I moved to Flint … really

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."- Margaret Mead

“Really?”

“Why would you do that?”

“You should buy a gun.”

(Insert confused look here)

Those are all reactions I have gotten when I told someone I moved to downtown Flint.

Yes, really. I made the conscious decision to move downtown. That’s the only place I wanted to be. The city. The people. The change. The community. It was all something I couldn’t wait to be a part of.

Let me tell you something about this city. It has character and it has heart. It may also be a little rough around the edges, but there is nowhere else I would rather be.

I grew up in Swartz Creek. I spent the last five years living in Grand Blanc. And now, for the last month, I have lived a couple of blocks from the heart of downtown Flint.

Yes, there is violence in Flint. There is also violence in Grand Blanc and in Swartz Creek. I don’t live my life in fear.

The Flint I know is filled with positive changes like the new Farmers’ Market downtown, new businesses downtown and universities like UM-Flint and Kettering that are working together to make a drastic impact in the community.

I see organizations and nonprofits showing their heart and passion for the people of this city by fixing up houses or bringing hope.

I work downtown. I spend my money and my free time downtown and in the city. I believe a big change is coming. So in my mind moving to Flint was the best decision I could make.

I’m not naïve. We have a long way to go. More blight needs to be eliminated. The violence in the neighborhoods needs to stop. We need more jobs and more opportunity in Flint. The community needs more hope. I believe that is coming. I believe it’s already here.

Please, do me a favor. When you choose to react to me moving to Flint, take the time to come see what this city has to offer first.

You might be surprised.

Flint Community Cookout: What we do. Why it matters.

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little - do what you can.  ~Sydney Smith

If you know me even a little, I bet you’ve heard me mention the Flint Community Cookout.

The cookout has been a part of my life for three years. My first experience was in January, 2012. It was cold … really cold. And the wind was blowing so hard that I couldn’t walk at one point.

And yet, I stayed. And I kept coming back. Month after month.

I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you why. Why I stay involved, why it’s become a big part of my heart and why you should know a little more about what we are all about.

Let’s start about what the Flint Community Cookout isn’t. It isn’t a feeding program. It isn’t a task, an obligation, an event to feed the homeless or do our “good deed” for the month.

Ok, now let’s talk about what the Flint Community Cookout is and what we do.

It started in the fall of 2010 by a group of college students as a way to create a community to lift each other up and show everyone they have value. Through a few changes in leadership, the cookouts live on. And the purpose is still the same – to create a community.

A community filled with every kind of character. We hang out with people who are homeless, residents of the neighborhood, college students, young professionals, business owners and anyone else who wants to join us.

We pull a grill – a really big grill – downtown to Riverbank Park. We grill burgers – close to 300 in the summer – and hot dogs and have ourselves a picnic. It’s a potluck style gathering. Everyone pitches in, brings a side dish or dessert, helps set up and tear down.

It’s a community. A family.

It has a purpose. The focus is not the food. Yes, it’s what gets people there. But that’s not the reason we show up every last Saturday of the month, no matter what the weather.

It’s about being there. It’s about showing God’s love to everyone, showing them their story is important and that they have value.

I have learned so much during my time with the Flint Community Cookouts. I learned that everyone has a story. There is more than face value to every person. Everybody wants a chance to be heard, to be listened to, to share a meal. Because sharing a meal is much more important that serving a meal.

If you have ever come to a cookout, you will quickly learn we don’t have tasks for you to do and there aren’t many opportunities to “serve.” Because all we need you to do is coming with an open mind, a hungry stomach and the willingness to meet someone new and start up a conversation.

That’s what it’s all about. Community. Love.

I’ve learned that a hello, a smile and the willingness to pray with someone go a very long way. I’ve learned that not everything will go perfect, but it will go just the way it should. I’ve learned that stepping outside of your box will help you grow tremendously… and it will bring you a lot of new friends.

I’ve also learned that it takes a community to create a community. So let’s talk about why I’m writing this.

A ministry like this takes funds and resources. We would love to bring more activities to the cookouts. We would love to make sure we have enough food for everyone every month. We would love to see the Flint Community Cookouts grow.

If we buy everything that needs to be bought each month – burgers, hot dogs, buns, silverware, a few side dishes, condiments, charcoal, grilling supplies, gas for our van and many other things – it could cost up to $400 a month.

By God’s grace we have always gotten what we needed, but I would like to ask for your help. Are you looking for something to help fund this year? Something that will make a difference in the community?

If this is something you would like to help fund, you can easily do so at this link: https://www.crowdrise.com/flintcommunitycookout

The cookouts are funded through the non-profit GoodJustice. If you need more information, please don’t hesitate to ask.

I’ll end by saying one more thing. The Flint Community Cookouts have changed how I view the community of Flint and how I view people. If you want to check out what it’s all about, please feel free to join us the last Saturday of every month from 1 to 4 p.m. in Riverbank Park.

You won’t regret it.

Our words. Our choices. Our impact.

"Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble."

I've noticed something lately.  We too often underestimate the power of our words.

How often do you read something on social media or listen to a group of people talking and there is more negative than positive, uplifting conversations? If I'm being honest, I'm tired of it.

When did impatience, judgment, assuming the worst and selfishness take over? When did wanting to prove that your opinion was the only right opinion become more important than trying to understand another person?

There is a difference between a discussion and a debate. Why must being right overrule the basic principle of understanding, kindness or love?

Now, if you know me you know I probably (OK, definitely) use Facebook a lot. Maybe too much. But it's defeating and exhausting to see so many people posting things on their timeline that have to do with starting a debate just to argue with people who don't share their same opinion, or to put someone down and to shame them in a public forum.

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." ~ Proverbs 12:18

What that says to me is you have two choices: You can cut like a sharp sword or you can bring healing. You can add to the darkness or become a light in the darkness.

To me, it seems like the choice is obvious. Everyday we have a choice. We can choose to uplift, encourage, share a smile or we can choose to put people down, debate things that don't really matter, be hateful and discouraging just for the sake of our egos.

I'm reading the book "Love Does" by Bob Goff. There are so many things I could share with you from this book. But the one thing that is relevant to this blog post is from the 12th chapter. It's all about the power of our words.

And at the end of the chapter he says this: "Words of encouragement are like that. They have their own power. And when they are said by the right people, they can change everything. What I've found in following Jesus is that most of the time, when it comes to who says it, we each are the right people. And I've concluded something else. That the words people say to us not only have shelf life but have the ability to shape life."

My challenge to you is to think before you type, before you speak, before you write. Ask yourself "Will this discourage someone or encourage them?" I challenge you to encourage people this week. To only use your words to bring light into the darkness.

What is the point otherwise?