Hollywood From Above

It was Tara’s turn to plan a community time, and she chose to have a dinner with the Dwellers' next-door neighbors and then took us all up to Mulholland Drive to lift each other up.

It was calm and a little cool, the marine layer had started to roll in off the ocean, and looking down on Universal Studios and North Hollywood, the city lights had that glowing halo thing going on.  We were a little huddled mass on the mountaintop, one by one sharing a compliment and a thankfulness for each person.  

“I appreciate how you calm me down.”  “I appreciate how you always make me laugh, even on hard days.”  “I appreciate how much you care for all of us.”  “I appreciate how grounded you are.”  “I appreciate when you listen, you’re a really good listener……” It went on until we closed in prayer.

It wasn’t a dramatic Moses mountaintop moment, but as I drove down from the mountain, I felt the resonance of the commandment of Jesus: Love your neighbor as yourself.  

A moment to pause and lift one another up.

Peace,

Matthew

Complicate the Single Stories in Hollywood in 2014!

 Blessings as we begin 2014!

We aim to dig into the debilitating and isolating nature of the "single story" in our work this year.

Come as a Discover group and ask questions like these: are homeless individuals lazy or scam artists or neither?  can I learn about God from a former gang member, from someone living on the streets? what can I actually do to help the racism of today?www.doornetwork.org/discover

 Come work in Hollywood as part of our summer Discern team, alongside local young adults studying what it means to follow Jesus in Los Angeles.  Ask questions like:
is God indeed working here in the city?  is LA only a scary, crime-infested city where only movie stars can "rise above" it all?  or are they most in danger of missing the point? www.doornetwork.org/discern

Come spend a year living in intentional Christian community as a Dweller in a predominately Central American immigrant neighborhood and ask questions like:  Who would Jesus deport?  Can Christians effect change in systems that seem to glorify the rich and criminalize the poor?   Can I get along with someone from another denomination? From another culture?  am I difficult to live with? www.doornetwork.org/dwell

Come for a day, a week, a summer, or a year.  We look forward to asking questions and seeking God's truth together.


In Peace,
Matthew and Marvin

$6,000 by December 31!

Update: We did it!  We raised $6,440 as of December 31, 2013!  Happy New Year!!! 

2013 has been the best programmatic and missional year for DOOR Hollywood, based on reviews, evaluations, and depth of discussions. From the local teenaged Discerners leading conversations on the painful backstories of gentrification; from Dwellers continuing to strengthen partnerships with local homeless relief agencies; from walking into the reality of racial reconciliation in the name of Jesus, Marvin and I were blown away by the responses to the questions we posed. We were blessed by the emotion showed from our Discover participants who stated feeling like their “eyes had been opened.” We prayerfully celebrate as former Dwellers start digging deeper into social justice right here in Hollywood.

2013 has also been our hardest financial year in our history. Due to a perfect storm of major Presbyterian and Mennonite events this past summer, our Discover participant numbers were painfully low, the primary source of our budget. After DOOR Hollywood’s most successful silent auction to date last May, an event that highlighted the grit of ministry that matters, we held a Christmas Store fundraiser over the weekend with Hollywood Presbyterian Church. Robert Lupton’s “Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help” served as a launchpad as we worked with a combination of Discerners, Dwellers, and local residents and congregants to limit practices that might strip dignity from the folks most affected by the sale.

We set an audacious fundraising goal of $30,000 for the year, almost 3 times what past years have brought in, and today have come in at a little over $24,000. This gives us 3 weeks to close our $6,000 gap and start 2014 with renewed enthusiasm and energy to keep asking these questions, to keep pressing ahead at bridging the justice Jesus calls us towards with the reality of situations in our city, to create even more opportunities for local and traveling youth to connect their faith to attentive action and possibly, change. Help us keep shining a light on the unheard stories of God’s faithfulness and love, right here, right now, in Hollywood.  Click here to help us reach our goal!  - Matthew & Marvin

Both And, by City Director Matthew

Ilé at Mama's International Tamales

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of auditing a Fuller Seminary class on Henri Nouwen with Dwell alumni, Will Quay.  Professor Wil Hernandez urged us to consider Nouwen’s thinking on the damaging nature of “either/or” mentalities.  Either I win, or you do.  The disciples argued about who would be closest to Jesus.  Either you, or me.  Either/or mentality shoved native peoples off of this land, made for you and me. 

