Kindness and Light in Montgomery, Alabama
It’s been an uncertain and anxious time in Montgomery, in Alabama, and the world at large. COVID-19 has put the world in a place of fear: fear for the lives that will be lost, fear for the economy that might crash, and fear for the unknown length it all might last.
No more so is this true than for the under-resourced areas of our city. Washington Park and the community Mercy House serves is already a low-income/high-risk population on the healthiest of days for our country, both physically and economically. We face high levels of abandoned homes, poverty, under-and-unemployment, hunger, and violence. Mercy House and New Walk of Life Church have been operating in this community, empowering this community from within, and doing good work. We’re seeing lives changed, we’re seeing the opportunity gap for our children close, and we’re seeing people’s economic standing improve. The time I’ve been doing this ministry, I’ve seen God’s work firsthand, and it has been incredible.
I have to admit that I’m concerned. The needs of the people we serve are great, and with COVID-19, they’re even greater. Children’s access to food is a concern, parents and adults in the community being laid off is a concern, children staying on grade level after moving school to home is a concern, and transportation for individuals to different support services is a concern.
Out of this concern, I prayed. A couple of weeks ago, I felt led to start a conference call at 7:00 on a Monday morning with just a few people to see how we could meet these new concerns, how we could do our part to slow the spread of the illness, and how we could collaborate. It grew. To date, we have over 100 stakeholders and counting calling in on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 7:00. We have pastors, government entities, concerned citizens, direct service nonprofits, and businesses on these calls identifying needs, forming solutions, providing updates, and keeping the flow of communication moving.
It has blown me away. I am humbled by the great and profound response that has come out of these conference calls because I’m seeing the Montgomery and Pike Road community come together in a way that honors God by honoring others. God says we serve Him by serving His people. To see the hearts, souls, and minds of a vast number of people coming together to bring their all in caring for their neighbors and their city is to see a glimpse into the heart of God. When the giver and the receiver unite, we experience the presence of God.
There is kindness and light, love and hope moving in our community. It is a joy and an honor to be part of its manifestation in this way. As this virus infects our people, our economy, our city, and our state, we see that the heart of our community is unaffected. O.U.R. Montgomery has a shining brilliance to it, and I thank God for it every day.
God Bless,
Pastor Ken Austin