Welcome to Unity in the Community

Our desire for this site is to connect you to others who desire to see the Near East Side community in Ft. Worth transformed. The calendar below is full of weekly, monthly, and annual events that you can participate in. Feel free to click on an event that interests you for details & contact info.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Women & Children's Shelter Christmas Party!

We had such a blast! If you haven't served these precious kids yet you've got to team up with Hot Dogs & Hope or Intentional Gatherings. From brining donuts, and playing with the kids every Saturday, to annual Christmas parties, these two ministries have truly reflected the love and grace of Christ to these little ones. Check out these pics and videos from the party...


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This day was a blessing. Ronny Dudick from Hot Dogs and Hope said this at the end of the party, "Man, this is what Unity in the Community is all about." He is right. On Saturday different members of the body of Christ served together. Unity was created, and people were reached in a more effective way than if done alone.
And all the Glory goes to the Father! Thank you Jesus for who you are to us.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Check it out!

We want to say "Thank you" to everyone who came out to Unity Park this past weekend to help Feed By Grace put on their annual Christmas Celebration. This event was such a success! Neale, and many others were able to clearly communicate the message and purpose of Fee By Grace, which is to empower people help themselves. Many were presented with the opportunity to participate in the Jobs for Life program, which may be a key factor in seeing the streets transformed. Thanks for your efforts!

We have a couple of key things that we want you to take notice of this week:
First, on Saturday morning at 11am we will join Hot Dogs & Hope as they throw their annual Christmas party at the Women & Children's shelter. Details are on the calendar.
Second, Feed By Grace is having a planning meeting for the May 3rd event on Sunday at 1pm. If you have a desire to be a part of this event you need to be at this meeting. Details are also on the calendar.

We have put together a tentative schedule for our Unity in the Community Network meetings in 2008. They are all on the calendar above, and will be held every six weeks. We hope that you will join us as we continue to join together as the body of Christ to see the city transformed. You will want to be at the meeting in January as we discuss some amazing things that are in the works for 2008.

So far we have seen some great progress as organizations team up and serve together. Several of you have done so. A beautiful union is taking place in Ft. Worth as the Body of Christ begins to work together. If you have not experienced the power, freedom, and beauty in serving with A MINISTRY OTHER THAN YOURS we beg you to do so. Keep up the good work.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Faith of a Child...

~ A Baby's Hug ~

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was
quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands
on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he
wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at
half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and
unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi
there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?'

Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with
my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know
peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.

My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for
the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet
him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he
speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he
might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before
I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total
trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears
hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and
stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.

I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine.
He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'

Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man
said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.'

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering
why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'

I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no
judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding
a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all
eternity.

The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom of God , we must become as little children.'

If this has blessed you, please bless others by sending it on. Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is
really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel
about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at
all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.

"Behold the maidservant of the Lord !
Let it be to me according to your word."
Luke 1:38