Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is a strategy for sustainable community-driven development. Beyond the mobilization of a particular community, ABCD is concerned with
how to link micro-assets to the macro-environment. The appeal of ABCD lies in its premise that communities can drive the development process themselves by identifying and mobilizing existing, but often unrecognized assets, and thereby responding
to and creating local economic opportunity.
We’ve had a faithful group of volunteers who’ve recently completed training in ABCD with Wendy McCaig who leads a very effective group called Embrace Communities with international reach that is based here in Richmond. Speaking only for myself, I’ve found this training transformative and inspiring.
One of the shifts we seek to make is to shift our focus from doing ministry for people to doing ministry with people. There are a number of practical steps involved in this shift. One of the steps involved in implementing the ABCD approach is ongoing coaching and training for our Centenary team and for me as pastor. Another step is learning to try to see the assets and gifts of our community and its residents rather than focusing on deficits or needs. (This is a shift I hope we will make in our congregation as well).
Another movement in this direction is to build relationships with people in our community through listening. We’ve been doing informal listening on Fridays with our Walk-In guests. We sit around a table and talk about how long people have lived here, what they like about the city, what their gifts and talents are, and what they might do to make a difference in the city with their gifts. These have been very meaningful conversations and I do see new relationships of trust and care developing.
There’s much more for us as a congregation to learn together and our team will be keeping you informed as we move forward together. But this is an exciting time.
One of the reasons I am excited about what we’re doing is that I have the deep conviction that as long as we seek to love God and our neighbor, God will continue to help us here at Centenary be in mission to our city. Giving God’s love and ourselves to others is done in light of Jesus’ promise that it is by losing our lives that we find life. These efforts we’re involved in will help us love our neighbors more deeply and understand them in new ways.
We’ll need all hands on deck if we are to live into the Jesus-sized dream we’ve been given. For now, pray for Centenary as we seek to reach out in new ways and walk with our friends here in the city toward that vision of Richmond as a city where all people can thrive in all sorts of ways.
Grateful for being on the journey with you,
Matt
