Serving Our Neighborhoods

A Convoy of Hope invaded the Fresno Fairgrounds at the end of November!  Hearts of compassion, grace and love were evident in the 2000+ volunteers that spent the day serving meals, giving haircuts, fitting people with shoes, taking family portraits and sharing valuable information with more that 6000 guests who were welcomed, served, prayed for and loved that day; and those are just a few of the things that took place at Convoy!  Health & Dental Services were also provided, flu shots were given and resumes were prepared. It was HUGE!

The follow through started as people had their groceries carried to their cars and new doors are being opened as the Convoy team now engages in connecting people with churches, small groups, organizations, etc.  At the end of the outreach, before Saturday was through, impassioned Convoy volunteers took some of the leftover prepared meals to folks in need in downtown Fresno, feeding them, engaging them, continuing the Day of Hope and extending it beyond the Fairgrounds. Guests that responded “yes” to offers of connection to a local church are being followed up with follow phone calls and conversations.

People are being connected, resumes are being submitted, transportation is being arranged back to churches through bus tokens, and workshops are being planned with much more to come.   It was an impactful day, but it’s not just about ONE day!  The doors are open now for many to continue to build upon the connections made.

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” I Peter 4:9-10

The moms at Lowell Elementary were eager to show their gratitude to the teachers for the time and energy they pour into kids on a daily basis. Many of the mothers at Lowell, however, are not able to communicate effectively in English. But they found a way they could give back and bless the teachers in a meanginful way!

Food is nourishment to both the body and soul! Food connects people! These moms sent a strong message of thankfulness through their loving act of service. The meal was fabulous! The teachers LOVED it! The moms felt blessed by the opportunity to serve and now recognize that their cooking skills are a gift that can be used to bless others . . . this week it was the teachers that teach THEIR children who were on the receiving end!

It’s exciting to watch these ladies use their gifts to be a blessing to their neighborhood!

– Ariana Martinez

Magnolia McClain is an 82 year old resident that lives in southeast Fresno. A few months ago she noticed that the floor of her bathroom was creaking a lot when she would walk in there. Over time the sound became louder and louder and the floor became softer and softer. She suspected that there may be a water leak somewhere in the bathroom. So she told one of her kids.

When some folks from Saint Rest’s Baptist heard of her plight, they wanted to step in and help. They called ENP to see if we could assist in doing an initial assessment of the work that needed to be done. We found a contractor that was willing to help Saint Rest’s with guidance and with the help of some retired gentlemen from the church they were able to re-floor the bathroom and put in a new toilet.

What a joy it is to see the Church in action – being a blessing to our residents, young and . . . not so young!!

Northpointe, The River, Mt. ZIon and Life Bridge churches, along with over 20 service organizations joined forces for another amazing Neighborhood Block Party at Toby Lawless School this past weekend.  Activities included games for the kids, food, live music, and drawings throughout the day with a couple kids going home with new bikes! Everyone seemed to enjoy the activities AGAIN this year and the weather was beautiful!  To top off the day, community Food Bank handed out bags of produce to the families as they left for home.

Thanks to everyone who made this day memorable and fun for the whole neighborhood!

This video tells the whole story even better than words!  ENJOY!

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15

God cares for the city and He cares for the aesthetic beauty within it as well. He calls us to be good stewards in our community, “to work it and take care of it”, and the Church Body is carrying out that calling here in Fresno!

This past week, ENP had the opportunity to hang out with three teams of very energetic and tenacious middle and high school students from People’s Church. These students were a great blessing to the City of Fresno staff by helping to get a few projects off of their to-do list. The goal: to beautify our city!

One very determined and hardworking team cleared out weeds from the side of one of Fresno’s major streets, while a second team painted over graffiti on about a mile of walls in downtown Fresno. The last team spent their time investing in a neighborhood park, painting stripes on the parking lot, weeding flower beds, sanitizing playground equipment, sweeping sidewalks and raking!

We at ENP continue to be impressed by this younger generation’s energy and willingness to pour into our city! God is at work and we are thankful to be witness to that, and happy to assist them in their efforts!

– Ariana Martinez