by Matt and Teri Perrotto, Envision Miami site coordinators
Eighty people from 10 Alliance churches in South Florida participated in Renew the City on Saturday, May 21. Some traveled almost four hours to work and minister in different communities in Miami.
Our verse for the day was, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2). So we kicked off the day with worship. Then we broke into groups and walked door to door, praying for those who needed prayer. Following the prayer walk, we went to work.
One team painted several rooms for the Boys and Girls Club, and another team cleaned up trash and brush from an empty lot.
The lot is owned by a widow who lost her husband in a car crash. She lives out of state and is saving the property that they purchased before his accident for her three children’s future. She was paying someone to take care of the place, but by the looks of it, he was not living up to his commitment.
Isn’t It Pretty?
In the days following the Renew the City event, we received feedback about what we accomplished. When walking into the Boys and Girls Club, a young girl pulled us into a room to show us something.
“Look!” she said, showing us one of the rooms we painted. “They even did this room. Isn’t it pretty?” The club director said many of the parents and children commented about how great the paint looked.
From the field cleanup project, we heard, “We are developing a presence here, a much needed presence,” speaking of being in the community and doing acts of service and love for them. The field’s owner was pleased with the progress.
Several youth said through this day of service they realized how they can make a difference.
God is doing so much more work in people, in relationships, and in the community than we ever intended. We expect that we will hear some other cool stories as time goes on.
We thank everyone who supported this event, either through their physical participation, prayers, or financial contribution. They were all part of the work that was accomplished.
Learn More
Envision is a movement within The Alliance that specializes in missional engagement. Read more about the ministry’s different aspects in “Envision,” published in the May/June 2016 issue of Alliance Life.