Heaven Across Portland
As we enter the final quarter of the 2023-2024 school year, Shawn has begun to give more responsibility to the eighth grade class. This past week, they helped in creating some of their scheduling and guiding the direction of their class project. It was amazing to witness their growth since the beginning of the year and to see how many of their choices were community minded.
When creating the 8th graders fourth quarter schedule, they had an open period on Thursday afternoons. The students we knew entering the beginning of this year would have chosen an independent study time so that they could take advantage of the freedom and try to use it to sleep or socialize. But the young adults we have now that were presented with this hole in their schedule decided to use it to help the Love City community. They decided that they wanted to use that time to cup sauces and foil boxes for the fish fry, activities that are time consuming but essential to a smooth Friday. So now, if you were ever to walk into Porkland on a Thursday afternoon, you would see a flurry as our 8th grade class tried to get done everything they needed as efficiently as possible. We have seen them turn these tasks into races and meditative acts, both things that I used to do when I would cup sauces to make the most of the time. It is so encouraging for us to get to see them step up and help support our community.
One of our 8th Graders who wanted to help us paint Merriment.
They had another afternoon slot that had to be filled with a class project. They were completely in control of what this project would look like. In only an hour, they had their idea. Actually, more than just an idea, they had named it, created a logo, a slogan, and an entire brand identity for it. The name: Heaven Across Portland. It would be a project that would identify area beautification needs in our neighborhood and actively work to solve those problems. They pieced together a cool, unique logo using clipart as they began to assemble fliers. When I went up to the classroom to check in with Shawn after school one day, there was one student left who was waiting on a ride. The first thing she told me about was this project, unable to contain her excitement she rushed over to her desk, ruffled through some folders, and pulled out the flier to show me, proudly pointing to the logo and telling me her involvement with it.
It is hard to describe the change that we have seen in our 8th graders with words. At the beginning of the year, people were describing them as unteachable and too wild. They were feeling abandoned, many of them had lost family members, all of them had lost teachers they admired as the teachers decided to go to different schools or switch professions. They pushed everyone away so as to not feel that abandonment again. Now, with a teacher who has loved them all year, we are getting to see the fruits of the potential we have long seen in them. We are getting to spend time with students who are not only interested in their community, but who actively seek out ways to help support it. We are seeing students who are beginning to get glimpses of the Kingdom of God that we always talk about and who are having insights into how to help make that Kingdom a tangible reality in our neighborhood. We now have students who believe in and want to see Heaven Across Portland.
Ethan
Awareness Night March 26th…
Please join us at Lou Lou on Market on March 26th to hear about what Love City has going on now and where we are headed. We are super excited for the night and would love to see you there. To RSVP email info@lovecityinc.org
Field Trip!!!
Our 6th/7th Graders were able to take a field trip to attend the UofL Baseball game this past week vs. Lipscomb University. They got to see an exciting game as UofL tied it up in the 9th inning and came back to win in the extra inning. Some of the students were also able to get Louie the mascot’s signature which they were super excited about.
Lent!!!
It’s Lent season, hurry in to get your fish now!! But don’t worry, we won’t tell if you are more in the mood for some Churched up Tots!
Live Music This Friday!!!
This Friday join us for dinner and tunes as Josh Glauber plays from 5pm-7pm!!
Check Out this Article!!!
Business First just wrote an article on Love City’s plans to open our thrift shop, Merriment, at the end of April. You can check that article out here. Stay tuned to our social media pages as we will be posting updates and letting everyone know when donations will be accepted.
If you are interested in volunteering or to find out more information about supplies needed please email: info@lovecityinc.org or call (502) 272-078.