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WINDY HILLS<br />
Sojourn East<br />
Neighborhood 360<br />
Assessment
WELCOME TO YOUR<br />
NEIGHBORHOOD 360 ASSESSMENT<br />
Introduction<br />
Neighborhood Snapshot<br />
History of <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong><br />
Calvin Presbyterian<br />
Sojourn East<br />
Demographics<br />
Culture & Values<br />
Neighborhood Observations & Interviews<br />
Sojourn East Assets<br />
Opportunities for Ministry<br />
Monthly Prayer Guide<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
9<br />
14<br />
17<br />
18<br />
1
INTRODUCTION<br />
After six years of holding services at a Christian<br />
school in East Louisville, God provided a unique<br />
opportunity and responsibility to Sojourn East<br />
in winter of 2015-16.<br />
When Calvin Presbyterian Church offered their<br />
building to Sojourn East at a steep discount, we<br />
inherited a call to reach the city of <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong><br />
with the gospel. We opened our doors on<br />
Sunday, January 31, 2016 after a God-ordained<br />
series of events enabled us to step into this<br />
call. It may be tempting to see this new<br />
building only as an asset and a means for<br />
stable ministry to our members. But consider<br />
this: God could have given us a property in any<br />
number of neighborhoods on the East End. He<br />
intentionally gave us the opportunity to inhabit<br />
2501 Rudy Lane in <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>, Kentucky.<br />
What does that mean for us? The Lord has<br />
uniquely positioned us to be a “city on a hill” in<br />
<strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>. How will we steward this<br />
opportunity and engage this community?<br />
To better understand <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> and the<br />
current barriers and bridges that exist, we<br />
commissioned a team of volunteers to conduct<br />
an in-depth neighborhood study of <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>.<br />
Our goal was to become students of <strong>Windy</strong><br />
<strong>Hills</strong> in order to become servants of the<br />
community. We surveyed neighbors door-todoor,<br />
conducted in-depth interviews, spent<br />
hours walking and biking to observe our<br />
streets, and collected demographic, historical<br />
and cultural data to complete this study.<br />
This neighborhood study is intended to aid you,<br />
your community group, and our church body to:<br />
Build connections between Sojourn<br />
Community Church and the community<br />
Guide strategic planning and the<br />
development of new ministries<br />
Draw on stories of motivation and vision in<br />
the community<br />
Understand the forces that affect the lives of<br />
people in the community<br />
Understand the community factors that will<br />
influence ministry effectiveness<br />
Understand how we as a church is affected<br />
by the community<br />
Discern how Sojourn is perceived by the<br />
community<br />
Engage our neighbors through creative,<br />
effective, and wise relationships<br />
At the end of this booklet, you will find a series<br />
of discussion questions. Our goal is not to<br />
dictate or suggest ministry opportunities to all<br />
of our members and community groups but to<br />
provide this study as a means of stimulating<br />
creative thinking. So, once you’ve read through<br />
this study, gather a few friends and discuss how<br />
your group or ministry can wisely and<br />
effectively engage the people of <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>.<br />
We are excited to see what God will do through<br />
our presence in <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>!<br />
The Sojourn East Elders<br />
2
NEIGHBORHOOD SNAPSHOT<br />
Sojourn East is located on Rudy Lane, in<br />
the heart of St. Matthews. <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> is<br />
Brownsboro Road<br />
bordered by Hubbards Lane to the west,<br />
Brownsboro Road to the north, I-264 to<br />
the east while Westport Road makes up<br />
the southern border. <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> has an<br />
active neighborhood association with a<br />
city council that meets monthly.<br />
Surrounding neighborhoods are Indian<br />
Hubbards Lane<br />
Rudy Lane<br />
264<br />
<strong>Hills</strong>, Lyndon, and the larger city of<br />
St. Matthews.<br />
Wesport Road
HISTORY OF WINDY HILLS<br />
<strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> takes pride in being a City<br />
of Historic Homes. Early pioneer<br />
families from Virginia and Pennsylvania<br />
settled near the the Muddy Fork of<br />
Beargrass Creek. Muddy Fork is a<br />
