A View from The Franklin Table on Memorial Day weekend...

Dear Table Nation,

It is Memorial Day weekend a time set aside to remember the men and women who’ve given their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces. We are grateful for their service to our country and continue to pray for their loved ones.

I want to communicate what the Lord has been doing in the neighborhood... As you know The Franklin Tableis partnering with existing ministries as true agents of change. We want to strengthen successful existing 'crisis' ministries but also to begin reorganizing some of our programs connecting them with the broader concepts of co-ops and entrepreneurship...to begin covering small loans for start up businesses run by members of the neighborhood and stir up joint adventures designed to give all our neighbors the chance to be members of certain organizations which brings the pride of ownership. This would represent a maturing of the vision for Community Development here in Franklin!

Kevin Riggs and the 'Jobs for Life' program has brought real interest among our people in wanting to be more intentional about solid work opportunities... The history of Hard Bargain is filled with at least one ongoing trade... masonry and brick laying have been central to everyday work here by those who are skilled at that craft. After recently talking with my neighbors on Glass Street there is a need to develop apprenticeships and training programs that would give men and women opportunities to earn a living wage... along with potential flower and vegetable stands and 'farmer market' styled offerings we feel it is time to move ahead with these ideas. All of this would represent just some of the many possible trade training programs and entrepreneurship possibilities! The work being done by Thriftsmart, Brother's Pizza and other businesses which hire, serve and share revenue with the poor are vital to the health of our community. We need more of them... 

This week's Empty Hands Fellowship meeting was very helpful in getting the news out about these ideas... along with other potential work concepts challenging us all with imaginative special offerings like tutoring the young artists in our neighborhoods through 'The Arts Guild' and programs like 'Waking up Grey'.

We had a difficult afternoon recently in Hard Bargain... Sarah Braud, a Glass Street resident, held the badly cut arm of a young girl named Diamond, a HB neighbor who was hurt rough housing with her brother. The wound was extremely severe...unfortunately the police were uncommonly slow to arrive and the child was traumatized before being transported to the Vanderbilt ER. The incident was a reminder that often our poorest communities are overlooked and not held as a priority... pray for us as we look into the reasons behind slow responses in our most needy neighborhoods. The Synago Pastors are praying on Tuesday nights for revival in Franklin... Our home group fellowship will join them in that important calling... to pray for our City, County and Region!

New Hope Academy graduated its sixth grade recently with nearly thirty young people moving on to Jr. High Schools throughout middle Tennessee... we are so proud of each and every one of them!

The Hard Bargain Association is rehabbing a building in the neighborhood designed to function as a community center. It might house the HBA office and could have a small kitchen in it... we hope will work as headquarters for a potential 'soul food' business.

On Saturday, June 16th, we will celebrate the National African American holiday known as 'Juneteenth'... the whole neighborhood will turn out for music, food, games and speeches given to celebrate the nearly one hundred and fifty year old Emancipation Proclamation... bringing the actual freeing of slaves and the banning of slavery as an institution in the USA. The McLemore House Museum is at 446 11^th Ave. North, Franklin. The program and activities runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Also, plan on attending the upcoming Blackberry Jam in Leiper's Fork at Boyd Mill Farm June 23rd, hours are from 2:00-10 pm (http://theblackberryjam.com/information/)  helping to raise money for the Hard Bargain Association.

Finally, just a reminder…I am looking forward to having all my friends come out to the Franklin Mercantile Friday night (5/25)... I hope we play well... pray for us! (https://www.facebook.com/notes/scott-roley/scott-roley-at-the-franklin-mercantile-friday-may-25-at-7pm/10150940481175266).

Continue praying for our affiliated members...Christ's love to all! 

Scott

Daily prayer...

Against The Grain, Barefoot Republic, Empty Hands Fellowship, Feed Franklin First, FrankTown Open Hearts, Graceworks Ministries, Jobs For Life, Mercy Children's Clinic, New Hope Academy, The Samson Society, Shepherding The Next Generation, Stites & Harbison Law Offices, Synago (Pastoral Fellowship), The Arts Guild, The Family Dynamics Institute, The Hard Bargain Association, The Red Road, Thriftsmart.

P.S. As always we are depending on your gifts to keep us going... thanks always for you faithfulness to Christ and His work among the poor!

Rev. Scott Roley
Director, The Franklin Table
959 Glass Street
Franklin, TN 37064
615-642-7428