News » City Highlights
San Francisco
This month we’re heading on over to San Francisco! Be sure to visit our opportunities page for more information about serving with us in the “City by the Bay.”
News from the San Francisco City Director
What is God doing through CSM San Francisco? I often ask myself this question. For Andy and I, our summer staff, and all the groups that come to serve with us, the thought seems to be continuously on our minds, “What am I doing here and how is God using me?” As I watch students process their week of service, I often hear them reflect on whether or not they feel like they’re “making a difference” or “doing something.”
This summer I have been studying the book of Hebrews and in Chapter 6 the author reminds us of the story of Abraham. God gave Abraham a promise and a dream for his future, saying:
“Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-4)
God has plans for us all and, like Abraham, gives us dreams for our future. CSM itself started with a dream and Andy and I came to CSM San Francisco because of a dream God had laid on our hearts. The staff that work with us and the students who come through our program, whether they realize it or not, are all fulfilling a small part of God’s promise and plan for their lives. It’s natural for us, then, to wonder “What is this plan? What is God using me for?” But, one thing I noticed in Abraham’s story is that God’s promise to Abraham wasn’t even really about Abraham. In fact, most of the promise was fulfilled after Abraham was gone. The promise started with Abraham and eventually affected many, many people in amazing ways, but Abraham only saw a glimpse of what was to come. His real blessing was simply in knowing that he had a role in God’s bigger plan.
Working with CSM has given me a new perspective on the question “How is God using me?” I can see now that the promises and dreams that God has given me are not just about me. In fact, I may never see exactly how I have been used or what God is doing through me, but the blessing comes instead from knowing that God has given me the privilege of contributing to something so much bigger than myself. Now, the really encouraging part of Abraham’s story is that he did get a glimpse of what God was doing through him. Even in his old age, Abraham had a son and saw for himself the beginning of the “great nation” that God had promised would come from him.
Everyday we get to see little pieces of the work that God is carrying out through us. In fact, Andy and I are getting to see something very exciting unfold here in San Francisco. Since the beginning of this CSM site, there has been the dream of someday expanding to the East Bay and turning “CSM, San Francisco” into “CSM, Bay Area”. Over the years there have been many prayers and endless groundwork laid by city directors before us and, finally, things seem to be quickly falling into place. We have been grateful for the help of one of our summer staff, Lisa Trump, who has been working hard to research work sites, make contacts, and in general “get a feel” for what CSM in the East Bay would look like. We’ve even been able to serve at many new sites and it’s been a joy to meet new people and have new experiences! One site in particular that we have had the pleasure of working with is a branch of the Salvation Army in the Fruitvale district of Oakland. This particular branch of Salvation Army is a family shelter, a pre-school, and a church. On Tuesday nights our groups have been eating dinner with the residents of the shelter and afterward participating in a Family Night where they get a chance to connect more with the families they meet. On the 4th of July, we sent about 30 volunteers to help with a neighborhood outreach and Bar-B-Q that included live music, games, and many neighborhood families joining in the fun! It was a blessing to serve with the Salvation Army and to take part in their ministry to the families in their neighborhood. One student said of their experience:
“I have never been to a place that was so inviting and everyone treated us like family. The children had such an impact on me I can’t even describe it. The way they looked after each other was the coolest thing ever!”
Even in the excitement of trying out new sites and meeting new people, we realize that there are still many things that need to happen to make it possible to fully expand to the East Bay. Please pray with us that God would continue to bless our efforts, that sites would continue to open up, and that we would be able to secure East Bay housing for our groups.
We may never understand the full extent of what God is doing through us and through CSM San Francisco, but Andy and I are completely content and incredibly grateful to know that He has great plans and that it is a blessing to simply be a part of those plans.
– Heidi Fox, CSM San Francisco City Director
Local Resources
- SF Chronicle Special Report: There’s No Place Like Home
- SF Chronicle Special Report: Reason to Smile
Local News Links
- KPBS Video – San Francisco’s Homeless June 24, 2006
- Posters Shed Light on Problem of Slave Labor March 9, 2007
- The Badge June 11, 2007
- S.F. Health Plan: 29 Down, 82,000 to Go July 3, 2007
CSM Urban Updates
CSM now has its own blog! Find out what’s happening in urban centers throughout North America, make comments and dialogue with others involved in urban missions.
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