Author: Reg Cox

The Lakewood Faith Coalition and Title 1 Elementary Schools

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When Reg is introduced by city or school district leaders he’s usually called the; “Director of the Lakewood Faith Coalition.” What does the Faith Coalition mean in the city of Lakewood or in Jefferson County?

As a City Connector facilitating opportunities to mobilize churches and church members for effective service in the community the Faith Coalition is a primary connection point for achieving this mobilization.

The Lakewood Faith Coalition is a movement, an aim and an organization that provides an effective process of connection. As a movement the coalition is something of a miracle! Reg leads a Steering Committee comprised of faith leaders, school leaders and members of the city of Lakewood’s staff. These committee members are leaders from various faith heritages and government working together as one!

The steering committee: Gregg Moss serves on staff at Mile Hi church of Mind and Science. Drew Ross is senior pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran. Larry Linsenmaier is senior pastor of Grace Covenant church. Mike Fletcher is deacon at Christ on the Mountain Catholic church. Mary Ruther serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director for the city of Lakewood. Brett Berninger serves as director of Lakewood’s family services. Sean Kovar is director of the Title 1 family engagement liaisons at the Jeffco School District. Perry Richards is the president of the LDS church in Lakewood.

The fact that this diverse group exists at all is reason enough to be impressed! The vision of the coalition is that when we work together opportunities multiply to do and accomplish more than any one entity can accomplish by themselves! Impossible becomes possible when we work together! The steering committee models the “silo” and division busting philosophy that we hope grows throughout the entire faith community in Lakewood.

As an entity that is moving in the city of Lakewood, Colorado the Faith Coalition is aimed at a certain point of service: Title 1 elementary schools. Title 1 is a federal designation that both identifies schools with great need who receive special federal funds to support programs and services to help the students and families achieve success.

For the Faith Coalition the philosophy behind this aim is critical. It is our belief that when you transform the lives of elementary school students you change the future culture of a community. These Title 1 schools are located in the most under-served neighborhoods in the city. If the efforts of the Faith Coalition can lead to positive change in the lives of hundreds of students then it is possible to transform whole areas of our city that are now struggling in many ways. This isn’t a Band-Aid social program but instead a long term commitment to change the future by strategically investing in a key population.

There are currently 6 Title 1 elementary schools in Lakewood and there will be 8 in 2017-18. Our main goal in each school for 2017-8 will be to develop a Support Team comprised of local church leaders, neighborhood association leaders and other volunteers who would serve as a group to meet regularly with school leaders to discuss the needs of that school. These Support Teams now exist in 4 of the current 6 schools and are working together to offer after school tutoring, program support for school events, backpack food programs and teacher appreciation efforts.

Long term these Support Teams will seek effective ways to serve that school. The first priority of each Support Team is to develop relationships and build trust. These relationships and trust will lead us to effective plans and programs in the future! Look for news and updates on the Lakewood Faith Coalition Support Teams in blog posts in the future.

*The picture is principal Esther Valdez of recently remodeled and reopened Rose Stein Elementary, our 7th Title 1 school in Lakewood. She is standing in the empty library. The Faith Coalition is partnering with businesses and other groups to get books before August 2017.

Law Enforcement, Faith and a new Therapist Network

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A least three times a year the Lakewood Church Network meets for a lunch meeting. The lunch is designed to provide food, fellowship and focus on information pertinent to leveraging our churches to improve the community in some way. February 22 the Lakewood Church Network lunch was hosted by the Wednesday class at Lakewood Church of Christ. The meal was incredible, the fellowship energized and the presentation powerful!

Presenting to the faith leaders, nonprofit directors and citizens assembled that day was new Lakewood Police Chief, Dan McCasky. Dan introduced himself to the audience then spent 30 minutes offering connection and partnership plans so the faith community can better serve the city in partnership with law enforcement. Police ride-alongs, participation in safety summits, partnership serving the homeless, keeping dialogue open with neighbors to improve the connectivity of our neighborhoods…safety and peace is born in partnership and it’s everyone’s responsibility. It was great to feel connected to law enforcement and be invited into making our city safer.

