Archive for September, 2007

Old tangibles

Phil | September 27, 2007 10:22 am

On Sept 1st we hit the nine-month mark in our adventure in East Hollywood.  This was a critical month for us to reflect on success, and how one even measures that in God’s kingdom. Many churchy people still look for old “tangibles” to measure success.  I’m going to touch on some of these old tangibles.  And then I will offer up some new (ancient?) tangibles that we are seeing in East Hollywood that indicate the field is ripe for harvest. 

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The other half of our vision: “You can do this, too!”

Phil | September 20, 2007 3:57 pm

FYI: Way of Life Village appeared in an article in the Christian Chronicle.  Maybe more Jesus-followers will be inspired to see themselves as way of life missionaries, too.  I hope!

http://www.christianchronicle.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=799

Life In EHO: On the receiving end

Phil | September 19, 2007 7:06 pm

Homemade Sushi Rolls

In the neighborhood I have a friend who is a Laos-born, Hollywood-raised, nominally Buddhist, former gangster-turned-family-man, who shares my interest in shooting pool (even though he’s good at it and I’m not!) and talking about parenting and spiritual matters.  Yesterday he surprised us with this special gift: His homemade California Rolls, a type of sushi, and wasabi, a spicy green paste that cleared my sinuses!  Very tasty!!!

East Hollywood demographics

Phil | September 14, 2007 11:00 am

For those who would like to become more acquainted with East Hollywood, here is an excerpt from http://www.easthollywood.net, published by our friends with the newly certified East Hollywood Neighborhood Council.  Please visit their website for photos and a brief history of this extremely diverse, dynamic and unique neighborhood of LA!

(When looking at the map, we live in the subcommunity designated as Virgil Village.)

—- 

Where in the world is East Hollywood?

With a population of 51,000 residents, East Hollywood is a 1.8 square-mile community in the city of Los Angeles surrounded by central Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Koreatown. One of the most culturally diverse communities — if not the most culturally diverse community — in Los Angeles, it is home to the city’s main Armenian (Little Armenia district), Thai (Thai Town district) and El Salvadoran communities. It is also home to many Mexican, Filipino, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Eastern European and Middle Eastern residents and businesses.   

Because of the cultural diversity, East Hollywood offers a veritable food paradise comprising of countless ethnic restaurants, bakeries and other eateries, including the original Zankou Chicken, the original Cha Cha Cha, the Zagat-acclaimed Marouch, Sanamluang Cafe, Thailand Plaza and Paru’s Indian Vegetarian, just to name but a few.

East Hollywood’s institutions include three major medical centers (the “Bed Pan Alley” trifecta of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center), Los Angeles City College, five Los Angeles Unified School District elementary schools (Ramona, Lockwood, Lexington, Dayton Heights and Kingsley), Barnsdall Park, Madison West Park and numerous small businesses.

This community also comprises of a youthful community where 64% of its residents are under the age of 40, as well as a heavy renter population of 88%.

It is bordered by Hollywood and Sunset boulevards to the north, Hoover St to the east, the 101 Freeway to the south and Western Ave to the west. 

Area Map 

Demographics

Population

Total Population 50,566
Latino 55%
White (includes Armenian) 22%
Asian 15%
Other 5%
African American 3%

Gender

Male 50%
Female 50%

Households

Total Households 16,571
Renter-Occupied 88%
Owner-Occupied 8%
Other 4%

Age

17 Years & Under 26%
18-29 Years 20%
30-39 Years 18%
40-49 Years 14%
50-64 Years 12%
65 Years & Over 10%

Families shaping teachers

Phil | September 13, 2007 5:00 am

On Tuesday evening Meri and I had the privilege of hosting in our apartment a small forum on education.  A Pepperdine University Education professor and her eleven college students (who are taking her course on culture and language study as preparation for becoming grade school teachers) met in our home and ate Thai food with ten of my neighbors who attend school or have kids in school in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).  The teachers-in-training humbly asked these parents and students of LAUSD to educate them on what life is really like living in the city of Los Angeles and going to schools in LAUSD.  They asked the families to be brutally honest about their experiences, to share what they want for their kids and grandkids, and what they are looking for in a good teacher.  One of my neighbors did the translating, as there were non-English speakers in the group.  One of the college students grew up in East Hollywood and another went to grade school in South Central LA, but for most of them this was a cross-cultural experience!  It was so fun to watch different worlds merge in a spirit of mutual respect. 

What a wonderful idea this professor had to bring these eleven students into the hood to sit at the feet of kids, parents and grandparents!  And this is not all.  This professor is calling Tuesday’s experience the First Encounter for her college students this semester.  Second Encounter will be with a church children’s program, and Third Encounter will be an overnight stay with a family and a school visit with their elementary school child. 

I wonder what would schools look like in East Hollywood/Los Angeles (and in our nation’s other big cities) if more parents and students actually got to help shape the training and idealogies of their community’s future teachers?  To this professor I say, “Way to go!”

California churches

Phil | September 12, 2007 5:00 am

We usually write about way of life in East Hollywood, but I want to share about California churches that have helped shape who I am today. 

On Sunday Ed, Katie, Meri and I visited with our brothers and sisters of the Hollywood Church of Christ (one of our supporting congregations) and told them stories and testimonies about what God is doing through us and in us so far in East Hollywood.  What a loving family!  It was during our ten years (and Ed and Katie’s seven years) journeying with the Hollywood Church of Christ that we fell more madly in love with Jesus and his simple, counter-cultural and dangerous ways of living.  God used the Hollywood church to show us we are “blessed to be a blessing” and (to quote a famous song) that Jesus had “friends in low places.”

Being back at this Hollywood congregation reminded me of an observation I often hear when I visit some other States or converse with transplants from other States.  After all these years I still hear Americans cracking jokes about Californians (I know, I know, Californians make fun of other States too).  But what’s sadder is that I still notice many Christians in America look down on Californian churches, like we’ve sold our souls to the devil by nature of being Californians.  Add to this the weirdness of telling people I live and worship in Hollywood, and you can imagine the looks I get in return.  To all who look down on your California sister churches I want to say, come and see! 

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A promise for gangsters

Phil | September 7, 2007 5:00 am

Is God’s hope really for the hopeless cases or just for those who haven’t totally gone off the deep end?  I’ve been thinking a lot about Christians and gangs lately because I keep meeting gangsters and families affected by gangs.  Although our mission here is not a “gang ministry” per say, it seems that every family in our community has been impacted in some way by this aspect of life in the city.  Two nights ago I was standing outside at 10pm with a mom who was nervously smoking a cigarette, anxiously waiting for her son (who joined a gang and just bought a gun) to come home.  How many moms know her pain and the years she is losing from worry and lack of sleep?  Years ago we temporarily housed a single mom and her two boys whose apartment was burned up by a local gang for saying the wrong thing.  I’ve met a killer was nearly killed in a driveby and now regrets his past and wants to change his life.  I feel for victims of gang brutality, for all the moms and dads, and for the kids in gangs.  I think most Christians are in agreement that it’s a struggle to break free from gang life.  The endless supply of gangsta movies have taught us that.  But when I hear Christians talk about it, it’s as if they’ve resigned to give movies, news reporters, jaded police gang units, and even gangsters themselves, the final say.  Yes, it’s a complex and many-faceted problem, long in the making.  But people don’t get the final say.  God does!  If God says anything is possible with Him, then anything is possible (Matthew 19:26).  Anyone can be saved from the hell they are living in (and have helped to create for themselves).  The promise is for gangsters, too!  Church, please don’t forget His promise is good for everyone! Please!