Communities First

1st CRC of Seattle

Instead of trying to get people into their church members of 1st CRC of Seattle go out and meet people where they are. They have started doing this through Asset Based Community Development, community block parties, and something called Service Sundays....

A Partnership Case Study

Anaheim Church and the Orange County Christian Charities (OCCC) Partnered together to more effectively help people in need throughout their communities...

BreakTime Bakery

Instead of just sitting around and playing video games all summer  these middle school students bake a variety of goods. The kids sell their products and in the process learn responsibility, new skills, and of course new recipes!

Community Garden

How can you bring neighbors together and encourage neighborhood involvement? Start a community garden.

Creating Hope for Chattanooga

Paul Green discusses how the Hope for Chattanooga program in Glenwood, Tennessee works within their community. Programs and examples of their work are shown as well as their vision for the community...

Deciding to Move

John and Trudy Shuravloff discuss how and why they decided to move out of their suburban dream home to the Roosevelt neighborhood of Bellingham, Washington. John and Trudy are examples of when Christians love their community enough to give shape to them...

Do You Really Love Your Neighbor?

Here are some wild ideas: making a difference in the community; listening to what your neighbor has to say; doing what God really asks us to do. MIKA community development corporation seriously address these questions and issues. Do you?

Effective Aid

Fathers 

Active fathers make better families. This is a program that helps to connect fathers with their kids. This video is about trying to reclaim the father being an important figure in the home, as well as encouraging them to be active in their children's lives...

In, For, and WITH the Community

To develop a community you have to be willing to live in it.  To be WITH a community means to be a servant to the community. 

Jesus and the Kingdom

This video link illustrates how heaven is not only a future reality, but also has the potential to be a present condition.  Author Brian McLaren discusses the liberating yet disturbing message from Jesus about living in the Kingdom of God.

Salvation

Positive Impact, in Miami Florida, held a course on the theology of development for future community leaders. One topic it touched on was salvation and how it liberates the whole person. Participants learned that salvation is not only a future reality, but also a present condition... 

Terri

Terri, a former prostitute, talks about her life changing experience and building relationships. Mercy with relationships leads to results... 

Tony and Kyle

This is a video about Tony and his mentor, Kyle. Tony has Asperger's syndrome and when his mother asked for a mentor Volunteers in Service stepped in to help find one.

The Green Bean

The Green Bean coffee house is a non-profit approach to coffee.

The Green Bean Story 1

This is a story from the Green Bean coffee house in Seattle, WA.

The Green Bean Story 2

This is another story from the Green Bean coffee house in Seattle, WA.

The Power of With Conference: Doug Pagitt Plenary

This is Doug Pagitt's plenary from The Power of With Conference 2009. Doug addressed how the church can be relevant in today's culture.

The Power of With Conference: Marilyn Stranske Plenary

This is Marilyn Stranske's plenary from The Power of With Conference 2009. Marilyn addressed how the church can be WITH communities using stories from her own experiences.

The Whatcom Dream

Trudy Shuravloff talks about getting help from the Whatcom Dream and how it has changed her life... 

This Is George

This is a story about how simply showing someone they are needed can change their life.

Transform Space Into Place

This video link shows the story of a grassroots startup in Portland called "City Repair Project"; who transform space into place.  Neighbors come together to reclaim their streets and share community.  After watching the video imagine how churches could change space into place. 

What If?

What if we actually practiced what we preached and loved our neighbors as ourselves? What could we accomplish if we only try? What if we put our communities first?