Lower Yakima Valley and ABCD

East of the Cascades, in what is referred to as the Lower Yakima Valley...there is a hunger for community.

I had the distinct opportunity to visit with 8 pastors and leaders from Yakima, Toppenish, Zillah, Sunnyside and the Tri-Cities on May 25th at Faith Community Church (Zillah, WA).

While it was my intent to share a brief description of Asset-Based Community Development and see if there was interest in the lower valley for training, I discovered more than that.

I heard many stories in how churches, businesses and municipal governments are forging very deep and profound relationships. This to bring positive change to their respective communities.

The level of collaboration is astonishing. I sense perhaps some type of turning-point where the old days of bitter division between the church and state and moved forward. Now, with a good healthy understanding for the role of each, knowing how to support each other as is appropriate, many groups are now finding this collegial stuff really "paying" out. People and places are transforming!

By working together, in the common public square, with each other...good things are happening from Yakima to the Tri-Cities.

I went to bless these folks. Well, they blessed me!

From this, there is a very good likelihood we will be able to conduct 2-3 ABCD training sessions in the valley. Wow!