tributary of the Ohio River, which rises<br />
in the northeastern quarter of the city<br />
and flows west towards Hubbards Lane.<br />
The settlers built many of the historic<br />
homes original to <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> which are<br />
preserved within the neighborhood.<br />
The city of <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> was<br />
incorporated in 1952 before the<br />
Watterson Expressway connected<br />
Brownsboro and Shelbyville Roads.<br />
Over a decade ago, <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong><br />
residents were more isolated from one<br />
another as there was no sidewalk<br />
running through the neighborhood.<br />
Residents resisted the installation of a<br />
sidewalk until a huge storm took down<br />
many of the mature trees the <strong>Windy</strong><br />
<strong>Hills</strong> residents were defending. This<br />
made it possible for the city to finally<br />
construct the sidewalk that now<br />
connects the homes on Rudy Lane.<br />
4
CALVIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH<br />
The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) built Calvin Presbyterian Church in the 1950’s to<br />
establish a church presence in <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>. As well as serving the church’s needs, the<br />
space has served as a focal point in the <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> community. It is the only ‘public’<br />
building in the area. Calvin hosted many neighborhood gatherings, both church- based<br />
and secular. Events such as 4th of July celebrations and Ice Cream Socials happened on<br />
site. Community meetings (such as those held prior to the widening of I-264) were often<br />
held there, and the building was regularly used as a polling place.<br />
The process of selling the building was a struggle for the Presbyterian church, as they had<br />
to consider community concerns as well as zoning options and real estate values. It is<br />
significant that had the site been zoned commercial or residential, the sale of the land<br />
would have reaped a significantly higher price.<br />
SOJOURN EAST<br />
The partnership between Sojourn East and Calvin has been positive for everyone involved.<br />
We have continued the legacy set forth by Calvin as a church that invests in the<br />
neighborhood and desires to partner with the Neighborhood Association. We have<br />
continued to host services for Calvin and the Louisville Taiwanese Presbyterian Church,<br />
host numerous community events (City Council, voting, etc) and have taken responsibility<br />
for <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> community events (Christmas tree ceremony, etc).
DEMOGRAPHICS<br />
LOCATION<br />
9 miles from downtown Louisville<br />
South border: Westport Road<br />
North border: Brownsboro Road<br />
East border: Watterson Expressway (I- 264)<br />
West border: Hubbards Lane<br />
RACE<br />
White 2202 (89.8%)<br />
Black: 145 (5.9%)<br />
Asian: 48 (2%)<br />
Hispanic: 42 (1.7%)<br />
Two or More Races: 16 (0.7%)<br />
PEOPLE<br />
City of <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> Mayor: Jim Ising Metro<br />
Council Representative: Angela Leet<br />
<strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> Council Members: Louis Phillips,<br />
Kate Greer, Mike Skelton, Marianne Rademaker,<br />
Suzanne Spencer, and Helen Davis<br />
PUBLIC SCHOOLS<br />
Dunn Elementary School<br />
Kammerer Middle School<br />
Ballard High School<br />
PRIVATE SCHOOLS<br />
Walden School<br />
POPULATION HIGHLIGHTS<br />
Total Population: 2453<br />
Total Houses: 1084<br />
AGE<br />
65+: 647 (26.4%)<br />
40-64: 858 (35%)<br />
22-39: 442 (18%)<br />
18-21: 56 (2.2%)<br />
0-17: 450 (18.3%)<br />
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME<br />
$89,000<br />
EDUCATION<br />
Education<br />
College Degree or Higher: 1217 (64.2%)<br />
High School: 642 (33.9%)<br />
No High School: 36 (1.9%)<br />
RELIGION (*25 & older)<br />
Baptist: 37%<br />
Catholic: 12%<br />
Methodist: 12%<br />
Episcopal: 3%<br />
Jewish: 2%<br />
Interested but no preference: 4%<br />
Not interested but no preference: 4%<br />
Other: 26%<br />
POVERTY STATUS<br />
79 (7.3%)<br />
HOUSEHOLD TYPE<br />
Married: 615 (56%) - With Kids: 184<br />
Single Males/Females: 77 (7%) - With Kids: 27<br />
Single Occupant: 348 (32%)<br />
Other/Non-Family: 45 (4%)<br />
MARITAL STATUS<br />
Never Married: 391 (20%)<br />
Married: 1263 (54%)<br />
Separated/Divorced: 223 (11%)<br />
Widowed: 148 (7%)<br />
6
CULTURES & VALUES<br />
A G E D I V E R S I T Y<br />
At a recent city council meeting it was noted the age of the city is slowly shifting from<br />
