SAN DIEGO – Imagine taking a physics class in a language you’re still learning to speak.
This is the reality for thousands of students in the City Heights area of San Diego, one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the United States. Just under 6 square miles, the area represents a population that speaks more than 45 languages and more than 100 dialects.
All of these people groups converge at Crawford High School.
“Our students come with all that rich culture and beautiful tradition,” said school principal Reashon Villery. “But academically, we see that they have some struggles.”
That’s why the school opened a resource center, providing students and their families with clothes, shoes, hygiene items and other necessities to alleviate some common burdens and allow them to focus on academics.
During the Send Relief Serve Tour in San Diego, volunteers had the privilege of working alongside a Send Network church plant, New Vision Church, to help the school’s resource center — sorting and organizing items to make the space welcoming and easy to navigate. Send Relief also supplied funds for air mattresses, sheets, blankets, towels and other necessities that struggling families might need.
New Vision regularly works in Crawford High School, building relationships with the administration and students, living out the call of the Gospel in their community.
“As a local church partner, our main goal is to bless Crawford High School, to find ways we can serve,” said New Vision pastor Jon Roper.
Villery said he wants students to know they have a “home here at Crawford.”
“As the principal, I’m excited and I’m very grateful for the support from Send Relief,” he said. “We feel blessed and honored that you would consider us for this great service.”
Reaching the city for Christ
At each Send Relief Serve Tour stop, hundreds of volunteers partner with churches, local organizations and government officials to address a city’s most pressing concerns as an avenue for Gospel engagement.
Working with Crawford High School was only one of 40 different projects completed during Serve Tour San Diego. More than 770 volunteers from 50 churches across 11 states worked throughout the city to meet needs in Jesus’ name.
Other projects included remodeling small businesses, painting murals, cleaning up beaches, holding community outreaches and renovating local churches so they can better serve their communities.
Altogether, volunteers served more than 4,300 people, worked more than 2,900 construction hours and engaged in more than 2,400 Gospel conversations. Volunteers witnessed 53 people put their faith in Jesus Christ.
Creating a shared space for discipleship
One project in the community of City Heights provided support for students in need. Urban Youth Collaborative, a teen center that serves five neighborhood schools, recently moved into a new space where students will be able to come before and after school to work out, take music lessons, learn valuable skills and build healthy relationships with adults who can engage them in Christ-centered conversations. The collaborative’s goal is to disciple young people, connect them with a local church and reach their families with the Gospel.
Serve Tour volunteers worked alongside Urban Youth Collaborative Director John Ferreira to set up the new space by unloading supplies, ripping up carpet and putting together workout equipment.
“Today is a day celebrating a lot of prayers for many years from many individuals in this community,” Ferreira said.
Engaging in Gospel conversations
One of the highlights of Serve Tour San Diego was hosting a community outreach at Park de la Cruz, a City Heights skate park where young people and families regularly gather. Working with New Vision Church and Breakthrough Church, Send Relief hosted a skateboarding competition, featuring some of the best skaters in the nation.
As people skated, watched the pros perform amazing tricks and ate free hamburgers and hotdogs, volunteers took the opportunity to engage individuals in Gospel conversations. As a result, 25 people gave their lives to Christ during the event.
As Breakthrough church planter Jeremy Stewart said, “God is good, and it’s a great day to talk to people about Him.”
More Send Relief Serve Tour events are scheduled for the remainder of the year. To learn how your church can get involved, visit ServeTour.org.
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