Can I actually #InfluenceDetroit...? Pt.2

A dear friend of mine wrote in one of his books that we are often given moments of inspiration, a nudge to do something.  I’ve felt that often, perhaps you have as well.  Most often, at least in my case, those “moments” came and went. 

I often wonder about some of them. Did I miss something, perhaps a great opportunity to make a difference, to have an INFLUENCE on someone or group of people or a place.  One thing I do know I did miss some opportunities.  How about you?

Here’s what happened with us.

  1. We could not get the plight of the people of Detroit who were living in under-resourced neighborhoods off of our minds.  

  2. We believed in our heart that there just had to be something we could do, a way we could help in some meaningful manner.  We had lots of ideas, saw lots of needs.  

  3. We decided to not be paralyzed by over analyzing the situation. We had done plenty of that in our life and done nothing!!

  4. We thought, at a minimum,  we could be a source of encouragement in the midst of the despair and hopelessness by showing up, jumping in, making ourselves available to do whatever needed to be done.  And that we did.  

  5. This was our opportunity to INFLUENCE.  Where many had been so discouraged and had given up we stepped in fresh and began doing a lot of advocating and just helping and encouraging.  It’s amazing how just being present can have such an INFLUENCE on people.  Just doing what they had grown weary doing.  Advocating for justice and fairness and then digging in and helping where we could.

  6. The INFLUENCE quickly extended to others who saw the difference we were making and they decided to join us.  We were surprised that so many people followed!!  Those partnerships are what made the real difference, eventually the real INFLUENCE.

And now look at what God did with a step of faith, with saying just saying “I’m going to do something”. Not sure of the outcome, I’m just going to lend a hand where there is great need and see what God does.  HE likes those places you know!!

In fact, take a look at this community map, and see how much INFLUENCE we are seeing in Regent Park!

Lifebuilders Detroit