Today I’m participating in Motor City Makeover, a day of focused activity to improve the City of Detroit, organized by Ward Church in Northville, MI. The project today is to refurbish a home and move an entire family into it – and out of an unsafe home. This is a large project and requires many people to pull it off. I’m grateful to be a part of it.
Several years ago, it was really eating at me that I wasn’t actively involved in the City of Detroit. My suburban life was much too comfortable. I saw a city that was hurting and with enormous needs. I felt guilty for what I had and for not doing anything to help these suffering people. It would have been too easy to sit back and tell them to suck it up, go to college, and deal with what life has thrown at them.
Since this time, I’ve joined the board of a non-profit health clinic which provides low-cost health care and dental services to the residents of SW Detroit, many of which live in poverty and have no insurance. Through donations and Federal funding, the clinic is able to help thousands of individuals each year. It’s been an amazing experience to be part of something so valuable.
However, despite the efforts of the clinic and many others, the City of Detroit continues to hurt. It’s leaders continue to let them down. The City government is inefficient and corrupt. Investment is limited to mega-sports facilities and casinos while neighborhoods crumble. It’s sad.
But today we are doing something real and concrete to make a difference. We are mobilizing hundreds of people to go into the City with a purpose – not to party or go to a ball game – but to help a family. I’m glad to be a part of it. To God be the glory.
P
