Would you like to make a real difference in Nashville? Would you like to get hands-on training and interactive experience using your gifts to serve and make a real difference? The Salvation Army has an opportunity for you in East Nashville that is changing lives and helping to transform the urban McFerrin Park Neighborhood. At The Salvation Army Berry Street we are:
* Allowing People Of All Ages The Freedom To Actively Participate In Worship Meetings
Our worship meetings are based on ordinary people sharing testimonies, Scriptures, prayer requests, words of encouragement, songs, prayers, etc. (as they feel led by the Holy Spirit); rather than on a 1-person sermon. This matches our 21st Century participatory culture by allowing people freedom of expression and disqualifying no one. We allow the Holy Spirit to speak through anybody present. In this interactive environment people learn by doing.
* Cultivating And Spreading Spiritual Awakening
All that we do is focused on loving and obeying Jesus Christ. Every week we see God do many amazing things in people’s lives. Each Sunday morning we have a different worship leader help us enter into passionate praise and worship. Our participatory meetings stir up God’s fire in people’s hearts compelling them to make necessary lifestyle changes.
At Berry Street we want to be an example of the power of Christ working through everyday people spreading spiritual awakening through out Nashville. We want to see people’s lives changed for the long-term, with practical results, such as getting and sustaining jobs, getting a GED and/or college education, and developing healthy and moral relationships. The ultimate outcome is that they become strong believers and leaders/examples in the body of Christ and in the local community.
* Facilitating Individual Transformation:
We seek to extend our impact on individuals beyond short-term assistance to long-term life transformation. To do this we have established a climate of mutuality where all are equal and all can freely give and receive love, encouragement, and hope.
Our meetings engage people in open sharing and participation. As people actively support and minister to one another amazing transformations occur. People are often moved to tears as they feel a direct connection to God’s love. Their attitudes and behaviors begin to change and this is noticeable and encouraging to everybody.
Two staff members spend much of their time during the week listening to, praying with, counseling, and encouraging both regular attendees and members of the community. The regulars have now begun to spend time together encouraging and helping one another. This growing love and sense of caring community creates beautiful changes in people as they experience personal growth in both confidence and ability.
* Encouraging Community Transformation:
The Berry Street members and staff interact with many people who live in our community each week. People are seeing their neighbors and friends changing before their eyes. Community members drop by the building for assistance, prayers, and encouragement through out the week. Each week we have visitors from the community in our Sunday morning meeting. Berry Street has also been conducting highly visible neighborhood prayer walks (carrying a full size Salvation Army flag) 1 to 4 times per week for several years. This has facilitated much friendly interaction with community members and represents The Salvation Army taking a strong stand in East Nashville.
* Improving Racial Reconciliation
Although our community is predominately black, our Sunday meetings are very mixed with both blacks and whites. We are also reaching out to Hispanics and frequently have people from other ethnic groups. One neighborhood visitor (who is now a regular member) said that Berry Street reminded him of a “bowl of Fruit Loops” (because of the diversity). Our diversity is harmonious and is rarely ever mentioned as people have moved beyond race to seeing each other as equal brothers and sisters in Christ.
* Loving At Risk Children
Every week we have 20-40 neighborhood children (most come without a parent) in a Sunday morning children’s church. They are served a snack; taught a Bible lesson, and then given recreation time with adult leaders who have been teaching and mentoring them for more than two years. Once a month they are served a full meal at Berry Street after the Sunday meeting.
* Developing Leaders
We are seeing people not only beginning to take responsibility for themselves and their lifestyle choices, but people are also seeking to help and to influence others to follow Christ in practical obedience to His word. Our goal is to train leaders and send them out to help train others to hear and obey the Holy Spirit in churches, in cell groups, and in their individual lives.
Come hang with us: Sunday mornings at 10:45, 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207.
