Eighth Avenue Place

A Kingdom Vision

Eighth Avenue Place is a Christian community that is preparing to confront ignorance that perpetuates racism by living and ministering together in the name of Jesus Christ.  God has given us the ministry of reconciliation and we will work to show that as Jesus, God is for us not against us.  Therefore we must be for each other.

Homestead Borough had 3,569 people, with 42.6% being white and 51.3 %[1] being Black or African American according to the 2000 U.S. Census.  We are looking for leaders from the white and black community to work together to assess the greatest needs in their respected communities.  We are not promoting a needs based service but first a “need based ministry.”  That need is being in relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that transforms who we are and leads us into the surrounding communities to help others participate in the Kingdom of God.  Christology is the foundation for all that we do at 8^th Avenue Faith Community, because who Jesus is cannot be separated from His mission. We will share the message of the Risen Lord as we absorb the Truth into all aspects of our life as individuals who are to be in community. 

One ride down 8^th avenue will give you a feel for what Homestead use to be and has become.  Literally blocks remain abandoned as “For Sale” signs can be seen by turning your head right or left.  Yet, less than a ½ mile away the Waterfront is bustling with businesses and jobs.  Our God is Incarnational and we believe the vision of 8th Avenue should be as well.  We will disciple our community to reach out to the businesses (the Waterfront).  A storefront on 8^th avenue is the ideal location for our community to gather as we will be intentional about ministry and visible to those in the streets of Homestead and the Waterfront. 

In dialogue with the Allegheny County Jail chaplain Lynn Yeso, 8^th Avenue will seek to work with the chaplain’s office to welcome released inmates from Allegheny County Jail.  It is our vision to have a resource house/center in which released inmates could meet for Christian fellowship and support.  The house/center will provide released inmates with services including; job training and employment postings, life skills training, Christian mentorship, Christian twelve step groups, and training in evangelism.

It is God’s will and our dream to unite the Body of Christ. 8^th Avenue Faith Community will welcome groups from around the Pittsburgh area, suburbs and rural areas, to Homestead to engage in missions throughout Homestead and the city of Pittsburgh.  Dialogue has begun with Christ United Methodist Church in hopes of working with mission teams to equip people to evangelize through word and deed in Homestead.  The walls of racial tension must come down and 8^th Avenue seeks to work with any and all churches in the Homestead area to pursue God’s will. 

Prepared by Keith Kaufold who will be appointed as pastor for the 8^th Avenue Project beginning August 1, 2007

 

---

[1] 6.1% representing other race including Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian or Alaska Native.

 

For further information, contact Dr. Erwin K. Kerr, United Methodist Church Union, (412) 231-4900.