“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.” Ecclesiastes 11:4

Park View Community Mission started as a typical weekly church covered-dish supper. During the meal, two strangers just off work, asked if they could come in and eat. Church members welcomed them and shared their meal. The next week the same two workers showed up again with another and asked to join in again. The following week there were five. As the number of people coming to eat the covered dish meal grew, the mission of the church changed from feeding and socializing with members to caring for those in need. Park View United Methodist Church eventually became Park View Community Mission.

The conditions were never perfect over the years but somehow God kept working miracles through the hard work and dedication of many volunteers who always seemed to show up when needed.

Situated in one of the poorer areas of Lynchburg, Virginia, Park View Community Mission quietly goes about the business of providing a hot meal and worship every Wednesday evening. Every Thursday and Saturday, the mission also assists over 700 families per month with a shopping cart full of eggs, meat, vegetables, and canned goods from Food Banks, churches, and area grocery stores and restaurants.

Park View Community Mission is a vital part of the 89 United Methodist churches within the Lynchburg District and has transformed into a community ministry including other churches, civic organizations, and colleges.

The statistics are staggering but there are real people with every one of those numbers.

There was a young couple with 4 children and another on the way, who lost their home and everything they owned because both parents lost jobs. All of them were living in a Salvation Army shelter when first coming to Park View. They received help with baby items, clothes, toys, groceries, and a delicious meal for all. The parents later joined a local church and all five children were baptized. With employment and continued help, the family was able to rent a home and even provide shelter for others.

There is the grandmother raising her teenage granddaughter alone from infancy due to a domestic violence incident that sent the girl’s father to prison for life. There are countless others who have temporarily lost their jobs or have minimum wage jobs that don’t pay enough to get them through the month. Park View Community Mission provides each of them a temporary helping hand.

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”

But in the midst of helping so many there were problems.

Maintenance costs were staggering. Providing tons of food each week required hundreds of volunteers. Park View Community Mission needed a transfusion of resources, volunteers, and organizational expertise to continue their vitally needed ministry.

Many times, I wondered if we should quit. But there were the stories. People who lost jobs receiving food to get them through the rest of the month. Families receiving help no one else could provide. Hundreds of people with needs were coming into that old church building week after week looking for a miracle.

Ray Buchanan, founder of Stop Hunger Now, wrote:

“I believe in miracles. I also believe that the church exists for mission. The two belong together. Miracles and mission are integrally linked; inseparable, in fact … If we believe this, we need to be healing the hurt, protecting the battered, and fighting for justice with every single breath. If we aren’t, then something is wrong.” – From Getting Off Our Buts

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”

Conditions certainly weren’t perfect but miracles can’t occur in the midst of perfect conditions. Miracles come when someone or some group steps out in faith with holy boldness and declares to anyone and everyone: We are in the business of healing the hurt, protecting the battered, and fighting for justice no matter what the consequences. Then we depend upon God for a miracle to follow.

God is clearly moving Park View Community Mission to be involved in helping the Lynchburg community more … not less.

• We needed to offer more help to the hundreds of people coming through our doors, not less.
• We needed to do more to help families break the cycle of poverty, not less.

As Rev. Floyd Archie, a minister involved with the mission often proclaimed: “We needed to offer more than a hand out to those in need. We needed to offer a hand up.”

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”

The first miracle came when United Methodist Family Services, based in Richmond, received a large bequest with the stipulation that the money be used in Lynchburg. So, they opened a branch office on the third floor of Park View Community Mission. UM Family Services provides valuable family counseling and an adoption service to the community. In our time of need they also provided a partner for Park View to share in the cost of maintaining a large church building.

Two worthwhile organizations agreeing to work together in ministry and share costs.

Next, our Lynchburg District made up of 89 United Methodist Churches became a third partner, moving our offices and training facilities in order to manage the building and bring needed help to the mission. This provides an opportunity for all 89 churches to work together on a project that will benefit thousands.

Centra Health offered to provide a Mobile Medical Unit: This is a free clinic on wheels. Every Thursday, they offer free medical help through the Park View Community Mission. We want to provide healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured members of our community. A nurse practitioner will be able to perform an exam and treat health issues or connect people to other types of medical care.

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”

Floyd Archie, one of the volunteers at the Park View Community Mission, began leading Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups. Floyd was actually Rev. Archie, a minister who felt led by God to start a church. He wrote:

“Church services were no longer happening within the walls of one of the most beautiful sanctuaries. During one of my prayers while sitting on the steps of Park View I asked God, why don’t we have a church where we could be of service to Him? There are a lot of broken people within this community who are in need of God’s unconditional love. We now meet every Saturday evening at 6:00 PM followed by a fellowship dinner.”

Two of the members of Floyd Archie’s new church felt the nudge by God to begin a communications company in order to provide low cost Wi-Fi throughout the area. Now students can continue their schoolwork at home in an area where very few homes can afford an internet connection. Special equipment for this project is being set up at the Park View Community Mission.

Our two land grant universities provided a nutritionist to teach people in the area how to cook and eat foods received on food stamps in a way that promotes better health. More than an employee, she lives in the area, learned from the program, and lost 45 pounds in the process.

• A local bank is interested in teaching financial management classes.
• A community college and a Job Training Center are interested in working together to provide basic job training.
• A counselor and therapist will soon be opening an office.

And the miracle called Park View Community Mission continues …

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”

About Larry Davies

Larry Davies is currently the Lynchburg, Virginia District Superintendent for 89 United Methodist Churches. He has been the pastor of small, medium, and large churches. For many years, Larry managed and trained sales people in the automobile business. He is also the author of Live the Light: Five Weeks to a Light that Shines and three other books. Larry is the founder of Sowing Seeds of Faith, a worldwide prayer ministry and writing ministry, www.SowingSeedsofFaith.com. His columns and blog posts appear in several newspapers, magazines, and websites. Larry is a graduate of Virginia Tech and received his Master of Divinity at Duke University. Mell, Larry’s wife, recently retired from Concord Elementary School. Larry’s oldest son Stephen is married to Brandy, and they have a one-year-old bundle of energy, Jackson. Larry’s daughter Lisa is engaged to be married to Bobby. He and Mell also have a lively but older Springer Spaniel named Daisy.