Sunday, November 17, 2013

"Zion transforms Midtown neighborhood"

Here is the article I wrote for the Rockford Register Star on November 17, 2013

To transform is to change from one thing to another. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters of Rockford, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” These words from the book of Romans remind us of the power of God’s transformation takes place individually and communally. The Greek word for transform is “metamorphoo” which means to change from one thing to another.
In 1971, the Woodruff Express was going to change the face of Midtown. A highway was going to come into downtown and Zion Lutheran Church was in the way. Zion decided to purchase eight acres of land near the northeast corner of Spring Creek and Mulford place. The “Woodruff Express” highway never happened. When the highway was dropped, the church decided to sell the land. The 1983 vote was 80% to sell and stay in Midtown and 20% to keep it and move. They sold that property in the northeast part of town and decided they were going to be in the city to “discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
That discernment meant transformation for Zion. I’ve been the Senior Pastor at Zion Church in Midtown for four years and I’ve seen many Midtown miracles that have transformed the neighborhood near Fifth, Sixth and Seventh streets. We recalled those changes in 2013 and the many people who made it happen. This past year we rededicated the youth center as the “Bitner Youth Center” in honor of Pastor Denver and Pamela Bitner’s years of ministry. The Youth Center was the fourth major building change at Zion and built with funds from the Spring Creek land sale.
We recall how the church helped change the neighborhood with the creation of three 501(c)3 non-profits. They created the Patriots’ Gateway Center in 1995 to promote recreation in the neighborhood, developing an inner city Golf Center and an excellent Patriots’ Boxing program on Seventh Street. We remember how the church leaders started Zion Development in 1982 to promote jobs, creating permanent supportive housing at the Grand and Longwood Apartments; then the Lantow lofts and Katie’s Cup in 2009. We celebrate that the church started Zion Outreach in 2005 to support a Food Pantry, Tutoring, and the Buddy House Community Garden Ministry at Blackhawk apartments. The church and these non-profits have helped change the 61104 Midtown neighborhood, along with many businesses and social sector groups. Yet our hearts and minds need renewal.
Therefore, these Zion Partners have been meeting throughout 2013 to recommit ourselves to working together, signing the Zion Partners Memorandum of Understanding at worship on November 10th.  We have recommitted ourselves to transforming our 61104 Midtown neighborhood with others based on the core values of faith, housing, health, recreation, education, meaningful work, and supportive social relationships.
            “At this good, acceptable and perfect time”, Rockford is engaging in the “Transform Rockford” process. Barbara Lundblad in the book Transforming the Stone reminds us, “For people of faith, transformation doesn’t happen: it is a gift from God”.  Let us place our gifts on the rock of change and pray that transformation would come to us like the women who once stood in front of a great unmovable rock and heard the angelic words “Do not be afraid”.


Peace! Rev. Dr. Michael E. Thomas

http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20131116%2FOPINION%2F131119535