Being a good neighbor for a more inclusive Anderson.
There is nothing better than a good ole fashion pounding, something I had never heard of before this past week.
“Pounding” is a tradition where a church family stocks the new pastor’s pantry and refrigerator with food. The custom dates back to the original Quakers. The custom was established to welcome a new pastor and his family into a congregation. The idea was to give the family a pound of pantry staples: corn, wheat, sugar, butter etc. It was a sign of hospitality and welcome.
On this day, Boulevard Baptist Church was not welcoming a new pastor to the community, but welcoming new families to the community. Homes of Hope built 61 Hills, a new community of homes for families that might not have a good home to live. These new homes for these young families builds economic security providing a foundation for a brighter future. Today, we wanted to welcome these families to Anderson.
Relationships are part of the fundamental building blocks inside the human soul, we seek to connect. We seek for companionship, conversation, and connection. We are called to be good neighbors in Luke 10:27-28, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’”
Anderson is a growing community with so many wonderful people from all walks of life. People of all different colors, backgrounds, languages, and countries of origin. It is this diversity that calls us build a more inclusive Anderson, a place where all can thrive together. It is this commitment to “community” that provides the economic driver for a brighter, more stable Anderson. It is our diversity that provides the texture for us to interact and grow, learning from others rich contextual background.
I see a bigger and brighter Anderson and 61 Hills is vibrant part of this communities fabric, it is up to us to become the weavers.
Here are all the pictures from this event:
