KOH2RVA: Day 230

Steve Blanchard, our Minister of Christian Compassion, is recovering nicely from his recent hospitalization and surgery (to relieve swelling and pressure on the brain following a fall from an eight-foot ladder). I can tell because on Thursday I got about twelve emails from him, all work-related. One of them was an update on the partnership between Richmond’s First Baptist Church and Glen Lea Elementary School in this year-long, every-member mission trip we call KOH2RVA.

I’ve told you about Karen, who finally got off the bus and discovered what a joy it is to read to second-graders at Glen Lea. And I’ve told you about Brenda, the artist, who was inspired to invite Glen Lea students to participate in the church’s recent art show (I love the photo above). Yesterday I learned that Raylene is helping out once a week in a kindergarten class, so that an exhausted teacher can get a few minutes’ rest.  Karen and Brenda and Raylene are heroes, but if you take a look at the list below you will see that lots of people have been doing lots of things to bring heaven to earth at Glen Lea. You will also see that there are some opportunities coming up for those who are still looking for a way to get involved. If that’s you, let Steve know you’d like to help by sending email to: Blanchard@fbcrichmond.org. He’s feeling better. He’ll help you get off the bus. He may even hold your hand and tell you to watch your step.

Participation at Glen Lea through KOH2RVA

• October 15 Teacher Appreciation (done by Ruth Szucs and 11th grade girls)
• November 5 Provided dinner to teachers and staff during Parent/Teacher Conferences
• November 10 Sponsored cake walk and book giveaway table at fall festival
• November 19 Provided shuttle service to Community Workshop
• February 14 Sponsored Love To Read book collection
• April 15 Sponsored essay contest. Essays picked up May 6 with winner receiving Chuck E. Cheese package.
• May 7 Provide 70 gifts to teachers for Teacher Appreciation Day
• June 12 Provide Appreciation Dinner for staff
• Approximately twenty volunteers giving time and gifts to the school
• Provided school supplies for students and teachers
• Sponsored homework club prizes for various classes
• Art students presenting their art at FBC Art Show

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KOH2RVA: Day 107

Our year-long, every-member mission trip took us to Essex Village apartments yesterday, where about 30 of us from First Baptist Church got off the bus to see how we could help bring heaven to earth.

Do you know how that is? When you just show up and offer to help, not sure of where you might be most helpful? I felt that way myself. Steve Blanchard had done most of the organizing. I knew we were going to have a “Christmas Store” for the parents (kind of an indoor yard sale where everything cost a quarter). I knew that One Accord—our “show choir”—was going to sing. I was pretty sure there were going to be sweets and treats for the children, but beyond that I didn’t know much of anything.

I just showed up and tried to be helpful.

I parked at Building 117, which is a kind of community center, although I later learned it wasn’t used for nearly three years. Now that Essex Village has a full-time social worker in Sonya Lee Zezza it’s getting a lot more use. Steve Blanchard and his crew of helpers were already inside setting up the Christmas Store.

Outside Jerry Pope seemed to be refereeing a pick-up football game. I stood with him for a while, watching some of our kids and some of the Essex Village kids mix it up in a game that had lots of action but not much direction. It didn’t seem to matter. These boys were having fun just running back and forth on a grassy field on a beautiful December afternoon. The football was almost an afterthought.

When the Christmas Store was ready Steve asked me if I could help round up some customers, so I went from door to door, knocking and asking kids if they’d like to come to a party and parents if they’d like to come to the store. I was surprised by how many people were home on a Sunday afternoon, and how many opened their doors, politely, to talk to a complete stranger.

It occurred to me as I was doing it that this was something I was good at—talking to strangers—and it made me think that maybe this was why I had come. As I did, I could see how everybody on our team was finding a place where their gifts could be used. Jerry Pope was good at refereeing chaos. Matthew Brown was good at playing football. Lillian DuVal was good at talking with little children. One Accord was good at singing Christmas carols. Karen Grizzard was good at helping parents find gifts. Christy Somerville was good at helping children find books. Steve Blanchard was good at making it all happen in the first place.

But here’s what I noticed, and it seems to be a rule: that when people are doing the things God has gifted them for, it gives them joy. I came home yesterday deeply satisfied by what happened at Essex Village, but also satisfied that I helped to make it happen, that I was able to use my gifts for the good of the Kingdom.

That’s why I say sometimes that “as children of the Heavenly Father, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are called to labor alongside the Lord Jesus in the joyful work of bringing heaven to earth.”

It is joyful work, and yesterday, at Essex Village,

I felt the joy.

