The New Statesville

          I was at Habitat for Humanity the other day visiting the ReStore as I often like to do, I went in to the offices to visit a close friend and I got to thinking, what wonderful ministries we have here in Statesville. Archbishop Tutu says the following about Habitat, “Habitat for Humanity believes in putting faith into action. As walls go up, so many invisible walls come down and a new hope is built in the heart of the community.” New hope, we as a community could get used to that!

            You don’t have to look far to see despair in the town we call home. You don’t have to look far to see that organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Iredell Christian Ministries, and Fifth Street Ministries are an integral part of this community. The challenges we face when we look at them through the lens of faith make it seem possible for us to end the despair, but only with God’s help, and the help of these fine ministries.

            I often encourage people to make use of ministries within our community, it is important for us to support these vibrant organizations in the hopes that they can in turn support others. Whether that is donating to Habitat’s “Kiss the Cow” competition, or if you want to bring food to Iredell Christians Ministries’ wonderful food bank, even still there is always a need for volunteers at Fifth Street Ministries. I name these, because I have taken an active role in these ministries, but I am quite aware that there are many more within our great town ready to serve.

            There is an amazing hymn that was written in 1954 by Georgia Harkness for a time such as now. “Hope of the world, afoot on dusty highways, bringing to hungry souls the bread of life, still let thy Spirit unto us be given, to heal earth’s wounds and end all bitter strife” I often wonder what hope is among us, in this place. Statesville is a great community full of hope. I was greatly aware of this during the All America City competition a few years back, when we testified to the beauty of our town and the hope contained within its people. We have the potential to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and minister to the downtrodden.

            Martin Luther King Jr. put our message into action and proclaimed it like this:  It's all right to talk about "long white robes over yonder," in all of its symbolism. But ultimately people want some suits and dresses and shoes to wear down here. It's all right to talk about "streets flowing with milk and honey," but God has commanded us to be concerned about the slums down here, and his children who can't eat three square meals a day. It's all right to talk about the new Jerusalem, but one day, God's preachers must talk about the New York, the new Atlanta, the new Philadelphia, the new Los Angeles, the new Memphis, Tennessee. This is what we have to do.” Why not we look for the new Statesville?