HOUSTON—Five years ago, the neighborhood north of Hardin-Simmons University was a scene of broken windows, cars littering yards, lawns turned into weed-filled jungles and paint peeling from houses. But Hardin-Simmons University placed a family in the neighborhood with one goal—living missionally. And transformation began in the area.
Danyel Rogers de-scribed her family’s experiences during a workshop on missional living held at the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Houston. Rogers directs the Friendship House in Abilene’s Northpark neighborhood—a place where children can play safely and where the door almost always is open. Linda Carleton, who served as Hardin-Simmons’ dean of student, adapted the idea from a similar model in Shreveport, La.
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Students from Hardin-Simmons University volunteer in reading stories to neighborhood children at the Friendship House.
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“I ask myself every day, ‘What am I doing to invest in other peoples’ lives?’” Rogers told the workshop. “Think about whom you encounter each day and think, ‘What can I do to reach out to them’”
At its heart, Friendship House practices a ministry of reconciliation, she said.
“In my neighborhood, we eat meals together, take care of each other’s children and work on recycling as a community,” Rogers said.
“What we do to practice reconciliation is to provide a place of support where neighbors get to know each other.”
Each afternoon, children visit the Friendship House to play games with students from Hardin-Simmons University.
“It is all about transformation,” Rogers told the workshop.
“Take what you already know about Christianity and put it into practice. Don’t just have good intentions. Live what you know. The way you start is to ask God to open your eyes to see the needs of the people around you.”
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The initial Friend-ship House has sparked creation of several others in Abilene, all managed by Connecting Caring Communities, a nonprofit organization.
A new Friendship House is being constructed in the Northpark neighborhood, supported in part by continued funding from Hardin-Simmons University.
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