older to younger. Younger families are moving in and renovating old homes with more<br />
modern appeal. Most streets have both elderly residents that are aging in place and<br />
younger couples or families. Given the growing tension between the older residents and<br />
younger families there is some conflict. The older residents want to preserve the integrity<br />
of the neighborhood and are committed to staying as they grow older. The younger<br />
families are often perceived as transient because they see <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> as a stepping stone<br />
to nearby and more affluent neighborhoods.<br />
C O M M U N I T Y<br />
<strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> is a community-minded neighborhood with numerous City sponsored events<br />
throughout the calendar: The 4th of July parade and picnic, Christmas tree lighting and<br />
carols, and ice cream socials.<br />
A C T I V I T Y & G R E E N S P A C E<br />
The younger residents all enjoy the green spaces in one way or another, from actual use<br />
of the playground to the walking paths and field. Others enjoy the visual appeal of the<br />
green spaces and trees. The sidewalk, though controversial when it was built, is being<br />
used daily by residents and is a great connector between the streets within the<br />
neighborhood.<br />
#
P R I V A C Y & S E C U R I T Y<br />
Almost all of the streets that run off of Rudy Lane are dead end and do not connect to<br />
other streets. This lends itself to the streets being self-contained and operating without<br />
connection to the neighborhood at large.<br />
S E R V I C E<br />
An older, widowed long time resident would like the church to be aware of her and so<br />
many others like her in the neighborhood. She says there are older residents that could<br />
use light care, such as occasional meals, visitors, help with seasonal yard work, moving<br />
things around between seasons, and she would love for the church to be involved.<br />
G R O W I N G C O N G R E G A T I O N<br />
God is clearly working at Sojourn East. The<br />
church has grown numerically and<br />
financially. During our 2019 Easter service<br />
there were 39 baptisms across 3 services<br />
with an attendance of 1900 people. An<br />
increase in giving has allowed for new full<br />
and part time staff positions to be filled. Our<br />
Men’s and Women’s Bible studies meet<br />
weekly and have grown in numbers. We are<br />
continuing to build bridges in the East End of<br />
Louisville in various ways including mercy<br />
initiatives like Affordable Christmas and<br />
Medical Clinic as well as outreach events like<br />
Trunk or Treat, Vacation Bible School and<br />
Summer Movie Nights. The establishment of<br />
a Mother’s Day Out Program has also<br />
increased neighborhood connections. We<br />
have an active Foster and Adoption team<br />
that connects families at Sojourn East who<br />
are touched by Adoption and Foster Care as<br />
well as providing some financial assistance<br />
for those pursuing adoption.<br />
8
NEIGHBORHOOD OBSERVATIONS &<br />
INTERVIEWS<br />
P E R C E P T I O N O F S O J O U R N E A S T<br />
Several people spoke warmly of Sojourn’s property itself as a hub of the neighborhood. In<br />
addition, several people mentioned how Calvin Presbyterian had been a church that<br />
reached out to the whole neighborhood in a very warm and loving way – especially the<br />
daycare/preschool that used to be housed there. Calvin was free with giving out keys to<br />
the facility and allowing access to the building.<br />
Since Sojourn began hosting events, there have been occasional concerns from one or<br />
two people worried about church/state issues with the church hosting community<br />
functions. However, the overall perception of Sojourn in the neighborhood is very<br />
positive. Even our attempts to seek out criticism yielded no results. The mayor anticipated<br />
lots of complaints about additional Sunday morning traffic, but those complaints have not<br />
materialized. There have been a few concerns about the parking lot runoff, and<br />
speculation about how we will eventually use the property, especially given its<br />
importance to the community as a green space.<br />
Kids ride their bikes or walk over to kick a ball around, walk the dog, play basketball, or to<br />
play on the playground equipment. Neighborhood residents use the field for soccer games<br />
and events, and people are constantly on the walking path. Historically, the neighbors<br />
used to be muchmore isolated from one another than they are now, since the sidewalk<br />
was built, and the church building is now an important outdoor/green space being used<br />
regularly by the neighborhood.
