Workshop at First United Church

Yesterday we kicked off an addictions workshop at First United Church. The participants are a mixture of community workers and hosts /hostesses who are the "front line" workers. They have most of the initial and continual personal contact with the homeless and marginalized staying at the church. First United Church is not a shelter, but a church with a shelter ministry which gives me the platform to present a faith based approach of addiction integrated with the science of addiction.

We will be meeting every other week for five, 2 hour sessions. After I have presented my understanding of addiction then the group will begin looking at strategies of community support for the residents. There are about 60 folks who stay regularly at the church and consider it their home. They are the core group for shaping community at First United Church.

There is a myth that one has to leave DTES to live clean and sober. Many who stay in the DTES are not comfortable living in mainline society and don't feel a sense of belonging so crucial to identity and recovery.The group will begin to explore the principles of abundant community and asset mapping to provide contact with and shaping restorative community in the DTES. The asset mapping will include all the available resources in the area and matching the gifts of the residents as well as considering new community constructs at First United.  Those volunteering and working with the marginalized will be encouraged to explore the gifts they bring to community.

I am so excited to discuss and help initiate the possibilities of "Missional Church" and its role in shaping community. I am so grateful for your thoughts, prayers and regular support that enables and encourages me to do so. If you would like to explore these principles more, click on my blog at Missional Church and watch the short series of videos by Alan Hirsch.

Oregon Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (OCHH) Conference

Greetings my friends.

The OCHH conference was a great experience! I had too much material for the time allotted in each of the 3 presentations including the 3 hour workshop on addiction. It was a great learning experience for me.  I am grateful my presentations were well received, even though my material was cut short. In the future I think I will be better able to prioritize material to time allotted.

The perspective I brought from the DTES and the innovative approaches being taken there stirred some great discussions. I was reminded the majority of today's homeless in America are so because of poverty, not addiction or mental health as in DTES where I serve. I was touched by the passionate concern of the group and a number of them inquired about coming for a visit to experience the DTES first  hand.

All of us are concerned about deaths of the homeless. There were 47 reported just in Portland last year. We expect the most marginalized to be able to respond rationally to society's efforts to either "fix or contain them."  But those who die generally have such progressed addiction their willpower has been hijacked leaving few moments of clarity. Innovative interventions are needed for the most marginalized who are the most damaged. This calls for creative strategies in housing and shelters. I was able to share some psycho-social-spiritual dynamics for building community among the marginalized encouraging them to help each other.

A special treat was spending time in the beautiful setting at Hood River with old friends Nick & Marisha Johnson who serve on the board of OCHH. What topped off a wonderful time was my youngest daughter Courtney joining us for the addiction workshop.

Tomorrow I am meeting with an interest group at my home church Redeemer's Fellowship in Roseburg OR after the regular worship service. I will be sharing an update with many of my friends who support me with regular thoughts, prayer and financial  support.