A recent statement by Pope Francis, circulating widely on Facebook right now, echoes this danger: “Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless.  As a consequence, masses of people find themselves excluded and marginalized: without work, without possibilities, without any means of escape.”

Instead, doesn’t Jesus encourage us to think inclusively, to say both you AND you AND I can sit at the table of God?  The would-be stone throwers AND the woman who was to receive death by stoning?  The warden and the prisoner.  The Mexican and the United States-ian.  You AND me.

DOOR has been encouraging me in this sense of invitation for years now.  I recently had to write a one-sentence description of Hollywood for the Young Adult Volunteer site.  Here’s what I came up with: “In a city known for its storytelling and its very famous residents, Hollywood YAVs learn the joys of mutual hospitality with their Central and South American neighbors while uncovering the overlooked stories of the largest and most diverse homeless population in the country.”  We have been inviting homeless and housed to the table for years now, and the stories are rich and painful, moving and convicting, human and emotional and joyful. 

Dwellers and Discover group listen to Ilé describe the empowering
work of Mama's.

And yet, I’m still challenged.  I was at a coffeeshop last week, and a man named Brad sat down next to me, as there was room at my table.  Brad talked about ancient Egyptian philosophies and the conflict with modern expressions of Christianity.  Brad told me he opted to be without a home because he didn’t need the trappings of capitalism.  Brad was brilliant.  Brad was intimidating.  We had a nice conversation.  We listened.  And on my walk home, I swear God uses my iPod to send me messages, because Ani DiFranco’s “Garden of Simple” came on, and the line “science chases money and money chases it’s tail and the best minds of my generation can’t make bail.”

God, how have we become so competitive?  How is it that some can have so much and some so little?  How do some get so lost in the shuffle, so stuck in the prison of losing?  Is Brad the one without, or am I, even with my apartment and my iPod?  Who decides?

And this has been a great and terrible year for DOOR.  We had some of the best program and discussions I’ve ever heard, from the downfalls of gentrification to the reality of the hard work of racial reconciliation.  We had the lowest number of visitors we’ve ever had, which for a non-profit educational ministry has financial implications. 

Can we sit with BOTH our success AND our failure?  Can we celebrate even in hard times?  Can we invite people to come even when we’re not sure if there will be food on the table?

Brad bought me a coffee. 

I invite you to come break tamales with us at DOOR, either for a day, a week, or a year.  I promise, God’s faithfulness will not be in question, and is likely to blow us all away.

Dweller Brent Vlog Update!

Life in Hollywood is a huge transition.  Dweller, Brent talks about the transition from high school to intentional Christian community: the joys of being in LA, the work and lessons of engaging with homeless individuals, and even some love for creating bicycles.  Enjoy!

Unveiling, by Dweller John

During the day, people often come to the church looking for help of various sorts (clothes, food, housing, etc.). I had a man named Bobby simply ask if he could use the phone as he only had 5 minutes left on his prepaid phone, which he promptly showed me. He explained that he was not from Los Angeles and just needed to get home. Bobby came into the church with the sole purpose of using the phone. Little did he know more would happen.

As we sat in front of the phone, Bobby started explaining his story. He was originally from New Jersey, coming from Atlanta, and did not find what he was looking for here. His company in Georgia ended up letting him go. He heard that the company had a branch in Los Angeles and decided to make the trip out here to find work. He was unable to find work at the branch here, resulting in a heart struck man, homeless man. Bobby had a very manly demeanor. He looked like he had been a boxer of some sort back in his day. As he was explaining this entire scenario his eyes started to tear up a tiny bit, surprisingly so.

Bobby picked up the phone and started dialing a man high up in a company in Georgia. There was no answer and he explained that the voicemail told him to text message a phone number for him to call you back. I texted the number and Bobby continued.

