S2E4: TILLING NEIGHBORHOOD SOIL Part 2

WITH GUEST KERCIDA MCCLAIN

How might we honor the legacy of our dying church, as Kercida McClain worked to do for St. Mark’s United Methodist church, while also anticipating the newness a project brings to a space? How do we navigate resistance from the congregation and allow those questions to strengthen the project? In Season 2 Episode 4, hosts Elizabeth Coffee and Ramiro Gonzales continue to hear from Kercida McClain, the CEO of Project Transformation Rio Texas. She shares how Project Transformation’s partnership with St. Mark’s helped bring new life to the church, and how other churches can build stronger relationships with their neighborhoods. The congregation had valid concerns about their partnership, but by being present in the building and the neighborhood, Kercida showed that Project Transformation is not all talk: they are committed to the life of their community. No church is stagnant: it is either growing and changing, or it is dying. So, what are you doing that is the work of Christ? And how can you support partners who are doing what you can’t?

FOLLOW FOR FUTURE EPISODES

SHOW NOTES

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Honor the Legacy

30:58 “The first thing is, I would say to people that you have to honor what got you to the place to even be able to attempt something new on a church property… If it hadn’t been for people building this [property] and then maintaining it, which is not cheap, it wouldn’t have even been an option for us to come here.”

Mutual Benefit

32:28 “The other part of that was really trying to make sure the congregation understood, this wasn’t just what they could give to Project Transformation. It was also what Project Transformation could give to the congregation and to the neighborhood.”

45:11 “We now consider ourselves a part of the fabric of this property, and we know that there are people who want to see us… We want to continue to build those Monday thru Friday relationships, as well as the Sunday relationships.”

51:10 “My underlying question to every church person is: ‘Did you want your church to die?’ And the answer to that is no. But really, the only option, if you’re not growing or changing, is dying.”

51:44 “This millennia of ministry is not actually about Sunday mornings from 9-12. And I hope that’s not shocking to people, but maybe it is. Millennial ministry looks like, ‘What are you doing that actually is the work of Jesus?’”

CONTACT

Ramiro Gonzales | Westside Development Corporation

Elizabeth Coffee | Mission City Renewal

Kercida McClain | Project Transformation Rio Texas

Volunteer with Project Transformation

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