O L D E R R E S I D E N T S<br />
Many older people in <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> are isolated.<br />
Some struggle to get out and some are caring<br />
for ill family members. The city council has<br />
identified elder outreach as a major focus area<br />
as the neighborhood ages, as 1/3 or more of<br />
the population of <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> are aging. Many<br />
residents desire to age in place, defined as the<br />
ability to live in one’s own home and<br />
community safely, independently, and<br />
comfortably, regardless of age, income, or<br />
ability level.<br />
The dynamic of older residents moving out and<br />
younger people moving in seems to trouble<br />
some older residents, as they fear being<br />
displaced. This feeling is exacerbated by<br />
younger and newer residents seeming more<br />
likely to move on to another, “better”<br />
neighborhood in a few years weakening the<br />
possibility for deeper connections. Many of the<br />
older generation have been in the same homes<br />
for 30 years or more. This issue continued to<br />
come up prompting the city council to put<br />
together a packet of information to help<br />
seniors in the community age in place rather<br />
than move to assisted living. They see this as a<br />
very important part of their work.<br />
According to one resident, more people<br />
struggle financially and with “respectable” or<br />
hidden issues than might be immediately<br />
apparent. Alcoholism, borderline poverty, drug<br />
abuse are not unknown in <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>, just less<br />
obvious than they might be in some<br />
neighborhoods.<br />
10
D U N N E L E M E N T A R Y<br />
Dunn Elementary is a good school with a myriad of local ties. Many kids are bused in from<br />
other rougher neighborhoods, bringing with them issues such as food and housing<br />
insecurity. This is complicated because parents can not be as involved in their children’s<br />
education due to the distance from their homes. This dynamic has changed in the last few<br />
years as more kids who are unconnected to the community are bused in.<br />
Dunn recently lost their counseling/resource position (which dealt with behavioral issues<br />
rooted in poverty or mental illness) and are struggling to meet arising needs. More than one<br />
person mentioned how frustrating it is to lose that important support person. They attempt<br />
to address some needs with the Blessings in a Backpack program and a Christmas gift<br />
sponsorship program. They expressed a desire for support in these programs from Sojourn.<br />
There is a great need for tutoring and practical help for the kids living in poverty. They have<br />
successful fundraisers each year and money to funnel into special programs. The majority of<br />
the people from Dunn to whom we spoke mentioned the very great need for prayer for the<br />
teachers as well as support and encouragement for the Christian teachers there. Several<br />
members of the PTA are believers, however there are people who are concerned about the<br />
church and Christians being involved at a public school.
P O L I C E A N D G O V E R N M E N T<br />
Graymoor-Devondale police answers calls to <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>, so it<br />
is technically outside the St. Matthew’s Police Department’s<br />
area. A block watch is recommended since the area has seen<br />
an increase in crime in recent years. This crime increase<br />
seems to be connected with drug use.<br />
A transitional housing facility (for people exiting rehab)<br />
recently moved into the neighborhood, which caused some<br />
serious concerns among residents. The mayor expressed that<br />
there is a real need for peace between those groups, and a<br />
real need for AA/NA type groups in the neighborhood itself.<br />
The Saint Matthews Police Department and city council<br />
members asked for our continued prayers that they would be<br />
successful in caring for the city.<br />
<strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> itself is financially solvent thanks to the frugal<br />
management of previous generations, and has room to make<br />
more improvements to the running of the neighborhood.<br />
S E R V I C E<br />
According to the mayor and others, it can be difficult to get people in the neighborhood to<br />
volunteer and reach out in a charitable way. Older people are unable to serve or feel they have<br />
already paid their dues, and younger people are busy with their children and families. There<br />
are many resources within the community that could be leveraged to help others that often go<br />
unused.<br />
C H U R C H E S A N D S P I R I T U A L L I F E<br />
There are five churches that fall within or just outside the borders of <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>: Calvin<br />
Presbyterian, Louisville Taiwanese Presbyterian, Christ Church United Methodist, St.<br />
Matthews Episcopal, Westport Road Church of Christ as well as the Drepung Gomang Center<br />
for Tibetan Buddhists.<br />
12
A E S T H E T I C & O T H E R G E N E R A L O B S E R V A T I O N S<br />
The 3 mile loop around the neighborhood is active during the morning and<br />
evenings with walkers, bikers, runners and people walking dogs.<br />
This neighborhood has a variety of homes styles from ranch, split levels and<br />
some traditional 2 stories. Prices range from $200,000 to 1,000,000.<br />
Most <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> streets are dead end streets, which is very appealing to<br />
residents because of limited traffic.<br />
Residents often gather outside while kids play and adults mingle since traffic<br />
is quiet here.<br />
There is a quarterly newsletter distributed to keep residents informed of any<br />
news or upcoming changes.<br />
Neighbors often help each other out watching homes while out of town,<br />
swapping tools for projects, and sharing meals together.<br />
The city’s centrality, proximity to major thoroughfares, and the attractive<br />
homes and landscapes are what draw people to <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>.<br />
The city prides itself on being recognized as a ‘tree city’ with a tree board and<br />
garden club that holds sales throughout the year.
