The Body of Christ at Work

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen   __1 Peter 4:10-11 

This month, one of our local mission partners, The Drake House, is celebrating 20 years of service to single homeless mothers and their children in North Fulton. This nonprofit was started by a group of volunteers in a leadership class through The North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. They identified an unmet need in our community and found four families who anonymously backed a mortgage for a condemnable apartment building. After forming a Board of Directors, they hired two employees: 1) one would find funding and a sponsor to make the apartments habitable; and 2) the other would discern who to serve and how to serve them. This also included finding partners within the community to identify families in need; to secure a variety of supportive services; and to secure additional partnerships, as there were limited funds. Both daunting and sometimes seemingly impossible feats. John Smith and I were both prayerful and hopeful as we set out on this journey laid before us.
 
​The first partnership that would serve as a firm foundation would be our local faith community. I distinctly remember the day I scheduled an appointment with Rev. Jenny Andone in 2005. Northbrook was sponsoring an apartment at another local nonprofit, Homestretch, where I had previously worked.  My goal was to convince Jenny that sponsoring the new Drake House apartment was a worthy adoption for the church. I was laying out the conditions of the relationship with The Drake House when Jenny interrupted me to say, “Yes,” we’ll take one! That was one of many moments of encouragement from God, that His presence would be made known along the way.
 
Many of you remember that time as members were gathered to help paint and furnish the apartment, making it welcoming to an anxious family in crisis. And others volunteered to walk alongside the mom and children providing unconditional support and encouragement during their stay. Or maybe you made homemade ice cream to serve at our community fundraiser in the town square, “Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin.” And member Stephanie Schutte organized a meeting with her fellow Fulton County school social workers to identify and refer families who had temporary and unstable living situations, such as weekly hotels. The Body of Christ was at work as we assembled services to help meet the needs of the families and boost them to self-sufficiency through an intense program of accountability and education. 
 
Years later, Linda Sandstrom still hears from the mother she mentored at The Drake House, her unconditional support and encouragement was not forgotten by this former resident.  And my own heart was filled when I ran into a mom at the ballpark recently--she was coaching her son’s team, fully integrated into our community and volunteering, just as it was modeled for her years ago when she brought her two young sons to The Drake House.
 
Happy 20th year anniversary to The Drake House for their continued service to families in need and to Northbrook United Methodist Church for being with them every step of the way! You have shared the love of Christ and a forever home through sharing your many gifts and talents over the years.
 
In gratitude,
Christy Merritt
Coordinator of Godly Play