To the two of you(?) who actually still read this blog, thanks for sticking with me since it's been so long since I've updated it!
I'm thrilled to announce one of the many things keeping me distracted from writing of late: a new, developing organization called "For The Good of Fort Worth." We're very much in phase one, building and dreaming and pressing into God for favor in his eyes and in our city's various realms of leadership (both official and non-official). But here's the scoop:
For The Good of Fort Worth exists for a very simple purpose: "to seek the physical, social, economic, and spiritual welfare of Fort Worth, through its citizens." It's a simple ideal born out of neighbors loving neighbors and everyone engaging to do their part. It's not intended to be a movement, but intended to be a gathering point for people who want to seek the welfare of our city together.
How's It Work?
So we're staring to ask folks, of all faiths, demographics, and parts of town to start asking simple questions:
- What are my hobbies? What are my passions? What are my skills? Etc.
- What are things I do anyway, everyday, week after week?
- How can I take those things and use them for the good of Fort Worth?
As folks engaged with and answered these questions, here are a few examples of what emerged:
- "I have a passion for ESL": so a group is working together to get a class started in a largely hispanic, largely lower-income neighborhood - that's training for the good of Fort Worth!
- "I want to see men trained to love God, love their family/friends, and love their city": so we're hosting a Men's Summit, Oct 22 - that's an event for the good of Fort Worth! (a college-specific event, and a women's event, are in the pipeline for 2012)
- "I like to make music": so local musicians are banding together to play concerts for charity (including our Launch on Oct 8, 4-6pm, whose proceeds go to the Day Resource Center - see the flyer below), as well as (in the future) invest in local schools and kids to teach them music - that's music for the good of Fort Worth!
- And that's just the start: our hope is to invest in education, health care, homelessness, and the local arts culture, just to name a few realms of our local society.
How Can I Get Involved/Know More?
On one level, if you have an idea, want to invest, or just want updates, contact us here.
On another level, pray. We all know we can do beneficial things, by our own power, for others. We've all done it and seen it done. But, if we want to see the best possible things occur for our city, then yes, we can invest in it, serve it, and love it well, and seek its welfare - but nothing will be as fruitful if we don't submit our city and our efforts to God. "Thursdays at Lunch" is a call for Fort Worthians to pray for, weep for, and beg God for the good of our city. Find out more, and if you want to pray with others, start a prayer meeting, here.
Finally, anyone can gather a group, create an event or volunteer their time to this purpose. If you're a writer, form a writers' group with friends and neighbors from different walks of life. If you're a baker, make cakes and cookies for your neighbors. If you're a college student, join an organization and get to know folks in it. The possibilities are endless. We set up a website to be a conduit for community as it informs and connects people from around the city who try new ideas, share best practices, cheer for each other's efforts and pray for the welfare of all.
But the idea is not to join this website, but to join your neighbors in making Fort Worth the best place on the planet to live, work and play. Find people who share your passion for art or music or volunteerism and begin to make a difference on your block, in your apartment complex or at your office.
We can't do it alone. Let us know what you want to do, and join us in seeking the welfare of our city.
And join us as we launch Music For The Good of Fort Worth!
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