A Story of Generosity

In startup world it is called incubation and seed funding. In church circles it is planting and stewardship. For Mission City Renewal, we often describe that our story is one of radical generosity.

Here’s what happened in April of 2015

Allied Hand Dryers: A regular distribution business, operating a warehouse shipping commercial restroom accoutrements such as soap dispensers, baby changing stations and (yep) hand dryers. When relocating their regular business — owners Jodi and Darrell Kirksey chose to do something wonderfully irregular with their assets.

The warehouse property in the heart of San Antonio had an additional 6,000 square-foot building that was not essential to their core business. With a multitude of options, they chose generosity. Approaching the Park Community Church, the Kirkseys offered the building to the neighborhood-focused church for $1 a year “lease” for 10 years. (Over those 10 years, this building could have been leased for more than $360,000.)

Unbeknownst to the Kirkseys, when they called to extend this gift, the church leadership had the real-estate listing of this very property on their computer screens discussing the need for a place to hold meetings and beginning to consider options. In the days following, the church leadership processed the opportunity in light of the vision to Join God in the Renewal of All Things. They soon decided to multiply this generosity — Yes, they needed a portion of the space for offices and meetings, but additionally they wanted to see this space come alive for the neighborhood and the city of San Antonio.

With that, they extended an offer to share the space and hit send on an email which soared off to London, where Sarah Woolsey, future Mission City Renewal founder, was participating in a week long missional-enterprise accelerator, Make Good. Having flown across the pond with the seedling of an idea for a social enterprise incubator and a mound of questions, Sarah was actively piecing together a business plan. And while the name, The Impact Guild, had come easily, the enormity of funding needs seemed like it would halt the idea from becoming a reality. Until that email arrived. What spurred from the offer that email contained was another layer of radical generosity — Over the next 18 months, The Park funded the $400,000 renovation of the building as well as providing leadership and mentorship for months to come as the Impact Guild and Mission City Renewal launched. 

Rethinking Assets

This is just one example of what can happen when we rethink our resources. As business owners, as churches and other community organizations, as friends and neighbors — What might happen if we broaden our imaginations and think creatively about how we invest in our communities and neighborhoods? This is not a concept only for the extremely wealthy — It is a consideration of our resources whatever they might be… graphic design skills, years of gardening knowledge, a bicycle or a car. More than anything, rethinking assets is a shift to operate out of abundance; a belief that as these investments are made it does not reduce the proverbial “pie” and create a scarcity of resources but rather it multiplies and we are all better off.

Two years in, the building has appreciated in value xxx and the Impact Guild is now thriving and paying rent to the Park.

These investment are not just the transactional exchange of money but also have countless by-products: deep relationship and mentorship, new business development and job creation. Rather than the relationship of a singular giver bestowing to a receiver this power-dynamic is flipped on its head — Reciprocal relationships are created with mutual value exchanged. Relationships are marked by empowerment and dignity and sustainable businesses are created. Now we are talking about the things that stimulate economies, reduce crime, heal families and transform communities. A cycle of generosity that combats the cycle of poverty and makes sense economically, relationonally and missionally.

These are our roots. We believe this creative rethinking of resources and models is a key component of thriving leaders and thriving communities.

The hope is that this is just one of many stories to come. Take a look at our resources below for organizations and individuals to join the journey.