The Church for the 'Hood

"Wow!" Tre' said, visibly irritated, "These new houses and be poppin' up everywhere and keep movin' our folks out! What are we going to do?" "I'll have to pray for an effective solution," the preacher said. "I have heard of other places, such as Buffalo, New York, where they kept moving the impoverished out of recently valuable land--just like folks did with the indigenous years ago."

"Hey!" TRE' snarked back angrily. "You want to talk about learning?! How about learning from us! You bring us in your churches while we're young, and you all say, 'How cute!' But if you REALLY knew what we went through when we get back home, then would become more concerned for our welfare?" What do you mean "what we went through??" the elder asked. TRE' took a deep breath. "For some of us, everyday is a struggle. Most of our parents in our area ar struggling just to get by. Police lights shine through our windows many nights from some crime committed. We go to bad hungry, and we literally can't afford to pay attention in school!" "Wow, I had no idea."

 Now, just because I am attempting to write this, does not mean that I "have it all knowed up." I don't! But certain key issues in this piece could be highlighted to help better understand differences in traditional churches and, well, the 'hood--you know, it could be government housing, commonly known as "the projects." Or, it could be another place known for high poverty and high crime. Churches on the other hand, are a whole 'nother thang. They stress personal responsibility and salvation and grace (can't forget that grace!) Let's also include faith, hope and love. These three are what folks who don't have much use to get by. It's even in the Bible! The end of 1 Corinthians 13: "these three remain. But the greatest of these is love."