A Time of Kingdom Clarity. A devotional written by Eloy Gonzalez, BHITC’s Manager of Ministry Engagement, in response to the series of recent violent events against men and women of color.
A Time of Kingdom Clarity. A devotional written by Eloy Gonzalez, BHITC’s Manager of Ministry Engagement, in response to the series of recent violent events against men and women of color.
Over the past 7 weeks, COVID-19 has caused BHITC to rethink and relearn what it looks like to love neighbors, care for the newcomer and come alongside the most vulnerable in the city. It’s been a season of great challenge for so many, but BHITC also sees the opportunity for the Church to #riseup and embody the love of Christ towards those disproportionately affected by this pandemic. Read about the organization’s response efforts here.
As the Proverb goes: In a person’s heart, he plans his own way,but the Lord directs his steps.* When BHITC announced theopening of a Common Threads – Brook Park location in February 2020, the organization intended to open sometime this summer. At that moment, only God knew the timeline would change in the wake of global developments, but, by His grace, plans to open still move forward!
God’s plans can sometimes be a mystery, yet He asks us to trust him and not doubt. Just when it seems clear what He is asking you to do, circumstances can seemingly fall apart or fail to materialize in the way that you thought, at times leaving believers scratching their heads. For one local family, the decision to faithfully practice generosity as a lifestyle, season after season, was clear, but what God was doing through it took years to fully materialize.
In January, The Hope Center began phase one of its long-awaited renovation plans to improve the appearance and functionality of the building. New flooring was installed in the Gathering Room (the sanctuary of the former church), where the stage area was also reconstructed and redesigned. CareSource Foundation and Three Arches Foundation fund launch of groups who now meet regularly at The Hope Center to discuss in their first language the difficulty of adjusting to life in Cleveland after experiencing so much personal loss and adversity. Plus, Legacy Collective funds new computer lab to bridge the digital divide!
When Geeta Sharma walked into The Hope Center in 2016 to begin the process for U.S. citizenship, little did she know that two of her biggest dreams: to become an American citizen and to pursue her goal to be part of the legal field, were about to come true. A strong family, an even stronger sense of personal motivation and a love of learning has shaped Geeta her whole life. They helped her survive becoming a child refugee in 1998 in Nepal and being sent by her family from Nepal to India for school, where she lived with her aunt.
It’s been a jarring few weeks across our nation and world amidst the unfolding COVID-19 epidemic. BHITC remains as flexible as possible to care for staff, volunteers, partners and communities. COVID-19 is prompting a lot of questions for the Body of Christ right now, especially as many churches shift to a largely online presence and Christians are increasingly isolated.How does the Church respond? What does Christ-like love look like in this moment? Find out here.
Doing the Lord’s work generates many beneficiaries. As mentioned in the previous story, BHITC recently dedicated its fifth housing renovation project on Trowbridge Avenue with eight previously homeless veterans already moved in. Yet, as God always would have it, the blessings produce a return to the givers, as well as the recipients. For members at Bethel Lutheran Church located in Bath and Fellowship Bible Church located in Chagrin Falls, who helped turn the dreams of the Trowbridge project’s tenants into realities, the spiritual dividends are high.
On Saturday, September 21, BHITC kicked off its first-ever Rally CLE event, a new initiative and key element to its community development efforts in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton and Stockyards (CFSY) neighborhoods. The event, which will become a recurring effort, is centered on supporting the ideas residents in these neighborhoods have for improving their own community. Whether it’s a garden, mural, or a community toolshed, BHITC wants to help leverage the leadership that already exists in these neighborhoods through Rally CLE.
“Housing is the building block of neighborhoods, especially neglected urban neighborhoods. Leveraging the capacity of the Church to impact housing sends a powerful witness about the lordship of Jesus,” says Brian Upton, Executive Director, BHITC. In the spring newsletter, BHITC expanded upon its housing and community development initiative, which is part of a 10-year vision, and provided an update on a housing project for veterans, located on Trowbridge Avenue in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood.