After the lunch meeting several Christian therapists met with a group of Lakewood Church Network pastors to discuss the formation of the “Trusted Health Network” (THN). The network will be formed by and for therapists in Lakewood who will then prepare a directory of services, a list of therapists, classes, conferences and other support tools churches can use to connect strategically to therapeutic help for members or the people they serve in the community.

The directory was especially interesting for the pastors because it can be a tool for linking specific member counseling needs to the best therapist. The directory will include information on location, billing and areas of counseling expertise. All therapists listed will be referred and accepted professionally by the THN and will have reference information from churches and anonymous individuals who have enjoyed that therapists services.

The Lakewood Church Network is building networks upon networks in all areas of our world. The partnership forged in the connections between churches, public servants and therapists represents an example of how unity in one area breeds connection, partnership and unity across an entire city.

 

Partnership, pastors and prayer

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For over 12 years a group of pastors, faith leaders and the directors of area nonprofits from around Lakewood, Colorado have met monthly to pray. The very fact that a group of pastors from different Jesus tribes (denominations) have been meeting to pray every month may sound trite or tremendous, it all depends on your perspective of faith and prayer, but this time of holy conversation has connected us, grounded us and transformed us. Anything good happening in Lakewood has been birthed here.

Central to the purpose of faith is the responsibility to create and sustain positive change in the world around us. That change begins inside an individual as they strive to build hope or learn how to live hope or both. Where does hope come from? Prayer is the single greatest tool related to faith hope for at its core hope isn’t a fact or a feeling it is an unshakable faith that tomorrow will be better and that we have a promise and a pathway to that better tomorrow.

The Lakewood Church Network devotion to prayer has made love tangible for thousands of people in the city of Lakewood. Love is, after all, the greatest command of Jesus (Matthew 22:34-40) and the proof of our true allegiance to Him (John 13:35-35). Love is relationship and as relationship it is organic. Prayer grows relationship love as we gather to communicate to God and each other. When spiritual leaders connect to each other in prayer a unique and profound kind of love happens – unity!

January 17, 2017 the Lakewood Church Network gathered at Colorado Christian University with their new president, Dr. Don Sweeting, Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul, CCU campus pastor David Jongeward, several CCU professors and student leaders and dozens of faith leaders from across the city. Over 50 of us huddled to seek God for the city together.

Unity is no small thing in faith and it is an even more important thing when you consider the world we live in today. Jesus ends his ministry the night before the cross praying for it (John 17). This final request of Jesus is the most important work of people of faith today because together we can accomplish what alone we cannot. The fact of “together” is the key ingredient in transforming the world in positive ways.

Too often we set out to change the world before we have humbled ourselves and sought personal change in prayer. Prayer is confession, openness and the acceptance of others wholeheartedly. That’s where prayer has led us in Lakewood and it is our prayer that through prayer we will seek and find the greater good for the city together.

Scope of Lakewood Connects

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Lakewood Church Network – Lakewood Faith Coalition – Lakewood City Connector

What is a “City Connector”? A City Connector builds relational bridges among vital community leaders in a defined geographic area in order to develop, support or sustain breakthrough service projects. These relational bridges are designed to link the faith community to government, business, school, nonprofit and neighborhoods to develop collaborative partnerships aimed at serving the greater good in the city.

Philosophy

Faith Networks: The key to developing these partnerships are various faith communities working together. The positive impact of a faith community (church) is increased when they unite their leadership, values, desire for service and membership with other faith communities for the purpose of doing good. The aim of Lakewood Connects is to meet, connect to, link together and support faith communities in Lakewood so that together they form a resource for volunteer service and positive impact in the city.

 

Networks of Networks: When faith communities are linked together then that network can connect to leaders in government, school, neighborhood, business and nonprofits to serve the city together. This merging of service resources creates exponential positive impact.

History

Background to City Connecting:  Lakewood Connects represents two church networks; The Lakewood Church Network and the Lakewood Faith Coalition.