SOJOURN EAST ASSETS<br />
P R O P E R T Y A S S E T S<br />
Sojourn Church East sits on 10.22 acres: 5.22 acres of developed land, 5 acres of green space<br />
on Rudy Lane. This includes a playground and a baseball backstop. Structurally it includes<br />
the building that houses worship space, Sojourn kids wing, Sojourn East staff offices and<br />
Calvin Presbyterian Church’s worship space and offices.<br />
P E O P L E A S S E T S<br />
Sojourn Church East is filled with young families, but has a growing demographic of families<br />
of older children and empty nesters. Sojourn Kids averages 320+ kids on a Sunday morning<br />
between both services and mobilizes 40-50 volunteers weekly. The weekly volunteer need is<br />
60 servants. The church is comprised of very skilled individuals including business owners,<br />
medical professionals, educators, community leaders, locally and nationally recognized<br />
theologians, professionals with sports expertise and more.<br />
Sojourn Church East has 8 Full-Time and 21 Part-Time staff members. We have 20 Elders, 15<br />
of which are non-staff Elders. Beyond the Sunday services, there are over 35 community<br />
groups that meet across the city. The majority of groups meet in the East End of Louisville<br />
surrounding St. Matthews. However, some groups meet as in varying areas such as Seneca<br />
Gardens, Prospect, Middletown and Oldham County.<br />
Some of the other opportunities that Sojourn Church East already offers are well-attended<br />
Women and Men’s Bible Studies, Equip Classes, Care-based ministries like grief support and<br />
men’s and women’s sexual integrity groups and S2, a thriving youth group. S2 has incredible<br />
potential for growth considering the number of children that currently attend Sojourn Kids.<br />
We host many events over the course of the year with both outreach and community building<br />
emphasis. Some of these events are Trunk or Treat, Member Potlucks, quarterly Work Days in<br />
<strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>, Affordable Christmas, Vacation Bible School, Medical Clinic and services to<br />
celebrate Easter and Christmas Eve.<br />
14
SOJOURN EAST ASSETS<br />
F I N A N C I A L A S S E T S<br />
Sojourn church East is fiscally sound and giving exceeded its operating budget for the first<br />
time this past year.<br />
The church budget is $1,872,000 for FY 2018-19. The giving campaign ends in November of<br />
2020. Sojourn East has 45 days of cash on hand in reserve with the goal of having 60 days by<br />
the end of 2019-20 and 90 days on hand the following year. The church attenders are<br />
financially stable. The median household income of the St. Matthews area is $63,284.<br />
G R O W I N G C O N G R E G A T I O N<br />
God is clearly working at Sojourn East. The church has grown numerically and financially.<br />
During our 2019 Easter service there were 39 baptisms across 3 services with an attendance<br />
of 1900 people. An increase in giving has allowed for new full and part time staff positions<br />
to be filled. Our Men’s and Women’s Bible studies meet weekly and have grown in numbers.<br />
We are continuing to build bridges in the East End of Louisville in various ways including<br />
mercy initiatives like Affordable Christmas and Medical Clinic as well as outreach events like<br />
Trunk or Treat, Vacation Bible School and Summer Movie Nights. The establishment of a<br />
Mother’s Day Out Program has also increased neighborhood connections. We have an active<br />
Foster and Adoption team that connects families at Sojourn East who are touched by<br />
Adoption and Foster Care as well as providing some financial assistance for those pursuing<br />
adoption.<br />
15
SOJOURN EAST ASSETS<br />
U N T A P P E D G I F T S<br />
Sojourn East has a strong culture of authenticity and vulnerability and the congregation has<br />
a high level of trust in the church leadership. Our church is growing in age and racial<br />
diversity. Our church has a well of untapped potential and willing servants. Our church<br />
lawn and green space, playground and facilities still boast untapped potential. As we grow<br />
in our relationships throughout the East End we hope to find more uses for this unique<br />
space.<br />
P A R T N E R S H I P S A N D O U T R E A C H<br />
Currently we partner with several non-profits that serve the East End of Louisville. St.<br />
Matthews Area Ministries (St. MAM) seeks to unite the resources and people of area<br />
congregations to effectively meet community needs. Orphan Care Alliance (OCA) serves<br />
