the simple way burned down
Many of you may have read an incredible book called “The Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne. If you haven’t read it, I strongly encourage you to pick it up. The book talks a lot of poverty, social justice, today’s generations of Christians, etc. Shane makes some great points and it’s hard to walk away from reading the book without feeling convicted in some way or another.
He and many others live in community in the Kensington area of Philadelphia (one of the poorest areas in the city.) The organization he’s a part of, The Simple Way, run afterschool programs, summer camps, and other various outreaches to the neigbhorhood. They are living out what we’re all called to do (to love our neighbors) but in such a real and tangible way.
Last night a terrible thing happened. A 7-alarm fire happened in an abandoned warehouse in their neighborhood. This fire spread and destroyed at least 8 of the neighborhood houses as well as many many cars. The Simple Way’s community center where they ran many of their activities burned down as well.
According to The Simple Way’s website:
“This fire will forever change the fabric of our community. Eight families are currently homeless, and in many cases have lost their vehicles as well as their homes. One of our neighbors, the Mahaias Family, lost their three cars as well as the equipment one family member uses for her massage therapy business. Teenager Brian Mahaias is devastated not because he has lost his belongings, but because he fears that this fire will force him to move away from this neighborhood that is his family as well as his home.
The Simple Way has lost a community center that was home to our Yes! And… afterschool program, community arts center, and Cottage Printworks t-shirt micro-business as well as to two of our community members. Community members Shane Claiborne and Jesce Walz have lost all of their belongings, Yes!And…’s after school studio and library were ruined, and community member Justin Donner’s Cottage Printworks equipment and t-shirts were destroyed.
What a truely sad and horrible thing. I’m sure the community will respond and learn and grow from this tradegy, but it doesn’t seem quite right.
For more information on the situation and how you can help, check out: www.thesimpleway.org
