My name is Cassidy Newell (Cassidy@brmemc.net), I am 20 years old, a nursing major at Kennesaw University, and a site pastor at Ashby Park. I know that the path I am on was divinely selected so that I might be the hands and feet of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am currently taking a microbiology class. In a test tube of agar (a gelatin like substance), the way you are able to tell if the bacteria are motile and moving is if the clear agar becomes blurry. This image describes my thoughts during the summer of 2009. My head was crazy as I tried to understand Jesus calling me and my heart was heavy for furthering His Kingdom. I experimented with local church activities that summer and continued to grow and and strengthen my personal walk. By the time fall came, I was in love with Jesus on a completely new level and I was restless at the thought of being active for Him, in His name.
I had heard of the Dream Center but only in passing. Honestly, I had a distorted view about the things they did. One winter night, while at home in North Carolina, I literally could not sleep. I was itching to get my hands dirty in ministry! I stayed up until 4 a.m. Googling volunteer opportunities in the Atlanta area. Even though I kept trying to overlook the Dream Center it kept popping up. Since then, I have gone back and tried to take the same internet search paths as I did before and the Dream Center website does not pop up as often. I decided to check out the website and send them an email. I thought it was at least worth looking into. 5 hours later, at 9 a.m. Patrick Palmer called my phone. It was a number I didn’t know so of course I didn’t answer, plus it was so early! After calling him back and talking his poor head off I set up some times to come down and visit with different ministries.
My parents were indifferent about this new step in my life. They were not excited whatsoever about me being amongst the crime and secular filth that the inner city can sometimes bring, but they also understood that we are not called to be comfortable and that this may be something God was specifically calling me to. After volunteering with the Metro Kidz tutoring program with Hannah and Suzi, I fell in love. One day, Hannah asked me to go for a ride with her. She said she needed to talk to me and that it was good. She drove me over to the Bankhead area of Atlanta to a neighborhood called Ashby Park. Do not let the name fool you, this area is near the Ga Dome and can be very rough. She said that she wanted to pray with me there, on site, because she wanted me to consider becoming a site pastor and taking on that neighborhood for the MetroKidz Sidewalk Sunday School program. I remember my thoughts were going through my head like a crazy mad house and my heart was pounding. Not only was I unsure about the responsibility of becoming a site pastor, I was not about to close my eyes and pray when the van we were parked next to had just broken into and fresh glass was still shattered on the pavement!
After much prayer and even 5 days of fasting, I made the decision to seek God through site pastoring at Ashby Park. I was humbled. That decision was by far one of the absolute best decisions I have ever made. Jesus has blessed me with wonderful friends who volunteer, including my sweet partner Lauren Lisle. He has provided in every other area in my life. I believe it is because of that provision that I have never once resented the Dream Center or my neighborhood, regardless of the obstacles I have encountered. There is always an abundance of volunteers when we go out to the site every Friday. I am more than grateful. Lauren and I have seen a significant change in most of the kids; it is more obviously evident in some kids rather than others but we trust that God’s truth and love is changing their hearts and lives. We are also trying to reach the families. I pray for my mind to be clear and my physical body to be open so that Jesus might “rock that block” through me.
Matthew 10:8 says “…freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give.” We are not called to comfort. We are not worthy of praise. We are mere specs on a canvas that will one day present itself as a masterpiece, a work of art, by the most divine artist any of us could ever imagine. This will not happen if we do not help one another. We have everything we need except for funding here at Metro Kidz. Yes, the Lord is the wind behind our sails but unfortunately we live in a money hungry world were dollars are a means of reaching people. I would love to see Metro Kidz grow. I would love to see the name of God extended beyond the areas we have already reached. Fundraising is our goal this month! Let’s celebrate summer, July, and donating for the Glory of God! Also email or call about our new $10 Metro Kidz tees! I want one in every color, they are too cute!!
God did not send His son to die, to save us from death, from hell, in order to gain a group of followers that are robotic, selfish, and thoughtless. I pray that God uses you every day. If there is a tug on your heartstrings, act on it. Go for it. Be radical, if for no other reason than to just simply help your brother.“Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the laws of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
