Bethel University Magazine Fall 2021

RIVER PARK + GOSPEL CENTER ALUMNI CONNECTION %HWKHO JUDGXDWHV -LP ş DQG 3K\OOLV *DUGQHU 0DUNV ş IHOW D FDOO WR EH PLVVLRQDULHV in their community. In 2016, they purchased a home in River Park from Bethel Alumni 'LUHFWRU (PLO\ 5RGJHUV 6KHUZRRG Š DQG KHU KXVEDQG &UDLJ Š 7KH\ KDYH VLQFH opened their home for Bible studies, done prayer walks around the neighborhood and ORRN IRUZDUG WR FRQWLQXHG PLQLVWU\ LQ WKH QHLJKERUKRRG 3LFWXUHG OH̃ WR ULJKW -LP %D\HU 0LVV\ %D\HU -LP 0DUNV 3K\OOLV 0DUNV DQG 3DVWRU -RQ 5DQRXV DW FKXUFK -LP Š Š DQG 0LVV\ 6WHHOH %D\HU Š KDYH D KHDUW IRU UHDFKLQJ the neighborhood around their church for Christ. Gospel Center 0LVVLRQDU\ &KXUFK MXVW DERXW PLOHV IURP %HWKHO 8QLYHUVLW\ŠV FDPSXV LV VLWXDWHG ULJKW LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ RI 5LYHU 3DUN -LP ZKR has served as community pastor at the church since February 2020, is on a mission to show the neighborhood that Gospel Center is #ForRiverPark. ,WŠV DQ LGHD WKDW ZDV ERUQ D̃HU WKH %D\HUV KHDUG D VHUPRQ DERXW the book .QRZ :KDW <RX UH )25 $ *URZWK 6WUDWHJ\ IRU :RUN $Q (YHQ %HWWHU 6WUDWHJ\ IRU /LIH E\ -HƂ +HQGHUVRQ 7KH\ KHDUG DERXW an entire church plant born out of the concept of being "for" a neighborhood. “So many people [think about] what churches are against – but we want to show the neighborhood what we’re for,” Jim says, explaining that you can’t reach people for Christ until you build relationships with them. 7KH FKXUFK VWDƂ LQFOXGLQJ KHDG SDVWRU -RQ 5DQRXV Š DOVR D Bethel graduate, studied Henderson’s book together. Their outreach committee began thinking about how Gospel Center could involve the whole church in reaching the neighborhood. “Gospel Center has always been outreach-focused, but the book )25 PDGH XV UHDOL]H ZH QHHGHG WR GR PRUH ţ -LP VD\V So, Gospel Center launched a number of initiatives to reach their neighbors. They created #ForRiverPark for social media and placed a banner outside the church. They opened their gym to the Michiana 3LFNOHEDOO $VVRFLDWLRQ 7KH\ GLVWULEXWHG ER[HV RI IRRG WR ORFDO families in need through Feed the Hungry, and provided hundreds of pounds of pasta for community spaghetti dinners at Avenue Automotive, in River Park. One big project they’ve been working on is a community park on the church property, with two basketball courts for kids and families, complete with picnic tables. During the summer, Gospel Center held a Park Week at nearby Potawatomi Park, with activities, games, outreach, art projects and refreshments for kids and families. A neighborhood hog roast, for WKH WK RI -XO\ SURYLGHG OLYH PXVLF DQG JLYHDZD\V RI %LEOHV DQG children’s books. Also during the summer, a basketball camp at the church provided an opportunity to share the gospel daily with 60 third through eighth graders, some of whom continue to attend open gyms and have started coming to church. Ţ:H DUH VWDUWLQJ WR VHH WKH IUXLW ţ VD\V -LP RI PLQLVWHULQJ WR WKH neighborhood. “We’re going to continue to reach the community in any way we can for Christ.” Plans for the future include community park outreach, a Trunk-or- Treat in October, and continued work with the River Park Business $VVRFLDWLRQ DQG 5LYHU 3DUN 1HLJKERUKRRG $VVRFLDWLRQ ZKHUH WKH\ŠYH started to see comradery. Ţ:H ZDQW WKH FRPPXQLW\ WR IHHO OLNH WKLV LV WKHLU FKXUFK ţ VD\V -LP 23 )$//