Our church has a ministry called Abundant Life, whose mission is to work with children and families in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Charlottesville. The neighborhood is called Prospect, and the poverty there is stunning. What's even more stunning is that a shocking number of people in Charlottesville probably don't even know this neighborhood exists. Though it is only a few blocks away from the opulent downtown pedestrian mall, there are no paved roads that connect the neighborhood to the main roads surrounding it. In recent weeks, I've been mentioning the area to some grad student colleagues of mine, some of whom have lived here for several years. When I say, "Prospect" they say, "Where? I've never heard of that."

A friend of ours who is a gifted artist taught a photography class over the summer to some kids from the Prospect area. Tonight, their photographs are opening in an exhibit downtown. Josh and I had the priviledge of helping our friend hang the exhibit and get a sneak preview of the photographs. I was stunned. The exhibit is called "P-Spect: The Place I live" and features unbelievable photographs taken by kids, some as young as 8 or 9. The creativity of the photographs is capturing.

I was really overwhelmed as I helped hang the pictures. I'm really having trouble even now putting my thoughts into words. Throughout my life, I've known a lot of disadvantaged children and have seen many of them grow into disadvantaged and struggling adults. I grew up in a church that, in my opinion, failed in every way to reach out to the suffering children and adults who came through the doors. What is so encouraging to me is that my friends and Christian family here in this church are not only reaching out to the people who come to the church, but are they themselves leaving the comfort of the church and going to where the needs are. Above and beyond that, they are calling attention to the poverty in our community by exhibiting and auctioning off the photographs in a downtown gallery where the rich mingle.

I hope and pray that God will use the exhibit, not only to change the lives of the children whose work is proudly displayed, but to open the eyes of the elite of the city and to effect change in the most poor and ignored parts of our city.