People are the heart of ECM’s ministry of community building.  Volunteers are a diverse and integral part of our ministry.  Over the years, volunteers have helped translate, tutor kids, sort and sell clothes, glean donated food, and pick up needles and trash around the neighborhood.  In the early and middle years of ECM (and still sometimes today!), volunteers were needed for lots of construction as well...

When you come up to someone resting or sleeping in the alley or behind a building, treat them as if you are walking into their living room, because for that person it literally is their home.”  Enrique Cardiel is our neighbor, friend, and public health coordinator.  Enrique has been mobilizing and training ECM staff and other community members on how to safely pick up the needles on our streets. We have learned from him and others the core issues and problems with our city and national systems regarding drug use and addiction...

John's Sabbatical---
From July through December last year, I was on a six-month sabbatical for a time of rest and renewal.  This time off was an incredible and unique gift!  In hindsight, 18 years of inner-city ministry without an extended time away was not healthy for me or the ministry. I am committed to keep learning and growing in health on my life journey, and this time away was exactly what was needed. 
Morgan and I traveled...