A Google search for the definition of the word community gives two results:
1. A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
2. A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Graffiti 2 sees both definitions on display as we experience Community@335Beekman.
Graffiti 2 calls the Mott Haven community home. We celebrate the beauty of this neighborhood while also recognizing the difficulties faced by many of our neighbors. As a ministry we find ways to work with our neighbors to relieve some of the pressures.
The ties that bind those of us that live here in the Mott Haven community go beyond geography. Truly, there is a great “feeling of fellowship” for those who call these blocks home. A camaraderie exists among neighbors evidenced by handshakes, pats on the back, conversations in elevators, or a cheerful “good morning” outside the Bodega. Such neighborly love has led me to comment: “Perhaps this is a taste of heaven!” After all, although all things began in a garden (Genesis), all things will end in a city (Revelation).
Of course, the most heavenly sense of community is found in the church. Graffiti 2 Baptist Church is a diverse body of believers in the South Bronx. With a myriad of backgrounds we are united by our love for God, our neighborhood, and each other. Following Jesus has changed our lives. Our faith in Him has made us children of God. It has brought us together. It has made us family.