children and families affected by foster care and adoption and has a vision for the body of<br />
Christ to lead the efforts of caring for the foster care and adoptive community in Kentucky<br />
and southern Indiana.<br />
16
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY<br />
This neighborhood study is designed to stimulate creative and effective ministry outreach to<br />
<strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>. Rather than dictate or suggest the ministry opportunities, we decided to present<br />
this study to numerous groups at Sojourn East and welcome reflection and discussion. With<br />
your leadership team or community group, consider the following questions and report your<br />
ideas to the staff and elders (east@sojournchurch.com).<br />
1. What most surprised you about <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>? Is there anything you would add to this<br />
study from your own experience of the neighborhood?<br />
2. How might knowledge of the city and its history and values affect the way you relate to<br />
its residents? How might it change the way you lead ministries or inhabit the community?<br />
3. What do you see as the major barriers (neighborhood practices, culture or perceptions<br />
that inhibit the progress of the gospel) to <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> residents coming to Christ and<br />
joining a healthy church?<br />
4. What sorts of bridges (opportunities for people to encounter the truth of the gospel)<br />
might we as a church build to overcome those barriers?<br />
5. What are some ideas you have for serving or reaching the populations below? What<br />
types of outreach ministries or events do you think would be most effective in general?<br />
Young families Widows & Widowers Affluent professionals City officials<br />
Older couples Dunn Elementary Single parent homes Garden club<br />
6. What resources or strengths do we have as a church family to love, serve and reach<br />
<strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>?<br />
7. What particular seasons of the year, holidays or events provide unique opportunity for<br />
ministry and outreach?<br />
8. What other ideas do you have for creative, effective ministry in <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>?<br />
17
MONTHLY PRAYER GUIDE<br />
JANUARY<br />
Ask God to move in the hearts of his people here at Sojourn East and press us towards a<br />
posture of outreach and service and the genuine welfare of others.<br />
FEBRUARY<br />
Pray for God to reveal to us where he is already at work so that we can join in what he is<br />
already doing in our church and neighborhood.<br />
MARCH<br />
Confess before God our anxieties regarding outreach in our neighborhood. Ask God to<br />
grant us everything we need for following in Paul’s pattern of life on mission in <strong>Windy</strong><br />
<strong>Hills</strong>.<br />
APRIL<br />
Pray God’s kingdom come and will be done in <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> as it is in heaven.<br />
MAY<br />
Pray for God to help our church to see our neighborhood’s significance through his eyes<br />
shedding preconceived notions of where he has placed our church building.<br />
JUNE<br />
Pray for the elderly, widows and the lonely in <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> and for opportunities to reach<br />
and serve them.<br />
JULY<br />
Pray for other churches and organizations in our area who are also reaching out with the<br />
gospel.<br />
AUGUST<br />
Ask God to take specific struggles that are specific to <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> that are meant for evil<br />
and turn them for good.<br />
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MONTHLY PRAYER GUIDE<br />
SEPTEMBER<br />
Pray for the children in <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong> and their parents, that he would draw them to<br />
Himself and that we would step into opportunities that he places before us to connect<br />
with them and serve them.<br />
OCTOBER<br />
Ask God to leverage the resources and strengths that he has given us as a church family<br />
to love, serve and reach out to <strong>Windy</strong> <strong>Hills</strong>.<br />
NOVEMBER<br />
Ask God to give us the courage to begin to build relationships with those he has placed<br />
in our path.<br />
DECEMBER<br />
Pray for the church to engage with those who are different than we are with a posture of<br />
learning and love.<br />
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