By Terry Jaurena
I recently received an email from someone fairly new to our congregation who wanted to know a few important facts about the Pink House. First, what IS it? Is it in fact Pink? Where is it located? How is the church affiliated with it and what is its purpose? Great questions. You might want to know more about what it IS before you read down to see who is living in IT this year.
The Pink House is in fact Pink. It's a 4-plex apartment building located at 1548 L Street (basically the FPC parking lot). Since 1995 it has been home, literally, to a unique 10-month discipleship program in the heart of downtown Fresno known as the Pink House. Launched initially by Randy White through InterVarsity’s Fresno Institute for Urban Leadership, the Pink House offers young adults 20-30 the opportunity to experientially and intentionally learn about Biblical Community, Urban Ministry, and Leadership Development. Interns live in the house, go through a curriculum, attend some local and national conferences connected with the Christian Community Development Association, and serve in some way for about 5 hours/week. We have always supported the Pink House program and considered them local ministry partners. This year InterVarsity took a pause, and FPC stepped in to coordinating the program at this Ministry House. College Ministry Director Geraud Brumfield and I are co-directing this program.
The Pink House Program occupies 2 of the 4 apartments in the 4-plex. Read down to meet our 4 interns and hear why they said "YES" to this unique opportunity.
Hi, my name is Emily Bernal and I am from Fresno, CA. I am really looking forward to getting to know the city I have lived in my whole life. I am excited to have an opportunity to learn more about downtown Fresno and the people that live there. I also love the aspect of biblical justice, and want to see what it would mean to implement that idea into our everyday lives. I said yes to the Pink House program because I feel like this is where I am meant to be in this stage of my life. Learning about leadership development, urban ministry, and justice are all topics I feel are relevant in this day and age. Growing in my understanding of these topics, while putting God at the center of it all, sounded like an amazing opportunity.
Hi, my name is Rhonda Payne and I am from Memphis, TN. While I am a Pink House intern, I am also the 2020-2021 CCO Fellow working with Geraud in campus ministry. I am looking forward to the Biblical Community that the Pink House offers. I've always wanted friends and a community of people that are passionate as I am about living a Christ-centered life. I said yes to the Pink House because I wanted to continue to grow as a leader. I am excited to apply things that I am learning in the Pink House to campus ministry.
My name is Sarah Raspberry. I am from Waldorf, Maryland and this year I am participating in the Pink House program. I said "yes" to the Pink House because I wanted a space to practice redemptive living in a place where it's okay to make mistakes. I love being able to learn from those around me. I also wanted to have a lived understanding of the biblical meaning of Justice. This year I hope to gain a new lens with which to view the concept of community and new practices that will lead me as I attempt to live a redemptive life.
HI! I'm Matthew Scott, I'm from Visalia, CA, and I have been living at the Pink House for a few weeks now. My experience so far has really opened my eyes to begin to discover my true identity in Christ and my place in the Church and in the community. I said yes to the Pink House to find out what my passions are and how I can best serve the Church and bring about biblical justice and peace in my community. I am definitely looking forward to developing my leadership skills through our classes and in building our community in the house.
Would you like to come alongside these interns and learn what they are learning? Attending the Christian Community Development Association's annual conference has been a seminal event for Pink House Interns for 25 years. This year it will be a Virtual Gathering. Maybe you'd like to experience it, too?
For over three decades, CCDA has presented a compelling vision consisting of a well-articulated philosophy and featuring a constant call to action on behalf of the poor, the vulnerable, the marginalized and the forgotten in every locale. You will be inspired, trained, and connected to a community ready to help you be faithful to bearing witness to the Kingdom of God in your local ministry.
Find out more about the Gathering. Since FPC has a CCDA membership, letting Terry register you would reduce the cost from $ 189 to $ 149. Do that via MyFPC before September 10 when prices increase.
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