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KOH2RVA: Day 75

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I’m thankful for Louis and Linda Watts, new members of Richmond’s First Baptist Church who are taking KOH2RVA to heart.  While you’re waiting for the turkey, take some time to read the letter Linda sent to Steve Blanchard yesterday:

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Dear Steve:

My husband, Louis and I just got the greatest blessing at Glen Lea Elementary School! When Kim Lee came and spoke to our church, I knew I wanted to do something to help their school and KOH2RVA. When Louis’s mother was in a nursing home, relatives of the residents were asked to bring a home-baked goodie the day before Thanksgiving and they were all shared with the staff since they were working and did not have time to bake. It occurred to me that teachers are in the same situation since they have to work today and also have no time to bake. So I contacted Kim Lee and asked her if I could bring all her faculty and staff members a loaf of my homemade pumpkin bread as a gift for Thanksgiving. She thought it was a great idea and asked that we bring it today. Louis and I just left there and were so blessed.

Kim was thrilled, the teachers were so happy, and we even got to see a few students. Just so you know, it was a joint effort. Louis is not a baker, but he did all the prep work for the pumpkin. He cut it all and then ran it through the food mill for me after it was cooked. I baked the 52 loaves of bread and Louis hand-wrote 52 personal notes to put on each loaf of bread. Kim was pleased that each loaf had a personal note. Louis and I both realized that all the time we spent the past few days was worth every minute to make so many people happy. We got back in our car feeling so blessed and very ready to celebrate Thanksgiving! I am so glad you invited Kim to speak to our church so that we could partner with them and help fulfill some of their needs. They are very grateful for all that First Baptist is doing.

Louis and LInda Watts

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I don’t know about you, but I think the Kingdom of Heaven came to Richmond, Virginia, yesterday. 

May it come to you and yours today.

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KOH2RVA: Day 64

Sometimes bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to Richmond, Virginia, is just good, clean fun. It was fun yesterday, when I volunteered at the Glen Lea Elementary School Fall Festival. First Baptist is partnering with Glen Lea this year, and hoping to find ways to encourage the students, faculty, and staff. Several of us showed up for the festival, and the “cupcake walk” the church sponsored was one of the most popular events. Steve Blanchard made the walkers work for every cupcake they won, but in a way that kept it friendly and fun.

I shot this video of Principal Kimberly Lee showing some leadership (and some impressive moves) during the impromptu line dance that broke out on the parking lot. I hope you will get to know Principal Lee during this year-long, every-member mission trip, and if not, that you will at least keep her in your prayers. She serves one of the poorest schools in the city, and on most days there’s not a lot to dance about.  But yesterday, on a beautiful fall day in Richmond, heaven came to earth, and First Baptist Church got to help.

That’s a good day.

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KOH2RVA: Day 60

Glen Lea Elementary School

It’s the day after Election Day, and this is what I’ve got to say: Jesus was Lord when I went to bed last night and he was Lord when I woke up this morning.  Not only that, but he’s got work for us to do.  Maybe the best thing we can do on the day after is stop crying in our coffee or dancing in the streets and get on with the work of the Kingdom!

That said…

I got this email from Steve Blanchard at the end of October and have been slow about posting it, but read through it if you will and take a look at all the KOH2RVA events going on in November (and these are only the ones Steve knows about).  If you have others, please let him know or let me know so that we can get the word out.  If we’re going to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Richmond, Virginia, it’s going to take all of us working together–with Jesus, by the grace of God, and with the help of the Holy Spirit!

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Just a few updates to keep everyone in the know and also so you can help spread the news. Please let me know if there are other KOH2RVA or Compassion events happening in November that I have not posted. Blessings.

1. The Essex Community Fair was postponed due to impending weather. It will be rescheduled later.
2. The Awareness Tours have been advertised on the web site and by a poster in the hallway but no one has signed up. Please help get the word out and invite people to sign up.
3. The Richmond Homeless Dialogue meets this Thursday, November 1 at 3pm here at FBC if you would like to attend. The topic is housing.
4. The mission team going to Costa Rica leaves Saturday and will be gone through the 11^th. Team members are Matthew Brown, Madison Brown, Jeff Dortch, Joe Evans, and Elise Cumbia.
5. We will be providing pizza and drinks for Glen Lea teachers next Monday, November 5^th,  for their parent teacher conferences. If anyone would like to provide a dessert, please contact Raylene or Linda
6. There will be a Fall Festival at Glen Lea Elementary on November 10 from 11am -2pm. If you would like to help in any way, please notify Raylene or Linda.
7. Richmond Homeless Connect will be at the Richmond Convention Center on Tuesday, November 13, from 9am until 3pm. Those in our homeless community will be able to receive a variety of services, all under one roof. To help, contact HOMEWARD.
8. The staff of FBC will be hosting Grace Fellowship November 15.
9. A mission team from James Madison University will be at FBC Nov. 16-20 and will work at Essex Village on Sat. and Sun. and at Glen Lea on Monday. They will also be present at CARITAS every night (at FBC) to hang out with our guests.
10. CARITAS begins here at FBC on Saturday, November 17^th. If you would like to help, please contact Charlie Ball.
11. FBC will be providing transportation service for Essex Village parents who have children enrolled at Glen Lea and wish to attend a community workshop at Glen Lea on Monday, November 19 from 6pm-7:30pm.

Steve Blanchard
Minister of Christian Compassion
Richmond’s First Baptist Church
2709 Monument Ave.
Richmond, VA 23220

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