Hello and welcome to Joy City, I’m your host, Stuart Welch the Lead Pastor of Life Connection Church located in Modesto, CA. and I am joined today by Latricia Beasley-Day, a Community Organizer for Faith in the Valley here in Stanislaus County. If you are familiar with the show, thank you for your support and encouragement – if you are new to the show, I want to welcome you and let you know that our central theme is Almighty God and our relationship to Him through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary and how to grow, nourish and maintain that relationship.
Latricia, welcome to the show, welcome to Joy City. Latricia and I met at Clergy Appreciation Day hosted by Doctor’s Hospital. Latricia explains Faith in the Valley as a grass-roots organization that advocates for social justice from many different angles. Trying to engage the clergy community. Faith in the Valley is comprised of five (5) multi-racial, multi-faith federations consolidated into one (1) organization. Housing is a main and critical issue for all the counties, immigration is huge in several counties and in Stanislaus County the need is for housing. However, the organizers are driven by what is crucial for the community. Right now she is meeting with the Jewish community regarding Black & Jewish relations by using a Belong Circle.
Walking in multi-faith communities how do you keep Christ first? Latricia talks about how being in this arena makes her even more on fire for Jesus and how she sees there is a void in their lives as Jesus is missing. Yet, she feels the call to love and know the human being.
Latricia walks us through her upbringing in the church and how she operated in San Francisco and even becoming a single mother. How the church supported her mother by supplying rides to and from church and then embracing her when she became pregnant as a young woman. The beauty of community in her life and what she is trying to pass to others. How God can take your ashes and make them beautiful.
Latricia talks about being involved in a church plant in Modesto and being sent with the organizing and launch team of her church. You can reach Latricia either by email at latricia@faithinthevalley.org or by cell (209) 495-4377.
So, when God opens our eyes in Joy City we can clearly celebrate others for our differences, we can support one another in our efforts and we can cheer one another on in the spirit of unity and when One wins we all win. Every tribe and nation under heaven, worshipping God as one. As the Apostle Paul says, “may we fight for the UNITY of the faith in the bond of peace…”
No one can come face to face with what God is like and ever be the same. Welcome to Joy City. Seeing His true image, touches the depths of our soul and beholding His glory will renew our minds, transform us and give us strength to live this life for Him. Come on in, where the table is spread and the feast of the Lord is going on. I want to invite you to be a part, a resident of Joy City. A place where the Body becomes stronger and our love for others only increases.
I’ve enjoyed being your host and you can comment below, or email me at pastorstuart@lifeconnection4christ.org or call me at (209) 522-3583.