moving steadily for over an hour when I had a brief conversation with Sterling. He mentioned he’d heard it was a “slow morning.” I couldn’t help but laugh, knowing full well it was anything but slow.

What we experienced was God providing exactly what was needed, often before we even realized we needed it. Take the neighbor who stepped up to manage sign-ins outside, confidently giving directions in English and Spanish while I helped by making name tags. There was also a neighbor couple who jumped in without hesitation, assisting in the clothes closet and preparing cold bags for others, their faces beaming with smiles. A neighbor we’ve just started getting to know offered to take out the trash whenever he is here. A new VCU student stepped right in to shop with neighbors, and another new volunteer spent a long time attempting to bring order to the chaos of toiletries in the pantry.

Each of these moments was a small glimpse of the Kingdom of God—expanding into a beautiful picture of who we are becoming together: a place where we all belong and where we can all love and be loved.

tbc Art of Neighboring, Community Ministry, Life of the Community

Come and See

Standing in the stairway, welcoming a neighbor into the building, our conversation follows a familiar path. “How is your family? You know I’m always going to ask you that because I know your family is important,” they say. This neighbor, despite their own complex family history and solitude living situation, consistently takes the time to ask about my loved ones. There is nothing unusually deep or unique about the conversation, yet it yields empathy and compassion. It’s the moment I see the best of my neighbor.

This is when I recognize Christ in my neighbors face. It’s this moment where we are genuinely caring for each other, that I see a more complete picture of my neighbor. This pushes me towards deeper empathy and understanding.

Holy moments happen all the time. They unfold in normal conversation, with the participants leaving knowing they were on holy ground. They don’t depend on your ability to fix or assist, but rather on simply being present and authentically engaging with others.

Amidst the holy moments on Saturday mornings, we offer a hot meal, food and clothes. Food might be the “why” that brings people into the building but it should not trump getting to know our neighbors. When we look at our neighbors with love, we see the best parts of them—we see Jesus. Come and see.

-April

Saturday, May 18, 7:30 – 11:15 a.m. We would love for you to join us on Saturday morning. There is an opportunity for everyone: signing in neighbors, cooking breakfast, assisting neighbors with shopping, restocking, organizing clothes, loading cars and of course the best opportunity of all— enjoying time with neighbors around the table. 

Please sign up and let the team know you are coming! 

https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSf4HUJAN7dD2l…/viewform