Inspire, Winter 2002

16 Winter 2003 Springfield, Ohio. Last year Rebecca attended a fundraiser at the Urban Light Center, where she learned about Adopt- A-Block. She recalled, “I was impressed that there was such a ministry. The next morning I heard the Lord calling me to go to Adopt-A-Block, and I argued with the Lord, as I didn’t know anyone and didn’t know what to do. Even so, I showed up at the Urban Light Center. The leader explained to the group that they had been given a house by the city to be given to a needy family, and it was located on Baltimore Place—a block that had not yet been adopted.” The group was going to Baltimore Place to pray and meet with the families to explain about the house and what Adopt-A-Block is about. Rebecca continued, “I left that experience with a heart yearning to adopt that street. Every week after that my family and I began showing up on Saturdays. We cleaned the street and interacted with the families, and within two weeks we saw our first person come to know Christ.” David said he had been looking for something like this for a long while. “Four years ago, Rebecca and I were involved in trying to start something like Adopt-A-Block at our previous church, but we really didn’t know what we were doing or how to go about organizing it at a church-wide level,” he stated. “About three years ago, I was also involved in developing a student ministry here on campus called Extra Mile, which is very much like Adopt-A-Block. When I heard that a well-organized ministry like this already existed in Springfield, and all we had to do was plug in, I was excited to get involved.” Mark ’95 and Janelle Hiller Mazelin ’95 are among those who help out with Adopt-A-Block on an as-needed basis. Janelle is heading up a committee to build a playground on a Baltimore Place vacant lot. So far the committee has raised $1,800. “We started thinking of how the lot would best be improved, and a playground came to mind. Right now we are in the process of possibly obtaining some used equipment or possibly building from scratch,” Janelle said. They hope to have the lot developed and the playground in place by spring of 2003. “We also plan to build a picnic shelter and basketball court,” she added. “We realize this is ambitious, but we’re dreaming big and will do it in stages if necessary.” Recently 16 young adults in the college class at Southgate adopted Cedar Street, adjacent to Baltimore Place. Families in 14 homes are being ministered to, and that is expanding. Chris Abner, a sophomore preseminary Bible major, said the students have big dreams for this ministry. He noted, “Our primary goal is to set a foundation of relationships for Adopt-A-Block that will allow us to maximize our opportunity to share the gospel effectively and passionately.” Chris says the key is in building solid, trusting relationships with the residents of the neighborhood. “In the long run, I envision a scenario where Cedarville is much more proactive in reaching out to the needy on the south side of Springfield,” he explained. “Were my dreams to have no limits, I would love to see the student body of Cedarville react with such passion and love for these people that the entirety of Springfield could be enveloped in Cedarville students weekly, helping to meet the physical needs of the people while still striving to share the most important thing we have to give: the story of Christ and His love for all people.” There are many rewards with inner-city ministries. David said, “We are constantly being stretched, taken out of our comfort zones, and put in positions where we have no clue what to do and realize that only God can change things. All of this has made me realize how much we need God and that we need to be sure that we are actually participating in the work He is already doing in our community, rather than coming up with our own plans and expecting Him to endorse them.” Rebecca added, “Because it’s unpredictable, you can’t plan and so it can’t be about you. It’s freeing—especially for perfectionists.” On the negative side, David says the commitment is challenging. “We definitely have less down time now than we used to,” he admitted. “Losing a big chunk of our Saturdays has been difficult.” But Rebecca maintains that the opportunity to include her family in a mutual cross- cultural experience outweighs the time commitment. For her there is frustration in helping people to get over the poverty hump. She explained, “Witnessing their enslavement to idolatry is heartbreaking, and knowing how to equip them to overcome it is a struggle. While invigorating, it can be draining.” Inspire 17 M inistering to the needs of inner-city residents is how Dr. David ’92 and Rebecca Reed Mills ’92 spend many of their Saturdays. The Mills and their two daughters reach out to several families on a street known as Baltimore Place in Springfield, Ohio. It’s part of the Adopt-A-Block ministry coordinated through the Urban Light Center. “You prayerfully consider adopting a particular block in the inner city, and you meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the families,” explained Rebecca. The Mills adopted Baltimore Place and then recruited their Sunday school class to join the team. “We meet weekly for prayer and strategy, and then we go to our block for several hours each Saturday. Some people meet with Baltimore Place residents for Bible study, while others host a Backyard Bible Club for children, do minor home repairs, or clean and maintain yards and streets,” said Rebecca. The volunteers also hold a monthly block party for fellowship and entertainment and provide transportation to church activities, doctor appointments, and family visits. “We use these interactions as opportunities to share Christ and to disciple. It also is a means to inform residents about varied social resources available in their community,” she added. The Mills are the Outreach Ministry leaders for their Sunday school class at Southgate Baptist Church in A d o p t - A - B l o c k , A d o p t - A - S o u l by Cessna Catherine Winslow Dr. David Mills ’92 and company are making a difference in the inner-city of Springfield, Ohio. Shown interacting with residents of Baltimore Place are members of the Adopt-A-Block ministry (left to right): Dan Payton, Ted Etling, Dr. John Mortensen, Dr. David Mills ’92