Lakewood Church Network (LCN) – The LCN was formed in 2005 and currently 30 churches are involved meeting regularly for prayer, vision synergy and service collaboration. The LCN has partnered with government, schools, neighborhood and nonprofits to develop breakthrough projects including elementary school facility restoration, afterschool tutoring programs, a severe weather shelter network for the homeless and a collaborative health project serving underserved neighborhoods in the city.

 

The Lakewood Faith Coalition (LFC) – In 2014 Lakewood Mayor and Reg Cox formed the Faith Coalition. The LFC connects all faith groups in the city (approx.70) merging the Evangelical/Protestant Christian community with the Catholic, LDS, Mind and Science, Muslim and Buddhist faith traditions.

The LFC is led by a steering group of leaders from several different faith communities who formalized a mission and policy in order to develop and manage collaborative service projects in the city. The LFC is focused on serving Title 1 Elementary schools in Lakewood (8 schools) by building, supporting and maintaining Support Teams for each school.  These teams are comprised of local community and faith leaders who will develop relationships, explore needs and build service projects for each school.

Reg Cox – City Connector

City Connection – Reg and Lakewood Connects function as a connector between needs in the city and organizations and individuals who have available resources of time, energy and money. Lakewood Connects bridges the divide separating groups, needs and resources and helps guide committed groups to service success.

  1. Lakewood Church Network – Each week Reg meets with pastors and nonprofit leaders from Lakewood, Colorado. The purpose of these meetings is to: mentor, consult, support and guide these churches and nonprofits to collaborate, partner, sustain outward community service vision and maintain a positive collegial relationship with city and county government, local businesses and one another. In addition to these individual meetings Reg plans and communicates a prayer event monthly (second Tuesday) and a three times a year lunch meeting that features pertinent information and networking opportunities for these church and nonprofit leaders. Reg also maintains the church network communication for events, needs and service opportunities.
  2. Lakewood Faith Coalition – Reg leads the faith coalition steering committee meetings which meets six times a year. The faith coalition steering committee is focused on growing, supporting and sustaining Support Teams for each Title 1 elementary school in Lakewood. To support this effort Reg works with the City Manager and Mayor offices, school district leadership and other leaders from the community to develop and support success in faith coalition projects. Reg also leads faith coalition communication and vision processes that will aim the growth of the coalition in the future.
  3. City Connector Activities – As a “connector” Reg links various nonprofits, community leaders and citizens together to support existing or future projects for good in the city. In order to facilitate this “connecting” Lakewood Connects is a member of various chamber of commerce groups, school district and city committees and attend meetings and events sponsored by various groups in the larger Lakewood, Colorado community. Reg meets regularly with the city Mayor and leaders in the City Manager’s office.

July to October 2016 -Activities report

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Here’s a more detailed report of updates, activities and growth in La

1. Lakewood Connects Board: Lakewood Connects board; Paul and Audrey Crabtree, Chris and Lisa Welsh, Gary and Patti Southern, Diane Rhodus, Don Scanga, Amy and Reg Cox.

2. 501c3 Non-profit status: We started the Lakewood Connects non-profit certification process and registered the name; “Lakewood Connects” with the state.

3. Lakewood Connects mission: “Building collaborative service initiatives by merging leaders in churches, schools, businesses, nonprofits and neighborhoods for the greater good of the community.” This mission will begin appearing on Lakewood Connects information.

4. Title 1 elementary schools: In August Reg/Lakewood Faith Coalition met with leaders from churches, school district and the city to launch a new initiative linking faith communities to Title 1 elementary schools. Each school will have a Support Team for dialogue and improvement plans.

5. Whiz Kids: The afterschool tutoring program; Whiz Kids, has started up for its 5th school year in Lakewood helping connect kids and families to support, encouragement and the love of Christ. The Lakewood Church Network supports 9 sites in the city reaching over 150 kids.

6. Fall Festival: Reg organized a festival for 200+ folks in the Green Mountain neighborhood 9/25 which linked the local neighborhood association, apartments, school PTA and Lakewood church of Christ together for an afternoon of kid and family friendly activities.

