This
article is taken from our April 2005 newsletter. To subscribe
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Bridging
the Gap Between Faith and Action
 We've
talked before about the importance of connecting faith and
action, and how spiritual beliefs are more than abstract
principles (see "Faith in Action - A Candid Discussion"
from our March 2004 newsletter). At Operation Shoestring,
we strive to build partnerships with faith-based organizations
to make this connection a reality. One of these ongoing
partnerships, with Northminster Baptist Church, has led
to a daily relationship with an energetic young minister
who brings a very human face to this "bridge-building" process.
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Pastor
Jill Barnes has been working at Northminster for six months
as the Associate Pastor for Community Ministry. She keeps an office
at Shoestring's Bailey Avenue headquarters and works directly
with Shoestring staff in building relationships with members of
the community. A graduate of Clinton High School and Mississippi
State University, Barnes received her Masters of Divinity from
the Boston University School of Theology (she's a die-hard Red
Sox fan). She talked with us about her work, and why this kind
of partnership is a win-win situation for everyone.
OS:
How would you describe your job?
Barnes:
At Northminster, we are trying to build a relationship of
friendship with the Mid-City / Georgetown community. That means
getting to know the community on its own terms and befriending
people on a one-to-one basis. We feel that the best way to be
open and available for ministry is to have someone "on the ground."
Operation Shoestring has proven over the years to be open to partnership
with organizations like the Medical Mall, the Neighborhood Christian
Center, and Wells United Methodist Church.
With
me being here, I'm becoming a part of Shoestring's existing long-term
relationship with the community, and I'm finding ways that Northminster
can assist Shoestring in their work. The goal is to serve as a
bridge between the work at Operation Shoestring and the resources
and assistance that Northminster has to offer.
OS:
How does the relationship between Operation Shoestring and
a house of worship like Northminster benefit both sides?
Barnes:
Well, I believe that it is important for churches to be involved
in the larger vision of the Kingdom of God. That means less theory
and more practice. Operation Shoestring offers concrete opportunities
for people of faith to act upon that faith. But Shoestring doesn't
exist for the faith community; it exists for children and families.
Part of my job, as I see it, is to remember that this is not a
patriarchal relationship, but a friendship.
OS:
How has your experience here been for you so far?
Barnes:
It's been very rewarding. I am still getting to know people,
of course. I meet regularly with neighborhood leaders to gauge
needs and see how Northminster can help. I'm part of Chuck Poole's
weekly Bible study at the Mid-City Community Center, and I visit
our Habitat families (who live in houses built in our Habitat
for Humanity project) on a regular basis. I'm also working on
developing two new projects: a ministry to connect elderly members
of the community with the church, and a home repair assistance
project.
OS:
What personal rewards do you receive from your work here?
Barnes:
I take great satisfaction from the personal relationships
that I am developing here. That's what enriches our lives, I think.
That's why I always talk about my work in terms of friendship.
It's also rewarding to know that I am part of a process that is
crossing some pretty significant historical boundaries here in
Mississippi: racial, cultural, and socioeconomic.
Hopefully
the work we do here helps other individuals to cross those boundaries
as well. I think there are a lot of people who want to be involved
in racial reconciliation, but they don't know how to do it on
a personal, experiential level. I get a lot of satisfaction from
being part of that "bridge."
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