Dear First Pres,
In November of 2013 we partnered with World Vision to bring an immersive experience called Kisongo Trek to our parking lot. Walking through the truck trailer was like walking through an African Area Development Project, learning all the ways a child sponsorship impacts an entire community. We specifically planned to have the experience here on an ArtHop Thursday to make it a larger than FPC community event. We had an African drumming group and food trucks nearby. It was a significant part of a successful multi-day Kisongo Trek Experience.
God did a lot that I had hoped and prayed for in and through that experience. He also planted an unlooked for and unexpected dream and a desire in my heart. I saw the potential of the corner of M & Stanislaus to be a connection point with our community the first Thursday of every month and was nudged to move in that direction. I gathered a team and we increased our ArtHop engagement from exhibiting quarterly to an every 1st Thursday of the month venue. We dreamed of food trucks and live music and lots of people. And every now and then between 2013 and now there have been glimpses and moments of our venue being that kind of community connection. They have blessed and encouraged us in this effort.
Friends, I believe with all my heart that offering beauty and hospitality here at the corner of M & Stanislaus on a night the community comes out to play is a strategic way to love our neighbors and pursue shalom, to seek the well-being of our city. I believe it so much that I show up in our gallery or on the sidewalk outside of it the first Thursday of every month unless I’m sick or out of town.
Today the gallery is filled with stunning images of God’s creation photographed by Paul Mullins, known to many here at FPC. We have Wing Your Bell BBQ food truck coming. We’re setting up tables on the patio so you can sit to eat. The weather is inviting. It’s a great night to show up.
God might do more than we can ask or imagine in and through the showing up. He just might use us to love our neighbors and use the beauty and hospitality for the well-being of our city. Wouldn’t that be worth it? I still believe it is 9 years later.
Grace & Peace,
Terry
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