North Block

On December 29, 2015, when the papers were signed at the title company, the first chapter of the story of the North Block was completed. It is a chapter of faith and sacrifice by the many who gave towards the down payment and other funds needed. It is one of trust given to leaders by people who embraced a vision for connecting with Salem in a new way, and of waiting on God for His timing to see the purchase completed.

As we move to the next chapter, God is continuing to work and show us how to implement the vision He has given us. Chapter 2 opens with meeting, through one of our church members, Craig and Carol Morgan who are wonderful Followers of Christ. They own Salem Paint and needed a new location for their store. We agreed to lease the building on the northwest corner of the block and they were able to move in on the Saturday of Easter weekend. They are excited about this new home for their business.

A few weeks later, we had a spring cleaning party at the church. More than 80 people brought rakes, shovels and wheel barrows to not only work around the church and the CLC but to help clean up the North Block. Over 5,200 pounds of grass, dirt, tree limbs and other debris was hauled off as the North Block sparkled with clean parking lots, mowed lawns and new bark chips in the flower beds. It was a powerful statement to the neighborhood about how we want to be good neighbors and the enthusiasm in which our congregation works together.

We are now working to implement the vision of Enterprise Ministries as we prepare First Lube Plus for its opening day. Many of you have told me that you are ready to be its first customer. Thank you. We are looking for the right person to be its manager and look forward to announcing opening day soon. In addition we are determining what we can do with other pieces of the property based on city codes and the cost of making the other buildings usable. Thank you for your patience as we work through these issues.

All of the above has been exciting and encouraging to see happen and be part of, but what has impacted me the most is the way in which God has already used the North Block to create new connections in the community. My work on the North Block has given me the opportunity to meet with elected officials, public agencies and private businesses and tell them our story and vision. It is met with excitement and encouragement and, most often, their question of “What can I do to help?”

Many of us have been praying that God would show us how to use the North Block to bless our city. As I see it, that prayer has been and is being answered. Please continue to pray that God will sharpen our focus on how to best implement His purpose for the North Block and He will be the author of many new chapters in this ongoing story.

--Steve Hunter

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