November 25, 2002
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Partnership leads to ministry
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___FORT WORTH--The "word of God" is in the Pennsylvania Place apartments, according to a young resident.
___Sue Turner represents that "word." She has been ministering to the residents of the complex since its creation in 1998 through a partnership between Buckner Children and Family Services and Broadway Baptist Church. Turner began adult Bible studies twoyears ago that recently expanded to include a children's ministry to residents.
SUE TURNER visits with residents of Pennsylvania Place apartments in Fort Worth, where she ministers through a partnership between Broadway Baptist Church and Buckner Children & Family Services.
___Her efforts have opened the hearts of the people to the gospel and helped Broadway members connect with their community. She recently provided a Vacation Bible School program for 25 children in the complex.
___"Buckner has been a conduit for Broadway to be neighbors," said Scott Waller, director of community programs for Buckner Children and Family Services of North Texas. "Not to impose ideas, but to be biblical neighbors."
___While the program is successful now, it experienced meager beginnings. Only 100 people attended the first block party intended to help the church connect with the residents. Of those 100, very few were from the complex.
___Turner began working in the apartments by taking a "welcome bag" with a loaf of bread and some information about Broadway to new residents. Although she would interact with residents at this meeting, she did not achieve the desired spiritual results.
___"We did not understand the dynamics of multihousing ministry," Turner said. "We thought if we gave them a loaf of bread and told them where Broadway was, they would come running. Multihousing ministry doesn't work that way. It is based on relationships."
___Despite her lack of success, Turner continued her work, which she called "an extension of what God called meto do." Turner believed her efforts would help others; it was just a matter of utilizing the proper strategy.
SUE TURNER
___"It did not dampen my spirits. I kept trying different things with the Lord and did not get side-tracked."
___Turner regrouped with the help of Cynthia Mayfield, who had just been hired as the Pennsylvania Place Community Resource Coordinator for Buckner. Turner and Mayfield, who spends much of her time in the complex, soon discovered they were trying to fill "perceived needs," while missing the "identified needs" of the tenants.
___As they built relationships with the residents, they discovered residents did not desire the church to come and treat them as a mission. Rather, they wanted to work hand-in-hand with the church to improve their lives as well as their community.
___"The residents don't want to be a project," Mayfield said. "They want someone to come in and say, 'Let's do it together,' and they're doing that."
___Since changing strategy, the bond between the church and the apartments has grown steadily. More than 200 people attended the last church block party, which was held on complex grounds. Tenants are now volunteering to help Turner and Mayfield in many aspects, including posting fliers, teaching class and publicizing activities.
___Bolstered by the strong relationship with the property's occupants, the ministry has a bright future, Turner said.
___"I envision that it will be self-sustaining, that a congregation will be established on this site," she said.
___Mayfield credits the success of the program to Turner's passion and determination to follow God.
___"Nothing deters her," she said. "Whether she has one or 30, she provides whatever service she's providing. I've seen her with a cast on her foot. I've seen her with a cold and not feeling well. It has to be something extraordinary for her to miss a Bible class.
___"She is one of the cornerstones of this ministry. Her passion and love for the community really shows when she comes on this property," Mayfield added. "There are people who may not know much about Broadway, but because of Mrs. Turner's presence, they know her and respect her views."
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