Would You Move After a Shooting On Your Front Lawn?
In other cities where my wife and I have lived, if we would have had a dinner party or game night for 20 guests (assuming they were all Christians), all 20 would have gone to our church. In Memphis, we will invariably have six or eight churches represented around our table or living room.
Don't mistake this for a willy-nilly ecclesiology where people aren't committed to their own fellowship or are lazy about membership. My wife and I are deeply committed to First Evangelical Church. However, we regularly rub shoulders with folks from Second Presbyterian, Fellowship Memphis, Christ the Rock, Kirby Woods Baptist, Independent Presbyterian, Highpoint Church, Christ City Church, Christ United Methodist, and Germantown Baptist. When I'm fortunate enough to meet an unchurched Memphian, I'm happy to invite them to First Evan. But I'm just as happy to recommend about 10 other evangelical churches if it makes more geographical or denominational sense for them.
In addition to the churches, numerous organizations and nonprofits are fostering a unified ethos:
Binghampton Development Corporation and Service Over Self are improving the quality of life in one of the most historically dangerous communities in Memphis.
Streets Ministries, Eikon Ministries, Urban Youth Initiative, and Memphis Athletic Ministries all reach out to urban youth in some of the most underprivileged parts of the country.
The Poplar Foundation, Barnhart Crane & Rigging, and the Kemmons Wilson Foundation are businesses and philanthropic groups stewarding God's resources to further kingdom initiatives.
Operation Broken Silence is providing care and shaping policy to free women from sex trafficking.
Refugee Empowerment Program and Su Casa Family Ministries address the needs of the refugee and Hispanic populations, respectively, of Memphis.
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Lydia Wong
Luke 14:26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple...33So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple" I'd say that Jason has made the right commitment.
Pop Seal
Bullet hole in roof, shell casings in the street, man hunts around houses at night, and more caused me to LEAVE NEW ORLEANS (1995) and I've never regretted it. I'd do missionary work there, but I'd not move my family back for anything.
Bobby Harrison
If not the Seville's of the world, then who? Who will answer the call? My hurt hearts with fear for that family. But you know what, it should hurt even more for any neighbors God has put around them that don't know Christ. That is True Love. I'm chewing on John 10:11, 15:13, Romans 5:7, 1 John 3:16. And even if my heart was so hard that I couldn't allow myself to consider my neighbors there my brothers and sisters...even if, because of the bullets flying around my home, I considered them my enemies...well then we know what Jesus has to say about that: Matthew 5:43-48. Praying for you and your family, Jason. Thank you for rugged, real faith.
Teresa Ulrich
I moved here to Memphis three years ago, and have fallen in love with this city. This city can be so rough, but it's got so much grit and heart, and I see the Kingdom blossoming here. It is reminiscent of Jesus' words in Isaiah 61:1-3: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified."
Charles Cosimano
In other words you are willing the risk the life of your family for this committment. Perhaps you should consider a committment of a different kind.