History of LLUM
In the Beginning - In 1999, Clovis Light & Life Fellowship (a church of the Free Methodist denomination) partnered with Care Fresno and became responsible for the Care Fresno site at the Winery Apartments in Fresno, California. Clovis Light & Life Fellowship provided a site coordinator who was responsible to run the after school program for children, which included homework assistance and enrichment activities. The goal was to influence the children living in high-crime apartment communities to make positive choices, which would ultimately change the community. In lieu of pay, the Winery Apartments (EAH Housing) provided a free apartment in which the site coordinator could live; this provided the opportunity for that site coordinator to develop and maintain relationships and get to know the community on a very intimate level.
Moving On - In 2000, the partnership grew to include collaborating with the SE Weed and Seed initiative and United Way of Fresno County whereby grant money from the Department of Justice was given to the Winery Apartments to create a computer lab. At that point, the site coordinator’s duties increased to include teaching computer literacy to the adults in the community. Money was also given from that grant to expand the after school programs into other apartment communities. In 2001, The Winery Apartments became a “graduated” Care Fresno site, and Clovis Light & Life Fellowship became Light & Life Urban Ministries for the purpose of dedicating fulltime service and personnel to the ministry taking place at the Winery Apartments.
Today - Between 2001 and now, Light & Life Urban Ministries sites have grown to include four other apartment communities, with more in development. Programs and partnerships have also expanded to include a DEFY (Drug Education for Youth) program, Tsunami Youth Group for middle school age youth, and a teen employment program for high school age youth. Toys for Tots, Free Summer Lunch Program, Summer Day Camp, Kids’ Club, Camping, legal document assistance, nutritional and financial education, Moms’ Group, and Leadership Teams are a few of the other programs which have been established throughout the years. Numerous community, school, church and governmental partnerships have also been established to help resource these ongoing programs.
A strategy revealed… During the course of this ministry, it became obvious that the programs which happen out of the traditional church structure were not effective in urban apartment communities – church services and Bible studies are not the foremost need. Godly relationships, positive role models and programs which meet basic human needs are needed; these then eventually lead people to a relationship with Christ, which is the ultimate goal. From there, relational discipleship and mentoring lead those who have benefited from those programs and relationships, back to relational spiritual leadership in their community. In all phases of urban ministry, relationships are the key. Light & Life Urban Ministries and its various programs is the conduit through which these relationships can be formed.
Transformational Results - The result of this “Immersed Church”, partnered with effective management of these apartment communities, has been transformational. Where once darkness and death brought hopelessness, there is light and life that brings hope. Gangs, drug dealers, and violence have been replaced with children playing, adults cooperating together on community initiatives, and peace. Youth are choosing education, community service, and spiritual vitality over the gangs, drugs, and promiscuity that are rampant in their culture. Police calls are diminished, people interact in a safe environment, and positive action is celebrated. There is a “New Life” that has been noted as not only transforming the apartment communities, but the communities surrounding them. This is the mark of effective urban ministry – Life is not only brought “IN” and “UP”, but comes “OUT” of the community served.