A View from The Franklin Table....February 2013

 

 

Dear Table Nation,

Where did January and February go? Every day is flying by and life is speeding up. I thought getting old meant slowing down not racing faster and faster... mercy there is a lot going on!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “This hour in history needs a dedicated circle of transformed nonconformists. The saving of our world from impending doom will come not from the actions of a conforming majority, but the creative maladjustment of a transformed minority.” I like that. I want to have the mindset of an activist from a creative, maladjusting, transformed minority. That describes most of my Hard Bargain neighborhood. I have begun attending a Bible Study held at First Missionary Baptist Church on Natchez at the top of Baptist Neck... this is Rev. Denny Denson's Church! Anthony Pickett is leading the study on the Gospel of John. He calls it the 'On The Way' Bible Study, a great name! He is a fine teacher and the group of students is diverse coming mostly from the neighborhood. It has been wonderful getting to spend time in the Natchez area after several years of working mostly in Hard Bargain. Interestingly in Franklin, as in other Cities, the pockets of our poorest citizens do not blend as easily as you would expect. We in Hard Bargain are not as connected to the Natchez community or other neighborhoods of need as someone might think. There are very different cultures and needs from one street to another. For instance public housing poverty and antebellum poverty are two very different kinds of poverty and they reflect the challenges to the families that reside in both. People often do not travel beyond their neighborhoods and some have never been out of Franklin.

I was reminded at the New Hope Academy board meeting of the need for more New Hope Academy-styled education initiatives. Most of the visitors to the Safe House come from limited schooling and we have seen the benefits firsthand. Andrew attended New Hope Academy. He is an exceptional musician and has done national commercials since he was a small boy. For a season of time he was the voice for Oscar Mayer Weiner commercials, a distinction we were all proud of. He is now a professional singer with the group Kettle Praise. His mother, Lasonia, is one of the most giving people I know and is constantly volunteering at the school or wherever she is needed.  Another New Hope student who has done extremely well is Shareena Dalton. Her family lives on Glass Street and her mother, Cheryll, is a friend to Hard Bargain and former New Hope Academy board member. Cheryll made sure Shareena got her education and has helped her daughter finish at Battle Ground Academy. Shareena also attended college, another Hard Bargain success story. Pray for and support New Hope Academy!!! Some of the Children from NHA along with their parents, recently got to see the Emancipation Proclamation here in Nashville…the original Proclamation document and the original copy of the Thirteenth Amendment both signed by President Lincoln were on display at The Tennessee State Museum! As with our US Constitution and Declaration of Independence this document declares the truth that all of us are free people... Native Americans as well as so many Minorities are still struggling with the need to know we are a Nation of free people and we should educate ourselves in the history of how we got to where we are. The power of what the document represents is only surpassed by the US government's refusal to apologize for its role in propagating slavery... even to acknowledge slavery existed!

We had a great time at the African American Heritage Society’s Black Tie Affair this past month. This annual event raises money for the McLemore House Museum, the home of former slave Harvey McLemore, who built the home as a free man. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located here in Hard Bargain at 11th Avenue North and Glass Street. The event also supports the African American Heritage Society, whose mission is to chronicle the lives and contributions African-Americans have made in the community. This year we celebrated the history of African-American churches in Williamson County. What a great night to be with Rev. Walter Amos, pastor of First Franklin Primitive Baptist Church (Franklin’s oldest AA Church), Rev. Vernon Ray McGuire, Jr. pastor of The Church of God (Sanctified) Green Street and Rev. Hewitt Sawyers pastor of West Harpeth Primitive Baptist Church. I thank God for their lives, these men are very dear brothers and I’m fortunate to call them friends.

