Promise Tribe...Let's Get It Started!!

[Joey Aszterbaum]

Eldon has done a great job raising some very serious questions about what it means to live out the kingdom of God. It's not about believing all the right things but about followers of the Way. Jubilee People.

Before we get to ideas of how we can get it started, let's have a Pep Rally!


Okay, so why that song? Well...it's catchy. And when the people show up bouncing and raising their hands, they might just be our brothers and sisters in misfitdom!

I'm an idea guy. I like new ideas, good ideas. But wouldn't it be great to see some of those ideas start happening? That takes some collaboration.

So, here's a list of ideas that The Promise Tribe can do to be Isaiah 61 Jubilee People...and "Get it started"!

- Meals on Wheels. Get together with friends to make sack lunches, then hit the streets and give them away to hungry people
- Family Vacation. Get people at the Promise to take a week where tribe members take one day off...so we can staff the Community Pantry or Valley Restart and give their normal volunteers a whole week off! Or at least make things easy on them.
- Kiva! Set a goal to get $10,000 in a Tribe account with Kiva.org to give microloans to people in developing countries and help them out of poverty. (We have a non-functioning Kiva group already)
- Start a community garden on the church grounds. Send out invitations to the community to join us one or two Saturdays/month to work it. Then anyone in the tribe or the neighborhood can take all the food they want.
- Confess our debt. Bring our bills to church and be humble enough to share it. Then come up with a plan to pay off our debts collectively instead of as individuals.
- Cook dinner for other churches. Cook dinner for other religions.
- Pre-healing. Start a group that meets in the morning at church for dancing/exercise and a super healthy breakfast. This is a healing service for people who don't have diabetes yet. Or heart disease yet. Or cancer yet. Why wait until we're sick to start healing?
- Mommy Mentors. The MotherHood group could hook up with Esperanza High's teen moms as mentors.
- Therapy for special needs. Why wait for the government?...what can the Tribe do to get therapy for kids with Down Syndrome? Pay for it? Network with therapists and get them to do some pro bono work?
- Help immigrants - even if they're here against the laws of the U.S. The Tribe could model hospitality and old testament jubilee law.
- Forgiveness Rally. A night where we forgive people who have done lame things to us.
- Job Fair. Everyone bring their job/talents to church and makes a commitment to do some work for free. So, if someone does hair, they offer one or more free haircuts. If someone does landscaping, they offer 2 hours of free landscaping. Then, everyone in the church takes what they need from eachother.
- Widow's Day. Find out who the widows and widowers are in the church and what practical things we can do for them. Meet at the church, divvy up the jobs, and get things done!
- Jail Penpals. We adopt people from the local jails or prisons and become their penpals. They keep us posted on what's going on in their lives, and we do the same.
- Condos. Build a low-cost co-housing community on the church property for people who are committed to living simply and sharing life at a deeper level. Leave room for visitors and have a place for the homeless to take a shower.
- Build and staff a skatepark. Create an outreach program for punks.
- Host a battle of the bands...not for Christian music. Let musicians in the church be the judges, give some awesome prize (studio time?) and let the bands be themselves. Be quick to listen and slow to speak.
- Foreclosure Party! Pick a neighborhood that is destroyed by foreclosures (Willowalk?) and take all our lawnmowers there to clean up, mow, weed...whatever.

I think James is awesome for doing Food Fun and Fellowship. And the Dinsmores for doing Marriage Enrichment.

Is there something here that you can step up and do? Is there something else you can think of?

Let's get it started!

[Joey Aszterbaum]

You know...I've heard that 2 out of 3 homeless people are veterans.

I'm not sure if that's true or not, but I do know that veterans come home from war and it's not easy to get back into real life.

I wonder if there's something that we can do for veterans of the Iraq war. Not some type of patriotic display, but just a way of saying "Welcome home. We care for you. Thank you for putting your life on the line."

[Richard & Jamie Nugent]

Joey - I know our family would love to be a part of something like this for the veterans. Through Aaron's Naval Sea Cadet program, he has had opportunity to take part in a few veterans appreciation events. My youngest cousin recently died as a result of the Iraq War. He was Army Airborne Special Ops and we don't know all the details, however this is and always will be something close to our hearts. I am not good at creating and/or coordinating things like these at all, but I totally am for supporting it. Count us in for whatever transpires from this idea.

