The Standard August 26, 2023
I recently heard someone say that, when asked about what to read first in the Bible, he suggests the Sermon on the Mount. In part of it, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth,’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:38-45)
In 1986 in Huntsville, Alabama a group of Christian men felt called to consider the words of Jesus and to address the decline in the city’s least served neighborhood. Terry Heights had the lowest performing elementary school with the largest number of single parent households below the poverty line and the highest crime rate. Second Mile Development was created with the idea that, “Our mission is to connect every individual to the love of Jesus by serving neighborhoods, strengthening schools, and empowering homes. Our vision is to reconcile through Jesus the rich and the poor, the educated and uneducated, and the fortunate and less fortunate.”
Second Mile’s philosophy is to be relational, to empower people, maintaining their dignity, without giving things away for free and to be good listening neighbors, without trying to “fix” what outsiders might perceive as problems. They started with a lawn care service to provide jobs for teenage boys and opened a thrift store a few years later. The store provides jobs as well as items at affordable prices, and has expanded to include a Baby Care program. Before Christmas, new holiday gifts can be purchased for a fraction of the original price or by hours worked. Second Mile created a fantastic preschool and an initiative to help mothers and fathers become more involved in their kids’ schools. Their Parent Initiative program includes monthly training sessions or Parent Parties, which help adults learn to engage with their local schools and to promote at-home learning. These parties have spread through training by Second Mile to over 1,300 schools across the country.
At this time of year, Second Mile Development focuses on the back-to-school needs of students. With their broad base of support from local churches, community organizations and businesses, they are able to offer supplies at an extremely low price. “Kid kids are a part of our Pride for Parents initiative, which provides opportunities for families to use the resources they have to get what they need while protecting their pride and dignity. Kid Kits include new backpacks and school supplies for students. This program is designed to preserve the dignity of families by making the items available at affordable prices. We do not give anything away free, because providing for one’s own family maintains personal dignity and strengthens the family unit. However, parents can work and earn store credit to cover the cost of items they want to purchase.”
Since 1986, the positive changes in Terry Heights have been tremendous. They now have more homeowners than renters and the crime rate is declining. Unemployment also is declining. Theirs truly is the story of God redeeming a place.
celiastone 