At the Empty Hands Fellowship meeting we have talked a lot about the abortion issues coming up. I'm not sure how to handle the delicate nature of the issue because so many of my friends disagree on what should be done. With Roe V Wade's fortieth anniversary upon us we need to address it somehow... right? A young man brought up the fact that men who participate in abortions are often not given any help in understanding what they have done. That might be a way for the EHF to engage...with men as men's ministry. To hold discussions on the issue and try to help mend and heal the many broken hearts left in the wake of forty years of legalized abortion. We are praying for the healing of broken hearts and families who have been touched by this issue. Lord have mercy on our Nation. Will you pray with me?

Take a minute to read this article and pray for the family and many loved ones who are saying goodbye to Richard Twiss the movement leader for Native Americans, Richard went to be with Jesus this past month. He was an amazing voice for Christ as he taught us so well the deep need for the Church to always contextualize the Scriptures and the Christian Gospel. Charles Robinson and The Red Road ministry will begin to pick up the pieces of the loss of RT and move forward as a spokesperson for this great movement of God...Lord have mercy! And Lord bless the Twiss family.

Neighborly care, friendship and love seem to be the essence of biblical faith and the power of the gospel is demonstrated to us through our neighbors. The Hard Bargain Association directed by Brant Bouquet, is a grassroots, non-profit organization seeking to preserve Hard Bargain by providing affordable homes for purchase, repairing existing homes and structures, and beautifying public spaces. The HBA is working together with the residents of this historic neighborhood to restore and rebuild it into what their vision is for the neighborhood and its future. The 5th Annual banquet is Thursday, February 28 and we are excited to celebrate the new Community Center and how it is being used for so many important events in the neighborhood!  Will you join me on at the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm as we meet for prayer at the Community Center here in Hard Bargain (608 Mt. Hope Street)?  Please continue to pray for a deeper Biblical understanding for Spiritual Friendship, meaning how we can live out 'Neighbor Love'...together? As the Gospel reminds us, we know how to love our neighbors... it's easy... it just costs you your life. 

And lastly, I recently spent time with my good friend Ray Husband. He and his brother Bob led me to follow Jesus forty-five years ago. They are such important mentors to me and it was fun reminiscing about all that God has done in our lives over nearly half a century! I’m also producing a project for The Old Man Worship Band ...Jeff Roley, Ted Kallman and Martin Vipond! Ted and Martin have been lifelong friends with Jeff and I. We are grateful for the incredible talent of Bill Deaton at Gambit Studios here in Franklin.

I will be with Michael Card on March 8-10 for a Biblical Imagination Conference at Bible Fellowship Church in Sebring, Florida. Please remember us in your prayers that weekend. Oh and I want to thank everyone who came out to Puckett's Boathouse on Friday night February 8th to hear me play, you'all are the greatest! Thanks also to a wonderful violinist, Daniel Fisher... you make it sound so good! I’ll be performing at The Franklin Mercantile at 7:00p.m on Saturday, March 30th. Check www.ScottRoley.com or my Facebook page for more details and join me for the evening.

I am working on better 'branding' for The Franklin Table and always searching ways to communicate the important work we have been called to do in the poorest parts of Williamson County and Franklin, Tennessee. We are daily Pastoring the City and we appreciate your care and love for us and the people we work with through your generosity and prayers!

Blessings and deep love,

Scott

Rev. Scott Roley

Director, The Franklin Table

959 Glass Street

Franklin, TN 37064

615-642-7428

 

I look forward as Jesus leads us ..."acting in line with the truth of the Gospel."   Galatians 2:14

To receive monthly updates from The Franklin Table, send your email to lisa@scottroley.com

Please join us in prayer for; Against The Grain, Barefoot Republic, Empty Hands Fellowship, Feed Franklin First, FrankTown Open Hearts, Graceworks Ministries, High Impact Teen Ministry, Ken Turner Ministries, Jobs For Life, McCann, Hubbard & Solomon, Mercy Community Healthcare, New Hope Academy, R.E.A.L. Christian Foundation, The Samson Society, Shepherding The Next Generation, Stites & Harbison Law Offices, Synago Pastors Fellowship, The Family Dynamics Institute, The Hard Bargain Association, The Red Road, The Timothy Center and Thriftsmart.