"Passionately Seeking & Speaking the Love of Jesus"
Dateline: Phillips West
Across the street from our church building is a 4 acre, triangular-shaped "no-mans land." At one time there was the hopeful notion that it would be turned into a new dog park. Said notion was squashed by the opposing views of a few neighbors and an election that ousted its most powerful political ally. So, for the past 2 years the MNDOT owned plot has been completely forgotten... by everyone except drug users and prostitutes. A few kids in the neighborhood found a mattress and pillows among the nearly 6ft. grass and weed laden land. Another kid found a bag filled with used and new syringes, spoons, rubber ties, and other drug paraphernalia.
The latest find was the last straw for Dion (our church handyman and neighborhood patriarch). Dion recruited parents and kids from the block, cleaned up "no mans land," cut down the overgrowth of vegetation, and built upon it a brand new soccer field. Fittingly, the field was christened on July 4th. This cooperation stands in stark contrast to the rising tide of racial tension that was plaguing our block just weeks prior. As testified by those involved, everything that has taken place has been the result of answered prayer.
Speaking of prayer, an interesting fact was discovered in an unusual way- many people come to the church building to pray every single day. In order to rid the premises of the used mattress, Dion moved it to the church property to be picked up on trash collection day. On seeing the mattress in front of the church, people started to complain and question who "disgraced the church" with the offensive bed. Ambulance drivers, Metro Mobility drivers, School bus drivers, and other commuters voiced their concern and informed Dion that they come to the church grounds to pray during their shifts (either in their vehicles or in the outdoor sanctuary). Dion said he spoke to more than 10 different people in the course of two days. Who knows how many more there are?
