Last Updated February 26, 2011Staff Blogs

I'm Getting MARRIED!

So.... in the hustle and bustle of life, I realized I haven't done a very good job of letting the world know that I'M GETTING MARRIED! On December 19, 2010, Ben Cressy asked me if I would be his wife. Of course, I said yes :) He will be joining the ministry as our part-time Greenspace Coordinator, which will be a great match with his passions and giftings.

More to come, but I'm excited for April 9th ;)

Overflowing in Thanks

"You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." ~ 2 Corinthians 9:11-12

Overflowing in Thanks to God
This fall, we have been sharing the above passage with volunteer groups, and I have been struck by just how relevant these verses are to my day-to-day life. The months of October and November tend to be dominated by one thing for me: Thanksgiving Baskets! This year, we provided over 80 baskets to families and seniors in our neighborhood, and I spend weeks in preparation for this event. I speak with families, shop (and shop and shop some more!), fundraise, coordinate volunteers, schedule deliveries, and try to keep a bit of my sanity.

Despite the hectic feel, it's always been one of my favorite days of the year. It's one of those blatantly clear moments where my gifts and talents collide with supplying the needs of the Lord's people. The result? I can't help but to be overwhelmed with thanksgiving to God. Even though on the surface providing food baskets may look like a "me helping you" type of event, I have been blessed in return year after year. This year, as I delivered the last basket of the day to a neighborhood friend, I was blessed with a full Dominican dinner. Thanks be to God!

There are so many things to be thankful for in my ministry. I've come to appreciate the roles and opportunities God has put before me more and more - from my administrative duties which frees others up to do what they are gifted at, to being an advocate for community change by working with resident leaders and elected officials, to just hanging out (or having dance parties!) with youth on our front porch. My life is overflowing with joy and thanksgiving that comes from a life of service. Thank you for helping make this ministry possible.

Remember Our Past, Rejoin in the Present, Re-Imagine the Future

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
~ 1 John 3:16-18

Remember Our Past, Rejoin in the Present, Re-Imagine the Future
I recently had the privilege of attending a week long national Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) conference in Chicago. It was a week of rest, reflection and catching up with old friends. It was such a blessing to spend a week with my brother and former Boston Project staffers Emily and Melissa.

This year's conference theme was "Remember the past, Rejoice in the present, Re-Imagine the future," and multiple times I was struck by the need to know and reflect upon our own past, but also the importance of knowing our collective past as believers. John Perkins, who founded CCDA, shared story after story of his past as a civil rights activist, being beaten and put in jail for the sole reason of his race, the deaths of friends and family for standing up for civil rights, and the ways God showed up through it all.

It's difficult to not feel inspired after hearing heart-wrenching stories followed by words of wisdom of "but LOVE conquers all", and seeing the redemption and reconciliation that can happen when there is a true commitment to living out the words of Christ. Morning bible study with the 80 year old Perkins was inspirational to love as Christ loves - literally loving our neighbors with all we have.Our collective past as believers shows that when we take the words of Christ literally, radical things can happen. John Perkins' story and commitment to reconciliation of people with God and people to people, when he has ever reason to be jaded and full of anger, is a reminder of that. Let us love with actions and in truth, and see what happens. I have no doubt that God will show up.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
We're always keeping things interesting around here, and things never remain stagnant. I've moved to a local church's parsonage house and am living with some wonderful coworkers at Boston Project in an effort to save money. A dear friend has moved back to Nashville, TN, but I am excited with the arrival of another dear friend, Dana, who will be serving with us for a year through Americorps. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I'm considered "old" in Boston Project world, having been here for three years, but I praise God for the role I can play in helping some of our new staffers adjust to life here in the city. I'm learning more and more to go with the flow with change and love the season I'm in, regardless of what may come.

End of summer reflection

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." -Galatians 5:22-23

Summer is always a trying season for me. I typically start with a burst of energy, and within a few weeks find myself tired, irritable and ready to take a three week long vacation. Preferably on the beach. Far, far away. This summer, as I found myself falling into that pattern again, I have began praying daily to see the fruit of the Spirit in my life, the lives of our staff, and also in the lives of our youth who have chosen to follow Christ. I am in desperate need of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It's been an encouragement to see ways that God has answered, big and small. Ever since I started praying, I can say without a doubt that I have become much more patient!

In our neighborhood, I've come to realize that things such as love, peace and patience aren't always taught. It exhausts me when I see that so many of our youth are taught to defend themselves at all costs, and have tired of watching fights break out over the smallest things. What gives me hope is knowing that when our youth choose Christ, that they can see real fruit in our lives. If they have been taught to hate, we know that the Spirit can teach them love. Would you join me in praying for the remainder of the summer to see the fruits of the spirit in my life, in the lives of the staff and in the lives of our youth? Your prayers are life changing.