[michelle lomas]

Dude. Awesome ideas. I think some of them are in the works through the leadership team but it's great to have all the ideas out there to begin praying.
SJAG used to do a 'get out of debt' program. I think they suspended it but they could tell us how they did it.
Someone had the idea of washing windows for the elderly in our community-was that you?
SJAG also used to have a program for cleaning up people's homes in the neighborhood. It was called adopt-a-block. I think that was suspended too. (That happens alot over there)
Anyhow, I would love to be a part of the meals on wheels and also the exercise and healthy breakfast. I have a stretching routine that I do that might be helpful to many people. We could turn on worship music and stretch, dance, whatever....
Love it all!

[Cindy Lou Miller]

Joey great ides here is another

Luke 14:16-23 what if we did a highway and byways meals at the church. We the servant of the Lord prepare a meal and go out in twos and bring the street people into the church. We don’t just serve them food but sit down and eat with them getting to know them. If everyone brought a piece of clothing they would have clothing to choose from. Maybe people who know how to cut hair could sit up chairs on the covered patio and offer free hair cut. We could also wash the feet and paint nails if the women would what that. Sitting and eating with them helps us as a body to get personal and know their needs. It really wouldn't cost much just the cost of the food and we His people giving our time and ourselves.

just a thought

[Jenni Hinchliff]

Cindy ~I love what you had to say . I fed the homeless at valley restart for many years and they always appreciated when instead of just "serving" them a meal we made sure to sit and spend time with them or hold babies so that mommies could eat in peace. I love your idea! It is so important to be sensitive to those receiving aid. Many men and women already have such bruised spirits by the time they are actually getting or even asking for the help they need. I heard tonight that you yourselve have done missionary work. I would love to hear more some time. Count me in I'll wash feet, Serve food, Give my time....Love you Jenni

[Cindy Lou Miller]

Jenni
I so agree about the important spending the time with the people who we reach out to. Our goal as a church should be to see the whole person helped, healed and loved. I am so glad someone took the time to care enough about me and show me the love of Jesus.
I
Cindy lou

[Cindy Lou Miller]

If a few of us get together to plan a Highways and Byways meal it could happen. If anyone would like to get on board and help please call 951 766- 0486 or email me. To coin Joey phase "Let get it started".

Cindy Lou

[Richard & Jamie Nugent]

Jenni - We still feed the homeless at the shelter like we used to when you were helping us do it. Probably close to 8 to 10 years running now I think. The group of people has changed a little here and there. For the last couple years we have had a different person coordinating our little group and doing a great job at it, but we are still doing our same night every month. I'm sure that there is always need for more help. I know our group is pretty dependable but we are occasionally short handed and could probably use more people at least donating some of the main courses sometimes so that the same people don't have to carry that expense everytime. Also, I'm sure there is plenty of need for other groups to step up and take on other nights to provide and serve. I have found that the majority of people that come to eat there are truly grateful and I enjoy this opportunity to give back. You are always welcome to come join us again whenever you want, or anybody else for that matter.

[Greg & Gina]

Great ideas Joey... Count me in. I will offer my services to those in need.... (Haircuts). I am sure I can help in other ways as well. God has truly Blessed me with my business... my pleasure to give back to Serve His Kingdom! Thanks Joey. Love, Gina

[Joey Aszterbaum]

I'm stoked. Folks have already taken up the challenge!

The MOMS group took to the streets with sack lunches and fed the hungry here in our own community.

Meanwhile, some people on the other side of the world got some help with their business and getting out of poverty because of the new Promise Tribe group on Kiva (click HERE to check it out).

Keep it up guys!

[Matt Burger]

I noticed that Joey mentioned Kiva as an opportunity to donate to help people overseas. There is a non-profit organization I'd like to add to that list and you can simply check out the web site: OneMaker. This is an organization that is dedicated to disenfranchised women of Afghanistan. These women learn a trade, business, and other aspects of education so they can be foundational to the future of Afghanistan. It is interesting to note that during the reign of King Zahir Shah Afghanistan enjoyed a time of relative peace. It was a tourist destination and had lovely, lush gardens. Additionally, the king advocated women's rights and democracy. The featured item on the web site is a commemoration of King Zahir Shah and all donations go to help the women of Afghanistan.

Thanks for caring.