More than 500 Alliance people gathered recently in Cleveland, Ohio, to display God’s love in tangible ways to local residents.
“Renew the City is a service project designed for Alliance churches to partner with established Envision* sites in urban centers,” said James Grout, Alliance Youth director. “This event keeps that work on the front burner.”
Sweeping Renewal
The project originated with LIFE 2013, a youth conference in St. Louis, Missouri, attended by nearly 5,000 U.S. Alliance teens. One day during the conference, teens converged on an inner-city neighborhood, clearing brush, trees, and trash as well as restoring and painting fences and planting trees.
“This is about discipleship,” James notes. “When we selflessly serve, we show that we understand God’s heart and Jesus’ example. Committed Christ followers serve!”
The event was so successful that James decided to make Renew the City an intergenerational Alliance ministry, taking the outreach to major urban areas across the United States.
Intergenerational Community
James emphasizes the importance of including various age groups—ranging from 12 to 70— working together. “We need the whole community,” he says. “It is as a church that we pass faith to the next generation.”
Participants in the Cleveland outreach cleared a three-acre area to plant a community garden.
“We want to show the city we care,” said one of the youngest Alliance volunteers.
Envision Cleveland director Paul Huneycutt expressed great enthusiasm for the group’s results. “You may think this is just an exterior thing,” he said. “But I promise you, people will be changed for the Kingdom because of what you did here today.”
* Envision is an Alliance ministry geared to raise up the next generation for Kingdom change.