I’m excited this morning. For the past couple of months Deb and I have been looking to move into one of the many large apartment complexes near work. We’ve walked the grounds, met some people, made some friends, and prayed. Several of the folks at work live in these communities. One of our goals is to find natural ways to connect with and care for unsaved people as we work to plant a church.
A few weeks ago, on our way to a picnic we were hosting for about 20 people (friends we’re getting to know in that side of town), we drove past some apartments we hadn’t seen. We’d already pretty much decided, with reasonable logic, on another complex. Just to be sure that we pursued any and every nudge by God, we checked this last one out before signing the lease elsewhere. Well, sure enough, as so often in following the God of the last minute (always on time, never late, and–frustratingly for type A’s–never early), our Logical choice gave way to a calm conviction of heart. We’ve signed a lease at The Trails. Now what?
We don’t have any expertise in reaching apartment communities. Really, we don’t have a clue. We do trust Him to lead us. So, as we examine what opportunities are present to naturally care for those around us, we’ll respond, and trust Him to lead us however differently He chooses. We want as much as possible to pursue “natural, uncontrived connections” in reaching neighbors, coworkers, and acquaintances. At the moment, here are some ways we think about caring, showing kindness, and frankly enjoying those around us (yes, we plan to enjoy the company of unbelievers, to have fun together, to laugh and play). When we can offer other help in serving others, we’ll do that, too. We’re just asking God to put the people we meet into our hearts. The heart will know what to do when the head doesn’t. And yes, we certainly look forward to sharing with friends who Jesus is in our lives, and who He is to them.
Some early thoughts on the natural connections (please offer ideas/advice):
1. This is a community of 200 apartments which are in the early stages of renovation. They aren’t renting them out until the renovations are done in each building, and I think we are under 50 apartments presently available or rented. So, this is a relatively new community, with a flexible “DNA” and new families moving in every month. Some possibilities:
- We can welcome each new family/tenant by dropping off a meal on the day of their move, or the day following.
- We can host a community picnic “get to know your new neighbor” sort of thing. Maybe this is once a month, or maybe this is ad hoc, as in “hey, we’re having a picnic with two other families here on Saturday, why don’t you stop by and have a burger?” Probably both. This can be on the grounds, but there is also a great park/lake one mile away. I’m hoping to create a sense of “if the grill is going, anyone is welcome to join in.” The grill and picnic tables are on the apartment grounds.
- We can prepare a list of nearby grocery stores, child care centers, doctors, dentists, whatever and drop this off as we meet new tenants.
- They have a great Gym, and Deb will be in there several days a week. Connections quite likely.
- Parties/potlucks/Wii nights? The unit we are getting is a little bit of a stretch for us (2 bedroom, 1.5 baths about 1100 sq ft), but for an apartment, it has enough room for company (an open 10×12 dining room connected to a 12×23 living room).
- We’d like to find one or two local bars where we can make friends and meet with friends. We have found one, “Scooters” (a biker bar, with huge bikes) where the food is amazing and the folks are friendly. Scary, but friendly.
- We think for many things, regularity is important. Like Fish fries on Friday. Picnics Sunday afternoon. Parties Saturday evenings. Walk around Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings, etc. We’ll be looking for those rhythms, and for ways we are likely to run into the same people over and over by doing the same thing in the same place.
- We also think that for each person, their needs will point us to ways to show kindness and care. We find people interesting and want very much to hear their stories, to learn about their lives, to understand them as best we can. Then, we’ll trust Him to show us how to naturally and lovingly respond.
- I’m also think about picking up a Kodaz Zi8 which can take a wireless mic input, and “documentarizing” some of these activities. Maybe a very compact camera, too, for when a snapshot will be helpful to remember someone and times shared. It feels like the exploratory adventure of an eight year old as much as a passion for an old believer to show others the God who has loved us so faithfully and persistently, and who loves them.
The less-than-natural-somewhat-contrived ways to care:
- may include helping immigrants. In a nearby complex, there are about 350 units, with half being Asian unconnected to local universities, and many more are Hispanic. I’ve been working on a 10 week 1.5 hour series of presentations to explain American culture. How we make friends; what we eat; how we think about family, homes, education, rules, and God; how we date, etc. “Understanding Why Americans Do What They Do”
- Helping people with forms, job applications, access to programs, etc.
- The area has thousands of apartments, in a relatively small number of complexes. We will be looking for ways to reproduce efforts in nearby units.
It looks like we won’t be officially moving in until May 20th or so. But for the next month we will narrow our focus in making connections to The Trails and surrounding area.
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