7. Homeless families: Reg worked with County Human Services and a local non-profit to organize a fundraiser for the Family Severe Weather Shelter. The shelter operates out of a local church during winter months to house homeless families. Funds raised will further this good work.

8. Jeffco Human Services: Supporting Human Services director Lynn Johnson as she and her team establishes; “Thrives”, an organization linking all non-profit, church and government “service” entities in into a collaborative partnership. Reg’s role is to link faith communities to this effort.

9. Pastoring Pastors: Developing/growing relationships with dozens of pastors to support and nurture their personal and professional life through one-on-one discussions.

10. Speaking Engagement: Presented at Abilene Christian University’s “Cross Training” camp in Sipapu, New Mexico in July.

11. Speaking Engagement: Presented at the Colorado Christian University’s “Religious Freedom” Symposium 8/25

12. Speaking Engagement: Presented at a family camp in Felton, California Labor Day weekend

13. Jeffco Prays: Reg is co-chair of an organization that holds a yearly breakfast (March 2017) designed to nurture, support and expand prayer in Jefferson, County.

14. Upcoming – Lakewood Connects Information and Fundraising breakfast: 11/17 Lakewood Connects will host a breakfast to seek new financial partners from the business and city leadership. Reg is asking several local leaders to be “Event Hosts” to invite potential partners who would be excited about the mission and activities of Lakewood Connects.

15. Upcoming – Lakewood Church Information and Partnership lunch: In early December Reg and Amy will host a partnership lunch at Lakewood church of Christ designed to thank our supporters from 2016, share some success stories from the year and ask for financial help in 2017.

kewood Connects:

 

 

Partnership in Action!

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July 2016 Pastor Pat Barns from Faith Mountain church let me know he had several thousand top quality volleyball sets to give away and wanted to know how to make that happen! Partnership is a mechanism for linking people, resources and together and that’s what Lakewood Connects is all about!

Pat has a members, Ron & Denise Padilla who own Park & Sun Sports. They had the champion sets available to donate. What a gift…now how do we set up giving the gift?
Reg contacted Jeffco superintendent Dan McMinnmee who connected him with the director of P.E. David Yonkee. David was fired up to get the volleyball sets. At an orientation meeting in August Pat and Reg were able to present every school in Jeffco with 4 new volleyball sets!

That’s what partnership is all about!

Reg Cox – City Connector: Background

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Background: January 2016 Reg transitioned from Senior Pastor to Lakewood’s City Connector. A City Connector builds relational bridges among vital community leaders in a defined geographic area in order to develop, support or sustain breakthrough projects. Reg’s non-profit is called; “Lakewood Connects.”

Reg leads the Lakewood Church Network (12 years) and the Lakewood Faith Coalition (3 years). These networks partner with school, business, government, non-profit and neighborhood leaders to develop breakthrough projects that change lives! In 2016 these projects have focused on under-served elementary schools and their adjoining neighborhoods. By building partnerships and collaborative service initiatives we are witnessing grass-root sustainable changes in Lakewood.

Lakewood Wins the All American City Award!

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In late June I was a member of a presentation team that made the bid for the city of Lakewood at the National Civic League’s All American City Award conference. The National Civic League http://www.nationalcivicleague.org/, has been inspiring excellence in cities nationally since 1893.

From the National Civic League’s website: Since 1949, the National Civic League has recognized and celebrated the best in American civic innovation with the prestigious All-America City Award. The Award, bestowed yearly on 10 communities (more than 500 in all), shines a spotlight on trail-blazing efforts to bring all aspects of the community together to tackle the most pressing local issues. Teams of residents; nonprofit, business, and government leaders; and young people from communities across the country come together for 3 days. At AAC these teams connect and share insights with peers, learn from national thought-leaders, and present the story of their work to a jury of nationally recognized civic leaders.  It is a transformational experience – one that equips, inspires and supports leaders and communities to achieve more than they ever believed possible.

Lakewood’s All American City presentation story featured three neighborhoods that were transformed as schools, churches, non-profits, city government, local businesses and neighborhood association leaders worked together to serve children. In Lakewood’s presentation at the conference we describe how a bridge was built to make a way for the “have not’s” to cross over and enjoy the benefits of the “have’s” in our community. It is a big deal when everyone comes together to make something like this happen!