He explained that he hadn't been home to New Jersey in 7 years. During this time, he had grandson born. That grandson is now 6 years old. Bobby had never met him. He also told me about his now 8 year old granddaughter. The tears started to run down his cheek. Bobby exclaimed that he was so upset that he was not there for them. He was not there to be a grandpa. The look on his face was one of sorrow, his eyes turning red. Bobby started to apologize for crying. He explained that this was the first time he had ever said that to anyone. We talked for a little bit more before the phone rang.

I answered and spoke with a man about Bobby. It was not but a 3 minute conversation before the man had to hang up the phone as he was rather busy. He said that he knew Bobby, and understood the situation. Bobby and the man knew each other from their work in Atlanta. He again said he would call back, but this time I gave him Bobby's cell phone number to call.

Bobby had let up the tears and calmed down. He thanked me for speaking with him about the situation. He said that no one, in all of the places he had been looking for help, would listen to what he had to say. Bobby realized one thing. He wanted to see his grandson more than get back to work in Georgia.

As I looked at the time, I realized that Bobby and I had been speaking for over an hour. I said that I needed to get back to what I was doing and Bobby understood. Before he left, we prayed. Bobby slowly left the church with no idea where to go. As I walked back into church, I heard Bobby's phone ring. I looked back and saw Bobby smiling, looking up and pointing. Considering he only had 5 minutes left on the phone, the call must've been short, but important.

I don't know what happened thereafter. I have not seen Bobby back at the church since. I don't know if he made his way back to Atlanta or to New Jersey. I do know one thing though. I saw Bobby smiling. Something in that phone call changed his mood. 

C.S. Lewis speaks about 'unveiling' ourselves before God. "We must choose to uncover before God and reveal the concerns, questions, and even doubts or complaints that we have concealed deep within us." Bobby unveiled himself in this conversation with me. He found that he wanted not to be in work, but with family. In doing so, it seems that he found what he'd been looking for deep in his heart. Seeing another person unveil who they are before me was moving.

Lewis goes on to say "We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us."As I continue this work, I can only hope to unveil myself before God. Knowing what is in me is something that it hard to put into words. I challenge myself and all of you reading to try and unveil yourself before the Lord.

-John

Building a Bike, by Dweller Tara

New Dweller Tara is well into her blogging.  We welcomed her, Brent, Freddie, Laura, Chantel, and John a few weeks ago.  It's been a wonderful whirlwind to say the least.  You can keep up with Tara and all her housemates by clicking here: www.facebook.com/DOORHollywoodDwell.  Peace to you: Matthew & Marvin

Week 3 has come to a close. I’ve officially started my job at PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) and our community hours have begun. I also found a bike to get me around the city! Let’s start with that because it’s probably what I’m most excited about. Here it is:

Brent and I went to The Bicycle Kitchen and “made bikes”…well, sort of. It’s basically a bike junkyard and you find parts that you like and you build your own bike. It’s a much cheaper way of doing things, and you don’t HAVE to pay any certain amount. The “cooks” give you an estimate based on the parts you’ll need and the amount of work you’ll need to put into it, but if you can’t pay that, then they’ll take whatever you can pay. It’s more like a donation than anything else. They have some bikes that come pretty much complete, which is how this one came. It just needed some adjustments and some TLC, and it was good to go! It took more time than just buying one, but doing it this way has made me appreciate my bike so much more. I’m like a proud bike mom. Plus it will be a cheaper, healthier, and more sustainable way of getting to work (and anywhere else in the city).

I started at PATH this past Tuesday and really like it already! Laura works there with me and they bring us along on pretty much everything: meetings, street outreach, transporting clients, etc. so we’ve already had a lot of cool experiences. Going out on the streets and checking in with “clients” has been great. We offer them water and food, see how they’re doing, listen to them and get to know them, and usually ask if they’ve thought anymore about coming into the shelter. There have already been many moments where I’ve seen the Gospel really being lived out…particularly Matthew 25:37-40:

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

DOOR’s motto is “See the face of God in the city” and it could not be more spot on. In just this one week, I’ve been so humbled and inspired to do God’s work, no matter how messy, complicated, sad, or frustrating it might be. Now that’s not to say I won’t take care of myself – don’t worry, mom and dad! They’ve drilled self-care into us so much, and PATH even has scheduled self-care days where we go do something fun to take our minds off the crazy work we do......Tara