He Is Always Faithful

A constant theme since I arrived in Dorchester has been faithfulness. Life in ministry.... not easy. There are times when it seems like even though we have done all we can, prayed continuously, and loved lavishly, there is no change. This has been most evident with some of our youth, many of whom are facing temptations such as using and selling drugs, stealing and reselling stolen goods and responding to being wronged with violence. There have been countless times where other staff and myself have sat and asked "what is going on, and what do we do?".

A few weeks ago, my pastor was preaching on Noah, and the importance of him staying faithful to the heavenly vision. When God told Noah "Hey, so I need you to build this HUGE ark, get two of every animal, and go chill out for 40 days while I rid the earth of all these unrighteous people", I'm sure once or twice Noah went, "Excuse me... come again? You want me to do what exactly?". Noah didn't have the big picture. He was just given a glimpse of the vision from heaven, and because he was a righteous man who chose to follow God in whatever it was he was called to, he listened. Despite how crazy it sounded. Despite not knowing the outcome.

I loved the sermon, and my heart resonated so quickly with the idea of "being faithful to the vision from heaven". I'm a big picture person. I need to know why and how we are going to do something. So when we talked about how Noah didn't have the big picture, yet was still faithful, I could feel my stomach ache. How could he follow without knowing everything? I am learning to be faithful when I don't have the "who, what, when, where, why" and especially when I don't have the "how".

Please pray with me for Christians in my community [including myself] to remain faithful to the heavenly vision for our neighborhood, and to continue to trust in God's eternal faithfulness to our neighbors. We may not see the fruit right away, but we trust His promise that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Moving from Debts to Assets

Hello financial literacy. My name is Liz, and I would like to know you.

Yes, I am about to talk about something we all hate to talk about: MONEY.

As a 20-something (heading over the hill... no longer early 20's, now mid 20's and as Paul and Glenna have informed me, I am "getting old") I lack a significant understanding of my own money. I have been taught the essentials from my parents (opening a bank account, how to save, how to pay bills, the importance of paying off your credit card, you know the deal). With this knowledge, I've managed to keep my head above water, pay my bills on time, and even have a bit of spending money.

But let's be real. I'm in debt, and chances are, so are you. The majority of my debt is educational debt (student loans anyone??), but according to CNN, the average American household has nearly $10,700 in credit card debt. That's just credit card debit. We're not talking student loans, car loans, mortgages in a struggling economy.

Being financially literate = hugely important. I'm realizing more and more the value of teaching ourselves, our loved ones, our neighbors, our youth the importance of understanding money. Often, in lower income communities, people's financial illiteracy is taken advantage of and people pushed further into debt by payday loans or outrageous interest rates at check cashing centers. Quick money becomes attractive, and it's hard to think about long term financial goals when you know the rent is due... well, yesterday.

It's for these reasons (and so many more!) that I'm excited to be a part of a financial education and empowerment program that we'll be hosting in our community called "Moving from Debts to Assets". It's a class held by the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO), whose main goal is to help families build strong financial futures. It will help people in our neighborhood manage their money, create and stick to a budget and set and achieve their goals. I plan on taking the class in hopes to develop a deeper understanding of how to financially plan and help our young people think about their own money differently. Should be good!

Typical Day in the Life of Liz

"The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."
~ Proverbs 16:9

One of the most common questions I get is "So what exactly do you do at The Boston Project?"
Sometimes it's not always easy to explain, so I want to take you through a semi-typical day.

7:45 am: Hit the snooze button. Five minutes later, most likely hit it again. Finally get up!

9:00 am: Arrive at The Boston Project's ministry house, coffee in hand. All good days need to start with a cup of java. Or maybe two or three?

9:05 am: Meet with a local developer about new affordable housing. They are proposing to build 100+ units of housing (over time) in our small neighborhood. Some neighbors feel this is too much housing, and we have been advocating for fewer units and a design that fits in with our community. Together, we brainstorm ways of making sure the community is satisfied with the initial concept.

10:00 am: Check email. We need to do some "special projects" such as sorting through our Ugly Quilt supplies used to make sleeping bags for the homeless.

10:30 am: Prep the flyer for our next neighborhood meeting. The agenda: crime update, a new community garden, and meeting with the developers mentioned above.

11:30 am: Various admin projects. Mail summer staff W-2's and make some bank deposits.

12:30 pm: Lunch. Keith makes us all hamburgers. Yum!

1:15 pm: Prep for the next BP Board meeting. Help pull together financial reports plus the 2010 budget. The Board makes our major financial decisions, and since I am our bookkeeper, I help Paul (our Executive Director) prepare.

4:00 pm: Connect with friend and neighbor Giselle. She wants to go overseas this summer (she has never been), and we discuss potential options. Encourage her to look into short-term missions, and reassure her that we will do everything we can to help.