The award inspires civic pride, makes business moves attractive, inspires collaboration and partnership across organizational boundaries and links together the most important cultural transformation forces known in America today.

To watch the Lakewood 10 minute presentation: http://www.lakewood.org/AAC/

An article about the meaning of the award is also available on the city newsletter: http://www.lakewood.org/uploadedFiles/Departments/City_Managers_Office/Communications/Looking_at_Lakewood/Issues/2016/Documents/LAL2016-07.pdf

 

Caring for the immigrant – Compassion and church

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Monday morning January 11, the Denver Post had a front page article about Federal Government plans to develop a temporary housing facility at the Lakewood Federal Center for 1000 children emigrating to the U.S. from non-contiguous South American countries. The center is scheduled to open April 1.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29328215/up-1-000-immigrant-children-be-temporarily-housed-lakewood-colorado

The children, aged 14-17, would be cared for in Lakewood for somewhere around 30 days. All their care would be provided in the compound there and 90% of them will be making connections to family in the U.S.

There will be some push back and drama connected to this plan and how should the church respond? The church should respond with prayer, compassion and love.

When the church prays for the kingdom of God to move in ways we cannot understand or even explain to care for and protect children the church functions exactly as God has intended it to. I’m encouraging all churches in Lakewood to publically pray for the children that will be housed temporarily in Lakewood.

The church should offer compassion to any and all immigrants. The bible calls on the people of God to offer the displaced of every age the love of God. Believers are the very touch of God’s mercy. These children have suffered unimaginable things and there is nothing they need more than compassion.

The church should love the immigrant. Not just tolerate, or serve but love immigrants. Throughout scripture believers are called “aliens and strangers.” The posture of passing through is the very heart of what faith is about in a temporary life lived in a temporary place. When we love immigrants we offer them the hope that we are called to know and trust our lives to.

I’m praying for these children and I’m praying for God’s church. Let the world rage on in the handwringing spirit of doomsday paranoia. But my prayer is that the church takes up the cause and call of compassion so the distinctive character of faith can be clearly displayed for all to see!

What is a City Connector and why do I want to do this?

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A City Connector links people together in a city. These relational link ups are usually aimed at developing service projects where many different groups work together on causes that would be impossible for any one group to accomplish on their own.

A City Connector transforms the way people see their city. By making positive connections we can switch the collective focus in a city from problems and barriers to developing a vision for solutions and partnerships.

A City Connector develops a bunch of relationships in a city.  These relationship links help people who care find ways to share and serve in effective ways with others who have the same passions and goals.

A City Connector tells compelling stories.  A positive narrative inspires hope, goodwill and a desire to join with others to serve a city.

A City Connector is a facilitator of positive faith action. At the core of faith is the belief in the good of humanity, a DNA of service and a desire to bring dignity to everyone in our city.

Everything I have experienced and learned in my professional life has prepared me for the leadership, relationship and community involvement components of being a City Connector. I love the rational aspect of focusing on things that matter and leading others towards these rational and practical goals. I love the relational aspect of meeting people who serve in meaningful ways and work with them to find ways to support their vision or share mine with them. I love the religious aspect of activating faith through transforming mere belief into a collaborative force for good that engages the civic, education, business, neighborhood and non-profit service energy in a city.

The work of City Connecting is the capstone of my career. I’m blessed, excited and completely freaked out to move into this role. I hope you will support me with your ideas, prayer, advice and financial help.

In the upcoming blogs I will endeavor to do several things:

  1. Action: Update on projects Reg Cox City Connector has been involved with
  2. Strategy: Share philosophy and methodology for the projects or partnerships I am involved with
  3. Support: Explain opportunities for readers to support these projects or the City Connecting work

FYI: I plan to send those on my email contact list a link and a brief “teaser” description of the blog for that week/month. If you ARE NOT receiving this email and want it…please let me know. If you ARE receiving this and prefer not to, please let me know.

Thanks – Reg Cox City Connector – regcc@gmail.com