Compton

It is interesting being at a church that is focused on the betterment of a particular city. It completely fits our personal vision (Erin and I), but I can see how it might be something that is not really important to some people who live outside of Compton or have moved out. However, I think it is a unifying factor for our church. Dedication to a particular community is a focusing factor for the outreach portion of our church. If we are going to do ministry it is easy to make a decision about where and who we are going to prioritize.

Our church is starting a Marble Slab creamery in Compton. The money made from the business will be used to help combat debt in our congregation and for ministry in Compton. I think it is a great idea. We are starting to see answers to our prayers in this city. We are getting more businesses to come back in and more new housing. Things really seem to be on the move.

It is amazing what happened in this area in the 80s. Cocaine just decimated the society here. Like opium in China, it literally tore down the structure of the inner city. It is amazing how much crime is directly related to drugs. I think something like 90 percent.

Now, I feel like people are crying out to God for help, and it looks like He is answering. Good things are happening in pockets all over LA. Paramount has really turned around its city, with a lot of help from the Christian church (one of their churches is now focusing on Compton). And again, we feel like things are slowly but surely changing here. There are still gangs, and we had the highest murder rate (per capita I think)in the nation two years ago, but that is not the whole picture. We honestly believe in directly praying for your immediate community and that God directly honors those prayers.