5:30 pm: Attend a Codman Square Neighborhood Council board meeting (of which I am a member) with State Rep. Marty Walsh. We are planning a job fair for our community in April with a focus on securing more jobs in the building trades.

7:30 pm: Finally get home, eat some dinner, reflect on the day, spend some time in the Word, and hang out with roommates.

11:00 pm: CRASH. Only to do it all again tomorrow... :)

Please Join Me In Prayer
• Pray for our staff and continued transition. We are adding a new Americorps staff member
in February. Pray for her as she enters the BP family!
• Pray for grant funding opportunities this summer, and that we will be able to provide jobs
for many of our neighborhood youth.
• Pray for the vision of expanded ministry through a second ministry house.

Financial Update - Thank You!
Praise God for a blessed 2009! I am so encouraged by the ways that you have all supported
the work God has called me to. In 2010, I will be increasing my fundraising goal to $7,500.
This is a step of faith for me, and I am trusting in God's provision. I am praying specifically
for three (3) additional monthly supporters in these next few months. Please consider being
an answer to that prayer!

God's New Thing

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." - Isaiah 43:18-19

God's "New Thing"

It's been a tough fall. As our staff met together in September, we realized we had a lot of pressing realities, some full of joy (new babies, kids starting new schools, etc), some full of sorrow (personal struggles, family illnesses, etc.) and that we were heading into what would have to be a season of change. While there has still been a lot of joy and victory these past few months, there have also been times full of questions and struggles. As we finish out 2009, our staff has committed to 30 days of prayer together, to seek God's direction and provision as we head into a new year (and a new decade!). It's been an encouragement to come together daily to pray, and God has been using it to change my perspective on this season we are in. My natural inclination is to dwell on the past, and think of 'the good old days', but through this time of prayer, and reading scripture, I've been brought to a place of anticipation and excitement, eagerly anticipating what it is that God is doing. We have been praying in anticipation of God's movement for the funding needs of our ministry, the potential of a new ministry house, and life direction of many of our staff. While at times it feels like we are in the desert, I have been taking comfort in knowing God is at work, and we are on the brink of something new.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

One thing I have been continually amazed at this year is God's provision for my every need - materially, emotionally, and spiritually. I needed a car - God provided a free one. I needed a bible study - God provided a wonderful group of women with abundant wisdom. When dear friends and confidants moved from Boston, God provided new people to share in the ups and downs of ministry. As 2009 draws to a close, I stand in awe of a God who knows my every need, and provides, and say "Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord!"

One in a Million

"The Mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps" - Proverbs 16:9

"One in a Million"

This fall, the ladies of Boston Project and myself are all participating in a neighborhood bible study, and together we are reading the book "One in a Million" by Priscilla Shirer. I have to say that this study has been exactly what I needed! I'm excited about the diversity in age and background of this group, and to learn from these neighborhood women. The study is focused on the Israelites journey out of slavery in Egypt through the wilderness into the Promised Land. Going through the wilderness was not the most direct or convenient way to the Promised Land, but it was the way that God chose for His people because He loved them, and knew what was best for them. For myself, this study is helping cement that God's path for me, even when it's not what I might have chosen and it leaves me feeling as if I'm in the wilderness, is purposed and is exactly where I need to be.

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

I spent a week traveling in Ireland with my Dad in late September. We spent time in both Dublin (on the east coast) and Galway (on the west coast), and visited a lot of beautiful sites. The highlight for me was traveling to the Cliffs of Moher, which are breathtaking cliffs on the Atlantic Ocean that one can only describe as being spectacular. I also got to see some traditional Irish dancing, ate lots of traditional pub food (fish and chips of course, with mashed peas on the side), and fell in love with Irish culture and history. I love to travel, maybe a little too much for my budget, and it was wonderful to see a new part of the world. I am also thankful to have had some time with my Dad, who also has the traveling bug, maybe even worse than me!

Pursuing Kingdom Priorities

I have the blessing again this year to attend the Christian Community Development Association's (CCDA) national conference. I'll be traveling to Cincinnati for five days to learn about "Pursuing Kingdom Priorities". The theme verse for the conference is Matthew 6:10, which compels us to pray and work for the transformation of our world; "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Last year, this conference was very significant in my decision to stay longer than I had originally anticipated at The Boston Project (originally I was thinking of staying two years - I've now been here over that) and I look forward to how God might use this time of teaching and reflection. I'm also looking forward to the 15 hour road trip there with three dear friends and coworkers :)

Prayer Requests

-Praise for rest! This fall has been very restful thus far, which was much needed.
-Continue to pray for God's provision for funding for the ministry.
-Pray for my time at the CCDA conference, and that I would be in tune to what God wants to speak to me there.
-Pray for our neighborhood as many vacant lots are being purchased for various types of development. Pray for a spirit of unity and understanding between residents and developers.

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