This week Stephanie and I had a meeting with one of the leaders of the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Association, Yolanda Young. We were both looking forward to sitting with her and hearing more of her story. A few of our friends in the area had told us how Yolanda and her husband after moving to the area in the late 80's were involved in the closing of hundreds of drug houses in the community.
This married couple, along with other people in the community, walked the streets in an effort to reclaim these blocks from the brokenness that surrounds so many inner city communities. They were on a mission to help bring Shalom (Peace) to a community where youth had lost their sense of identity and people were looking for hope.
As we sat with Yolanda we asked her to share her story, then she said something that will stick with me for a long time. She said "This is not my story...this is God's story. We are just some common folk that God used."
That statement summed up our whole conversation. I was humbled by her humility, and reminded that God is looking for some "common folk" to be obedient so He can do awesome things.
My prayer today is that I will aspire to be "common folk" so I can get out the way for a powerful God to work. We are so glad to have met Yolanda and the rest of the good people of the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Association.
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