Praying for the City
The Fresno/Clovis Prayer breakfast was a tremendous opportunity to see the spiritual, business, political, and educational leadership of the city come together as one entity to pray for the welfare of the city, celebrate the accomplishments of the past, and be challenged to continue the taks of rebuilding the walls that are constantly being threatened by violence, addiction, and complacency.
I did say complacency.
We do like to congratulate ourselves and we have reason to. Fresno is a model of what positive things can happen when the faith community joins hands and hearts together to pray or the city and take its civic responsibilities city. In 14 years, Fresno moved from the least livable city in the country with the second highest murder rate to an All American City with vibrant inner city ministries, and safe and thriving downtown, and people of faith who care.
But the mayor and police chief were correct to ask us not to grow satisfied. We have real problems at the street level and it will take the unified efforts, intercession, influence, and hard work of the chuches and other people of good will to walk side by side with the private and government sectors to address these issues.
Barbara Elliot, author of Street Saints, spoke directly to our hearts as she cited her first meeting with Mother T. when she decided that success was not enough - she needed significance. Her story of how prayer brought down the Berlin Wall was more than powerful.
She has a full chapter on Fresno in her book and it is worth a read --- but not so that we will grow complacent - but challenged.
I did say complacency.
We do like to congratulate ourselves and we have reason to. Fresno is a model of what positive things can happen when the faith community joins hands and hearts together to pray or the city and take its civic responsibilities city. In 14 years, Fresno moved from the least livable city in the country with the second highest murder rate to an All American City with vibrant inner city ministries, and safe and thriving downtown, and people of faith who care.
But the mayor and police chief were correct to ask us not to grow satisfied. We have real problems at the street level and it will take the unified efforts, intercession, influence, and hard work of the chuches and other people of good will to walk side by side with the private and government sectors to address these issues.
Barbara Elliot, author of Street Saints, spoke directly to our hearts as she cited her first meeting with Mother T. when she decided that success was not enough - she needed significance. Her story of how prayer brought down the Berlin Wall was more than powerful.
She has a full chapter on Fresno in her book and it is worth a read --- but not so that we will grow complacent - but challenged.
 | Street Saints: Renewing America's Cities By Barbara J. Elliott / Templeton Foundation Press Street Saints is both a book of motivational stories about unsung heroes and a sociological study of the "faith factor," documenting faith-based programs that are treating social maladies in America. Based on eight years of hands-on experience and more than 300 interviews, Barbara Elliot takes readers on a tour of communities and institutions where faith-based initiatives are making a difference. She offers inspiration, role models, and guidelines for people who would like to give back to their own communities. |
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