One way for a Christian community to make progress in sharing the compassion of Jesus with everyone, and sharing the Gospel with those who are receptive with neighbors and networks, is to practice reaching out around the church campus, first. Though we come from a variety of neighborhoods throughout the community, the church “family” does have the campus neighborhood in common. Also, God blessing those closest to where you are located has good precedent (“Beginning in Jerusalem…”).

One way to do this is adapt a strategy similar to an “adopt-a-block” approach. There is a church here in the San Fernando Valley, Valley Vineyard Church, that has been a great model for others to learn. Mission: Reseda is a community strategy where “love your neighbor” takes on real flesh.

God has repeatedly given me a word about reaching out to Hispanics in our community, a vision for us received by others outside our church community, and by several leaders in our church community. This vision to “love our neighbors and bless the city,” is expanding.

At LIFEhouse we are blessed with having a park-like setting on a 6.5 acre campus. An athletic field, two full basketball courts and a large playground are included in the mix. We are located in an urban area where the population within three square miles of our campus is about 230,000 people, one of the top most congested communities in the country. In this area we have six parks. Six.

In Madison, Wisconsin with a similar population of a bit over 230,000 people there are 251 park and recreation areas. Yes, 251.

So, when Mark and Kirsten, youth leaders, approached us with a vision to reach out to the area youth with an outreach on our campus, it was a word from the Lord addressing a critical need in our community. Thus was born Friday Night Life.

What is happening?