I hate to admit that I’m a fearful person, but I am. I know all the scriptures about not being afraid, and I use my common sense. But I’m still scared of being physically harmed. And unless I’m repressing the memories, there’s no deeply scarring event in my past that would account for this. I’m just a chicken. And I always have been.

This coming Saturday morning (May 31) I am leading a prayer walk in the neighborhood around the church. I am trying to make sure that we have at least one outreach event per month, and this is it for May. Our church/theater is situated on the northwest corner of an area known as Weinland Park. It’s one of the three poorest neighborhoods in the city. (Probably not so coincidentally, I currently live in one of the three richest neighborhoods in the city. Ponder that, and maybe I’ll post about it in the future …)

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Anyway, Weinland Park. It’s an older neighborhood and many of the residents are experiencing the effects of generational poverty. A few weeks ago I had coffee with another pastor in the area, and she identified some of the specific needs in that community. As with many urban neighborhoods, education is a challenge. Apparently, the schools have stopped assigning homework because they know it simply will not be completed, and the school books probably won’t be returned either. This neighborhood has also seen an increase in violence. A weekend story in the Columbus Dispatch notes this area as one that has been identified by police as having strong gang activity.

Did I mention we are prayer walking there this weekend? Now before all you mommies get really freaked out, let me say that a friend and I drove that route last Saturday morning and it looked fine. We’ll be in a group, during the day, and we won’t be doing anything to challenge the neighbors, so I think we’ll be fine.

But can I just say that I am scared? No one has said not to go, and this is our neighborhood so I think that we should do this. And I really think that we’ll be fine. But I’m still scared. I’m afraid so often in my life that I don’t think I know the difference between just plain scared and having a spiritual sense that this is something to avoid.

This is the kind of neighborhood that I want to live and work in someday. (Mom, don’t listen.) So I know that I’m supposed to be there. Which might be why I feel so afraid of all the situations I’m imagining. I think it’s important for me to conquer that fear this year.

So would you pray for me? And for our prayer walk? And even during our prayer walk? We’re starting at 11 a.m. (that’s 10 a.m., Missouri folks) and I would love to know that you are joining us in spirit. Before the end of the week, I’ll post a list of the things we’ll be praying for as we walk. Thanks, friends.

(See, sometimes I’ll post the stuff I’m thinking about. Just for you Judi!)