Discernment - Wednesday
Fairview is currently a two week time of discernment. The Community Discovery Team has spent several months talking with our neighbors and community members to hear about the needs present in the Fairview neighborhood. Every person at Fairview is being asked to spend time each day in prayer, listening for God’s guidance for our church.
Supporting Education
There are a variety of educational needs in the community surrounding Fairview. The ones that come to mind first may be south of Fairview towards 38th street. School 43 is full of kids from our community. There are many committed staff and teachers striving to make a difference in the kids and families of our neighborhood. Unfortunately, the school remains an underperforming and under-resourced school, largely due to factors outside its control.
Its needs include qualified and appropriately-compensated teachers and staff, more involvement from families of students, and improvements in the quality of life for the families of the school so that students are coming from a positive home environment. Advocacy at the district, city, state and federal level for proper education reform is also a need. Educational needs, academic, life skills, and vocational, exist within adult populations in our community as well. Butler University provides many opportunities to support the educational journeys of thousands of college students. Spiritual education is also a need that Fairview can help fulfill by grounding people in a life-giving and supportive Christian faith.
Take a few moments to quiet yourself and then read the scripture below. If it is helpful, get in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and concentrate on taking a few deep breaths before reading.
Proverbs 8:1-11
Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: “To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.
O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right; for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
They are all straight to one who understands and right to those who find knowledge. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
Take a few moments to answer the following questions. If it is helpful to you, write your answers down.
What is your personal experience with the need to support education?
Where in the community have you seen evidence of this need?
Why do you think it might be important for Fairview to have a part in supporting education?
What do you think God might be saying to you or to Fairview about supporting education in our community?
When you are ready say aloud or read quietly the following prayer.