Sidewalk Sunday School focuses on urban neighborhoods

Throughout the warm spring, summer and fall months, bright orange Power House Ministry trucks with portable sound systems and fold down stages park throughout Grand Rapids' urban neighborhoods. Pastor Jon Lewis, and nearly 30 volunteer staff from Resurrection Life Church, set up portable “Sidewalk Sunday Schools” to reach inner city neighborhoods and children with the life changing message of Jesus Christ. They return weekly, communicating through their deeds that the bright orange trucks aren't only about church lessons and bible stories. The volunteers love on the kids by becoming a mentor and friend. Power House Ministry's goal is to use “One night a week to change a life for eternity.”

Power House targets on urban neighborhoods because in the city, the greatest needs often go unmet. A 1999 survey of the greater Grand Rapids urban neighborhoods found that between 24 and 38 percent of children under 5 lived in poverty. Female headed households with children composed between 29 and 33 percent of all homes. The median annual household income in urban neighborhoods was between $20,890 and $26,800 and was moving in a downward direction. In six different neighborhood “congregations,” Pastor Lewis spends time communicating the gospel in ways kids understand, through time, love and long term friendship.

Pastor Lewis and the Power House staff use five strategies to connect with the kids in these transient, and sometimes economically and socially unstable neighborhoods.

1.    Sidewalk Sunday School – Their program is deliberately fast-paced and filled with fun games, songs, and a life changing message. They work from the ministry's trucks in the summer months, and when West Michigan weather turns cold and gray, they move the programs indoors through neighborhood partner organizations.

2.    Bible Adventures – Each week the children are given “home work” with 4 to 6 questions that pertain to the lessons of the day. Since the teams arrive in neighborhoods weekly, they use the homework to teach kids that church and Sunday school isn't limited to one day per week.

3.    Leaders In Training (LIT) – The Power House staff identifies teens who show leadership potential, and if they stay connected to the ministry, they are encouraged to join the LIT program. Through LIT, the older teens are mentored more closely with the intent that when they complete high school, they have the confidence to go onto college, or become part of the Power House staff.

4.    Tutoring – By offering tutoring on traditional school curriculum, the staff makes a lasting contribution to a child’s life. They now have established tutoring at the Traditions apartments in Kentwood and Sunflower apartments in Wyoming.

5.    Networking – Power House is always looking to partner with other ministries and organizations in the community which are already planted, or working in the urban neighborhoods. When organizations work together, they can leverage their resources, and like the body of Christ Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12, use their unique gifts to make the greatest impact.

Pastor Lewis and his staff keep statistics regarding inner city poverty and decay in perspective. He believes “Jesus said that the thief comes to steel, kill and destroy.” and the urban city neighborhoods are simply more visible evidence of the devil's intent. Power House provides “ a place of refuge and escape from (unstable) inner city home life, and gives the kids new examples of different types of relationships.  We offer love, grace and kindness.”

While the concept for the ministry started in 1980, the current Power House ministry has been operating since 1998.  Last year, in addition to the weekly Sidewalk Sunday School, the staff has set up tutoring in the Sunflower Apartments in Wyoming. They regularly hand out bags of groceries, and make sure to remember their urban friend and neighbors during Christmas time. For one family, Power House provided beds so the kids and parent no longer had to sleep on the floor.

To volunteer, provide resources, financial or material donations, contact Pastor Jon Lewis through Resurrection Life Church in Grandville, or though the Power House website.  If you would like to get personally involved, or are currently part of an organization that has a heart for urban neighborhoods, Pastor Lewis is always looking to expand  Power House's footprint by partnering with existing churches, ministries or non-profit organizations.